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Practical guidance and expert insight on early childhood education, half-day preschool, and raising confident, curious learners — from a nationally recognized brand built on Reggio Emilia and Montessori principles.

Read more: Social-Emotional Learning in Preschool: What It Looks Like and Why It Matters

Social-Emotional Learning in Preschool: What It Looks Like and Why It Matters

Quick Answer: Social-emotional learning is how young children learn to name their feelings, get along with others, and handle frustration. It’s one of the strongest foundations for school, and preschool is where most children first practice it every day with peers and a trusted […]

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Read more: What Happens During a Morning at Ivybrook Academy?

What Happens During a Morning at Ivybrook Academy?

Quick Answer: A morning at Ivybrook moves between a gathering circle, independent work time, small group lessons, project time, and outdoor play. Educators set up the room before children arrive, and children spend most of the morning choosing and working, not sitting and listening. […]

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Read more: The Most Important Person in Your Child’s Preschool Is Their Educator

The Most Important Person in Your Child’s Preschool Is Their Educator

Quick Answer: Research on early childhood programs keeps finding that the relationship between a child and the educator matters more than almost anything else in the room. When you tour a preschool, spend less time looking at the shelves and more time watching how […]

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Read more: What Child-Led Learning Looks Like in a Preschool Classroom

What Child-Led Learning Looks Like in a Preschool Classroom

Quick Answer: In a child-led classroom, children choose among prepared activities and follow their own questions while educators observe, ask questions, and decide what to offer next. The structure comes from the adults. The direction comes from the children, inside it. Definition: Child-led learning […]

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Read more: From Parents to Owners: How Jordan and Richard Watkins Brought Ivybrook Academy to Northwest Arkansas

From Parents to Owners: How Jordan and Richard Watkins Brought Ivybrook Academy to Northwest Arkansas

Quick Answer: Jordan and Richard Watkins found Ivybrook Academy as parents and as an educator (Jordan) when a campus opened near their family’s home in Mooresville, North Carolina. After they moved back to Northwest Arkansas, they decided to bring the school with them. Jordan […]

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