What Makes Ivybrook Academy Different?

Most preschools teach to the group. Ivybrook Academy starts with the child. In this video, we walk through what makes the Ivybrook approach genuinely different — not as a marketing claim, but as a practical philosophy that shows up every day in how educators observe children, design learning experiences, and measure what matters.

Traditional preschool often follows a fixed curriculum applied the same way to every child. Ivybrook Academy takes a different approach — one grounded in the belief that children are natural investigators whose learning is deepest when it emerges from their own curiosity and experience.

At the heart of the Ivybrook difference is an emergent curriculum: topics of study and learning experiences are shaped by careful, ongoing observation of each child rather than a predetermined agenda. This approach draws from four proven frameworks working together — Montessori, which builds self-direction and responsible decision-making; Reggio Emilia, which uses observation to create individualized learning plans; Collaborative Learning, which develops teamwork through small group work; and the Discovery Program, which nurtures creative expression, library exploration, and music and movement.

The result is a preschool experience where every child is met where they are — academically, socially, and emotionally — and challenged to grow from that place rather than toward a single standard.