NATURE SCHOOL FAQ:
Our 2020-2021 school year runs 8/31/20- 5/27/21. Monthly tuition for students who attend Monday-Thursday from 9-3 is $535 per month. They’ll be offered 146 days of school during the 9 months, making the cost of each day approximately $33. GUG will provide a healthy mid-morning and afternoon snack daily, accommodating all dietary needs. Please provide a water bottle for your child to be kept at school and also send a healthy, well-balanced lunch with your child everyday.
Our program serves 8 children and has 2 teachers.
We believe a developmentally appropriate PreK/ Kindergarten experience allows children to develop initiative, persistence, creativity, and a capacity for problem solving, which are all essential to future academic success. Due to the extreme transformation of public Kindergarten in recent years, many families see the value in waiting until age 6 to start public Kindergarten. Our program caters to the needs of students in this transition period (and those who miss the Kindergarten cut-off date but are ready for a preschool class made up of older children) by providing experiences to enrich the whole-child and allowing opportunities for open-ended learning and exploration. A year of Nature Kindergarten before transitioning to public Kindergarten will greatly benefit all children. Unfortunately we are not a substitute for Kindergarten if you’re planning for your child’s next school experience to be public school Grade 1, but we are a great option for those mentioned above and those who plan to homeschool or attend private school Grade 1.
We will incorporate daily lessons from the following 3 curriculums:
- Pawsitively Social Emotional Learning Curriculum: This unique curriculum is based on longstanding research suggesting that animals play a significant positive role in the mental, physical, and psychological health of humans. Although dogs are not present during the curriculum implementation, students learn vicariously through the depiction of canine experiences in pictures, videos, and stories. This assists students in feeling safe to open their hearts and minds, and begin to share difficult social/emotional learning concepts that they may not otherwise explore. As we learn more and more about dogs during the first few months of school, we will begin searching for a dog to rescue who will then become our GUG school pet.
- Zoo-phonics® Multisensory Language Arts Program: A kinesthetic, multi-modal approach to learning all aspects of language arts, including vocabulary development and articulation, based on phonics and phonemic awareness. Zoo-phonics® is a method developed to make children strong readers and spellers using a “phono” (hearing), “oral” (speaking), “visual” (seeing), “kinesthetic” (moving), and tactile (touching)—whole brain approach. Students actually learn the sounds of the alphabet and advanced phonemic concepts through an easily understood, concrete method of presentation.
- Blossom and Root Early Years & Kindergarten Curriculum: A playful, gentle, and imaginative introduction to early academics. This hands-on, secular curriculum includes picture and composer study, weekly art projects, nature study, literature, early reading and writing foundations, an introduction to history and geography, foundations in early math, and S.T.E.M. projects.
KANGATRAINING FAQ
What Kind of Carriers Can I use for Kangatraining?
Once a baby can sit up, a SSC, woven wrap, or Mei Tai works well. Heavier babies who can sit unsupported can be worn on mom’s back.
You are welcome to bring your carrier so I can assess its suitability for the class. I will also assist you in getting the best fit and comfort for you and your baby. There will be demo carriers available at each class to try out and I will soon begin renting on an ongoing basis.
INFO TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR FIRST CLASS:
Wear comfortable exercise clothes, socks and shoes (or barefoot- especially in the beginning.)
Bring extra onesie for baby, diapers/wipes, yoga mat, towel, water bottle!
We offer training adjustments/ modifications for the various forms of pain or injuries common after a birth with complications or from everyday life after pregnancy, so be sure to inform trainer of concerns on your health questionnaire.
Breastfeeding mothers experiencing mastitis are not allowed to participate in Kangatraining. Breastfeed before session to relieve pressure and weight.
There is really no age limit for babies so long as every mother participating can wear their baby safely and comfortably. For restless older babies, or moms who have a baby and a toddler, the kids are welcome to play on the floor in the room.
Classes are held in the Heart-Strong Center at 2100 S Higgins in Missoula.