WHAT IS OUR SCHOOL?
Wee Wisdom Preschool offers a unique curriculum which honors the different learning styles of all children by incorporating art, music, yoga, nature, language, math and sciences into our lessons.
Preschoolers will learn by using both Montessori and traditional materials, which allow for many creative, manipulative and practical life opportunities. We know that plenty of movement and play activities are essential to a balanced learning experience. Little explorers will enjoy our spacious, natural surroundings and large playground.
- 18 months – 5 years of age
- PRIMARY
- Fall 2024:
MON – FRI 8:00-1:00
MON – FRI 8:00-3:00
MON – FRI 8:00-5:00
The Perfect Fit
Parents with New Infants: Savor some bonding time while big brother or big sister has fun learning.
Social Seekers: An opportunity for your child to make good friends in a great setting.
Stay at Home Parent: An opportunity for you to get done what needs to be done in your very busy day, while you give your child time to explore, learn and create.
Our Philosophy
Wee Wisdom Preschool is based on the interactional position that each child has inherent directives that guide their emotional, cognitive and social development and which are nurtured and cultivated by their surrounding environment.
All of the children at Wee Wisdom Preschool receive a foundation of love, nurturing, and respect, from which they gain a sense of knowing their importance as human beings. It is clear to the children and their families, that they are loved, cared for and safe in an unbiased and diverse cultural environment.
DIRECTOR CARRIE MONK
Being a Preschool Director is not just a job for me; It is truly my passion. I am an advocate of early education and feel so lucky to be able to offer such a warm, loving, supportive environment for children and their families to learn and grow! I have been with Wee Wisdom for 10 amazing years but officially began my career in early childhood education over 24 years ago. After obtaining my degree and Director credentialing, I began my work with The Children’s Center of Austin, over a ten-year period I served as a teacher, curriculum coordinator, Assistant Director, and Director giving me a well-rounded background in both development and leadership.
I enjoy spending time with my 11-year-old daughter, who is a Wee Wisdom alumni and is currently in 5th grade!
WEE WISDOM PRESCHOOL, LIKE UNITY CHURCH OF THE HILLS,
is non-denominational, sharing the values which are common to all major religions. We emphasize love, kindness toward ourselves and others, and respect for our earth. These values are expressed in simple lessons during circle time, but mostly in the way we relate to each other and our environment.
THE ACADEMIC CURRICULUM AT WEE WISDOM IS MONTESSORI BASED
in the Toddler I and Pre-Primary rooms, with a focus on helping the children accomplish their agenda of “Me do it!”
The Primary room is taught in the traditional Montessori format. In this class, the children continue to perfect their skills of independence while learning phonics, math, science, geography, music, art, yoga and gardening. Outside time on our beautiful playground under the oaks, rounds out their day and brings a balance of large and small motor play with balls, shovels, playscapes, slides and more!
SAFETY AT WEE WISDOM
Wee Wisdom School takes very seriously, our responsibility to not only insure the safety of our children but also to reassure our parents of their children’s safety while in our care. That said, I would like for all of us to take special care, both staff and parents, in assuring that the following measures are constantly enforced.
- The Primary door is locked after arrival at 9:05 and will remain locked until dismissal at 1:15 pm.
- Front office volunteer or staff has visibility of the front door entrance of the church.
BEST PRACTICES
Wee Wisdom School uses a blend of Montessori and Traditional Child Development approaches to ensure that each child’s needs are being met as thoroughly as possible.
Toddler I Classroom introduces opportunities for autonomy and independence in a play-based environment, with an array of both Montessori and non-Montessori materials and activities available. The room is designed to help encourage the move from side-by-side play to the interactive one-on-one play of socialization during this critical time of exploration.. The teacher is sure to offer plenty of love, nurturing and individualized attention to promote a sense of well-being and a foundation of self-confidence in each child.
Pre-Primary Classroom (Toddler II)continues to build on the child’s natural desire for exploration, but an increase in the amount of Montessori materials is quite noticeable. The child’s innate sense of order is catered to in this prepared environment. The children are exposed to phonics, numbers, art, science, culture, music and yoga – on a deeper level . Potty Training Begins.
Primary Classroom (3-5) is when the child’s universe becomes an incredible world of possibilities and opportunities. It is a time when the child no longer is tentative about her or his surroundings, but realizes that she or he is a part of the whole grand picture, and that the world is so much bigger than was even realized to this point. Geography and math appear limitless! The acts of scrubbing the chair, mopping the floor, or pouring colored liquid through a funnel is now something within their control! Phonics turns to words, and words to sentences, and suddenly, and almost magically, the reading explosion has occurred!!
Montessori presentations are given in groups, as well as individually. In addition, there is still an element of traditional child development education found within the classroom, since research has shown the importance of incorporating additional manipulatives, dramatic play, art and music within the classroom is beneficial to the well-roundedness of a child-centered program.
Educational Facilities
WHAT WILL YOU FIND INSIDE WEE WISDOM’S SCHOOL?
- Spacious Classrooms
- New State-of-the-Art Materials
- Gifted Teachers
- Gentle Guidance
- … and lots of Love!
WHAT WILL YOU FIND OUTSIDE ON WEE WISDOM’S PLAYGROUND?
- Brand new Construction
- Playscape, swings, slides, climbers, and more
- Playhouse with manipulatives
- Plenty of shade from our Live Oak canopies
- Soft mulch ground covering
- … and lots of Love!
SCHOOL FACILITIES
LOCATED ON THE CAMPUS OF UNITY CHURCH OF THE HILLS
Our beautiful school is one of ministries within Unity Church of the Hills. Our church sits on 14 sprawling acres of live oak trees and is home to deer, squirrels, birds and other little animals enjoying the safe-haven of our grounds. A combination of relaxing natural surroundings and state of the art classrooms affords each child the opportunity to experience their wondrous world both inside and out.
CURRICULUM
What is Montessori Education?
Montessori education is a scientific method of teaching, developed by Dr. Maria Montessori in 1907, to educate children through direct control of their environment. It uses materials to stimulate a child’s senses, which makes the learning experience more memorable. The Montessori education method is a progression of learning beginning with activities in practical life and the sensorial, activities that internalize independence, coordination, concentration and order (ICCO), which in turn help a child to transition to more abstract learning in Culture, Math and Language.
The Montessori curriculum includes materials in Practical Life to enhance motor skills through daily functions; Sensorial to allow a child to explore his senses, and gain pre-math skills; Cultural, which includes learning about plants, animals, human anatomy, the Earth, outer space, and other cultures; Math, which helps a child understand mathematical functions in concrete form; and Language which teaches vocabulary, writing, and reading.
The Montessori education method supports and encourages multi-age grouping. Older children work with younger children; giving the older children leadership skills, and encouraging the younger children to accomplish more challenging activities. Multi-age grouping also promotes respect between older children and younger children, and reinforces knowledge of the Montessori materials.
This philosophy can be applied to the home environment, as well. Preparing the home in a way that facilitates the child’s independence is both empowering and educational. This would include things such as the sink area having a stool, a towel hung on a hook at the child’s level, a cup and small water pitcher available for easy independent access, etc. Other wonderful materials are available for purchase and are appropriate for home use at several online resources. (see below)
MONTESSORI AND TRADITIONAL BASED
WE HONOR THE DIFFERENT LEARNING STYLES OF ALL CHILDREN BY:
Incorporating art, music, yoga, nature, language, math and sciences into our lessons.
PRESCHOOLERS WILL LEARN BY:
Using both Montessori and traditional materials, which allow for many creative, manipulative and practical life opportunities.
WE KNOW THAT PLENTY OF MOVEMENT AND PLAY ACTIVITIES ARE ESSENTIAL TO A BALANCED LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Little explorers will enjoy our spacious, natural surroundings and large playground located on our 14 acre campus.
AT WEE WISDOM WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE CHILD’S PARENTS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THEIR LIVES.
We work together as a partnership in planning and development of various areas of the school and in the love and care of our children. We value the opportunity to work with your family and feel privileged and honored to be a part of your child’s life.
YOUR CHILD WILL THRIVE IN OUR LOVING AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT.
We invite you to visit Wee Wisdom Preschool and see what makes us unique!