Our Educational Philosophy
The Backyard School is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach. We encourage children to learn, explore, and communicate through many different modes, including words, movement, art, and play. To support this diverse expression, we ensure our environment is rich with materials and opportunities for exploration.
Play-Based Curriculum
✦Teacher Guidance & Structure
We achieve a balance between independent play and intentional guidance through daily teacher-led sessions, featuring whole-class circle times to introduce new concepts and small-group interactions that deepen children’s emerging projects.
✦Literacy
We approach literacy as an organic and playful process. We intentionally embed books and written words into the environment to support children's interests, naturally building foundational skills like phonics and letter recognition in ways that are age-appropriate, meaningful, and engaging.
✦Outdoor Environment
While The Backyard School is not strictly a “nature school,” our classroom is primarily situated outdoors to maximize the extensive benefits of the natural world. This environment supports every area of development—physical, cognitive, social, and emotional.
✦Materials
Our materials are carefully chosen to be open-ended and supportive of deep exploration and creativity. We are committed to sustainability by seeking out natural and repurposed materials (such as rocks, sticks, wood, fabric, cardboard, etc.) whenever possible. We prioritize diverse and anti-bias resources to reflect and honor many different children and families.
✦Emergent Curriculum
Curriculum at The Backyard School evolves based on the children’s interests, a process known as emergent curriculum. Teachers carefully observe the children, then develop a flexible, collaborative plan to guide those interests into meaningful learning experiences.
✦Weather & the Elements
We believe there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing. Exploration often involves dirt, mud, and water. We ask that children arrive in "play-ready" clothes that are okay to get dirty. In the event of unmanageable weather (such as extreme heat or heavy storms), we will transition to our indoor classroom to ensure the comfort and safety of all students.
A Day at The Backyard School
A day at The Backyard School is rich with a balance of activities, ensuring personalized attention and collaborative learning.
Ready to Learn More?
Please contact us to schedule a tour and learn more about our program.
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