Treehouse Learning Academy: A Holistic Approach to Early Childhood Education

Treehouse Learning Academy offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to foster the social, emotional, and academic growth of young children. By integrating various research-based educational philosophies and practical tools, Treehouse Learning provides a nurturing environment where children can develop a lifelong love of learning.

Core Components of the Curriculum

The foundation of Treehouse Learning's curriculum is built upon several key elements working in harmony to create a well-rounded educational experience.

Play-Based Learning Experiences

Recognizing that children learn best through play, Treehouse Learning incorporates numerous play-based activities into its daily routines. Drawing from Piaget's concept of developmental stages, the academy understands that play is not just a relief from serious learning, but a serious form of learning for children. As interpersonal neurobiology suggests, play is crucial for a child's cognitive and emotional development.

Social-Emotional Development: RULER Approach

Treehouse Learning incorporates the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence’s RULER Social-Emotional Curriculum. This curriculum focuses on developing emotional literacy and self-regulation skills. Children learn to:

Recognize their own emotions and those of others.
Understand the causes and consequences of emotions.
Label emotions accurately.
Express emotions appropriately.
Regulate emotions effectively.

Classrooms are equipped with "cozy corners" and "regulation stations" where children can explore mindfulness techniques, self-soothing tools, and calming strategies to manage their emotions.

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Movement and Mindfulness

The curriculum integrates movement and body-based mindfulness practices, including Brain Gym, to enhance self-awareness and emotional regulation. These activities help children connect with their physical and emotional states, fostering a sense of calm and focus.

Embedded Support Systems

Treehouse Learning provides embedded occupational therapy and mental health support to address the unique needs of each child. This integrated approach ensures that children receive the necessary support to thrive academically and emotionally.

Foundational Learning-Readiness Skills

The curriculum is designed to intentionally support the development of foundational learning-readiness skills, preparing children for success in school and life. These skills include:

Literacy
Writing
Reading Skills
Math
Science
STEM

These skills are offered via interactive and experiential activities in a prepared learning environment to support child-led inquiry and guided by educators to facilitate deeper understanding and learning.

Key Principles and Practices

Treehouse Learning's curriculum is guided by several key principles and practices that promote holistic development.

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Community Orientation

Children learn to be active and responsible members of a classroom and school community. They practice sharing, taking turns, and using empathy to understand and help others. The curriculum emphasizes community expectations of kindness, respect, and helpfulness, and encourages children to care for the environment and the world around them. Children learn to say “please,” “thank you,” and “more” with sign language. During snacks and lunches, teachers model mealtime conversations and try new foods.

Growth Mindset and Resilience

Treehouse Learning fosters a growth mindset, encouraging children to believe in their ability to learn new skills and overcome challenges. Children develop a positive self-concept rooted in grounded self-confidence, viewing themselves as competent and capable individuals.

Safety and Well-being

The classroom expectations prioritize safety, kindness, and helpfulness. Children are taught how to keep their bodies and the bodies of others safe, how to be safe in their classrooms and communities, and how to use materials safely and appropriately. The classroom expectations are for all children to Be Kind, Be Helpful, and Be Safe!

Research-Based Educational and Philosophical Foundations

The curriculum is based on a synthesis of several educational traditions and influences:

Piaget: Recognizing the importance of play in learning and development.
High Scope Curriculum: Emphasizing active learning, positive adult-child interactions, child-friendly learning environments, consistent daily routines, and team-based assessments. Treehouse Learning offers the High Scope Cor Advantage observation-based child assessments in conjunction with our participation in Colorado Universal Preschool program, specifically for its alignment with the Montessori and Reggio Emilia traditions, and play-based approach emphasizing active learning. This is in order to provide a formative assessment of a child’s entire academic, social, and physical development.
Tools of the Mind: A Vygotsky-based curriculum that emphasizes literacy development through dramatic play. Children engage in purposeful writing, role-playing, mathematical reasoning, invention, and discovery. Through this program, self-regulation skills are introduced and developed naturally.

Science of Reading

The science of Reading approach incorporates both phonics-based decoding skills to connect letters to sounds as well as the language acquisition, exposure, and development necessary to make meaning of written materials.

Universal Design

All classrooms are designed and equipped with age-appropriate equipment and materials following the principles of Universal Design. Classrooms all have access to the outdoors, large windows and abundant light, and access to nature-inspired outdoor playgrounds.

Universal Preschool Program

Treehouse Learning offers Universal Preschool for eligible preschool children. For the 2023-2024 Academic Year, Treehouse Learning offered 15 hours a week of free, high-quality preschool to eligible children who are enrolled full-time (either 4 or 5 days per week) in their year before Kindergarten.

All children in the year before kindergarten are eligible for Universal Preschool which is available at Treehouse Learning to children enrolled full-time in our mixed-age preschool classrooms. Children are eligible for Universal Preschool based on qualifying factors determined by the Colorado Universal Preschool Program. Universal Preschool-eligible children may attend primarily in our Forest Classroom in their year before traditional kindergarten eligibility. The Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) is charged with operating the program to enable families to choose from a mixed-delivery system of high-quality preschool settings, including licensed community-based programs, school-based programs, and licensed home providers.

Treehouse Online Academy

Treehouse Academy is a virtual preschool and kindergarten program that helps ensure children receive a robust year-long education, full of hands-on fun, reading, crafts, music, and more! You can choose between all on-demand classes or a mix of on-demand and live virtual classes.

Benefits of Online Classes

Less sickness, which means fewer doctor visits!
Much safer environment!
No bullying!
Less distractions while learning
Plenty of one-on-one attention because of small class size
Know what your child is being taught and that it aligns with your family's beliefs
Keep your family together
Know your child is ready for Kindergarten/1st Grade
No need to get your child up early, dressed, fed, and drive them to school
Much cheaper than in-person preschool
Saves you time AND money!
Takes the stress off of you to plan out and teach everything
Gives you a little free time to yourself during class!
Your child will have fun and enjoy learning
You will be part of a very special community of like-minded parents
Your child will socialize and make friends, possibly from all over the world! (if participating in live classes each week)

Curriculum Overview

Over the course of the school year, children will learn about:

Letters and letter sounds
Numbers and basic math concepts
Shapes, colors, and patterns
Writing and drawing
Rhyming and opposites
The Pledge of Allegiance
Days of the week and months of the year
Fine motor skills and crafts
Sign language

In addition, each month will feature focused learning on specific themes, such as:

September-November: All About Me, Apples, On the Farm, Fire Safety, Fall, Pumpkins, Bats, Voting, Turkeys, Thanksgiving
December-February: Reindeer, Christmas, Winter, MLK/Kindness, Polar Animals, Groundhogs, Dental Health, Valentine's Day, Community Helpers, Outer Space
March-May: Dr. Seuss, St. Patrick/Rainbows, Easter/Spring, Weather, Dinosaurs, Nutrition, Earth Day, Plants, Insects, Oceans
June-August: Optional access to summer review of what was learned throughout the school year, plus summer access to all learning materials and curriculum to keep the learning going!

Class Structure

On-demand classes are pre-recorded lessons that provide one-on-one teaching. Each class includes the Pledge of Allegiance, the "Better Alphabet" song, a weekly Bible verse, phonics time, math time, and themed learning activities. These classes are typically 30-45 minutes long.

Live classes provide opportunities for children to interact with classmates in a private Zoom classroom, fostering communication, manners, and friendships. These classes are 30 minutes long.

Enrollment and Supplies

Registration for each new school year begins March 1st. Classes begin the Monday after Labor Day in September and go through the end of April, with optional summer classes available.

Most classes use materials commonly found around the house. A supply list is provided in advance, and each student receives a Welcome Kit at the beginning of the school year. Access to a printer is essential for printing weekly materials.

Adult Involvement and Screen Time

While some activities may require adult assistance, most of the class time can be done independently, depending on the child's age and ability.

Treehouse Academy recognizes the importance of limiting screen time for young children. Classes are kept short and are offered on a safe, ad-free platform to ensure a fun and educational experience.

Community and Traditions

Treehouse Learning fosters a strong sense of community through various events and traditions:

Family Picnics at Waneka Lake: These picnics mark the end and beginning of the academic year and Summer Camp program.
Pancake Breakfast: An Open House pancake breakfast featuring pancakes, sausage, maple syrup, butter, and fresh fruit.
Family Fun Run: An annual event at Waneka Lake in honor of Treehouse Learning founder, Nancy Benson.

Treehouse Learning is closed on observed Federal Holidays: Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, and Independence Day.

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