Our Philosophy

Judaism teaches that every individual is made in the image of God (tzelem elohim or צֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים)and this philosophy influences the way we view each child in our care. Our broad approach is to offer activities and challenges that are both developmentally and age appropriate while staffing each classroom with a minimum of two adults. Our classroom ratio is 6 students to one adult and in our small group sessions that ratio is even lower. We do this so that each and every child is truly seen and understood.  

You won't find toddlers being "taught to write their letters" (they lack the muscular control and core stability to be able to do this) although you'll find them engaged in a range of activities that are the precursor to these later skills. Play is the way children learn and "as they play, children develop vital cognitive, linguistic, social and emotional skills. They make discoveries, build knowledge, experiment with literacy and math and learn to self-regulate and interact with others in socially appropriate ways. Play is also fun and interesting, which makes school a place where children look forward to spending their time. It is so deeply formative for children that it must be at the core of our early childhood curriculum." *

 *https://blog.heinemann.com/purposeful-play-igniting-joyful-learning-across-the-day
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Adat Reyim is religiously-exempt preschool guided by the principles and beliefs of Reggio Emilia. The Reggio Emilia Approach is an innovative and inspiring approach to early childhood education which values the child as strong, capable and resilient; rich with wonder and knowledge. Every child brings with them deep curiosity and potential and this innate curiosity drives their interest to understand their world and their place within it. It originated in the town (and surrounding areas) of Reggio Emilia in Italy out of a movement towards progressive and cooperative early childhood education. Outside of the town of Reggio Emilia, all schools and preschools (and home schools) are Reggio-inspired, using an adaptation of the approach specific to the needs of their community.