North Seattle Cooperative Preschools

Our School Day

Our day includes a free play time when children are able to move about freely choosing from a wide variety of experiences, a circle time with songs, finger-plays and stories, a snack time, an outdoor play time and a quick goodbye circle. Exploration and discovery and mastery of new materials are exciting for two’s and our class room offers lots of opportunities to do this.

The free play time is an opportunity to explore:

1. An art area with many art materials and activities.
2. An imaginative play area with play kitchen set-up and play-dough and dress-up outfits.
3. A sensory table with regularly changing materials to explore.
4. Block play area with large selection of blocks and materials to extend play.
5. Skills area with small manipulative toys to explore and master.
6. A library loft for quiet reading time.

Large-motor activity time includes getting outside as often as possible and letting the children run, climb the hillside and play along the paths, play ball or ride trikes on the flat paved area, or dig in the huge sandbox. We are enjoying our new play area and love how the children have used it imaginatively and creatively.

During the day, children have the opportunity to take initiative through choice, practice co-operation and learn social skills in large and small groups, and persevere through tasks in a supportive environment. It is a very supportive environment for beginning separation from your child and helping children learn independence skills and an opportunity for children to learn to love the idea of “school”.

Our Teacher – Karen Murphy

Teacher Karen was a coop parent for 5 years with her own two children and she is excited to be part of the NSC coop teaching family. She has a BS in Kinesiology and past experience teaching preschool and working in an after school program for elementary students. Teacher Karen creates the environment for the children and engages them in rich language to enhance their learning.  She uses routine to create predictability which allows the children to thrive.

Teacher Karen believes that preschool is a place for children of all backgrounds to come together and that play is how they learn best.  In her classroom, children have many opportunities for creative and imaginative play.

In Pre-3s, the children are natural scientists – Teacher Karen’s top priority is creating engaging, multi-sensory experiences for them to explore. She loves observing the 2 year old child playing and exploring in the coop classroom, doing the work of play. She also knows A LOT of songs.  Helping children learn their emotions, find their independence and foster their interests through a wide variety of experiences is the backbone of our Pre-3s program.

Karen lives with her husband, 2 daughters, and a cat in the Maple Leaf neighborhood and enjoys cooking, exploring new places, and searching for the best Mexican food in Seattle.

Eligibility

To enroll in the Pre-3s class, children should be at least age 2 by the time their preschool begins in September.

Last updated: February 16th, 2023, 11:26 am