Program Highlights

At Little Roots, our first priority is to create the loving and nurturing environment that your child needs in order to feel safe, take risks, and explore. Through mindful modeling and daily interactions, children learn to respect themselves, each other, and the natural world we live in.

Although we have a play room, art studio, and nap room indoors, we spend the bulk of our day outdoors. Nestled beneath an oak tree grove overlooking the Novato Creek, our yard offers the perfect opportunity to learn about nature firsthand. 

In our ample backyard, children have access to an open lawn, stretches of floral and edible gardens, play structures, mud kitchen cafe, sandbox, watercolor easels, and much more. The natural setting invites children to observe, explore, wonder, and create.

An art studio (atelier) is a central feature of the Reggio Emilia educational experience. Equipped with every manner of art supplies, the art studio enables children to communicate through the “hundred languages” of children. In our art studio, children create art independently and through guided projects, developing fine motor skills while learning to collaborate and clean up after themselves.

Outdoors, children have continued access to watercolors, chalk, and various writing and drawing utensils. In this way, art is embedded throughout the day, fostering independence, creativity, and pre-literacy skills.

Through play, children at Little Roots learn important social-emotional skills while developing motor and cognitive skills at their own pace. Little Roots balances the day with teacher-led art, music, and STEAM activities during Circle Time. Circle Time activities are hands-on and planned around your child’s needs and interests, ensuring balanced student growth.

Learning units may feature field trips, hands-on activities, and guest speakers.

The teacher speaks with children primarily in Spanish while supporting both English and Spanish language development. Songs and books are provided in both languages. Our goal is to foster proficient bilingual speakers with a love of language.

Little Roots Academy celebrates diversity through the books we read, foods we eat, subjects we explore, and individuals we learn from. By intentionally presenting the joys of our multicultural world, children learn to appreciate our differences.

Through an emergent curriculum tailored around your child’s interests and informed by California’s Preschool Learning Foundations, Little Roots Academy builds the social-emotional, literacy, and numeracy skills that children need to thrive in kindergarten and beyond.

Individual growth is closely monitored and documented in a Student Portfolio, including photos, narratives, and student work. When developmentally appropriate, children help manage their portfolio and proudly share it with parents during parent-teacher conferences. The Student Portfolio helps to empower parents as partners in their child’s learning journey.