The teacher and parent helper facilitate a magical environment where creative, child-driven play (e.g., dress-up, role-playing) is encouraged. They also encourage children to build using blocks and other materials. The teacher and parent helper use songs, storytelling, and puppets to spark imaginations. Our classroom is a gentle and safe environment for nurturing creative expressions, social interactions, and practical life skills.

Woodhaven strongly discourages any references to media (e.g., clothing or other items with pictures or text relating to media characters). Instead children are encouraged to use their own imaginations.

The children experience the outdoors through a combination of free-play and facilitated activities (e.g., nature walks, bug hunts, bird watching, plant identifications). The teacher and parent helper encourage students to make daily observations of the natural world (e.g., weather, seasons). The teacher and parent gardening coordinator develop in-class gardening projects, and the children maintain a large outdoor garden space.

The parent helper prepares healthy, organic foods for snack time. The children drink purified water from mugs rather than paper cups and only use cloth napkins and real silverware, plates, and bowls. Parents are encouraged to send nutritious lunches from home with limited packaging.

Three field trips are planned each year and all parents and siblings are invited to attend on these special days. Our fall trip is related to the harvest. Our winter trip is often an indoor destination. Our spring trip is, of course, all about Mother Nature’s busy work.