Our Curriculum

Developmental Nurturance Program (6 weeks - 18 months)

Our sensitive and caring teachers welcome you into a warm, secure and clean environment and assist you with your daily transition from home. Establishing a nurturing relationship gives you peace of mind and trust that comes from knowing your baby is safe in an attentive, respectful atmosphere you can depend on.

Communication with parents is essential to the success of each infant's care. Daily detailed reports will include your child's eating, diapering, sleeping and developmental activities. We encourage and welcome parents' questions and suggestions. The one-on-one interactions between infants and their caregivers are natural and spontaneous and stimulate brain development. Our caregivers' focus each day is to meet all infant's individual developmental needs, knowing that all interaction is an opportunity for connecting and stimulating her development.

Curriculum Components

Language Development: Our caregivers engage in frequent conversation with the babies by referring to them by name, repeating sounds they make, speaking clearly and calmly, and identifying objects they pick up or see. Opportunities for individual interactions occur during feeding time, diaper changes and transitions. Caregivers will identify and acknowledge an infant's feelings or sounds. Teachers introduce and routinely use American Sign Language (ASL). Research shows that children as young as 6 months can begin making signs to communicate needs and that signing enhances verbal language acquisition!

Motor Development: Our play areas are designed to encourage physical development; clean, comfortable open floor areas for wiggling, turning and rolling; various textured toys made for "baby hands" that help with dexterity, eye-hand coordination, grasping and sensory stimulation. There are plenty of safe structures for crawling, pulling up and standing, climbing or walking! Independent exploration is encouraged with words and gentle practice, and there is always soothing music and lots of singing.

Emotional/Social Development: Our experienced caregivers recognize the emotional development of babies that begins long before they come to Stepping Stone. Caregivers respect and nurture your child with genuinely warm, cheerful smiles, hugs and encourage her feelings and needs. There are unlimited opportunities for relationships to begin and each child will always be cared for with prompt, personal and sensitive responses to their feelings, needs and discoveries!

Cognitive Development: A child's natural curiosity promotes this development and our unsurpassed curriculum encourages this curiosity! We provide plenty of "cause-and-effect" toys in an environment rich with opportunities to explore sights, sounds, feelings and emotions. Highly trained caregivers recognize what stimulates a child's mind and respond to their discoveries with words of encouragement and praise!

Developmental Nurturance Program (18 months - 3 years)

Our distinguished Toddler Curriculum and Program enhances, develops and responds to your child at every level of development and promotes good learning for a lifetime!

Weekly, theme-based lesson plans address the different needs of each child through planned activities. This changing atmosphere supports your child's rapidly emerging abilities and interests and offers opportunities for early math, science, reading, construction and imaginative play learning experiences.

Curriculum Components

Language Development: Teachers are respectful of children's varying stages of language, and clear, frequent speech is used to assist children in self-expression. Books, rhyming songs and fingerplays encourage the use of speech in social settings. The American Sign Language introduced in the Infant program expands for toddlers as their language development progresses and gives them another method of communicating their needs. It is amazing to watch toddlers communicate using ASL!

Motor Development: Intriguing activities and games are designed to enhance the next level of physical development. Rhythm games and dancing teach children the joys of physical expression. Painting, gluing, coloring, working puzzles and building with blocks enhance creativity and develop a sense of pride in accomplishment. Hopping, climbing and tumbling take place, both inside and out, in our secure and carefully monitored play areas!!

Emotional/Social Development: In the warm, safe environment that is the hallmark of all Stepping Stone classrooms, our accomplished educators foster an atmosphere of respect for children's attitudes and needs, and begin to guide and model positive interactions for the children. Empathy is encouraged and recognized, friendships and independent interactions are nurtured, and self-help skills are supported as toddlers begin this exciting journey of exploration!

Cognitive Development: A toddler's cognitive development is accelerating and critical learning skills are developing. Our comprehensive program nurtures these skills with cause-and-effect activities, guessing games and listening games. Centers have toys supporting skills such as sorting, stacking, counting and matching. Teachers nurture problem solving skills and provide areas for sensory experiences, artistic expression and pre-writing opportunities.

Pre-K Readiness Program (3 - 4 years)

Our respected and proven curriculum continues to promote cognitive and positive development in these eager learners!

Our well-trained teachers take an active role in each child's development by preparing weekly, theme-based lesson plans that respond to the interests and stages of both the individual child and the group. Daily schedules and consistency help build the trust that is blossoming in this stage of development. American Sign Language (ASL) instruction continues, building upon the signs introduced in the previous age groups. Research indicates that signing encourages language development for small children.

Curriculum Components

Language Development: Phonetic awareness is promoted through books, songs and activities while literature is introduced in displays, readings and conversations. Print concepts, such as letter and word recognition and learning to track left to right and top to bottom, are illustrated and practiced. Children build vocabulary as words are introduced in stories and reinforced through play. Many activities focus on letter names, shapes, and sound recognition. Correct grammar and sentence structure are modeled by teachers, and there is plenty of practice at asking and answering questions!

Motor Development: Three year olds are really discovering what a human body can do! Vigorous physical exercise is encouraged both inside and out, and large movements like dancing, climbing, running and throwing, kicking, and rolling balls develop your child's strength, fitness and coordination. Many engaging toys, games and writing materials also develop the finer muscle development of the hands to prepare children for more refined tasks. Healthy eating habits are reinforced through family-style lunch and self-serve snacks.

Emotional/Social Development: Around the age of 3, a strong sense of individual identity is beginning to develop. In a supportive, secure environment, children are now encouraged to identify their own feelings as well as to empathize with the feelings of others. Exploration and discovery are strongly encouraged, and simple rules and routines are added so that children can internalize a sense of structure. There is an emphasis on self-expression and self-direction, while at the same time learning to recognize the rights of others and to establish healthy, friendly relationships with peers.

Cognitive Development: More and more complex problem solving skills are practiced in the 3-year-old classrooms. Materials supporting advanced skills like sorting, stacking, counting, matching and one-to-one correspondence are used. The concept of cause-and-effect is now demonstrated through scientific observations of the natural world. Open-ended questions are asked by teachers to encourage critical thinking. Open-ended art projects and dramatic play encourage creativity and imagination.

Our respected and proven curriculum continues to promote cognitive and positive development in these eager learners!

In a current nationally recognized, federally-funded research program, Stepping Stone School Pre-K children excelled in Pre-literacy Experience and Reading Success Preparedness.

Advanced Pre-K Readiness Program (4 - 5 years)

Four and five-year olds are fully expressing themselves and growing inquisitive about the opinions and ideas of others. This final year before kindergarten fosters the confidence and learning excitement critical for a lifetime of learning!

Our degreed and credentialed educators continue to build and support a learning environment that stimulates and reinforces all children to reach their potential. Research identifies early literacy competency as an indicator of literacy and academic success in kindergarten and elementary school. Our Advanced Pre-K program is strongly weighted in literacy awareness activities. These focus on letter recognition, letter sounds, print concepts, story telling, anticipation of story developments, letter writing and early spelling through sound, name recognition of classmates, writing and other literacy opportunities throughout the classroom learning centers.

Strong planning is reflected daily throughout the room. Learning centers are adjusted on a weekly basis to maintain and stimulate the children’s interest and curiosity. Daily routines lend stability and consistency that build confidence. American Sign Language (ASL) that has been flourishing in our classrooms since the infant rooms is continued. In the Advanced Pre-K classroom children are observed using signs to express feelings, needs, frustrations and appreciation. They sign their own names and those of their friends, along with the alphabet. This alternative way of expressing themselves supports an anti-bias curriculum and a positive perspective of a different language.

Curriculum Components

Language Development: Conversational skills increase as children learn to use new sounds and words, and complete more complex sentence structures. Classroom interactions feature multiple step instructions, asking complex questions and supplying detailed answers. Letter-sound connections are stressed and practiced, and print knowledge strategies progress. Children learn to retell stories and to connect various narrative events as literary skills are refined. Students learn to use letters that represent sounds as they practice writing words.

Motor Development: Continued physical development is enhanced with enjoyable games and activities that encourage vigorous climbing, running and jumping. Preparation for advanced games is enhanced by learning to throw at targets and to catch thrown balls. Activities such as printing letters, drawing specific shapes and stringing objects readies children for the kind of manipulative educational tasks they will experience in kindergarten.

Emotional/Social Development: By the time children reach the Advanced Pre-K level they are ready to take on some responsibility, and cooperation with peers is understood and expected. Independence and self-reliance are encouraged as children learn a sense of accomplishment from completing tasks and feeling a sense of responsibility. Empathetic understanding of others is recognized and reinforced as children become emotionally and socially prepared for the kindergarten/school environment.

Cognitive Development: Math skills appear as students learn to count and recognize one-to-one correspondence for numbers 1 through 10. Students develop the ability to understand, explain and practice cause-and-effect as their problem-solving skills develop. Skills of categorization begin to mirror patterns of brain development as children learn to sort objects by group and sub-group. Measurement, pattern recognition and returning to previously started tasks show the emergence of higher-level thinking. As always, creativity and imaginative expression are emphasized in art, dramatic play, and role-playing.

Our respected and proven curriculum continues to promote cognitive and positive development in these eager learners!

In a current nationally recognized, federal grant research project, Stepping Stone School Pre-K children excelled in Pre-literacy Experience and Reading Success Preparedness.

Future Leaders and Inventors School Age Program

After-School Enrichment Program

Stepping Stone School's "Future Leaders and Inventors" After School Program inspires growing minds and promotes your child's total development and education! We know that Einstein, Bach, Curie and Earhart walk among us!

Our innovative After School Curriculum engages your children's natural curiosity, allowing them to explore mathematical, scientific, literary and creative activities in a comfortable, stimulating, learner-directed atmosphere. Weekly themes such as Lance Armstrong, Amelia Earhart and Albert Einstein tie together interdisciplinary activities in interest areas such as Writer's Workshop, Architect's Archway, Syntax Station, Discovery Lab, High Tech Headquarters, The Louvre and Shakespeare's Nook. Stepping Stone School's combination of comfort, creative design and advanced technology make learning effective and, most importantly, downright fun!

Homework Lab

Each day students will have scheduled homework time to complete homework assignments or spend some time beginning their homework assignments before heading home. Our School Age guides know how important homework is and encourage students to get it done and provide access to the Encyclopedia Brittannica on the computer for students to use for research.

Summer Adventure Camp

Our summer program has designated time toward allowing opportunities for children to participate in daily math games, puzzles, literature, and writing journals designed to promote skill building in these important academic areas. It is our goal to enhance your child’s awareness of literacy and math in an engaging camp environment, and to be a partner with you, ensuring your child is ready for the coming school year!

Creative recreation; captivating field trips including rockwall climbing, Austin Duck Tours, Chef's Academy, Lazer Tag, and Mini Golf; vigorous physical activity and good old-fashioned summer fun and learning will have your child wishing this camp lasted all year long!

Our exclusive program feature, "Future Leaders and Inventors", focuses on individuals that contributed to our world through creative, scientific, musical or artistic endeavors and discoveries. Whether engaged in Picasso's Creations, Einstein's Critical Thinkers, Safari Adventures, World Cultures, Mad Science or Underwater Adventures, the children at Stepping Stone School will learn, develop and stay ready for school in fun entertaining ways!

Daily Swim Lessons are available and other enhancement programs include Karate, Music and Dance. Programs vary by location.

Literacy & Math Club

Stepping Stone School has formally established a specific area in your child’s classroom which supports, encourages and inspires your child’s love for reading and math. I invite you to explore this area with your child. More specifically, our summer camp curriculum will include daily: a vocabulary word of the day, math game rotations, individual journal writing, and a book reading challenge. Your child will have the opportunity to win colored ribbons for milestone achievements based on participation in this fun and educational club.

We believe this enhancement will be a great addition to our larger concept of Future Leaders and Inventors; which highlights Stepping Stone School's commitment to supporting your child’s belief in himself/herself and the confidence to become whatever he/she aspires to be.

High Tech Headquarters

Flat screen monitors and state-of-the-art computers prepare your children for tomorrow's world as they take on games and activities that challenge all levels of computer skills.

Junior Genius Zone

Every room now has exploration areas featuring computers, math concept games, and activities that promote scientific thinking and questioning. Children will challenge each other to new levels of learning with magnets, experiments and other engaging puzzlers.