Early Childhood

Academics

Big thinking starts small

At Highland, big thinking starts small. In our Early Childhood program, children from Pre-K 2/3 through Pre-K 4/5 don't wait to become learners; they already are. Every day, they read, write, count, question, and discover, guided by teachers who know exactly where each child is and where they're ready to go next. This is where the skills to thrive take root.

Reading and writing that build real foundations

Strong readers start with strong foundations. Children build early literacy through phonemic awareness and the multi-sensory IMSE approach to reading and spelling, so sounds and letters click into place. The Daily Five framework helps them practice as independent, self-driven readers. And with Handwriting Without Tears, they learn to form letters with confidence, one careful stroke at a time.

Math they can touch

Numbers make sense when children can hold them. Through Singapore Math and hands-on math centers, our youngest learners sort, count, and solve with real materials in their hands. They don't just memorize numbers. They understand what those numbers mean.

Learning by doing

Curiosity deserves room to run. Here's how we help actively children investigate the world around them:

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Project Approach Learning

Grounded in active exploration, Project Approach empowers our Pre-K students to take an active role in their learning. By investigating topics worthy of their natural curiosity, children build essential early skills. They learn to observe closely, share ideas, and work together with peers. It’s an approach that honors their individual voices, fosters resilience, and makes every day in Highland's Pre-Kindergarten program a joyful, hands-on journey.
Responsive Classroom

Responsive Classroom is an evidence-based teaching method focused on the strong link between academic achievement and social-emotional learning. By building a culture of trust, mutual respect, and clear expectations, Responsive Classroom helps students develop essential character traits like cooperation, self-advocacy, and responsibility. From an early age, Responsive Classroom gives them the foundation to step boldly into every challenge.

Every morning begins in a circle of friends. Guided by those Responsive Classroom principles, our youngest learners practice greeting each other, sharing their big ideas, and building the confidence to try new things. It’s where belonging begins and sets the stage for a day of joyful discovery.
Village Garden & Outdoor Classroom

Learning at Highland isn't confined to four walls.

Just behind Chilton Village, our Village Garden and Outdoor Classroom gives teachers a living, growing space to extend their lessons outdoors. Children plant, observe, and tend the garden. They watch our Monarch butterfly garden bring classroom science to life. They craft, build, and explore in an environment that makes abstract ideas real.

For a young learner, digging in the soil and discovering a grub for the first time isn't a break from learning. It is the learning. It's hands-on, memorable, and entirely their own.

Why it matters

Early childhood academics at Highland aren't about rushing ahead. They're about building thinkers, children who actively explore, ask, and try, and who grow to see themselves as capable. That confidence becomes the foundation for everything that follows.