Education Guide 2022

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For over 30 years, Montessori Children’s House of Denver has provided a nurturing environment based on three core values: respect for oneself, respect for others, and respect for the environment. Through individualized instruction and a range of community-oriented activities, our students develop confidence in themselves and their abilities, as well as an understanding of how to use their gifts to make the world a better place. If you would like to see your child engaging with the world on a deeper level, we invite you to schedule a tour or register for an upcoming open house.

Dealing with Test Anxiety

By Courtney Drake-McDonough

Tests are nerve-wracking no matter if it’s a third-grade spelling test or AP biology exam. These experts share their tips for helping kids overcome test anxiety.

THE THERAPIST SAYS…

Some text anxiety can be a good thing because it motivates us to study. Problems arise when our anxiety is so high that it hijacks our cerebral cortex, or our “thinking brain,” causing our mind to “go blank.” In a testing situation, this can lead to panic because pulling information from our mind is our main goal at that moment.

It’s best to begin early, helping elementary students use strategies to manage test anxiety because there is less pressure surrounding grades. If a child has high test anxiety, parents and teachers should collaborate to figure out what works best for the student, trying out different scenarios on weekly tests to practice getting used to the emotional experience of test taking.

Strategies include allowing students to take tests without time and location constraints. Once they’ve adjusted to that, they can practice taking tests timed and in a group. For some students, incorporating test accommodations through a 504 Plan or an Individualized Education Plan may be needed.

-Emily W. King, Ph.D., Child Psychologist, Raleigh, NC. learnwithdremily.com

THE TUTORING COMPANY SAYS…

Being prepared and rested before testing can minimize anxiety levels in kids. Children and teenagers have many competing priorities so parents can support their students by making sure there is time in their schedule to study, a dedicated study space, and tools to facilitate productive studying. Providing enough time to rest and decompress before testing is crucial too.

Anxiety in children and teenagers is often exacerbated by the pressure to excel that may come from their parents/ guardians, peers, teachers, etc. Some children take this very seriously and put extra pressure on themselves. This can be alleviated by reassuring your child that their grades/scores do not always define their abilities, that there’s always an opportunity to improve, and that many lessons are to be learned from failure itself.

-Cristina H. Hartman, Ph.D., owner & CEO Mindcraft Makerspace & eXL Learning mindcraftmakerspace.com/ exl-turoring

THE LONG-TIME TEACHER SAYS…

It’s so important for students to learn how to advocate for themselves as they learn more about their learning and testing styles. Creating a positive relationship with teachers and parents helps lower anxiety before it even starts.

It’s then helpful if the teacher can tell students the purpose of the tests such as showing understanding of concepts we’ve been learning or a diagnostic test to see what skills need to be worked on. Understanding “the why” of the test can help a test taker calm down their brain.

Reach out to your child’s teacher and school to come up with accommodations that work for your child. This could include taking the test in smaller chunks or in a small group. Or, looking to getting 504 accommodations, which some students get because of a medical diagnosis of anxiety.

-Shannon Blackard, educator, Denver

By Lydia Rueger

INTERVIEW WITH 2022 TEACHER OF THE YEAR, AUTUMN RIVERA

Colorado Parent: What is your favorite part of being an educator?

Autumn Rivera: My favorite part of being an educator is the ability to build relationships with my students and their families. I love teaching them about science, but just getting to hear about their lives is so special. When they update me on their latest football game, dance recital, ski race, or new sibling, it always makes me smile. I am lucky to live in a very tight knit community where I also get to teach siblings and cousins of students. To meet students as sixth graders and then watch them graduate six years later is such a gift. I am so honored to have the amazing students I do.

CP: What makes being an educator most challenging?

AR: One major challenge is time. There is just not enough time to do all the things I wish I could do for my students.

Between grading, meetings, lesson plans, conferences, and phone calls, the day is filled with so many different tasks pulling me in different directions. I wish I had more time to focus on my students and how I can support them. I look forward to the day when education in Colorado is fully funded and we can fully staff our schools with all the support they need.

CP: What specific area outside of school subjects do you see current students struggling with the most? In an ideal situation, what do you think would help with this the most?

AR: After two years of persevering through COVID-19, our students have come out stronger. Their learning shifts are areas to celebrate, and I have never been prouder. However, one area in which students need a bit more support is with their social skills. As students were not around their classmates for so long, they did not learn the social skills that one learns during their formative years. I notice many students entering eighth grade that still having the social skills of a fifth or sixth grader. They will catch up and figure it out, but we can help our students by providing more specific social-emotional support. COVID-19 was traumatic for all of us, including our students. Helping them process that trauma while also providing them the steps they need to move forward will help us all move forward.

CP: What tip can you give parents on how they can best support student learning at home (that is realistic for busy families)?

AR: Talk to your children about school. Ask questions that are more specific than “what did you do today?” Ask your children what challenged them, what made them smile, or how they were able to show kindness. Ask to see their latest test score or book they are reading. With most schools using online systems for teaching and/or grading, it is now very simple for a child to pull up an assignment to show their families. Celebrate the successes and help your child make plans for areas of growth. I know this can be more difficult as children enter the “teen tunnel,” believe me, I’ve been teaching middle schoolers for 17 years. However, when children know their parents are interested, even if they act annoyed, they want to do better.

CP: What’s a method or practice you’ve discovered that generally helps to keep kids motivated?

AR: In my 17 years of teaching, the one method that works best to motivate students is to get to know them. Learn what they are interested in and what gets them excited. Once I know that, I am able to tailor instruction to pique their curiosity. When learning relates to their lives, students are more engaged and their learning is more authentic.

CP: What’s your philosophy on homework?

AR: I understand the importance of practicing work outside of class. And in an ideal world, I would be in support of homework. However, my students come from all walks of life; I find many times that homework is not a measure of how much a student knows, but instead a measure of how much support a student has outside of school. Therefore, I do not assign a lot of homework in my class. I instead provide opportunities in class to demonstrate individual understanding of content.

CP: What skill do you think is most important for students to develop while at school?

AR: The most important skill for students to develop while at school is perseverance—to work even when they don’t want to. For some, perseverance in school is the easiest thing and for others it is very difficult. I try to tie in persevering in sports and how that same skill can tie into school life. When students learn they can transfer that strength from one area of their lives to another, it’s amazing what they can do!

CP: Anything else you’d like to add?

AR: Teaching in Colorado is such a gift. I love working in a community where I am supported by students and parents alike. It is crucial to remember that my students are not just my students, but our community’s students. We all need to work together in order to provide the best educational experience for them, as strong education builds strong communities.

Educational Therapy Tutoring VS.

One in every five students is dyslexic, yet many of these students do not receive the early intervention necessary to help them succeed in school. This is because most public schools do not consider dyslexia to be a severe enough disability to provide services for dyslexic students. As a result, students with learning disabilities such as dyslexia fall behind on their studies because they have no outlet for help. That’s when educational therapy becomes a necessity for students that need extra help outside of school. There’s a big difference between educational therapy and tutoring, however, and Katharine Novak, one of three educational therapists in Louisiana, offers insight for parents considering supplementary learning for their child.

By Emily Drez

What is educational therapy?

Educational therapy offers children and adults with learning disabilities a wide range of interventions to remediate learning challenges and build resilience. “I do informal evaluations and screenings, and I refer families to various people for educational testing,” says Dr. Novak. She is the founder of NOLA Learning Support and Consulting, where she works with kindergarten to college-aged students with mild to moderate learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and ADHD. “I also take educational evaluations that families have already gotten and design an intervention plan to carry out,” she adds. “I advocate for students in their schools to get them services, accommodations, or modifications, and I teach parents about their children’s learning differences and what they can do to help their child at home.”

How does it differ from tutoring?

Tutoring tends to focus on a specific subject matter with which a student is struggling, but an educational therapists’ focus is broader. Educational therapists address the academic, socio-emotional, and non-academic areas of a given student to help develop individualized intervention strategies specific to what he or she needs. “I work with a team to develop a plan,” says Dr. Novak. “I’m required to do specific professional development for a certain amount of hours each year to stay on top of current interventions, remedial programs, and strategies that are research and/or evidence based. I have a toolbox of methods and strategies such as the Orton-Gillingham method that help improve a student’s skills so they ultimately gain more confidence and succeed in school.”

The student’s intervention plan is modified based on their needs. It can be a specific methodology or a combination of methodologies that challenge the student to be aware of their strengths and weaknesses and to use specific strategies to overcome challenges. “We see students that have average or above-average intelligence, but their achievement in school is very low due to their learning disabilities. Dyslexic students need consistent intervention to improve their skills. I don’t know of any other private practices in New Orleans that offer our services,” says Dr. Novak.

In fact, NOLA Learning Support and Consulting has a sponsorship fund to provide free services to students who can’t afford them. It has also recently partnered with Son of a Saint, a non-profit organization that mentors boys without fathers. Currently, NOLA Learning Support and Consulting is seeing three sixth-grade boys whose reading skills have improved from a first grade level to a third or fourthgrade level thanks to the company’s assessment, interventions, and advocacy.

therapy for a child?

“Students who come to us are falling behind in reading, writing, and spelling, and a lot of students’ parents say that their child does not like to read and that they’re avoidant or have low self-esteem when it comes to academics,” Dr. Novak answers. Other red flags involve trouble with organization and basic executive functioning skills, along with trouble with sustained attention and time management. It’s also important to make sure your child is at the appropriate reading level by the time they are in third grade, as fifty-percent of students in Louisiana do not meet this benchmark and therefore are less likely to graduate.

Ultimately, NOLA Learning Support and Consulting hopes to bring attention to students who need early intervention and provide no-cost and private-practice opportunities for children outside their schools. Dr. Novak strives to build their confidence, teach them to advocate for themselves and any accommodations they may need, and help them understand that they are smart and capable regardless of their learning differences. If you think your child may need an educational therapist, visit aetonline.org.

In what case would you recommend educational

PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY

ARVADA

FAITH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY gofaitheagles.com 303-424-7310 K-12 Christian

OAK STREET CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER oakstreetcdc.com 303-274-0519 Infant-Age 12 School Readiness

SHRINE OF ST. ANNE CATHOLIC SCHOOL stannescatholic.com 303-422-1800 K-8 Roman Catholic

ST. JOAN OF ARC EARLY LEARNING CENTER stjoanelc.org 303-422-4949 PK-K Roman Catholic

THE ACADEMY ARVADA EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION theacademyece.com 303-424-0246 Toddler-K Early Childhood

AURORA

CEDARWOOD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY cedarwoodchristian.org 303-361-6456 K-12 Christian

CHRIST OUR REDEEMER LUTHERAN SCHOOL christredeemerschool.org 303-337-3108 PK-8 Lutheran – WELS

CRESCENT VIEW ACADEMY crescentview.org 303-745-2245 PK-12 Islamic

HAPPY DAY LEARNING CENTER 303-337-3838 Preschool-PK Early Childhood

HOLY LOVE PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN holylovelutheran.org 303-693-8519 Preschool-K Lutheran – ELCA

MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF AURORA montessoriofaurora.com 303-617-0611 Toddler-K Montessori

MT. OLIVE LUTHERAN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER mtolc.org 303-750-9856 PK-JK Lutheran – MS

PEACE WITH CHRIST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL pwccs.org 303-766-7116 K-8

Lutheran – MS

REGIS JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL regisjesuit.com 303-269-8000 9-12 Jesuit

ST. PIUS X CATHOLIC SCHOOL stpiusxschool.net 303-364-6515 PK-8 Roman Catholic

ST. THERESE CATHOLIC SCHOOL stthereseschool.com 303-364-7494 PK-8 Roman Catholic

BOULDER

BIXBY SCHOOL bixbyschool.org 303-494-7508 PK-5 Independent

BOULDER COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL bouldercountryday.org 303-527-493 Preschool-8 Independent

BOULDER JOURNEY SCHOOL boulderjourneyschool.com 303-443-8909 Infant-PK Early Childhood

BOULDER MONTESSORI SCHOOL bouldermontessori.org 303-494-5814 Toddler-K

Montessori

BOULDER WALDORF KINDERGARTEN boulderwaldorf.com 303-541-0671 Toddler-K Waldorf

COUNTRYSIDE MONTESSORI SCHOOL 303-494-3100 PK-K Montessori

FRIENDS SCHOOL friendsschoolboulder.org 303-499-1999 Toddler-8 Independent (non-Quaker)

GROWING MINDS LEARNING ACADEMY growingmindsco.com 303-530-1820 Infant-Age 8 Independent

JARROW MONTESSORI SCHOOL jarrow.org 303-443-0511 Toddler-6 Montessori

MACKINTOSH ACADEMY mackboulder.com 303-554-2011 K-8 Gifted Education

MAPLETON MONTESSORI SCHOOL mapletonmontessori.org 303-449-4499 Ages 2½-6 Montessori

MOUNTAIN SHADOWS MONTESSORI SCHOOL mountainshadows.org 303-530-5353 Ages 1-12 Montessori

MT. ZION LUTHERAN PRESCHOOL mtzionboulder.org 303-443-8477 Toddler-PK Lutheran – MS

SACRED HEART OF JESUS SCHOOL school.shjboulder.org 303-447-2362 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

SEPTEMBER HIGH SCHOOL septemberschool.org 303-443-9933 9-12 Independent

SHINING MOUNTAIN WALDORF SCHOOL shiningmountainwaldorf.org 303-444-7697 PK-12 Waldorf

TARA PERFORMING ARTS HIGH SCHOOL tarahighschool.org 303-440-4510 9-12 Waldorf

TEMPLE GRANDIN SCHOOL templegrandinschool.org 303-554-7363 5-12 Special Education

THE JOSHUA SCHOOL joshuaschool.org 303-974-7732 Ages 7-21 Special Education

WATERSHED SCHOOL watershedschool.org 303-440-7520 6-12

Independent

ZIJI EARLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL zijiearlyelementary.org 303-530-0844 K-2 Independent

BRIGHTON

BRIGHTON ADVENTIST ACADEMY baaconnect.org 303-659-1223 K-10

Seventh-day Adventist

ELMWOOD BAPTIST ACADEMY ebabrighton.org 303-659-3818 K-12 Baptist

ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL brightonzls.org 303-659-3443 Preschool-8 Lutheran – MS

BROOMFIELD

APPLE TREE CHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN broomfieldumc.org/apple-tree 303-466-8365 PK-K

Early Childhood

BAL SWAN CHILDREN’S CENTER balswan.org 303-466-6308 PK-1 Early Childhood

BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR LUTHERAN SCHOOL & ELC beautifulsaviorbroomfield.org 303-469-2049 Infant-6th Grade Lutheran – MS

HOLY FAMILY HIGH SCHOOL holyfamilyhs.com 303-410-1411 9-12 Roman Catholic

HOPE MONTESSORI ACADEMY montessorichild.com 303-457-4400 Infant-K Montessori

NATIVITY OF OUR LORD CATHOLIC SCHOOL school.nool.us 303-466-4177 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

CASTLE ROCK

FAITH LUTHERAN PRESCHOOL faithcrco.org/preschool 303-688-3476 Preschool Lutheran

MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF CASTLE ROCK montessoricastlerock.com 303-663-6942 Toddler-K Montessori

CENTENNIAL

AMBLESIDE SCHOOL amblesidecolorado.com 720-712-0464 K-9 Christian

CENTENNIAL MONTESSORI thecentennialmontessori.com 720-200-9220 Infant-Age 6 Montessori

JOSHUA EARLY

CHILDHOOD CENTER joshuaearlychildhoodcenter.org 720-583-6849 Age 2½-6 Early Childhood

SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS EARLY LEARNING CENTER shepherdhills-school.org 303-798-0711 Preschool-PK Early Childhood

ST. THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC SCHOOL stmcatholic.org 303-770-0441 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

WILLOWS CHILD LEARNING CENTER willowschildlearn.com 303-771-4202 Preschool-K Early Childhood

WILLOWS OLDE MILL willowschildlearn.com 303-721-7771 Preschool-K Early Childhood

COMMERCE CITY

ROCKY MOUNTAIN LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL rmlhs.org 303-346-1947 9-12 Lutheran – WELS

CONIFER

ASPEN PARK MONTESSORI aspenparkmontessori.org 303-668-1532 PK-K Montessori

DENVER

ACCELERATED SCHOOLS acceleratedschools.org 303-758-2003 1-12 Gifted Education

ANNUNCIATION CATHOLIC SCHOOL annunciationk8.org 303-295-2515 K-8 Roman Catholic

ARRUPE JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL arrupejesuit.com 303-455-7449 9-12 Jesuit

ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC SCHOOL assumptiondenver.org

303-288-2159 PK-8

Roman Catholic

BETH JACOB HIGH SCHOOL OF DENVER bjhs.org 303-893-1333 9-12 Jewish (all-girl)

BISHOP MACHEBEUF HIGH SCHOOL machebeuf.org 720-743-3970 9-12 Roman Catholic

BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHOLIC SCHOOL bscs-denver.net 303-377-8835 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

CALVARY APOSTOLIC ACADEMY cacdenver.org 303-758-5900 K-12 Pentecostal

CHILDREN’S GARDEN MONTESSORI SCHOOL cgmontessori.com 303-322-0972 Toddler-K Montessori

CHRIST LUTHERAN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER christlutheranecc.org 303-722-1424 Toddler-PK Lutheran – MS

CHRIST THE KING ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL christthekingdenver.org 303-321-2123 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

COLORADO ACADEMY coloradoacademy.org 303-986-1501 PK-12 Independent

DENVER ACADEMY denveracademy.org 303-777-5161 1-12 Independent

DENVER ACADEMY OF TORAH datcampus.org 720-859-6806 K-12 Jewish

DENVER JEWISH DAY SCHOOL denverjds.org 303-369-0663 K-12 Jewish

L’ECOLE DE DENVER ecoledenver.com 970-439-0130 PK and 5th-8th

Private school opener: Klaus Vedfelt/Getty images

PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY

grade (no K-4th grade) Language School

ESCUELA DE GUADALUPE escuelaguadalupe.org 303-964-8456 PK-8 Roman Catholic

GARFIELD MONTESSORI SCHOOL garfieldmontessori.org 303-388-8828 Ages 2½-6 Montessori

GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL goodshepherddenver.org 303-321-6231 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

GRALAND COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL graland.org 303-399-0390 Preschool-8 Independent

GUARDIAN ANGELS CATHOLIC SCHOOL guardianangelschurchdenver.org 303-480-9005 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

HILLEL ACADEMY OF DENVER hillelacademyofdenver.com 303-333-1511 PK-8 Jewish

HOPE CENTER EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION hopecenterinc.org 303-388-4801 Toddler-K Special Education

ILIFF PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN iliffpreschool.com 303-757-3551 Toddler-K Early Childhood

INNER CITY SCHOOL innercityschool.org 303-316-4533 PK-7 Christian

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF DENVER isdenver.org 303-340-3647 PK-8 Independent

JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER jccdenver.org 303-316-6377 Toddler-Preschool Jewish

MONARCH MONTESSORI OF DENVER monarchm.com 303-712-2001 Infant-Age 5 Montessori

MONTESSORI ACADEMY OF COLORADO montessoriacademyofcolorado.org 303-623-2609 Infant-8th Grade Montessori

MONTESSORI CHILDREN’S HOUSE OF DENVER mchdenver.org 303-322-8324 PK-9 Montessori MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF

DENVER montessoridenver.org 720-606-4321 Toddler-8 Montessori

MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF WASHINGTON PARK mswp.org 303-722-7708 Age 2½-6 Montessori

MONTVIEW COMMUNITY PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN montviewpreschool.org 303-322-7296 Preschool-K Early Childhood

MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD CATHOLIC SCHOOL school.mpbdenver.org 303-757-1279 K-8 Roman Catholic

MULLEN HIGH SCHOOL mullenhigh.com 303-761-1764 9-12 Roman Catholic

NOTRE DAME PARISH SCHOOL notredamedenver.org 303-935-3549 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

OUR LADY OF LOURDES CATHOLIC SCHOOL lourdesclassical.org 303-722-7525 PK-8 Roman Catholic

PADDINGTON STATION PRESCHOOL paddingtonstation.org 303-333-9154 Toddler-K Early Childhood

RABBI STEVEN FOSTER EARLY LEARNING CENTER elc.emanueldenver.org 303-321-7258 Toddler-K Jewish

RICKS CENTER FOR GIFTED CHILDREN AT DU du.edu/ricks 303-871-2982 Preschool-8 Gifted Education

ROCK SOLID CHRISTIAN ACADEMY rocksolidchristian.com 303-797-1005 K-12 Christian

ST. ANNE’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL st-annes.org 303-756-9481 Preschool-8 Episcopal

ST. ELIZABETH’S SCHOOL stelizabethsdenver.org 303-322-4209 K-8 Episcopal

ST. JOHN’S SCHOOL & EARLY LEARNING CENTER sjdenver.org/school 303-733-3777 Toddler-8 Lutheran – MS

ST. ROSE OF LIMA CATHOLIC ACADEMY strosedenver.org 303-733-5806 PK-8 Catholic

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CATHOLIC SCHOOL svdpk8.com 303-777-3812 PK-8 Roman Catholic

STANLEY BRITISH PRIMARY SCHOOL stanleybps.org 303-360-0803 K-8 Independent

TEMPLE SINAI PRESCHOOL sinaidenver.org/preschool 303-759-0755 Age 15 months-3 years Jewish

THE DENVER WALDORF SCHOOL denverwaldorf.org 303-777-0531 PK-12 Waldorf

THE LOGAN SCHOOL theloganschool.org 303-340-2444 K-8 Gifted Education

THREE BEARS LEARNING CENTER threebearslearning.com 303-369-6464 Toddler-K Early Childhood

YESHIVA TORAS CHAIM OF DENVER ytcdenver.org 303-629-8200 9-12 Jewish (all-boy)

EASTLAKE

EASTLAKE MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL eastlakemontessori.com 303-452-3835 Ages 3-7 Montessori

ENGLEWOOD

ALL SOULS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Teacher and child: Getty Images.

allsoulscatholic.org/school 303-789-2155 PK-8

Roman Catholic

HUMANEX ACADEMY humanexacademy.com 303-783-0137 6-12 Alternative School

KENT DENVER SCHOOL kentdenver.org 303-770-7660 6-12 Independent

ST. MARY’S ACADEMY stmarys.academy 303-762-8300 PK-12 Catholic Independent

THE JOSHUA SCHOOL joshuaschool.org 303-758-7171 Ages 7-21 Special Education

ERIE

BLUE MOUNTAIN MONTESSORI bluemountainmontessori.com 303-339-0117 Preschool-K Montessori

VISTA RIDGE ACADEMY vistaridge.org 303-828-4944 Preschool-8 Seventh-day Adventist

EVERGREEN

EVERGREEN ACADEMY evergreenacademy.org 303-670-1721 Infant-Preschool Christian

EVERGREEN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL evergreencountryday.org 303-674-3400 Toddler-8th Grade Independent

MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF EVERGREEN montessori-evergreen.org 303-674-0093 Toddler-8 Montessori

FOXFIELD

OUR LADY OF LORETO CATHOLIC SCHOOL ololcatholicschool.org 303-951-8330 PK-8 Roman Catholic

FRANKTOWN

TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL tlcas.org 303-841-4660 Preschool-8 Lutheran – MS

GOLDEN

5280 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER 5280ecec.com 303-278-7772 Infant-PK

Early Childhood

CORNERSTONE MONTESSORI SCHOOL cornerstonemontessori.net 303-277-0245 Toddler-K Montessori

GREELEY

DAYSPRING CHRISTIAN ACADEMY dayspringeagles.org 970-330-1151 Preschool-12 Christian

SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS LUTHERAN PRESCHOOL sothgreeley.org 970-353-6582 Preschool Lutheran – WELS

ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL stmarycs.net 970-353-8100 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL tlsgreeley.org 970-330-2485 Preschool-8 Lutheran – MS

GREENWOOD VILLAGE

ASPEN ACADEMY aspenacademy.org 303-346-3500 PK-8 Independent

THE GARDNER SCHOOL OF DTC thegardnerschool.com/schools/thegardner-school-of-dtc/ 720-672-9980 Infant-Age 5 Independent

THE VILLAGE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER villagelearning.com

303-290-9005 Toddler-K Early Childhood

GUNBARREL

HILLSIDE SCHOOL hillsidelearning.org 303-494-1468 1-12 Special Education, Dyslexia

HIGHLANDS RANCH

ARMA DEI ACADEMY armadeiacademy.com 303-346-4523 Preschool-8 Christian

CHERRY HILLS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL cherryhillschristian.org 303-791-5500 Preschool-8 Christian

ESPREE CHILD LEARNING CENTER espreeclc.com 303-471-1110 Preschool-K Early Childhood

ST. LUKE’S LITTLE SCHOOL stlukeslittleschool.org 303-791-1982 Ages 2½-5 Christian

HIGHLANDS RANCH LEARNING CENTER highlandsranchlearning.com 303-346-7144 Infant-K Early Childhood

MILE HIGH ACADEMY milehighacademy.org 303-744-1069 Preschool-12 Seventh-day Adventist

VALOR CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL govalor.com 303-471-3000 9-12 Christian

LAFAYETTE

ADVENTURE MONTESSORI adventuremontessori.com 303-665-6789 Infant-Age 9 Montessori

DAWSON SCHOOL dawsonschool.org 303-665-6679 K-12

KEY: Phone Number Ages/Grades Type

Experiential LAKEWOOD

ADVANTAGE LEARNING CENTER advantagelc.net 303-914-5482 Infant-PK Early Childhood AUGUSTINE CLASSICAL ACADEMY augustineclassical.org 720-446-6286 Preschool-12 Christian

BETHLEHEM LUTHERAN SCHOOL bethlehemdenver.com/school 303-233-0401 Preschool-8 Lutheran – MS

CLEVER KIDS LEARNING CENTER child-care-preschool.brighthorizons. com/co/denver/cleverkids 720-258-4210 Infant-PK Early Childhood

CONCORDIA PRESCHOOL clcgrace.org 303-989-5260 PK-K Lutheran – MS

DENVER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL denverchristian.org 303-733-2421 Preschool-12 Christian

DENVER STREET SCHOOL (WEST CAMPUS) denverstreetschool.org 303-847-7582 9-12 Christian

LAKEWOOD UNITED METHODIST PRESCHOOL lumpreschool.org 303-238-9082 Preschool Early Education

OUR LADY OF FATIMA CATHOLIC SCHOOL olfcs.com 303-233-2500 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

WELLSPRING CATHOLIC ACADEMY OF ST. BERNADETTE stbcs.net 303-237-0401 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

LITTLETON

ABIDING HOPE PRESCHOOL

PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY

& KINDERGARTEN abidinghopepreschool.org 303-932-9160 Preschool-K Lutheran – ELCA

FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN fcpk.org 303-972-3162 Toddler-K Christian

FRONT RANGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL frcs.org 303-531-4541 Preschool-12 Christian

HAVERN SCHOOL havernschool.org 303-986-4587 K-8 Special Education

MACKINTOSH ACADEMY mackintoshacademy.com 303-794-6222 PK-8 Gifted Education

ST. MARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL littletoncatholicschool.com 303-798-2375 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

STEPPING STONES LEARNING CENTER OF LITTLETON sslcoflittleton.com 303-904-1121 Infant-Age 12 Early Childhood

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LONE TREE

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MONTESSORI SCHOOL AT LONE TREE montessoriatlonetree.com 303-799-8540 Ages 2½-7 Montessori

LONGMONT

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GATEWAY MONTESSORI SCHOOL gmslongmont.com 303-772-3864 Ages 1-5 Montessori

LONGMONT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL longmontchristian.org 303-776-3254 Preschool-12 Christian

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL school.johnthebaptist.org 303-776-8760 Preschool-8

Roman Catholic

LOUISVILLE

FAIRVIEW MONTESSORI SCHOOL fairviewmontessori.com 303-661-0343 Preschool-K Montessori

ST. LOUIS CATHOLIC SCHOOL school.stlp.org 303-666-6220 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

THE PATCHWORK SCHOOL

thepatchworkschool.com 720-271-6729 Ages 1-6 Early Education

MORRISON

RED ROCKS CHRISTIAN PRESCHOOL redrockschristianpreschool.org 303-922-8305 Ages 3-4 Christian

NIWOT

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ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY rmcaonline.org 303-652-9162 Preschool-8 Christian

NORTHGLENN

GETHSEMANE LUTHERAN SCHOOL glutheranschool.com 303-451-6908 Preschool-PK Lutheran – MS

STEP BY STEP CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER stepbystepchildcare.net 303-451-1740 Infant-Age 12 Early Childhood

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AVE MARIA CATHOLIC SCHOOL school.avemariacatholicparish.org 720-842-5400 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL lhsparker.org 303-841-5551 9-12 Lutheran – MS

PARKER MONTESSORI parkermontessori.com 303-841-4325 Infant-Age 6 Montessori

RENAISSANCE MONTESSORI ACADEMY rmaschool.org 303-840-6119 Age 2½-K Montessori

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SOUTHEAST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL sechristianschool.org 303-841-5988 Preschool-8 Christian

THORNTON

A CHILD’S TOUCH achildstouch.com 303-286-8460 Infant-K Christian

LITTLE VILLAGE CHRISTIAN CHILD CARE CENTER village-church.org/little-village 303-452-2944 Preschool-PK Christian

WESTMINSTER

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BLESSED MIGUEL PRO CATHOLIC ACADEMY miguelpro.org 303-427-5632 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

DEVEREUX CLEO WALLACE CENTER devereux.org 303-466-7391 5-12 Special Education

FLATIRONS ACADEMY flatironsacademy.org 303-451-1421 K-12 Christian

LIFE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY lifechristianacad.org 303-438-1260 K-12 Christian

NOAH’S ARK PRESCHOOL AND CHILDCARE noahsarkpreschoolandchildcare.com 303-466-6887 Infant-PK Christian

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN SCHOOL svlchurch.com 303-424-1306 Preschool-8 Lutheran – WELS

THE ACADEMY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER theacademyece.com 303-438-8610 Toddler-K

Children with worms: SDI Productions/Getty Images.

Early Childhood

VICTORY MONTESSORI & CHILDCARE victorydenver.com/childcare 303-426-8888 Infant-K Montessori

WOODEN SHOE PRESCHOOL & PREKINDERGARTEN woodenshoe-childcare.com 303-422-6195 Toddler-PK

Early Childhood

WHEAT RIDGE

ALPINE VALLEY SCHOOL alpinevalleyschool.com 303-271-0525 K-12 Sudbury School

BETH EDEN BAPTIST SCHOOL bethedenschool.org 303-232-2313 Preschool-12 Baptist

STS. PETER & PAUL CATHOLIC SCHOOL sppscatholic.com 303-424-0402 Preschool-8 Roman Catholic

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

BRIGHT HORIZONS EARLY EDUCATION & PRESCHOOL brighthorizons.com 877-624-4532 Infant-Primary Early Childhood

EVERBROOK ACADEMY everbrookacademy.com 888-235-0670 6 weeks-12 years

Traditional

KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTERS kindercare.com 888-525-2780 Infant-K Early Childhood

LA PETITE ACADEMY lapetite.com 248-697-9287 Infant-K

Early Childhood

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PRIMROSE SCHOOLS primroseschools.com 770-529-4100 Infant-K Early Childhood

THE COTTAGE SCHOOL cottageschoolsco.com 303-546-6814 Infant-K Early Childhood

THE GODDARD SCHOOL goddardschool.com 800-463-3273 Infant-K Early Childhood

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STEM for Early Learners

By Lydia Rueger

Tips

and Tools for Young Students to Start Engaging in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

A = B

It seems there’s no shortage of opportunities for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) and STEAM (just add Art for the A) learning for elementary, middle, and high school students these days. It’s become the focus of entire schools, teacher-sponsored clubs, and after-school programs, and with good reason: Children who learn STEM concepts throughout their education are better prepared to meet increasingly technology-focused professional requirements, according to an article from American University’s School of Education.

But what about early childhood? Is it unreasonable to teach babies, toddlers and preschoolers complex concepts of science, technology, engineering, and math? Experts agree it’s never too early to begin, but the way these concepts are introduced to early learners is different. According to the same American University article: At its core, STEM concepts help children develop new ways of thinking, encouraging curiosity and analysis—it’s not just about introducing them to new subjects. Establishing these skills at an early age (infancy through third grade), when young minds are most malleable, establishes lifelong thinking skills.

And while there are many ways to teach different STEM concepts, the overall goal at any age is to move away from rote memorization toward project-based learning that sparks students’ imaginations and develops their real-world skills.

“I think a big reason why kids struggle in STEM later is because they weren’t around it enough when they were young and then find it intimidating,” says Kayla Opperman, owner of Snapology of Golden-Littleton, a company that offers STEM-based workshops and camps to young students. “I don’t think it’s ever too early to start! There’s always an opportunity to point STEM concepts out and make it fun…They learn best when having fun and when not even realizing it’s educational.

Consider the following for your early learners, to help them do just that.

Encourage and model curiosity. With more than 35 years experience working with and raising children, Colorado-based reading specialist and STEM author Laura Roettiger thinks encouraging curiosity is the single most important thing a parent can do to encourage an interest in STEM subjects. “Curiosity will take that child in whatever direction they are meant to go,” she says. With her own daughter, now a mechanical engineer, Roettiger remembers that she was always curious about how things fit together as a child and always wanted to build things. “I said, ‘sure, give it a try.’ I was not the parent that said, ‘No, you’ll make a mess or you’ll break something.’” It’s also the message she conveys in her STEM-themed book, Aliana Reaches for the Moon. Roettiger thinks it’s important for adults to model this curiosity for their own interests, too. Tell kids how you learn things when you are curious, whether that’s through internet research, going to a museum or nature center, or by asking experts. “If we are interested, how do we learn?” she asks.

Provide opportunities for exploration and hands-on learning. “I believe the most effective way for kids to learn STEM concepts is through hands-on, interactive play,” Opperman says. “I think Lego bricks are perfect for learning math, as they’ll probably have an easier time with fractions later if they build during the early years. Technic bricks and gears will help them understand basic physics concepts later on.”

As a former electrical engineer, Opperman loves teaching kids robotics and watching their wheels turn as they put together the pieces. “The programming part brings it all together, and they get to understand how gear ratio, sensors, motors, wheels, axles, and more work. Snapology teaches children, as young as four, robotics, and even that age can stay engaged if you make it fun, and if they know what the end product is going to be.”

Roettiger suggests slowing down to give very young kids opportunities to explore their surroundings. Show infants the different feeling of warm and cold by putting their hands under the faucet. Sniff spices or walk by the bakery to experience different smells.

“Children are born scientists,” Roettiger says. “Think about the way a child looks at the world. They pick up a leaf, drop it, and watch it float to the ground. That same child picks up a rock and watches it fall faster. This is all information gathering and making sense of their world. As parents, caregivers, and educators we need to honor the child’s innate motivation to learn about their world.”

As a preschool teacher at Colorado STEM Academy in Westminster, Stevi Caridi sees firsthand how her four- and five-year-old students learn best when given the opportunity to “see and touch and do, rather than sitting and getting,” she says. Her school uses a curriculum called Project Lead The Way, which incorporates various challenges for young children to solve, along with the physical materials to go with them.

One of the final projects for her preschoolers is making a cast for a child’s arm. Working in pairs, they create something that is waterproof and supports the arm. She adds that when it comes to learning STEM concepts, it needs to be projects that are relatable to a child’s world, that they are able to test themselves.

Ask questions about their process, and let them take the lead. Caridi finds that these projects and problems in the curriculum work best when they are student-led and guided by teachers. She says that when her preschoolers get frustrated, she helps them by asking questions that could help develop their problem solving skills. For example, if they are building a house with popsicle sticks and it’s not coming together as they planned, she might ask, “how many walls does a house have?” rather than telling them what to do. She pairs this with building their confidence when they figure something out: “You’re right, a house does have four walls!”

“You just give them a little direction, and their mind goes crazy,” she says. “It’s so different from when I was in school, with just sitting and listening, and not as much hands-on exploration. Here, we see problem solving and collaboration.”

Explore these STEM-based projects, products, and places

Science Technology Engineering Math

Toy Zoomie 2.0 Handheld Digital Microscope allows kids to take a closer look at fruits and vegetables, sand, and other objects. See what objects are made of and view easily on a computer screen.

Book

Activity

Aliana Reaches for the Moon by Colorado-based author Laura Roettiger

Plant a seed, observe how it grows and what it needs in order to grow.

With Sphero indi, early learners can experience coding without a screen. Kids communicate instructions to a robot car by placing colored tiles on the floor, which tells the robot what to do.

How to Code a Rollercoaster by Josh Funk, illustrated by Sara Palacios

Create a short video story starring your child’s favorite toys or dolls. Practice digital literacy skills.

Experiment with basic wooden blocks, or Magna Tiles magnetic shapes to create buildings, mazes, and tunnels. Pick up classic LEGOs that aren’t part of a set to encourage free building.

Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty, Illustrated by David Roberts

Build a simple fort or stick structure—like a small bridge or floating raft— together.

MerryHeart Wooden Math Learning Board 1-100 helps littles learn to recognize numbers and count to 100. And LEGOs aren’t just for building, they are also tools for learning math. Weareteachers. com/lego-math/ has simple math lessons using LEGOs.

How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten? board book, by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

Measure recipe ingredients or use a tape measure to size up various items around the house.

Game

Life on Earth Memory & Matching Game from eeBoo. Ages 3 and up.

Join the Scratch online coding community for children where kids can learn to program and share what they create. Scratch Jr. is for age 5 and up.

Sesame Street Ramp Racers and Arthur Animal Home Builder online PBS Kids Engineering Games. pbskids.org/games/ engineering

Hi Ho! Cherry-O board game. Ages 3 and up.

Place Denver Museum of Nature & Science and The Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus are filled with handson science exploration exhibits for all ages.

Snapology offers year-round STEM workshops and camps at schools and recreation centers. Themes include robotics, stop-motion animation, junior engineering, and more.

At Junkyard Social Club in Boulder kids explore outdoors on structures made of repurposed supplies that can be moved and changed as children’s play dictates.

Toddlers and preschoolers are learning early math concepts like counting, identifying patterns, and sorting. Make it fun by visiting the Denver Zoo to count animals, identify stripes versus spots, and tally big versus small creatures.

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