Play is the best context in which children learn. At Milldam Nursery School, our curriculum helps children become independent, negotiate conflicts, and build relationships. Through the combination of self-directed play and guidance from our educators, students at Milldam Nursery School become real thinkers. Whether the problem is how to negotiate a turn on the tire swing or cooperatively build a block bridge across the classroom, Milldam students acquire the social and critical thinking skills necessary for success in Kindergarten and beyond. Through play, children develop the following skills:
Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Sharing and Cooperation
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Our classroom activities and materials encourage independence, decision-making, and improving cognitive skills. Our director, teachers, and assistants collaborate fully to refine and improve our curriculum each year. Classroom materials are meticulously selected for their ability to develop specific skills for Milldam Nursery School students.
Building materials, such as blocks, support critical thinking
Art materials, such as paint and clay, support creativity
Outdoor play, such as bikes and our climbing structure, support gross motor skills
Dramatic play materials, such as costumes and every day objects, support imagination and social skills
Books and tapes support early literacy
Daily Schedule
Our classrooms provide consistent and safe daily routine. Each day at Milldam Nursery School, children follow a loose schedule that includes:
Self-directed activities that allow children to follow their interests
Teacher-led lessons that help the students master specific skills, such as the proper use of scissors or holding a pencil
Group meeting, which facilitates communication skills and instills confidence
Storytime, which supports early literacy
Outdoor Play, because movement is an essential component of developmentally appropriate practice as children learn by doing
Snack Time, which facilitates community building
Thematic and Emergent Learning
Each month at Milldam Nursery School, teachers design curriculum around a specific theme. Thematic materials and activities that are interwoven throughout our curriculum are thoughtfully selected by our educators to specifically support learning in the areas of literacy, art, math, and science.
When our educators identify a theme about which the students are particularly enthusiastic, they will continue to drill deeper into that subject to support the particular interests and passions of the children in the class.
Outdoor Play
At Milldam Nursery School, we prioritize our students' connection to the outdoors. Each classroom spends time every day outdoors, rain or shine. We have three dedicated outdoor spaces, including our play yard, hard scape and grassy area. Each vastly different space aids in the development of fine and gross motor skills.
Enrichment Programs
Music
All Milldam classes participate in a weekly music class for 30 minutes. Milldam uses music to help children learn vocabulary, improve articulation, understand rhythm, and express themselves creatively. Milldam Nursery School has partnered with Jammin With You (JWY), a local company committed to providing high-quality music education in schools. Our JWY Specialist is Mabel Pence. Mabel holds a BA in Music and Clinical Psychology from Tufts University. Learn more about Mabel and JWY on their website!
Storytime Yoga
All Milldam classes participate in Storytime Yoga with Annie Vigne. “Miss Annie” holds a Masters in Education (K-12) from Simmons University, a Reading Recovery Teacher Leader Degree from Lesley University and an Early Childhood Degree from SUNY Canton - as well as being a certified Yoga and Meditation teacher. Annie’s idea for combining literacy with yoga was inspired by a desire for children to creatively learn in a multi-sensory way (kinesthetic learning). When children retell/act out a story using yoga poses, props, dramatic play, breathing techniques and mindfulness games, the brain’s capacity for learning is enhanced and children gain more confidence. Most of all, it is fun!
Drama
The 4/5 classes participate in 40-minute drama classes bi-weekly and the 3/4 classes participate on a monthly basis. Our Drama Teacher, Katie Vennard, holds a BA in Theatre Arts and Creative Writing from Providence College. She uses age appropriate theatre games and improv activities to spark each child’s imagination. Milldam's Drama Program aims to build self confidence and promote creative thinking skills.
Art
Milldam partners with Umbrella Arts for monthly art enrichment for all classes. Sarah Scofield, our Art Educator, holds both a BFA and MAED from The Maryland Institute College of Art. Miss Sarah brings monthly themes to life through literature and a variety of art mediums. This program serves as a complement to the artistic skills being developed in our classrooms on a daily basis.
Field Trips
Our field trips are designed to introduce the children to the world around them, and specifically address what it means to be a part of a community that works cooperatively. Every field trip is within walking distance to the school.
Post Office
Department of Public Works
Concord Museum
Concord Art Association
Concord Public Library
Concord Fire Station
Classroom Visits
Our classroom visitors enrich and augment our curriculum by bringing some of the best programs right to Milldam Nursery School.
Mass Audubon
New England Aquarium
Puppeteer Lindsay Aucella
Eyes on Owls
Fire Station
Rhythm Kids
