Kids’ Experience: child-led play supported by our teacher + you

Your child is going to love learning and playing at Glacier Way

Child-led play. Social-emotional learning. All supported by our teacher and parents.

Everything that happens at Glacier Way is intentional. From opening Circle Time to our closing outdoor play time, days at Glacier Way are structured to help kids build an enduring love of school and boost that all-important executive function!

We hold class from 9 AM to Noon on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during the school year (September - May). Our classroom is a mix of ages 3 - 5. Our teacher and school director is always present, along with two volunteer ‘assist’ parents per day.

Scroll down to see a typical day at Glacier Way, or click the button below to take a virtual (or physical) tour of our space.

Glacier Way uses a play-based curriculum

Glacier Way uses a play-based curriculum to bring children in contact with reading, music, art, science, and math each day. Everything is child-led. Kids engage with their teacher and parent volunteers to choose activities and create things together.

Ms. Bowman sets a weekly theme, usually aligned with the seasons (“leaves,” “our families", “generosity”…). Children are offered crafts and activities, learn songs and games, and read stories related to the theme. Given Ms. Bowman’s music education background, Glacier Way’s curriculum features lots of rhythm and movement.

Kids share: “What’s your favorite part of preschool at Glacier Way?”

  • "Doing art at the art center and playing with the corn or rainbow rice box (sensory table)"

    -Glacier Way student

  • "Snack time because we get to try new foods"

    -Glacier Way student

  • "The light board!"

    -Glacier Way student

  • "So many things to play with -- and, my friends."

    -Glacier Way student

  • "Recess, both the indoor and outdoor playground. I love to run and play the shark game with Ms. Bowman and friends."

    -Glacier Way student

  • “Free choice and recess!"

    -Glacier Way student

  • “I love playing with blocks with my friends.”

    -Glacier Way student

  • "Play dough, and making magnet tile boats in the rice table."

    Description goes here

See a typical day at Glacier Way

Curious what kids experience during a morning at Glacier Way? Read below to learn about a typical day in our classroom, and how the day is structured to support children’s development.

Click each item below to expand details.

  • Children are greeted at the door and store belongings in their own personal cubby. A curated set of floor activities (puzzles, games, building blocks) warms up the brain and fine motor skills, and immediately gives kids choice and autonomy.

  • Everyone picks their favorite letter on the big alphabet rug as our teacher leads the class in singing the Hello Song. We greet each other, record the date and weather on our big wall calendar, and read a story connected to our weekly theme (e.g. pumpkins, spring flowers).

    Routine and music create belonging and safety. Kids learn counting, patterns, and weather on our big calendar. We discover what each season has to offer.

  • Children decide where and how to spend their time across our two rooms.

    Our teacher and parent volunteers provide a wide range of rotating activities, from seasonal crafts to sensory play to imaginative play. The writing center, paint easels, play dough table, and costume closet are always open!

    Child-directed play is the cornerstone of our school. Take our virtual tour below to see how our classroom is set up to encourage social-emotional learning and meet all children’s needs.

  • We play the clean-up song, and everyone works together to help.

  • We all come back together on our big alphabet rug. Usually, our teacher will get hands clapping and bodies moving together with an interactive song that also connects to our weekly seasonal theme.

  • We line up at the sink to take turns washing our hands and practice good hygiene, because it’s…

  • Everyone pulls up a seat at the table and we recite our thankfulness poem before passing big bowls of food.

    Snack consists of two foods – usually something crunchy and a fruit or veggie. We eat, talk, and laugh together.

    Once two or more have finished eating, kids clear their plates and dismiss themselves to our reading corner.

  • Grab your favorite book and a comfy chair or cushion. Or find a quiet activity on the alphabet rug. This is time for children to check in with their body after an exciting morning and practice using books and solo-play to slow down.

  • Children collect their art and crafts with pride, and load up their backpack to head outside. Once everyone is lined up on a color dot of their choice, we march out to our private, gated playground.

    A range of gross motor (fort, climbing dome, slide) and imagination-based play options (sandbox, toy kitchen) let kids match their play to their energy level.

    Bad weather? We blow off steam in our indoor rec room by building an obstacle course, scooting on scooter boards, or drawing at the art table.

  • It’s been a fun morning! Remember to grab the cool stuff your child made today. Parents often linger to chat with each other, or let kids keep playing for ‘just one more minute!’

Glacier Way enrollment is open for winter/spring 2025

If you think co-op preschool is a good fit for your child’s development, Glacier Way has space for new families to join. You can tour our space (virtually or physically), contact us, or use the button below to submit an enrollment form.