Colleen Goddard, Ph.D.
Early Childhood Division Director
Toddler Program
12–24 Months
The Roots program at Corlears School celebrates the way toddlers learn best: through the art of play and wonderment.
Coming Fall 2025: An extended-day option providing care until 3 or 5:00 p.m. to meet busy families where they are.
Corlears School's Approach to Early Childhood
As a progressive school, Corlears engages Early Childhood students in emergent curriculum, where classroom topics and studies are driven by student curiosity. Highly credentialed educators empower children to take an active role in their own learning, contrasting with the more traditional, teacher-centered approach where students passively receive information.
All classrooms are designed with a reflective-responsive approach rooted in the principles of child development. Throughout the school year, spaces evolve to meet the children's emerging interests and curiosities.
In the earliest years, curriculum is centered on trust formation and meaningful interactions as our youngest students adapt to their first school environment. As they continue their school journey in the 3s and 4s, greater emphasis is placed on the social and emotional connections that prepare a child for learning and achievement across key developmental domains.
Through a Reggio Emilia-inspired pedagogy that emphasizes the art of play and wonderment, learning experiences are holistic, multisensory, and support young children in exploring the world around and within them. Educators are trained to foster conceptual, social-emotional, and applied knowledge skills in ways that celebrate children's natural curiosities and lay the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.
"Early childhood education is of utmost importance to the foundational construct of growth, learning, and achievement for the youngest of learners. Educational opportunities for the burgeoning child represent a critical cornerstone at which every encounter, engagement, and experience holds meaning and significance. Our youngest of children enter the world motivated by interest, emotion, and curiosity. Children are eager to engage — with others and the environment — to contemplate and consider, as well as create and experiment. It is these same characteristics that manifest for the ever-inquisitive child as an abundance of knowledge, skill sets, attitudes, and responsiveness as they develop and prosper. This is the result of cultivating intentional, motivational, and meaningful learning activities where children can thrive, learn, and grow, which paves the pathway to lifelong achievement and educational success."
Go Inside the Roots Classroom
See our pedagogy in action and learn how the Roots curriculum aligns to key developmental domains.
Experience Our Facilities
Get a firsthand look at our classroom spaces by joining us for free family activities on a Learn. Play. Grow. Saturday.
Observation and Reflection
Observation and reflection (or O&R) is at the heart of our Early Childhood curriculum. Classroom teachers document each child’s progress daily, capturing key moments that reveal growth in communication, motor skills, problem-solving, and personal-social interactions with a deep emphasis on social and emotional learning and a commitment to our core values. This practice not only helps teachers tailor learning experiences to individual needs but also serves as a valuable tool for monitoring developmental milestones over time as part of a holistic approach to student success.
Connect with the Admissions Team
Book a Tour
Experience our warm community and child-friendly spaces by booking a tour with a member of the admissions team. (Grown-ups only!)
Schedule a Call
Schedule a 15-minute phone call with Corlears School's Admissions Director to learn everything you need to know about the Roots program.
Request More Info
Subscribe to our mailing list to learn more about Roots and Corlears School. Or, connect directly with the team at admissions@corlearsschool.org.