…the number one thing our children need, both for their developing brains and for their hearts, is our unwavering connection…

True independence stems from feelings of belonging, security, and safety. We as human beings are automatically more courageous and emboldened to go into the world as who we are on our own — no matter our age….

As guides along their educational journeys, our teachers work together to build a community where all children feel safe and respected. We work with each child holistically and honor their uniqueness. We encourage them to express their creativity and to find wonder in the world around them. We believe that everyday is an opportunity for them to grow and flourish. We know that each child is developing at a pace that is just right for them. Through an inquiry and play based approach to learning, each child can feel confident and capable to take on challenges to build their knowledge and understanding.

First, Oak bases all of our decisions and teaching -- both in style of teaching (modeling) and curriculum -- on science and research backed modalities. A lot of preschools hire people they don't have to pay very much. This means, college degrees are scarce and a deeper understanding of child development may or may not be actually incorporated into the daily interactions the kids have with the caregivers. Most often, they are not.

Oak’s K-1 teacher, Logan Zeman, just published this article about children's feelings and their social-emotional development. As a community, we believe the social emotional development of a child is not separate from education, but rather is a hugely, integral part of it. It’s one of the main reasons we are doing what we’re doing!

She writes, "When working with children, I always keep in mind that developmentally, the frontal lobe, the part of the brain that is the emotional control center, is still growing, and won’t be fully developed until they are in their early 20s. To leave a young child on their own to manage a strong feeling would be like watching them flounder in the deep end when they do not yet know how to swim. As an adult, I can choose to let them sink or swim, and when given a decision like that, how do I not choose the latter?"

Applied in a school setting, holism takes into account not only the kids and how their place in the school literally creates the fabric of the school, but it also focuses on the individual child, each teacher, the families of everyone, our school culture and environment, and the relationships with have with one another and the community…

I invite you to read through this list and imagine the possibilities. What would a school, home, or our world , look like where teachers (and parents) were supported to express themselves fully like this?

Kids are so smart. I am often blown away when I can step back from my parenting, adult, teacher mind and really look at what a child is intuitively driven to do — and why.

Music is second nature to children because our human brains have a fundamental need for rhythm. They easily let their bodies move and are fully present with the beat, letting themselves live it. Kids also naturally gravitate towards banging on stuff. You know, pots and pans as a toddler, using sticks against things outside as they get older, etc. They like to feel a beat in their bodies, often relaxing into it. But why?…

It matters the environments we put ourselves into. It matters over the long term because it affects how we feel, which in turn affects our performance, self esteem, and overall outlook on life. This is why I’m determined to create a school environment that nurtures the tender, growing brains and hearts of our kids and, likewise, the adults. Everything from how the staff and teachers interact with one another and the students, to how well the teachers are able to care for themselves and supporting them to be able to do so.

People are important. The relationships we form and cultivate have the capacity to uplift, support, and even offer us freedom from mental anguish (that friend who is always willing to listen and hold your heart tenderly), and physical constraints (there are only so many hours in the day!). For the most part, we parents live really full lives: there is much to be tended to in our day-to-day. And this impacts our quality of life and that of our children.