Editor’s note: Please be aware that all definitions are broad and may not be completely applicable for every school.
We have compiled a helpful glossary of nursery school philosophies. If you aren’t sure what Reggio Emilia, Emergent, Progressive, or other like-wise terms mean, familiarizing yourself with our glossary will be a good step in the right direction.
For more on nursery schools in New York City, check out Part 1 and Part 2 of our comprehensive preschool directory, and our helpful tips on the admissions process to help you with your search.
Academic: An academic preschool places importance on structure, teacher guidance, and traditional curriculum like basic math, letters, shapes, and colors. The goal of the academic classroom is to prepare the child for Kindergarten.
Accommodating: The accommodating classroom places importance on a diverse student population, with the facilities, programs, teachers, and other means to provide for children with special needs or disabilities.
ART (Accept, Reflect, Teach): A unique approach to teaching, ART is comprised of three steps: “Accept” any negative outburst as a natural feeling rather than “fixing it,” “reflect” the child’s behavior back to them to help provide perspective, and “teach” children when the emotional conflict is over, when they can aptly understand the larger lesson.
Bank Street: Similar to play-based learning, the Bank Street method is a child-centered program that focuses on a diverse curriculum. The philosophy acknowledges that all children learn differently, often teaching groups at various levels with a range of methods.
Child-centered: The idea behind child-centered learning states that the children are responsible for their own curriculum with facilitation from teachers. Students are encouraged to be individuals and follow their own natural instincts and curiosities.
Creative: This type of program provides a prominent creative outlet for children. The curriculum may emphasize this component though music, art, dance, food, or other imaginative mediums.
Eclectic: An eclectic philosophy indicates that the program draws on multiple philosophies to dictate the curriculum, and does not strictly belong to one school of thought.
Emergent: Similar to the eclectic philosophy, emergent programs are a mix between both traditional and progressive curriculums.
Hands-on: Classes with hands-on activities stress the idea that children learn by doing. These schools may provide a range of educational workshops including dress-up, cooking, sensory stations, musical instruments, or outdoor areas for developing large motor skills.
International: International schools place importance on a cultural diversity among students. Preschools listed under this philosophy may have prominent multi-cultural or lingual curriculums.
Inquiry-based: Preschools with an inquiry-based program will encourage children to ask questions, develop their natural curiosities, explore what objects are and how they work, and to think critically about the world around them.
Montessori: Developed by Italian educator Maria Montessori, this school of thought emphasizes children as individual and responsible learners. Activities are hands-on and include play. Classrooms are often multi-age, with an emphasis on peer learning.
Play-based: This philosophy dictates that play is the work of children. Schools often break the classroom into different areas like sand tables, blocks, science, kitchen, or other stations, which teach cooperation, basic math, social interaction, and abstract thought among other useful skills.
Progressive: Progressive schools use a myriad of the latest developments in early childhood education. Curriculums vary greatly, but an emphasis on the individual child, the environment, and social awareness are common.
Reggio Emilia: Founded by townspeople in Reggio Emilia, Italy, this philosophy emphasizes the individual child. Curriculum is often based around the children’s interests, views mistakes as a valuable learning process, and documents creative projects to show that their actions are meaningful.
