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Your Child Can Be a Part of the Preschool Lab!

This page is for parents and community members interested in enrolling a child in the Preschool Lab. If you are a student interested in taking our 55A Preschool Practicum course, click HERE.

The Merritt College Preschool Lab is a working preschool, taught by students taking the CHDEV 55A Preschool Practicum course, under the supervision and guidance of Merritt College instructors and staff. The Preschool Lab is open to all members of the community. You do not need to be a student to have your child attend the Preschool Lab.

Our program is currently enrolling children age 3-5! For more information about the Merritt College Preschool Laboratory program, including enrollment, please contact Bonnie Rippberger at brippberger@peralta.edu.

What is a day like for children at the Preschool Lab?

Our child-centered program is based on developmentally appropriate practices. We focus on the whole child through activities that nurture growth in the cognitive, social, emotional, creative and physical realms. We focus on building children’s positive self-image, and in support of that goal, we foster a supportive, trustworthy and interesting environment that gives each child the opportunity to have a wide variety of experiences.

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We have fourteen learning centers in the Lab school that include: cooking, dramatic play, language arts, art, music/movement, table toys, carpentry and science/gardening. In addition, our school has few transitions, allowing children continuity as well as adequate periods of time to explore and to involve themselves in meaningful activities. The materials in the centers range in difficulty over a three to four year span and are changed periodically to afford challenge as children grow. They are carefully arranged in an organized interesting manner and children learn to help return materials they use so that they develop a sense of care and responsibility.

During the school day, children have a number of social experiences including small group, one-on-one and large group interactions that provide opportunities for each child to practice age-appropriate social skills with both adults and other children.

Our student teachers are trained to project a sense of consistent warmth and support for children. They learn to redirect children when necessary, set appropriate limits and never speak harshly to any child. They also learn how to provide an appropriate and and healthy learning environment for children.

The two cores of our program are quality interaction between teacher and child, and careful observation that allows for our student teachers to practice moving from predetermined activities to an emergent curriculum model. Student teachers are scaffolded throughout the process, from creating an activity plan, through implementing and interacting with children, and encouraged to continuously improve through self-assessment and change through iteration.

We would love to have your child join us in our rich and joyful environment full of reciprocal learning and caring!

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