Wedgwood Co-op Preschool

Welcome to the Pre-3s Class

The focus of the Pre-3 class is on building social and pre-academic skills through exploration, rhyme, rhythm, and repetition. The class is loosely organized around themes and seasonal exploration; monthly themes have included, for example, feelings, friendship, harvest, farms, and transportation.

The majority of class time is free choice, where children choose from various activities designed to encourage exploration and stimulate imaginary play and motor skills. The theme is often carried into the various centers available during free choice time:

The other pieces of the pre-3 class are circle time, snack and parent-led small group activity at the snack tables and large muscle play either outdoors or in the climbing room. Pre-3 circle times are active and lively, with fingerplays movement, and other participatory activities such as instruments and puppets, along with storytime.

Parents in the Classroom

Parent participation is an important part of the Pre-3 program. Along with holding a class job, parents participate in class one day a week. During free choice time parents rotate through the centers helping children build vocabulary, problem solve, and learn to use materials. Parents bring snack approximately five times a year, and as the year progresses the parents at each snack table plan and lead small group activities. Together, child and parent have a rewarding, growing and exciting experience-come join in the fun!

Our Teacher - Andrea Baumgarten

Andrea has been involved as a parent in the NSCC cooperative preschools since 2000, and is looking forward to new joys and challenges as a coop preschool teacher. Andrea is very excited to be a part of Wedgwood’s strong community.

Prior to becoming a teacher, Andrea was a deputy prosecuting attorney. Andrea has also had experience as a counselor working with homeless families. Andrea has always enjoyed helping kids and families overcome obstacles and have fun.

Andrea believes that kids who are excited about coming to preschool go on to be excited about elementary school. The seeds to literacy are sown by the books, fingerplays, songs, and rhymes we repeat during preschool. Imaginary play is no less critical to brain development. Preschool provides a great place to explore social relationships (including conflict) and make lots of brain-growing connections.

“Sharing joys, explorations, ah-hah’s, and strategies between children and adults is one of the most special things I can imagine.”

Pre-3 Class Schedule

9:30 – 9:50 Large Motor Play

9:50 – 9:55 Clean Up

9:55 – 10:15 Circle Time

10:15 – 10:30 Wash Hands, Snack

10:30 – 11:20 Free Choice
        (parents will be assigned to monitor specific areas)

11:20 – 11:25 Clean Up

11:25 – 11:30 Goodbye Circle

Time Commitments

  1. Pre-3 Parents attend class with their children one day/week and act as assistant teachers

  2. Each parent has a job outside the classroom (For example: class chair, parent coordinator, equipment and repair, class photographer, substitute teacher)

  3. Two weekend cleanings of the school per year (this takes approximately 3 hours)

  4. Monthly evening parent meeting includes class business and parent education

General Pre-3 Class Information

Location

We are located at Faith Lutheran Church:

8208 18th Ave NE
Seattle, WA 98115

(Our preschool entrance is on East side of building, through the alley and down the stairs)

Find out More

To apply and check openings in our program please contact our parent co-ordinator through the openings listing.