POULSBO — It’s as though a massive toy box overflowed, and the remnants spilled out to fill this classroom from floor to ceiling.
It is here, at Poulsbo’s Cooperative Preschool, amongst the shelves of Tonka trucks, the house with a make-shift kitchen, the song box brimming with 40 favorites and an area of construction toys, that the city’s youngest students learn through fun and games.
The co-op preschool makes its home at Vinland Elementary’s portable No. 3, and is readying to welcome another batch of 2-and-a-half to 5-year-old students for the 2008-09 school year.
The focus in this classroom: “learning through play.”
“I want them to be happy about coming to school and excited about learning and that way they’ll be ready when they go off to kindergarten,” said co-op preschool teacher of 15 years Sue Mangold, who wanted 10 children of her own as a girl, but is now happy to just love on her students.
The Olympic College affiliated co-op preschool came to Poulsbo in the 1970s. Mangold began teaching at the Poulsbo location seven years ago, when only 12 students were enrolled. Now, 41 students have already registered, with the hopes of reaching capacity of 63.
When asked why the school’s student base has grown 30 percent Mangold said with a shrug, perhaps “the word got out that we do good things.”
Touring the classroom with Mangold it’s easy to see “the good things” she spoke of, and why parents would flock to enroll their children.
It’s painted in brilliant primary colors, the dramatics play area is home to costumes ranging from camouflage to ferry dresses to doctor coats, in a leafy and vegetated glass cage are where the pet walking sticks make their home.
During the year it’s one student’s job each day to feed the sticks.
“They don’t make any noise, they’re the best pets around,” Mangold said.
Next came a little desk with a stack of paper and pens for the students to practice their penmanship while writing letters to each other that can be placed in their own personal mailboxes. There’s magnifying glasses, math manipulative offerings, Play-Doh and paint stations, and a sensory table where the students learn about gravity, and how to measure, weigh and scoop, all while playing with rice or whatever fun substance Mangold chooses to put in there.
She said in the house/kitchen area the students go inside and have all “kinds of parties.”
“In the kitchen the socialization they’re getting is great,” Mangold said. “They’re learning to share, imagine and pretend and they do just a great job at it.”
This preschool differs from most, as parents must be a part of the classroom and the curriculum is based on the students’ own interests. Each class has three parents assisting and the adult to student ratio is generally one to four or five, depending on age. Parents volunteer two to four times per month and attend a parent education class where they learn about parent-teaching, child development research and safety issues.
The curriculum planning is based on the needs and interests of the students, and the issues taking place in their young lives.
Mangold said she’s flexible in her teaching style so if the kids show up wanting to learn a different subject, she’ll incorporate that into the day’s studies.
“The kids help lead the curriculum by their needs,” Mangold said.
Kristie McMartin is the preschool’s public relations chair and her son will attend preschool this fall. She accepted the position to be involved in her 2-year-old’s learning, and the preschool is a place where she felt at home “immediately.”
“I like that there’s a curriculum, but it’s based on the kids, and they’re not pigeon-holed into anything,” McMartin said. “They’re exploring so much at this age and he has the freedom to grow on his own.”
The preschool is hosting an open house from 6:30-9 p.m. on Tuesday Aug. 26 at the Vinland location.
To learn more about the Poulsbo Cooperative Preschool visit www.poulsbocooppreschool.org or e-mail info@poulsbocooppreschool.com or call (360) 779-4104.
