Our Learning Approach
Children at The Ivy learn through relationships, inquiry, play, conversation and carefully planned small-group experiences. Our approach builds strong foundations while protecting the curiosity, warmth, and joy of childhood.
OUR LEARNING APPROACH
A Research-Informed Curriculum Brought to Life Through Inquiry
The Ivy curriculum brings together the science of how children develop with the curiosity and imagination that make childhood extraordinary. It is measured against the Massachusetts Early Learning Standards and enriched by inquiry-led, Reggio-informed practice.
We nurture the whole child, building strong foundations in:
Literacy and Language Development
Early Numeracy and Problem-Solving
Critical Thinking and Inquiry
Social-Emotional Development
Independence and Executive Function
Collaboration and Communication
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Environmental Awareness and Responsibility
STEM
Arts including Fine Arts, Dance, Dramatic Play, Music
Physical Education, Movement, Wellness and Sport
Creativity and Innovation
In addition to our core curriculum, children benefit from enriching supplemental experiences, including:
Languages: Arabic, French
Movement and Mindfulness
Nature and Wellness: Horticulture, sensory play, and wellness routines
Sports and Physical Development
We blend structure and discovery to empower children to ask questions, make connections, and grow into confident, capable learners. They leave The Ivy ready to thrive in any school system, anywhere in the world.
Our educators are more than teachers. They are collaborators, mentors, and champions of each child’s heart, mind, and potential.
Our learning approach
The Ivy Approach
Purposeful Foundations
Guided by the Massachusetts Early Learning Standards, our curriculum combines strong developmental foundations with the freedom to explore, question, and discover.
Learning Through Relationships
Through conversations, shared projects, and meaningful play, children learn to communicate, build friendships, and grow alongside others.
Environments That Inspire
Calm, purposeful classrooms encourage independence, creativity, concentration, and a sense of belonging.
The Whole Child, Always
We nurture children's emotional, physical, social, and cognitive development, recognizing that wellbeing and learning go hand in hand.
we are experts in childhood
We are committed to continuous learning in child development, pedagogy, and practice, so that our teaching remains thoughtful and responsive.
Creativity / Innovation
Critical Thinking
Problem Solving
Decision Making
Communication
Collaboration
Research & Inquiry
SEL
Digital Citizenship
Compassion
Empathy
Resilience
Perseverance
Respect
Kindness
Creativity / Innovation
Critical Thinking
Problem Solving
Decision Making
Communication
AGE GROUPS
Our Approach to Different Age Groups
Infants (45 days to 17 months)
Infants and young toddlers are natural explorers, soaking in the sights, sounds, and sensations of their world. In these earliest years, every smile, sound, and interaction builds the foundation for lifelong learning.
At The Ivy, we create a nurturing, responsive environment where each child feels secure, seen, and supported. Our routines are thoughtfully designed to align with each child’s individual rhythms, respecting their sleep, feeding, and play needs while encouraging sensory exploration, mobility, and social-emotional connection.
Educators provide consistent, warm interactions that build trust and support healthy attachment. Through observation, gentle guidance, and ongoing family communication, we tailor experiences to each child's developmental stage and interests. Whether through tummy time, language-rich storytelling, or quiet moments of bonding, every interaction is purposeful, supporting holistic growth in cognitive, physical, emotional, and social domains.
AM Routine
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
The morning follows each infant’s individual rhythm. Children are welcomed by familiar educators and supported with feeding, sleep and personal care according to their established routines. Through sensory play, floor-based exploration, music, stories, movement and time outdoors, infants begin to investigate the world around them. Educators talk, sing and respond throughout the morning, supporting early communication and secure relationships. Meals, bottles and snacks are provided according to each child’s age and individual care plan.
Half Day ends at 12:00 PM
PM Routine
12:00 pm–3:00 PM
Infants continue to sleep, feed and play according to their individual needs. The afternoon includes calm sensory experiences, supported movement, stories, music, and opportunities to explore indoors and outdoors. Care routines are unhurried and responsive, with educators following each child’s cues throughout the day.
Core Day ends at 3:00 pm
Extended Care Program
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
The late afternoon offers a calm continuation of the day. Infants are supported with feeding, sleep and personal care alongside gentle play, movement, songs and stories.The smaller-group rhythm allows children to wind down comfortably before collection.
Key Concepts
In our studios, designed for children from birth to two years, we embrace the key concepts that honor each child’s curiosity, creativity, and potential:
Free Movement
Guided by the belief that children are capable explorers, our environment encourages natural movement, inspired by Emmi Pikler’s philosophy. The Ivy’s space, acting as the ‘third teacher,’ offers opportunities for infants to develop their physical skills while discovering early spatial awareness and numeracy concepts through play.
Child-Led Weaning
We practice a child-led approach to mealtimes, allowing infants to explore healthy foods at their own pace, fostering independence. Educators engage in dialogue during these moments, introducing language and literacy in a natural, relationship-building context.
Individualized Care Moments
We view routine care as moments of learning and connection. Educators respectfully involve infants as active participants, using these interactions to nurture language skills and encourage self-expression.
Exploratory Times
Children are provided with uninterrupted time to explore both indoor and outdoor spaces. Our environment, rich with sensory materials, invites curiosity and early engagement with numeracy and literacy, while educators observe and support each child’s discoveries.
This Reggio approach ensures that infants’ growth in numeracy, literacy, and holistic development is nurtured through meaningful, child-centered experiences.
This Reggio approach ensures that infants’ growth in numeracy, literacy, and holistic development is nurtured through meaningful, child-centered experiences.
Junior Preschool (18 mos - 2 years ) & Upper Preschool (2-3 yrs)
During this stage, children begin to assert their independence, explore their environment more confidently, and engage in early social experiences. They are rapidly developing language, motor skills, and a sense of self, making this a vital time for nurturing routines and supportive relationships.
At The Ivy, our Preschool routines are intentionally structured to balance consistency with freedom of movement and choice. Children participate in daily rhythms that include sensory play, music and movement, mealtimes, outdoor exploration, and moments of quiet reflection or rest. These predictable patterns help toddlers feel safe and capable while developing essential skills.
Our educators offer respectful guidance, encouraging early self-help skills such as feeding, dressing, and toilet learning based on each child’s readiness. Through parallel and emerging cooperative play, children begin to understand shared space, emotions, and early social problem-solving. Language-rich environments, art materials, and loose parts play foster expression and discovery, laying the foundation for confident, capable learners.
AM Routine
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Children begin with a warm welcome and time to settle through familiar play. The morning includes inquiry-led experiences, daily Arabic, stories, music, creative exploration, movement and outdoor play.
Educators introduce ideas through conversation and small-group experiences while allowing children time to investigate, make choices and practise emerging independence. Children share a morning snack and family-style lunch together.
Educators introduce ideas through conversation and small-group experiences while allowing children time to investigate, make choices and practise emerging independence. Children share a morning snack and family-style lunch together.
Half Day ends at 12:00 pm
PM Routine
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
After lunch, children sleep or rest according to their individual needs. Those who do not sleep are offered calm, quiet experiences, such as yoga, sport, and music. As children wake, the afternoon continues with creative projects, world language-rich play, movement, stories, and opportunities to revisit the morning’s discoveries. Children share an afternoon snack before preparing for collection.
Core Day ends at 3:00 PM
Extended Care
3:00 pm–6:00 pm
3:00 pm–6:00 pm
Extended Care follows a gentler late-afternoon rhythm. Children enjoy an afternoon snack, indoor and outdoor play, creative experiences, enrichment courses, music, movement, and stories. Educators continue to support personal care, friendships and emotional regulation as children wind down for the day.
Key Concepts
In our studios catering to two to three year old children, we support the following coreconcepts:
Rest and Sleep Times
At The Ivy, we establish calm rest and sleep routines for our two- to three-year-olds, respecting each child's individual needs. For children who do not require sleep, we provide structured, quiet activities that promote early literacy, numeracy, problem-solving, and language exposure, including Arabic, ensuring they remain engaged in a relaxed, yet purposeful environment.
Mealtimes
We view children as capable and confident during mealtime, fostering independence and self-awareness. Educators guide structured conversations in both English and Arabic, enhancing language skills and social development, while teaching children to listen to their bodies and make healthy choices.
Independent Toileting
Our educators approach toileting with patience, respect, and trust, creating a positive, structured experience that fosters independence. We support each child's journey with care, ensuring their dignity and guiding them toward self-reliance and responsibility.
Creative Experiences
Children are provided with a carefully curated selection of materials, colors, and surfaces, encouraging them to explore and express their understanding of the world. These structured creative activities are designed to support early literacy (as children describe their creations in both English and Arabic), numeracy (through recognizing patterns and shapes), and problem-solving skills.
Core Learning Activities
Our two- to three-year-olds engage in a range of structured core learning activities throughout the day. These experiences are designed to introduce early academic concepts in literacy, numeracy, problem-solving, and language exposure, including Arabic. Educators guide children through these foundational experiences, ensuring they build essential skills while nurturing curiosity, critical thinking, and collaboration.
Pre-K (3-4 yrs), KG1 & KG 2 (4-6 yrs)
Children in this age group are eager to connect, express themselves, and understand how the world works. As their attention span, language, and sense of identity grow, they thrive in environments that offer both structure and space for exploration.
At The Ivy, our daily routines are thoughtfully designed to encourage independence, collaboration, and critical thinking. Children participate in morning meetings, project-based explorations, fine motor activities, language and numeracy experiences, and outdoor learning. Our day flows with intention, balancing focused learning blocks with free play, movement, creative arts, and rest.
Educators act as co-learners and facilitators, encouraging questions, extending thinking, and supporting social-emotional growth through reflective conversations and peer interactions. Children are guided through increasingly complex group routines and responsibilities, helping them build the executive function, resilience, and social awareness needed for a smooth transition to formal schooling.
AM Routine
8:00 AM–8:30 AM
Arrival and Learning Choices
Children settle in and choose from books, construction, creative materials, writing, mathematics and imaginative play. Experiences are simpler and more sensory in Pre-K, becoming increasingly purposeful and independent in KG1 and KG2.
Children settle in and choose from books, construction, creative materials, writing, mathematics and imaginative play. Experiences are simpler and more sensory in Pre-K, becoming increasingly purposeful and independent in KG1 and KG2.
8:30 AM –11:00 AM
Morning Meeting and Languages
Children gather for conversation, stories, songs and an introduction to the day’s inquiry. Arabic is playful and oral in Pre-K, with more focused language and early literacy experiences in KG1 and KG2.
Morning Snack
Inquiry and Small-Group Learning
Children investigate meaningful questions through projects, early literacy, mathematics, science, construction and creative expression. Older children are encouraged to plan, record their ideas and work with increasing independence.
Outdoor Learning and Movement
Children develop coordination, confidence and collaboration through outdoor exploration, physical play, games and movement.
Children gather for conversation, stories, songs and an introduction to the day’s inquiry. Arabic is playful and oral in Pre-K, with more focused language and early literacy experiences in KG1 and KG2.
Morning Snack
Inquiry and Small-Group Learning
Children investigate meaningful questions through projects, early literacy, mathematics, science, construction and creative expression. Older children are encouraged to plan, record their ideas and work with increasing independence.
Outdoor Learning and Movement
Children develop coordination, confidence and collaboration through outdoor exploration, physical play, games and movement.
11:30 AM –12:00 PM
Family-Style Lunch
Children eat together, practise independence and take part in meaningful conversation with educators and friends.
Children eat together, practise independence and take part in meaningful conversation with educators and friends.
PM Routine
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Rest and Quiet Learning
Children sleep, rest or choose calm experiences according to their age and individual needs.
Children sleep, rest or choose calm experiences according to their age and individual needs.
1:00 PM -3:00 PM
Projects and Specialist Learning
Children revisit the morning’s inquiry or participate in art, languages, music, movement, science or collaborative project work. Experiences become longer and more challenging in KG1 and KG2.
Learning Choices and Reflection
Children complete projects, revisit classroom experiences and reflect on what they discovered. Older children are encouraged to share their thinking and consider what they would like to explore next.
Children revisit the morning’s inquiry or participate in art, languages, music, movement, science or collaborative project work. Experiences become longer and more challenging in KG1 and KG2.
Learning Choices and Reflection
Children complete projects, revisit classroom experiences and reflect on what they discovered. Older children are encouraged to share their thinking and consider what they would like to explore next.
Core Day ends at 3:00 PM.
Planning and resetting for tomorrow, daily reflection time, projects, parent pick up
Extended Care and Enrichment
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Transition and Relaxed Choices
Children reset after the Core Day through quiet play, conversation and time with friends.
Enrichment Experience
Children participate in a rotating programme that may include art, cooking, music, drama, STEM, coding, chess, sports or nature exploration. Pre-K sessions remain active and exploratory, while KG1 and KG2 experiences involve greater concentration, strategy and project work.
Children reset after the Core Day through quiet play, conversation and time with friends.
Enrichment Experience
Children participate in a rotating programme that may include art, cooking, music, drama, STEM, coding, chess, sports or nature exploration. Pre-K sessions remain active and exploratory, while KG1 and KG2 experiences involve greater concentration, strategy and project work.
Key Concepts
In our Upper Preschool, Pre-K and KG classes, we maintain a calm, yet structured approach to the day, incorporating key elements such as:
Morning Meetings
Our morning meetings serve as an essential starting point for the day. Children are encouraged to share their ideas and intentions, helping them plan and structure their activities. They might discuss their plans with an educator or create a visual representation through drawing. This structured approach fosters early literacy and communication skills, setting the tone for a day of intentional learning.
Mealtimes
We support self-regulation and independence through progressive mealtimes. Children sit in small groups to enjoy self-served meals or snacks, using real crockery and utensils to connect with real-world experiences. Educators join children at the table, facilitating language development and social learning in a supportive environment.
Rest Times
Rest time offers children the chance to develop autonomy as they are guided by educators to rest or sleep independently. For those who do not require sleep, we provide quiet learning activities that promote early literacy, numeracy, and language skills, ensuring they are refreshed and ready for the afternoon.
Small Group Activities
Throughout the day, children participate in small group activities that include music, dance, storytelling, physical play, games with rules, and reflections on their learning experiences. These activities are designed to support the development of fine and gross motor skills, problem-solving, and early academic concepts.
Creative Experiences
We invite children to explore a variety of materials, colors, and mediums, encouraging them to express their thoughts and understanding of the world around them. These creative experiences support early literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills, allowing children to represent their ideas in multiple ways.
Core Learning Times
Instead of uninterrupted play, we provide structured blocks of time dedicated to core learning experiences. During these times, children are guided through activities that introduce foundational academic concepts in literacy, numeracy, science, and language (including exposure to Arabic). Educators support children as they explore our thoughtfully arranged spaces, facilitating opportunities for collaboration, inquiry, and discovery.
Nutrition
At The Ivy, we nurture the whole child physically, emotionally and socially, using research-informed practices to support balanced growth and wellbeing.
View NutritionParent Communication
At The Ivy, maintaining open communication with parents and families is a top priority. We are always eager to understand your child's needs better and appreciate any feedback you may have about our center. We encourage face-to-face interactions and formal progress meetings once per quarter. We also and provide digital channels for your convenience. Learn more about our parent communication methods.
Holistic Development & Health
At The Ivy, we nurture the whole child emotionally, and socially. Using research-based practices to support balanced growth and well-being.
Our approach includes:
- Physical Activity & Nutrition: Daily physical activities and balanced meals to promote healthy development.
- Emotional & Social Growth: Social-emotional learning and mindfulness practices to build resilience and strong relationships.
- Creative & Cognitive Development: Play-based learning that encourages curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.
Our educators are dedicated to nurturing both the heart and mind, ensuring each child reaches their full potential.
Nutrition
During this stage, children begin to assert their independence, explore their environment more confidently, and engage in early social experiences. They are rapidly developing language, motor skills, and a sense of self, making this a vital time for nurturing routines and supportive relationships.
View NutritionParent Communication
At The Ivy, maintaining open communication with parents and families is a top priority. We are always eager to understand your child's needs better and appreciate any feedback you may have about our center. We encourage face-to-face interactions and formal progress meetings once per quarter. We also and provide digital channels for your convenience. Learn more about our parent communication methods.
Holistic Development & Health
At The Ivy, we nurture the whole child—academically, emotionally, and socially—using research-based practices to support balanced growth and well-being.
Our approach includes:
- Physical Activity & Nutrition: Daily physical activities and balanced meals to promote healthy development.
- Emotional & Social Growth: Social-emotional learning and mindfulness practices to build resilience and strong relationships.
- Creative & Cognitive Development: Play-based learning that encourages curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.
Our educators are dedicated to nurturing both the heart and mind, ensuring each child reaches their full potential.
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