Our Program
Preschool Program
Our play-based, Reggio inspired preschool program runs Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm during the school year. We accept children ages 2 to 5 years old. Our low ratio of 6 children to 1 teacher, with a maximum of 12 children at any given time, allows for the needs of every individual child to be met.
Daily Routine
Our program schedule may change to meet the individual needs of the children being cared for as well as weather and environmental impacts.
8:50-9:10 - Arrival
9:10 - Indoor play
10:15 - Morning circle
10:30 - Snack (provided)
10:45 - Outdoor play
12:15 - Lunch (brought from home)
12:45 - Closing circle/Story time
12:50-1:10 - Pick up
We play outside every day! Even in the rain!
Scroll to the bottom for Frequently Asked Questions.
A look inside our school day
Forest Day
In addition to spending lots of time outdoors and connecting with nature while at school, we also spend every Monday in Briones Regional Park. Drop off and pick up is at the Alhambra Creek Staging Are in Martinez. Parents are always welcome to join us on our forest days.
We spend our time in Briones climbing trees, building stick forts, learning about native plants, and going deep into imaginative play. Teacher Melissa has 4 years of experience guiding young children in connecting with nature in the Presidio National Forest in San Francisco.
The first few weeks of the year are spent only at school, getting to know our group before venturing out into the forest. On days of heavy rainfall, strong winds, or unhealthy air quality, we meet at school instead of in the forest.
A morning in the forest
FAQs
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We use a positive discipline approach to dealing with misbehavior. We integrate the practices of Conscious Discipline, the Whole Brain Child, and the Pyramid Model. Discipline simply means to teach, so we look at children’s behavior through a lense of how to best teach and guide missing skills. We use techniques such as positive reinforcement, redirection, re-dos, offering choices, and natural and logical consequences.
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We use the app Brightwheel to send daily photos, communicate important messages, and for billing. We hold annual parent-teacher conferences in late Fall. Families are also welcome to email, call, or text when needed.
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No, children do not need to be potty trained to attend Story Garden. We will work with families to support children in learning to use the toilet when they are developmentally and emotionally ready.
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Of course! You are welcome to pick up your child whenever you need to. Please let us know in advance if you need to pick up before our scheduled pick up time so that we can have your child ready to go when you get here.
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Story Garden is located in our family home in a residential neighborhood in Martinez. We are licensed as a Large Family Daycare Home by the state of California, allowing us a maximum of 14 children. We utilize our large sun room as our classroom as well as our backyard. Children’s days at Story Garden are structured just like a standard preschool program with intentionally planned curriculum, group activities, and hands-on learning. Because Story Garden is in our home, we take great pride in providing high-quality care that meets the individual needs of children and their families. Our home is your child’s second home.
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No. There is no TV in the space used for our program. On rare occasions we might use a short, educational video to learn more about a subject children are interested in, but it is never a part of our standard routine. We believe strongly that children learn best through hands-on experiences, not screens.
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No. We do not have a pool at our home, and our yard is fully fenced.
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Yes. We are required by our licensing agency, the California Department of Social Services, to only enroll children who are up-to-date on their vaccines. We keep current records of all children’s vaccinations for our annual visits from licensing.