Conceived and directed by an Early Childhood college instructor out of concern for her own child and all young children, Sprout House embodies the soundest research and theories in education. Although it is unique, the school is primarily based on the modern British Infant School. At Sprout House, children are allowed to be children, to grow and learn at their own pace, and to develop inner controls with sincere and gentle guidance. Spontaneous play is valued and encouraged for the sheer pleasure, rich learning experiences, and social skills it fosters. A strong but unpressured emphasis is placed on science. Most experts now agree that the abstracts (shapes, colors, letter, and numbers) have limited value without a broad base of life experience. Sprout House provides many opportunities to study living and non-living things in a gentle and respectful atmosphere.

Our Rising Five class is a small, intimate group of younger five-year-old children. While still a part of our nursery school, this program enriches and expands upon nursery activities to help the children cultivate the skills, mindset, and character that will serve them well not just in kindergarten but also in life for years to come. We achieve our goals through a hands-on, unpressured accent on nature and literature, with great emphasis on Emergent Curriculum and Play. Our nature program promotes the reverence and stewardship of the Earth through frequent and deep engagement with natural objects, the outdoors, and our environment. Our interdisciplinary approach to literacy, math, science, and the arts allows children to draw rich connections within and between subject areas. Through active, hands-on learning in the classroom and outdoors, the children are able to integrate many ways of knowing the world. Children truly enjoy this process of inquiry and they come away with a sense of accomplishment, which sets them on a path of lifelong learning.

Sprout House has been providing a setting for young learners that offers warmth and spirit. With small classes and hands-on experiences, the integrity of Kindergarten is fully realized. By using a project approach and a genuine attempt to love and take care of their fragile blue world, Sprout House children can begin to formulate a holistic rather than reductionist attitude about learning.