Lilac Room Teachers

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Caitlin DeCoster

Nicole Kalway

Group of young children painting and drawing on large sheets of paper outdoors, alongside a wooden railing and greenery in the background.

The Lilac classroom creates a positive and nurturing environment, to help each child succeed in becoming an individual within our community. We have a strong emphasis on fostering independence and respecting all life and diversity through play based activities. Play-based activities help young preschoolers learn about the world around them by having hands-on experiences throughout the day, and allowing children to learn at their own pace.

Group of young children exploring in a forest, examining a fallen log amidst green trees and leafy forest floor.

Our weekly theme based lesson plans help promote social and emotional growth, communication, and fine/gross motor skill development.  Activities consist of creating art, sensory activities, singing songs, reading books, playing games, and learning simple sign language to help the children develop their verbal communication. Our teachers help guide each child to reach their full potential while still challenging them.  We have a schedule that we strive to follow allowing for consistency for all children, yet we remain flexible to adapt to each day as needed.

Two young children, a girl and a boy, wearing yellow and pink rain jackets respectively, are exploring a forest floor covered in leaves and moss, carefully examining the ground together during a walk in the woods.

Our classroom values the importance of spending time outside immersed in nature. In order to promote physical development, our teachers plan games and activities outside that allow for whole body movement, as well as allowing time for children to explore and develop curiosity, all while investigating the world around them.

Group of children with an adult outside near a house with blooming pink azaleas, on a sunny day with trees in the background.
Children painting outdoors at easels on a wooden deck, with a fenced-in area and trees in the background.
A woman in a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses stands outside with young children gathered around a sand and water table, playing with toy utensils. The area is enclosed by a fence, with trees and tires in the background.
Group of children, mostly wearing rain boots and jackets, gathered outside near a building, with an adult supervising, in a garden with blooming pink bushes and surrounded by trees.
Children dressed in winter clothing exploring a leaf-covered forest, with some investigating a fallen tree and others handling a large piece of yellow and red fabric suspended between trees.
Four young children in colorful rain jackets exploring a fallen log in a lush green forest.
A young girl and an older girl are exploring nature in the woods, touching the ground near a tree with fallen leaves.
Children painting rocks outdoors at a wooden picnic table
Children wearing colorful raincoats and hats exploring a small creek in a wooded area during rainy weather.
Children exploring in a forest, looking at a tree stump surrounded by fallen leaves, with other children in the background near a yellow tent.
Children in blue smocks painting with watercolors at a round table, with an adult woman smiling in the center of the group, in a room with shelves and cabinets.
A woman is helping young children make dough at a table in a classroom, with flour scattered on the table and children watching or participating.
A woman with a white shirt and a headband walks past children sitting at a table outdoors in a forested area. The children are engaged in activities, surrounded by tall trees and greenery.