Our Approach to Spanish
Our philosophy related to second language acquisition is that children will develop a love for language and become a partner in learning. Nothing can be more frightening than to start your academic career and not understand what your teachers are saying to you. Immersion works well….it just isn’t how we approach language learning. There are plenty of moments in your child’s life where they will feel pressure to learn.  That isn’t how we approach any learning at Escuela Viva. We will make the learning, albeit Spanish, a new dance/song, or how to be a contributing member of their classroom, an experience they will carry for a life-time. A time where they were allowed to learn at their pace, their interests were valued, and they felt competent in mind and body.
Is your school immersion?
No. Our program is a dual language program, children will be taught in their native language while providing more and more opportunities to hear a second language (Spanish or English).

“The Reggio Approach is about guiding children’s ideas with provocations, not predetermined curricula…If you can believe in the image of the competent child who can produce theory, then you can understand why the first verb of the Reggio schools is ‘to listen’ (Rinaldi)”  Karen DeBord, PhD. 
At Escuela Viva, we believe that children learn best – and best of all, love learning – when they learn through playing through their own ideas. We believe that children will develop a strong foundation in the skills they need for formal education and for life through their own exploration, experimentation, and play. We do not use prepackaged curriculum. Instead, we provide opportunities for inquiry and investigation throughout the day based on the emerging interests of the children. We closely observe our students to hypothesize about what skills they are building and what theories about the world they are developing through their play. We offer materials and authentic experiences to help them deepen and broaden their thinking. For example, if we notice the children are spending time banging and rubbing toys together, we may offer more opportunities for the children to experiment with sound and cause and effect; this would likely include adding materials to our classroom that make interesting or unusual noises, as well as offering provocations that specifically encourage noise-making, such as setting out pie tins and rhythm sticks or maracas and strings of bells. How the children respond to these provocations would guide us as we make decisions about the direction we take our curriculum from there.

Food is a critical part of your child’s experience in the Preschool classrooms. Children are encouraged to try all foods as they learn to develop a palate for various tastes. We also know how important proper nutrition is for your child’s educational experiences. As such if you feel it will be helpful, as your child is getting acclimated to the foods offered at Escuela Viva, you may pack a small snack to supplement the 2 snacks and lunch we serve. Â We encourage children to “listen to their bodies” and eat when they are hungry. We offer snacks and lunch at a particular time; yet children are always encouraged to seek their snacks when they feel hunger. As we learn to trust children, while offering only healthy food options, children can and do make very healthy choices for their bodies.

Yes!
Please coordinate with the site director and your child’s teacher. 
It is also required by the child care division that you sign in at the main office and in the classroom if you plan to visit or volunteer.

Daily Routines
Morning exploration/provocation
Community circle time
Morning snack (optional)
Project and inside exploration
Outside exploration
Lunch
A consistent daily nap/quiet time
Afternoon snack (optional)
Inside exploration/classroom studio time
Afternoon outside exploration

Yes we accommodate cloth diapers. You must bring in an ample supply and a bag to store used/soiled diapers. 
Yes we can store and give babies breast milk from home and we follow the CDC guidelines:
Proper Storage and Preparation of Breast Milk | Breastfeeding | CDC

Your child’s teacher will depend on the specific campus location you choose.

To learn more about the teachers at each campus, please visit our campus pages.

The children do go outside twice daily. Once in the morning and again in the afternoon.
This is part of what we incorporate into the daily classroom rhythm for each age group. 
This allows for plenty of big body play which gives them opportunities to learn about their bodies, negotiate various situations, problem solving skills and social skills with peers. We also take into consideration and provide opportunities for that same big body play inside as well during the day as part of our curriculum. This practice helps us if and when we are limited or not allowed, due to unsafe conditions, to go outside.

If your child is under three by September of the year you will be enrolling your child, your child is considered part of our infant and toddler program. You will need to get on our waitlist, click here to find us on PDX Waitlist. We enroll beginning February of each year for the summer and fall sessions. We have limited infant and toddler slots. Visit each site that has an infant and toddler program. 

If your child is 3 or older by September of the year you will be enrolling your child, your child is considered preschool aged. ALL preschool aged enroll via Preschool for All. Here is a link. Tours of individual sites can be made by contacting the site director of that site. Click here to find a list of our Preschool For All sites. (We need to create a link to each of our preschool for all sites).

Following state regulations, we are not able to let children use a bathroom/toilet area alone as children must be supervised at all times.

One of your child’s teachers will discuss the toilet learning plan and progress with you and ensure that the plan is relaxed and pressure free.