Maple Tree Academy, Los Angeles

The mission of Maple Tree Academy is to provide a nurturing and educational environment by implementing an innovative approach based on the pedagogy of listening. Our community of educators and families share a commitment to collaborate in supporting our mission. The essence of our community is found in the following principles: respect, self-improvement, and the spirit of dialogue. Maple Tree Academy views the image of the child as a competent learner who is an independent, creative negotiator. From infancy through preschooler age, we support the child's lifelong learning, inspired by the philosophies of RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers), Reggio Emilia, and Soka (Value Creation) education. As you walk into our environment, you will notice the significance of relationships. Whether it is working with their hands, creating images with technology, painting, using clay, or exploring insightful concepts, our children are the initiators and creators of their own experiences guided by our educators. Our infant and toddler curriculum focuses on trust, respect, and patience in the competencies of the children. Our sensitive caregivers will intently listen and observe our children and respond based on their cues providing compassionate, responsive care. Our preschool curriculum is based on social constructivism, more specifically negotiated learning, where our teachers help guide and facilitate the children. Projects are short or long-term in duration and are derived from "provocations" and the interest of the children using methods such as observation, listening, and documentation. It is an environment fostering collaborative and experiential learning between the children as well as the educators. Our environment acts as the "third teacher" to inspire creativity and innovation in the children.