Monday - Friday | 7:30am-5:30pm | Year-Round
Choose a schedule of 2-5 days per week, contingent upon classroom openings
Curriculum & Environment
Our curriculum, Tools of the Mind, focuses on building learning-to-learn skills. These skills include but are not limited to: attending to instructions, working memory, planning, problem solving, cooperation, and flexibility. Whether resolving a conflict with a friend, telling a story, or following a new instruction, we all rely on these skills. At Paper Crown, we focus on the development of such skills while moving at a pace that is appropriate for each child. Traditional academic goals are incorporated into daily activities to ensure a balanced educational experience.
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We are Rhode Island's only preschool offering the Tools of the Mind curriculum.
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​Even the best curriculum can fall short in an environment that is not conducive to learning. Minimalist-style classrooms that limit clutter can be the most effective for learning. When distractions are minimized, children are able to focus and engage in more intentional play, creating a more meaningful learning experience. Our classrooms are designed with soft tones, and include mostly organic materials, as well as carefully chosen play items that promote learning and social-skill building.
At Paper Crown Preschool, we also believe in the importance of time outdoors as there are lessons learned in nature that cannot be taught within the classroom.
Time spent outdoors enhances creative play, provides natural opportunities for the development of social and motor skills, and teaches children to appreciate the world around them
Simply put, kids can be kids outdoors. This meaningful time gives children the much needed opportunity to run, scream, climb, make mud pies, and hunt for treasure. We spend a minimum of 2 hours a day outside, rain or shine!
Toddler Program
Our toddler program is for children 18 months – 3 years old. When creating the classroom environment, Paper Crown Preschool has considered that toddlers take in everything around them. In the toddler classroom, students experience a warm and inviting setting that promotes exploration and intentional play.
Learning is a skill within itself. In order to acquire rules to a game, resolve a disagreement with a friend, or recall numbers, we need to have acquired prerequisite skills such as critical thinking, sequencing, and memory recall. Our toddler program focuses on developing these “learning to learn” skills.
Paper Crown teachers contrive learning opportunities for our toddlers by facilitating play that incorporates educational goals. Learning opportunities are presented naturalistically and without pressure. Toddlerhood is a time to develop a love of learning. Paper Crown teachers act as guides on each child’s individual journey, enhancing educational opportunities along the way.
Pre-Kindergarten Program
​Our pre-kindergarten program is for children 3-5 years and is designed to build upon the learning-to-learn skills developed within our toddler program, while following curriculum goals developed by Tools of the Mind and The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE). Traditional academic goals are targeted within daily activities and progress towards "school readiness" is monitored through individualized student portfolios.
Preschoolers will continue to follow a daily routine that involves, music, chores, ample time outdoors, and creative play. Paper Crown teachers will facilitate learning opportunities for students while taking into account each student’s preferences and needs. Social skills, conflict resolution, and team skills are also addressed within the preschool classroom.
Paper Crown teachers communicate gently and respectfully with all students. Our teachers go through extensive behavior management training and are prepared to take any challenging situation and turn it into a meaningful learning opportunity. Educators also prevent challenging behavior by providing clear expectations, consistency, and routine within the classroom's daily activities.
