At Butler Street COOP we draw from many play-based progressive teaching philosophies to present a curriculum that nurtures the whole child. Social and emotional objectives are considered with the same value, attention, and developmental expectations, as cognitive and academic objectives. Our emphasis is on helping children create meaning from a rich set of experiences inside and outside the classroom. Dramatic play, messy art and sensory material, books, stories, songs, dance parties, playground time, neighborhood outings, cooking, flower arranging, snack time, and a whole lot of laughing (small amounts of crying too), in a genuinely warm and respectful community inspires confidence, and self respect. Kids get exposure to numbers and letters through contextualized curiosity-based experiences, while practicing the skills they need to be good friends and successful students. We provide just enough structure that the day is predictable, and the space accessible, and the creative freedom to let the children engage their classroom in the ways that feel right to them. Our passionate, expert teachers and close-knit group of families who work and play together make the COOP unique. The small class size and the low student-teacher ratio allow our teachers to focus on every single child. Each class is lead by a head teacher and supported by two assistants. We are committed to building a program that reflects the diversity of the community around us and encourages our children to be kind to all, regardless of ethnicity, culture, race, sexual orientation/identity, religion, or background. Just as music is great for language development, diversity is a tool for open-heartedness and acceptance. And being a parent-run program helps keep tuition more affordable.