PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & CONFERENCES Early Childhood Education: Nurturing Growth
NICOLE SOLMAN ROSENBAUM EARLY CHILDHOOD DIRECTOR
Through Innovation and Intentionality T his year, our Early Childhood program continued to elevate the learning experience by deepening its commitment to intentional teaching, play- based discovery, and whole-child development. With a strong focus on aligning daily classroom practices to developmental benchmarks, the team enhanced the way learning is planned, observed, and documented. New tools and strategies empowered teachers to create more meaningful and responsive curriculum experiences—cultivating curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking from the earliest years. One of the most impactful areas of growth was in professional development. Teachers participated in targeted training centered on best practices in early childhood education, with an emphasis on reflective teaching, collaboration, and project-based learning. These ongoing learning
opportunities helped strengthen
a shared pedagogical vision and supported the implementation of innovative approaches in the classroom. The learning environment itself also saw thoughtful enhancements. Classrooms and outdoor spaces were adapted to better support sensory exploration, movement, and child-led inquiry. Integration with Judaics, Hebrew, science, and the arts remained a vital part of each child’s experience, providing a rich, interdisciplinary foundation for growth. As the Early Childhood team looks ahead, the focus remains on deepening documentation practices, expanding student voice through emergent curriculum, and continuing to invest in the professional growth of the educators who bring this vision to life every day.
BUILDING FORWARD: Strengthening Curriculum and Instruction
across genres, and research skills—supporting cross-disciplinary collaboration with Social Studies. STEM education continued to thrive with expanded robotics and coding in the Lower School, capstone and sustainability projects in Middle School, and the pilot of a rigorous new math curriculum in fifth grade—set to expand schoolwide. Instructional technology also progressed with faculty training
T his year, Levine Academy advanced key initiatives across curriculum, STEM, and professional development to enrich student learning and strengthen instructional alignment. The adoption of the Savvas Social Studies curriculum in grades lower and middle school brought greater vertical alignment, inquiry-based learning, and integration of civics, history, and geography. In grades five to eight, the Savvas ELA program emphasized literary analysis, writing K8 General Studies 1,112 hours Hebrew & Judaic Studies 500 hours STEM Team 481 hours EC 1,020 hours PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
in AI, the use of Google Classroom, and increased digital literacy efforts. Faculty engaged in targeted professional development, a summer book study on belonging, and mentorship programs for new teachers—ensuring excellence in teaching across all grades.
LIZ LAWLOR K8 PRINCIPAL
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