What should parents know about your teachers and classroom environment? We understand the many factors that go into choosing an early childhood education provider, as well as the challenges many parents face when leaving their children in the care of others throughout the day. BBMA works hard to be a welcoming and comforting presence for your child, and part of our families’ villages so all of you can thrive. How do teachers partner with parents throughout the years? We know it can be challenging to leave your child in the care of others. Our teachers and support staff work to put you at ease by keeping open lines of communication. Whether you prefer verbal updates during drop off and pick up or photos throughout the day via our parent communication app, we’re always eager to share how your child is doing in our care. For behavioural or other classroom issues, our director will schedule a meeting to discuss how you can work together to find a solution at school and home. How do you support children with different learning styles or developmental needs? For children with varying learning styles, our schools and curriculum are designed to meet
annual Can A Thon each November.
the needs of different students—with flexible seating, sensory activities, and expansive classrooms. How do you help children prepare for the transition to kindergarten? Our proprietary curriculum, Passport to Learning® was designed using the latest early childhood education theory, best practices and research. This curriculum not only helps them to grow academically, but it also helps them to build social and emotional skills. Last year, 94% of BBMA Pre-K students met or exceeded kindergarten readiness benchmarks across all five key developmental areas: language and literacy, cognitive development, social-emotional learning, physical development, and approaches to learning. If you could describe your school in three words, what would they be? Nurturing, Engaging, and Structured What are 1–3 special events you host? We host annual holiday celebrations, but what our students get most excited for are our Heart Project events. Each of these service learning initiatives, from our Alex’s Lemonade Stand fundraisers to our Change for a Change events, get our students involved and excited.
BIG BLUE MARBLE ACADEMY What does a typical day look like for a child in your program? In the classroom, we blend play, exploration, and structured activities to provide each of our learners with an experience that suits their learning style and progress at their own pace. Each lesson and activity is designed to hone foundational skills, such as critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. How would you describe your educational philosophy for preschool-age children? At Big Blue Marble Academy’s locations in Birmingham, we are nurturing little minds and growing big hearts for a better world. A child’s first five years build the foundation of their lives—establishing the hard and soft skills they need to love learning and their communities, while being successful in the classroom and beyond. We want our children to be good citizens in their current community and the larger world, so our Passport to Learning® curriculum was designed to enable students to reach their developmental milestones, while appreciating different cultures around the globe. Our Heart Project service learning initiatives also help them to take action and understand they can make a difference now.
BIRMINGHAMPARENT.COM | FEBRUARY 2026 13
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