Philosophy
Saline Cooperative Preschool provides a unique opportunity for child, teacher and parent to work in partnership to create a positive early school experience. Under the direction of a trained and objective teacher, children learn and make meaning of the world around them through play. It is a place in which families feel safe, heard, and important as well as where children's needs and feelings are of primary importance. In addition, the partnership between parent and teacher takes into consideration the importance of sharing the responsibility of the growth and development of each child.
Curriculum
In the first year of preschool, children learn to do many things which aid them in their social/emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Each day they are learning school readiness skills such as sharing, turn taking, group awareness, and empathy. There are several opportunities to practice motor coordination through running, jumping, and climbing as well as, cutting, gluing, beading and coloring. Through developmentally appropriate activities children are exposed to basic colors, shapes, letters and numbers as well as music, arts, and dramatic play activities which develop their creativity and help to foster independence.
As the children progress into the second year, the solid foundation that was laid from the previous year allows them the opportunity to find deeper understanding in concepts and skills through an enriched curriculum. They are given the opportunity to learn to recognize their name in print, identify and learn to use numbers in various tasks such as counting and measuring, and begin to recognize letters. As children’s interests and preferences develop we are able to adapt the curriculum to make concepts meaningful to each child.
With the teacher as a role model, as well as the relationships built between fellow parents and caregivers, members gain more effective parenting skills. The Co-op is also an important forum for learning about child development and related parenting issues.
Our goal and mission is to create a safe and nurturing environment in which we help to develop a child’s individuality, self-awareness, and awareness of others. Respect, empathy, and sense of accomplishment are key factors.
At Saline Cooperative Preschool, we recognize and welcome families of all configurations. We will not discriminate based on race, color, handicap, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.
Saline Cooperative Preschool is is a parent-run cooperative preschool established in 1957. At SCOOP, we offer multifaceted, teacher-guided activities to help preschoolers learn, play, and grow in a positive, nurturing environment, establishing the pattern for life-long learning. The school's play-based programs provide a cost-effective preschool choice in addition to a unique classroom experience between student, teacher, and parent.
As a preschool cooperative (Co-op), it is operated by member parents and the elected school board. Classes are led by a dedicated teacher, and parents volunteer their time, skills, and energy to help the school run efficiently. The school is a non-profit, non-sectarian organization affiliated with the Michigan Council of Cooperative Nursery Schools and licensed by the Family Independence Agency.
Saline Cooperative Preschool is located on Ann Arbor Saline Road, in a space connected to the Holy Faith church, although not affiliated.
SCOOP serves families in surrounding areas including Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Chelsea, Dexter and more. We offer a partial-day program for children between the ages of 3 years and 5 years in one multi-aged group, with a maximum of __ children in the space. Our facility includes one large classroom and a private backyard / playground for outdoor play and exploration.
The day starts between 9:00 am, and runs until 12:00 pm. SCOOP has one full-time teacher.
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Saline Cooperative Preschool is is a parent-run cooperative preschool established in 1957. At SCOOP, we offer multifaceted, teacher-guided activities to help preschoolers learn, play, and grow in a positive, nurturing environment, establishing the pattern for life-long learning. The school's play-based programs provide a cost-effective preschool choice in addition to a unique classroom experience between student, teacher, and parent.
As a preschool cooperative (Co-op), it is operated by member parents and the elected school board. Classes are led by a dedicated teacher, and parents volunteer their time, skills, and energy to help the school run efficiently. The school is a non-profit, non-sectarian organization affiliated with the Michigan Council of Cooperative Nursery Schools and licensed by the Family Independence Agency.
Saline Cooperative Preschool is located on Ann Arbor Saline Road, in a space connected to the Holy Faith church, although not affiliated.
SCOOP serves families in surrounding areas including Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Chelsea, Dexter and more. We offer a partial-day program for children between the ages of 3 years and 5 years in one multi-aged group, with a maximum of __ children in the space. Our facility includes one large classroom and a private backyard / playground for outdoor play and exploration.
The day starts between 9:00 am, and runs until 12:00 pm. SCOOP has one full-time teacher.
​
Saline Cooperative Preschool is is a parent-run cooperative preschool established in 1957. At SCOOP, we offer multifaceted, teacher-guided activities to help preschoolers learn, play, and grow in a positive, nurturing environment, establishing the pattern for life-long learning. The school's play-based programs provide a cost-effective preschool choice in addition to a unique classroom experience between student, teacher, and parent.
As a preschool cooperative (Co-op), it is operated by member parents and the elected school board. Classes are led by a dedicated teacher, and parents volunteer their time, skills, and energy to help the school run efficiently. The school is a non-profit, non-sectarian organization affiliated with the Michigan Council of Cooperative Nursery Schools and licensed by the Family Independence Agency.
Saline Cooperative Preschool is located on Ann Arbor Saline Road, in a space connected to the Holy Faith church, although not affiliated.
SCOOP serves families in surrounding areas including Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Chelsea, Dexter and more. We offer a partial-day program for children between the ages of 3 years and 5 years in one multi-aged group, with a maximum of __ children in the space. Our facility includes one large classroom and a private backyard / playground for outdoor play and exploration.
The day starts between 9:00 am, and runs until 12:00 pm. SCOOP has one full-time teacher.
​
Saline Cooperative Preschool is is a parent-run cooperative preschool established in 1957. At SCOOP, we offer multifaceted, teacher-guided activities to help preschoolers learn, play, and grow in a positive, nurturing environment, establishing the pattern for life-long learning. The school's play-based programs provide a cost-effective preschool choice in addition to a unique classroom experience between student, teacher, and parent.
As a preschool cooperative (Co-op), it is operated by member parents and the elected school board. Classes are led by a dedicated teacher, and parents volunteer their time, skills, and energy to help the school run efficiently. The school is a non-profit, non-sectarian organization affiliated with the Michigan Council of Cooperative Nursery Schools and licensed by the Family Independence Agency.
Saline Cooperative Preschool is located on Ann Arbor Saline Road, in a space connected to the Holy Faith church, although not affiliated.
SCOOP serves families in surrounding areas including Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Chelsea, Dexter and more. We offer a partial-day program for children between the ages of 3 years and 5 years in one multi-aged group, with a maximum of __ children in the space. Our facility includes one large classroom and a private backyard / playground for outdoor play and exploration.
The day starts between 9:00 am, and runs until 12:00 pm. SCOOP has one full-time teacher.
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Sessions
2024-2025 School Year Offerings
Our preschool class is a multi-age classroom with children ages 3-5 learning together. Saline Cooperative Preschool's school year runs from early September through late May and generally follows Saline Area School's calendar.
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Monday/Wednesday Class: 9:00am - Noon
Friday optional add-on: 9:00am - Noon
*Our Friday class will be filled on a first come first serve basis. ​​
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Daily Schedule​​
9:00 - Arrival​
9:15-9:30 - Circle time ​
9:30-10:30 - Free Choice/Center Work ​
10:30-10:40 - Children’s Clean up ​
10:40-11:00 - 2nd Circle Time​
11:00-11:20 - Snack time ​
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What is a multi-age classroom?​
In a multiage classroom children ages three to five years old are learning, growing and exploring together. Much like siblings in the same family span multiple ages and play and grow together, our school nurtures an environment where older children have the opportunity to take on the role of leader and role model while younger children look to their older peers for motivation and encouragement.
Children grow and develop at all different rates. It is often easy to compare two children of the same age and pick out the “deficits” based on how other children are performing. As parents and educators, we know that growth and development is not on a neat linear scale. While you might have a child that has excellent coordination and motor skills for their age, that same child might still be working on their social emotional development. In a multiage classroom, children are not labeled according to their ability, they are looked at as individuals who have unique strengths and unique growth opportunities. When education is child focused, the teacher is able to tailor instruction based on the child’s unique abilities. In this type of developmentally appropriate environment children see themselves as progressive, successful learners.
For these reasons, we at SCOOP believe that teaching to each individual is the most child centric environment that we can provide.
We recognize that children are unique and just because they are of like age does not mean they have the same strengths and needs. We choose to provide an environment where we can foster leadership skills, compassion, empathy and a love of learning across all age ranges.
For further reading feel free to check out:
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