ALG's

Approach to Learning

Our Unique Approach

At Amazing Life Games, we

  • Provide a stimulating and nurturing environment where children can interact with a range of materials, people and experiences.
  • Promote healthy independence and resourcefulness while fostering children’s imagination and intellect.
  • Are led by talented and highly skilled teachers who have had long term involvement with the school.
  • Have multiple outdoor spaces to allow for plenty of outdoor time, bike riding, gardening, climbing and physical activity.
  • Expose your child to dramatic play, yoga, music, and movement with professional enrichment teachers.
  • Encourage parent involvement and participation in a variety of ways throughout the school year.
  • Actively seek a diverse group of children that represents the rich and diverse community that is Washington, D.C.

Sample Daily Schedule

08:30 am
Teachers And Co-opers arrive to help set up
08:45 am
Students Begin to arrive
09:05 am
Circle time
09:15 am
Special Teacher/Small Group Activities, followed by independent small and large group play
10:00 am
Snack, bathroom and clean up
10:35 am
Continued INDEPENDENT SMALL AND LARGE GROUP PLAY
12:00 pm
Bathroom & Lunch
12:45 pm
Storytime, songs, fingerplay, etc.
1:00 pm
Nappers prepare for naptime.
 
Remaining children play (games, blocks, art projectS)
2:40 pm
Clean Up Time
2:45 pm
Storytime
3:00 pm
3 o’clockers are picked up and aftercare begins (games, blocks, art project, outdoor play)
3:10 pm
Afternoon Snack
3:30 pm
Afternoon ACTIVITIES, INDEPENDENT SMALL AND LARGE GROUP PLAY
5:45 pm
Bathroom and Clean up
6:00 pm
ALG closes – all children and teachers go home

Kindergarten Readiness

In 2008, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) released the DC Early Learning Standards to ensure that all children are ready for kindergarten. The standards are organized by four (4) key domains that include:

Social Emotional Development

 At ALG this means children learn to take care of their personal needs or ask for help. They make friends, practice regulating their impulses, and learn how to take turns, share space and materials and collaborate in group play. They experience conflict and failure in a supportive environment and develop resilience.

Physical Development

At ALG this means children build endurance and strength through vigorous daily outdoor play, and practice jumping, running, biking and climbing. They develop their gross motor skills through open ended activities as well as more structured classes such as yoga and capoeira.Their hand strength, which is essential for writing, is developed through working with a range of art, science and natural materials.

Cognitive Development

At ALG this means children are keen observers, curious, and excited about learning. They experience the world hands-on, make plans, see them fail, re-make them and try again. They tinker with cause and effect, with problem solving, and learn to reflect on what is going on in the world around them. They develop their capacity for executive function — critical for later academic and social success.

Language Development

ALG meets and exceeds all recommendations provided by OSSE’s Early Learning Standards. Children leave ALG ready for kindergarten. The vast majority of our alumni attend public and charter schools in Washington, D.C. ready and eager to learn. They are a kind, creative and resourceful group and we are confident that they will make their impact on the world around them.