We have offered out arts enhanced preschool since 1986! It just dies not seem possible that in two more years, our preschool academy will be 30 years old! Amazing!
What makes Move-N-Learn Academy so different that it has lasted this long as a favored preschool in our community of Woodward? Probably because of our great teachers over the years and the forward thinking of our entire staff! Forward thinking meaning that we have always been working at evolving the preschool so that it kept up with the times. Forward thinking because of the times we have taken children into the program that other programs would possibly turn away due to their learning or behavioral problems. Forward thinking because we have always saw ourselves as a school and never as a day care.
From the very beginning, Move-N-Learn Academy has incorporated the performing and fine arts into our educational system. Gymnastics has also been a big part of the learning as well since we really believe in the body and mind connection. Lessons using the fine arts have brought about a great wealth of knowledge for out students. For instance, how many two year olds learn the shapes of octagon, wedge, cube, cylinder, etc. in the preschools that do not offer gymnastics?
Over the years, we have had many public elementary educators come to us and say " I think I have one of your preschool students in my class this year." When asked the name of the student, 99.9% of the time they were correct. The child did come through our preschool program from 2-5 yrs. of age. It has always been wonderful when the public educator has added, " Your kids are always so ready for school and beyond!"
So what is in the future of Move-N-Learn Academy? We think that the direction our school is headed is outstanding! We have had computers in the school for the past ten years and have moved on with adding more technology and engineering. Yes, we still have our center for blocks as part of the engineering, but now we have also incorporated software that is fun and builds on math skills in working with arcs, semicircle, straight lines and more. With this software, student learn to construct roads and railways, add trains, helicopters, trucks, cars. water fronts and more. They are truly engineers!
Music is becoming a bigger part of our school as well. Every students gets music by singing and learning to use rhythm instruments, but our older students (4-5 yrs.) also start on pre-piano. All ages also start working with recognizing music symbols and notes as well.
Dance and performance means that each child has a chance to perform for their families at our spring show. Thus training them for other public situations in the future. Remember being afraid to stand up and do an oral book report? Our students see it as just another opportunity to perform!
We think it is outstanding that our little school has weathered the years and the upgrades well. We believe that as long as we embrace changing times as something good and an opportunity to continue to grow, we will have many more years of teaching area children! That is why in August of 2014, we will be opening a Move-N-Learn Academy in Enid as well!
We hope you will join us this year at Move-N-Learn Academy to experience to excitement and growth that is available for your child. Fall registration is now available on line at www.academyoffineartsok.com
