The Community Preschool at SOU

1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Education/Psychology Bldg.
Ashland, OR 97520
541-552-6922
preschool @sou.edu

General Preschool Information

The Community Preschool at SOU is located on the beautiful campus of Southern Oregon University in the Education/Psychology Building. The classroom has three spacious areas for active exploratory play. The indoor space opens to an expansive, shaded outdoor environment inviting children to run, climb, swing, and enjoy the outdoors.

Children are encouraged to explore their environment with their own unique sense of wonder. We support research-based, developmentally appropriate practices to promote a young child's optimal learning and development. Our goal is to partner with parents and families to create a community of learning and an understanding of developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood education.

There are many advantages to being located on the SOU campus. We invite Early Childhood and Elementary Education major students into our class to participate in our activities as part of their practicum or work-study hours. This experience teaches undergraduate students about young children through observation and classroom interaction. Here they see first hand how beneficial play is to young minds and bodies.

The staff comprises master teachers providing oversight for the student and parent volunteers. This provides a low student-to-adult ratio and an enriching, stimulating environment for your child. To ensure personalized attention for each child, class size is limited to 25 children with 3 lead teachers as well as our practicum and work study students. Children are provided both child-initiated and teacher facilitated activities including stories, music, art, and movement.

We serve children 3-5 years of age and are open to members of the community, SOU faculty and staff. Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Sandbox

Philosophy

The Community Preschool at SOU provides a play-based environment where experiential learning is encouraged. Our play-based curriculum bridges theory into practice and is guided by our professional staff through careful observation and planning based on children’s strengths, interests, and needs. We know that learning takes place through relationships and an internal drive to explore which is essential for learning.

Our environment is arranged with meaningful and relevant selections that support self-initiation and choice making. We highly regard children’s natural awe and wonder, curiosity, and drive to learn. We value the child’s individual process and timeline. Children are encouraged to appreciate their own and other’s abilities and ideas, to try new experiences; all the while their own intellectual, social, emotional, and imaginative competencies are nurtured daily.

As a teaching community here at the University, our objective is to model best practices in early childhood education for children, parents, and University students in a welcoming and thoughtful preschool community.

We wish you well,

Teacher Lisa, Teacher Julie, and Teacher Raegan

Garden Sunflower