WELCOME TO THE
Growing Place
Nestled in the eye-catching beach city of Santa Monica is a community that nudges us to become the best versions of ourselves through meaningful relationships.
EXPLORE
the school
Preschool classics such as swing sets and tire swings are where the Growing Place children love to swing, spin and soar!
Children further develop motor skills through the tricycle path, hand-over-hand bars, and spinner. Their outdoors support play, exploration, and adventurous "risk-taking." It invites cooperation, negotiation, and social-emotional development while developing confidence
and self-esteem through learner-inspired, hands-on experiences.
The role of the teacher is not to teach but to produce learning conditions.
LORIS MALAGUZZI
THEIR
story
It was 1985 when visionary and pioneer, Ellen Khokha, set out to create a high-quality school with meaningful learning for children of full-time working parents. Back then, this was a phenomenon that was almost non-existent!
In a matter of 27 years, the Growing Place blossomed into one classroom to three campuses.
Quality education has been their driving force from the beginning and this is reflected in their accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) which they've held since 1989.
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ABOUT THEIR
philosophy
In 1990, the Growing Place invested in its future by sending its staff and two Board Members to study the Reggio Approach in Reggio Emilia, Italy. These teachers lived the experience they had only studied in books. This event planted the seed that has allowed them to blossom into the schools that are today; their knowledge and inspiration from the schools in Reggio.
Through this opportunity, they've reaffirmed their commitment to this pedagogical approach and this program has been recognized as a leader in early childhood education for emerging teachers. In fact, the Growing Place was selected to operate the Santa Monica Early Childhood Lab School.
FREEDOM
to play
Children have opportunities to apply and learn skills through small group work throughout the day.
This includes learning through games as well as
developing projects that children are personally
invested in exploring and researching together.
CO-CONTRUCTION
of Knowledge
Children and teachers co-construct knowledge—this means that they are in a collaborative process in which both adults and children are seen as learners, and they learn from one another to further expand their knowledge based on one another’s ideas and contributions.
The Growing Place teachers set up intentional encounters with materials, peers, the environment as inspired by the Reggio Approach and then carefully observe and document how children respond and dialogue with one another to build upon the next set of experiences. This makes our curriculum dynamic; it evolves with the children and teachers as they change and grow over time, together.
Learning happens when children can play with ideas over time and engage in reflective conversations with caring and skillful educators. In tandem with helping children to build developmental skills and resiliency, we foster an environment where children develop a deep curiosity for their world and a joyful disposition of learning.
FOSTERING
relationships
Small groups of children with three teachers make up a classroom cohort. This group stays together through their preschool years; experience rich, in-depth experiences, and life-long friendships.
Children come to the classroom with different strengths, interests, experiences, and needs. Our children achieve their full potential through trusting relationships and emotionally secure environments.
Download a book list of language to use with children: