Poe-Co has two indoor classrooms (an Acorn class and an Apple class) and an outdoor classroom. Each classroom has two teachers and one parent, allowing for a 6:1 child/adult ratio. The director of the school is the lead teacher in the Apple class. Although we are located in Poe Elementary, our entrance, classrooms, and playground are designed for preschoolers and are for Poe-Co use only (except for when we invite others to join us). We also have our own restroom, located between our classrooms.

Learning
At Poe-Co, we believe that the “work” of a child is to play. All of our activities, centers, and playground equipment are thoughtfully and purposely designed to offer preschoolers learning opportunities that foster independence, inspire mind and body, and enhance social interaction.

Daily schedule
Our program offers a gentle, flexible routine that gives students opportunities to choose their own activities, as well as times to come together as a group.

Outdoor play on arrival
Morning circle
Free-flow center time, including snack center
Outdoor play
Closing circle, includes Rice Literacy Project

Outdoor classroom
Our students enjoy plenty of outdoor time. In fact, they can often be seen splashing in the puddles in rain gear, digging in the garden, making sand creations, creating symphonies in the outdoor music center, and exploring nature under our ancient live oak tree. Rain boots and a change of clothing are on the supply list, as we encourage our children to dig, pour, splash, and create. Our teachers create outdoor centers as well, including the popular pizza garden—a garden in which the students plant seeds of pizza ingredients, weed, water, sow, and then use the harvest to make pizza. Other centers involve dramatic play, writing, reading, science, and more. The outdoor equipment is designed to develop fine and gross motor skills, important components of skills such as writing, drawing, and perceptual awareness.

Indoor classrooms
The indoor classrooms are designed to be stimulating, age appropriate, and safe. Indoor centers follow a weekly theme. Our teachers create wonderfully imaginative stations each week. Centers include a pouring center, art, dramatic play, reading, writing, science, math, blocks, art, and snack. To cultivate creativity, independence, and thinking skills, our students are not offered worksheets. Instead, they use their own visions to create their own projects that are based on flexible parameters.

Children are also encouraged to take care of their school and surrounding environment by cleaning up after themselves and by recycling and composting, giving them a sense of pride and independence, as well as a connection to a larger world.