Micro-School
What is a Micro School?
We are a small one-classroom private school, serving a maximum of six multi-age children in a home setting. We provide instruction for students attending preschool through 2nd grade. We offer highly personalized education tailored to the needs of the individual child and we work closely with the family to provide support for the young child at school and at home.
The Micro School is part of a small licensed family child care home. We provide education and child care services, in addition to individualized music classes and summer camps.
Our Micro School and Family Child Care exceed licensing standards and provide 2 adults for a maximum of 6 children in our care.
Mission Statement
The mission of Uptown Little Birds Micro-School and Day Care is to stimulate the natural and inherent curiosity and wonder in young children and support their exploration and discovery of the world with rich experiences and activities that naturally emerge from the child.
We are a small school with a big impact and play a critical role in nurturing and supporting the young child in their development and educational experience.
We believe that all children have the right to quality education and childcare. We are a progressive school committed to the development of critical and creative thinkers.
Children have a sense of belonging and families are supported. We maintain an inclusive environment that acknowledges and respects children from diverse family and cultural backgrounds.
Sample Daily Schedule for Micro School:
9:00-9:30: Breakfast / Free Play
9:30-10:00: Circle Time (Storytime/Social-Emotional Intelligence Program/Mindfulness)
10:00-11:00: Individualized Instruction (Language Arts/Math/Studies)
11:00-12:00: Music, Movement, Outdoor Play
12:00-12:30: Lunch
12:30-1:00: Literacy through the Arts and Free Choice Play
1:00-1:30: Exploring our world / Science / Emergent Curriculum
1:30-2:00: Whole Group Spanish Instruction (Language Arts/Math/Social Studies)
2:00-2:45: Individualized Instruction and independent learning
2:45-3:00: Review and prepare for dismissal
We have two shifts available with 6 months, academic year, or, year-round options.
Micro School
Part-Time: AM Shift: 9am-1pm
Full-Time: PM Shift: 9am-3pm
*Early Dismissal on Fridays at 1 pm
*See the school calendar for more information.
Enrollment Options
6 months - Semester enrollment
10 months - Academic Year Enrollment
12 month - Year-Round Enrollment
Our Philosophy
Our approach to education is inspired by Brazilian educator and philosopher Paulo Freire, a leading advocate for critical pedagogy. We facilitate individual and whole group experiences that allow the child to make sense of their world and experience, providing a foundation for early literacy development and critical thinking and engagement with their world.
We provide a safe learning environment in a small, safe, warm family environment that promotes creative exploration of the world, education, health, nutrition, and safety along with individualized attention from experienced professionals.
Curriculum:
A small school with a big impact. A customized balanced curriculum that nurtures and stimulates child development and affirms cultural practices. We implement an emergent organic curriculum that strikes a balance between structured whole group and individualized instruction, free choice play, literacy through the arts, individual and group activities responding to children’s needs, experiences, and interests of the whole child.
Daily circle time, rich indoor and outdoor environment, play, art, science, music, movement, and emphasis on healthy practices, nutrition, exercise, and relaxation to support the social-emotional development of children. Field trips, frequent visits to park and lake.
Bilingual Spanish/English instruction is provided. Children are encouraged to maintain their native language and embrace multilingualism.
We include the cultural traditions and beliefs of the child and their family in the customized curriculum.
Our Teachers
Dr. Martina Ayala holds a Doctorate in Multicultural and International Education Areas of expertise: Early childhood education, parent education, curriculum development, language development, bilingual education, language maintenance, culturally relevant human development theories and applied strategies, critical pedagogy, trauma-informed care, and family support.
Dr. Ayala’s track record of success in preparing young children for school and supporting working families in re-directing children with challenging behaviors has been documented over her many years of experience as an educator, scholar, and family childcare provider for the past 35 years.
Mr. Alex Balmaceda has worked with young children and youth for the past 33 years. He is a professionally trained and accomplished musician. He was the co-founder of a college preparatory and model childcare, is the owner of a private music school, and has taught math, science, social studies, physical education, and music in grades pre-K through high school at private and public schools.
Behavior Management and Discipline
The Uptown Little Birds Micro-School and Day Care uses positive discipline strategies that effectively teach children how to manage their behavior and keep them from harm while promoting healthy development and teaching social-emotional intelligence. We support children in recognizing and managing their feelings appropriately within themselves and our relationships, as well as understanding what other people are feeling.
We implement strategies that help children identify their feelings and become aware of how their actions and behavior impacts others.
We work closely with parents and communicate often to problem solve and support their children in healthy social-emotional development.
Should a child’s behavior become a consistent problem, the teacher will meet with parents and make a referral.
Extreme behavioral situations that continue, despite all efforts will be handled on a case by case basis and the best intervention strategy will be discussed with parents and implemented. The school and daycare reserve the right to remove a child that is a harm to him/herself and others.