The Ateliers
Our school has a beautiful Atelier and "mini-ateliers" indoors and outdoors, which value the expressive potential and creativity of each child.
Reggio-inspired Preschool
The environment is architecturally and functionally designed to foster relationships
In the Reggio Emilia philosophy, curriculum is not pre-planned in a rigid way, but rather emerges from children’s interests, questions, and daily experiences. Teachers observe thoughtfully, listen deeply, and document children’s words and actions. From this documentation, teachers design proposals—intentional experiences, materials, and provocations—that extend children’s thinking.
Our emergent curriculum fosters dynamic, engaging learning experiences within a supportive environment, with the environment itself acting as the "third teacher," inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach. Small group experiences allow children to explore topics deeply, at their own pace, and with a focus on individual interests, skills, and abilities. Both planned and spontaneous lessons unfold in diverse spaces like the atelier, garden, and creek, encouraging a rich connection to nature and the environment as essential tools for learning.
In November 2023, Nicole had the privilege of joining the North American Reggio Study Group to visit Reggio Emilia, Italy, during the 60th anniversary of the city’s first municipal preschool, Preschool Robinson. It was a profound reminder that being “Reggio” isn’t about following a rigid curriculum or model—there is no cookie-cutter mold or blueprint to being Reggio; it’s about a mindset and a responsibility to care for children wholeheartedly. Being Storybook is about honoring the rights of children, supporting the adults who care for them, and creating intentional learning experiences that foster creativity, collaboration, discovery, and joy.
There are many wonderful ways to approach early childhood education and quality preschools in Sonoma County, but what makes each preschool unique is its way of being. Storybook Village Preschool is all about loving and celebrating the children as a community. Certain agreements promise practices and procedures to ensure children, families, and teachers receive quality care.
Documentation Panels
Being a Reggio-inspired preschool means we follow each child’s lead, supporting learning through the “Hundred Languages” and joining them as co-learners in their experiences. We make learning visible through documentation panels displayed in the classroom and shared digitally with families. Check out our ongoing creek project to see the magic of learning unfolding in our sweet preschool!
Family Participation & Involvement
As relationships create a sense of belonging and drive learning, the schools in Reggio Emilia express parent participation as "an ongoing dialogue. " In the educational experience of Reggio Emilia, the infant-toddler centers and preschools are conceived as a context of continuous interaction between the three protagonists: children, teachers, and parents, each having their own expectations and rights, a context where listening, welcoming, and possibilities for growth are available to all, in an intense web of relationships and processes of development and participation. (Indications - Preschools and infant-toddler Centres of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia) Storybook Village Preschool's policies and expectations combined as Agreements create participation opportunities for all parents, family members, and friends.
The children's everyday experience of learning and being together at school is important for strengthening families' understanding of early childhood education, which is a common good as children's and parents' rights are the responsibility of our community. When you know all children's rights within our services and how participation connects you to your child's day-to-day experiences, your time or support will generate and nurture the feelings and culture of solidarity, responsibility, and inclusion. Participation teaches children they are unique, and we value their educational experiences, fostering a love for learning within a community while protecting childhoods. We love ideas and creativity in participating as we know the stressors of a healthy work-life balance. This means no delegating or alienation. Instead, it confirms the importance of parents' presence and role, who have always been highly valued in our Storybook Village Preschool traditions.
Friendship-Inspired Experiences Fostering Creativity
Happy 6th Birthday to Storybook!
Reach out to learn more about our magical preschool in the Montgomery Village neighborhood!