Our Program
Learning Through Play
At MudPie University Preschool, we believe children learn best through play, exploration, and meaningful experiences. Our child-centered, play-based approach encourages children to ask questions, solve problems, create, collaborate, and discover the world around them.
Nature serves as an extension of our classroom. Throughout the year, we use the changing seasons and the natural environment to inspire learning in science, literacy, mathematics, art, and social-emotional development. Whether children are investigating insects, planting seeds, building with sticks, or splashing in puddles, every experience becomes an opportunity to learn.
Small Class Sizes
MudPie University Preschool intentionally maintains small class sizes, with no more than eight children per class. This low teacher-to-child ratio allows for individualized instruction, meaningful relationships, and a safe, nurturing learning environment where every child is known, valued, and supported.
Classes are taught by an Illinois licensed teacher with an advanced degree in Curriculum and Instruction (PreK–Grade 6), a Professional Educator License with an Early Childhood endorsement, and more than 20 years of experience working with young children.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Healthy social-emotional development is the foundation of everything we do. We believe children thrive when they feel safe, capable, and connected.
Learning experiences are thoughtfully designed to balance child-initiated exploration with intentional teacher guidance. Through play, children naturally develop language, literacy, mathematics, science, creativity, problem-solving, self-regulation, and social skills.
Rather than simply teaching children what to think, we encourage them to wonder, investigate, create, and discover. We strive to nurture curiosity, confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.
Curriculum
MudPie University Preschool uses Learn Every Day®: The Preschool Curriculum, a research-based curriculum developed by early childhood experts. Learning experiences are aligned with the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards (IELDS) and are designed to support the whole child across all developmental domains.
Our curriculum promotes growth in:
- Social-Emotional Development
- Language and Literacy
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Fine and Gross Motor Development
- Creative Arts
- Self-Help and Independence
Curriculum is flexible and responsive, allowing teachers to build upon children’s interests while ensuring that each child develops the skills needed for kindergarten readiness.
Zoo-Phonics: Preschoolers at MudPie U learn to identify letters and letter sounds with Zoo-Phonics. What is Zoo-Phonics? Zoo Phonics is a hands-on, whole brain approach to learning the alphabet. Children learn the sight, sound and an action for each letter. Learn more about the Z00-Phonics program here.
Early Literacy
Children are introduced to letters, sounds, phonological awareness, print concepts, storytelling, and early writing through meaningful, hands-on experiences woven throughout the day.
MudPie University Preschool also incorporates Zoo-phonics®, a multi-sensory approach that helps children learn letter names, sounds, and formation through movement, music, and engaging animal characters.
STEAM Learning
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) is naturally integrated throughout our curriculum.
Children investigate, design, build, experiment, observe, and create as they explore the world around them. Whether mixing colors, building ramps, measuring ingredients, exploring shadows, or discovering how plants grow, children develop critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills through authentic experiences.
Outdoor Learning
Outdoor play is an essential part of every day at MudPie University Preschool. We believe children benefit from spending time outdoors in every season whenever weather conditions are safe.
Our outdoor classroom encourages children to climb, dig, build, create, investigate, imagine, and take appropriate risks while developing strength, coordination, resilience, and confidence. Nature provides endless opportunities for scientific discovery, creative expression, sensory exploration, and joyful learning.
Inspired by the 1,000 Hours Outside® movement, we value the many physical, emotional, and cognitive benefits that come from connecting children with the natural world.
CLASSROOM GARDEN
Hydroponics in it’s simplest form, is growing plants in water, without soil. When students explore how to grow plants hydroponically, they get a more in depth understanding of what makes plants grow and where the food they eat comes from. Children at MudPie U will grow vegetables hydroponically in the classroom throughout the year.
LIFE CYCLE OF THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY
Milkweed growing on our property provides a unique opportunity to observe one of nature’s most fascinating transformations. Throughout butterfly season, children may discover monarch eggs, caterpillars, chrysalises, and butterflies while learning about life cycles, habitats, conservation, and the interconnectedness of living things It’s really amazing to watch! Check out one of our caterpillars in action here.
Outdoor play is an essential part of every day at MudPie University Preschool. We believe children benefit from spending time outdoors in every season whenever weather conditions are safe.
Our outdoor classroom encourages children to climb, dig, build, create, investigate, imagine, and take appropriate risks while developing strength, coordination, resilience, and confidence. Nature provides endless opportunities for scientific discovery, creative expression, sensory exploration, and joyful learning.
Inspired by the 1,000 Hours Outside® movement, we value the many physical, emotional, and cognitive benefits that come from connecting children with the natural world.
