forest TK & Kinder
At Wild Wander Forest School, our mixed-age Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten class serves children ages 4 to 6, blending the best of both developmental stages in a nature-immersed, child-centered environment.
Our program is designed to honor each child’s unique path of development while offering a balance of structure and freedom. Children engage in both planned lessons and spontaneous learning opportunities, exploring foundational concepts in literacy, numeracy, environmental science, storytelling, and social-emotional growth —all through hands-on, inquiry-based experiences in nature.
Educators skillfully differentiate instruction to meet children where they are developmentally. Foundational skills are taught using proven methods like Orton-Gillingham and Heggerty routines, with instruction personalized and paced to each learner’s readiness. As children grow in confidence and curiosity, they are encouraged to dive deeper into areas of interest, often moving beyond standard expectations when interest and ability align.
Whether a child is in their TK or Kindergarten year, learning is both intentional and playful. Educators facilitate lessons that emerge from student questions and interests, helping children document their thinking, work collaboratively, and take initiative in their own learning journey—all while immersed in the wild beauty and unpredictability of the natural world.
Days & Times:
Mondays - Fridays
8:10AM - 12:10PM
***Can be paired with Afternoon Enrichment***
Mondays - Fridays | 12:10PM - 2:10PM
A Day in the Life of a Wild Wanderer
Our TK program follows a consistent rhythm that supports comfort, independence, and engagement. The flow of the day provides opportunities for skill-building, storytelling, collaboration, and imaginative play—all grounded in nature.
Some of our Program Highlights Include:
Aligned with California TK Standards and enriched based on student interests
Held entirely outdoors in rotating nature classrooms
Combines emergent, project-based learning with explicit instruction
Focused on collaboration, self-regulation, and early academic readiness
Incorporates Orton-Gillingham multisensory literacy instruction
Emphasizes environmental stewardship, creativity, and whole-child development
8:10AM - 8:30AM
Morning Arrival & Independent Exploration
A playful and purposeful start to the day featuring a warm-up activity or question designed to spark thinking in literacy, writing, or math. Children might be invited to estimate the number of acorns in a basket, write or draw their response to a nature-based prompt, or solve a riddle that leads into the day’s theme—all building foundational skills through curiosity and discussion.
8:30AM - 8:50AM
Morning Circle & Intention Setting
Group gathering with songs, breathing, calendar/weather observations, and planning for the day’s investigations.
8:55AM - 9:20AM
Literacy Skills Block
This time includes a combination of short, engaging read-alouds and student-led reading and writing practice. Students participate in explicit literacy lessons grounded in the Orton-Gillingham method, often delivered through multisensory stations. These rotating stations—featuring phonemic awareness activities like Heggerty routines, sand tracing, sound sorting, and story dictation—allow students to build foundational skills in small, focused bursts. Each station runs for about 6 minutes, giving children time to absorb and apply new concepts in active, playful ways.
9:25AM - 10:00AM
Snack & Independent Inquiry
During snack, educators offer a short read-aloud to maintain calm focus and spark curiosity for the next portion of the day. After snack, students move into self-directed investigations such as pond study, nature drawing, or tool exploration.
10:05AM - 10:25AM
Numeracy Skills Block
Before numeracy begins, students regroup with a short read-aloud or story-based transition to help settle their bodies and minds. The numeracy block then focuses on hands-on math activities like nature graphing, measuring with nonstandard units, and sequencing with natural objects.
10:30AM - 10:50AM
Exploration & Discovery
Group work on inquiry-based themes like pollinators, migration, or indigenous plant use.
10:50AM - 11:20AM
Observations & Nature Journaling
Students reflect on their discoveries through drawing, writing, or storytelling. Teachers support with documentation and dialog.
11:20AM - 11:55AM
Lunch & Restorative Time
During lunch, teachers may share another read-aloud to anchor group connection and support language development. This is followed by quiet time, rest, or independent reading in hammocks or under shady trees.
11:55AM - 12:10PM
Closing Circle
Reflections, appreciations, movement or music to close the day and honor shared learning.
Forest TK & Kinder
Flexible program options available!
Partial Week (2 Days):
Mon/Wed & Tue/Thur
$620.00
per month
Partial Week (3 Days):
Mon/Wed/Fri
$890.00
per month
Partial Week (4 Days):
Mon/Wed/Thursday or Fri
$1,200.00
per month
Partial Week: Custom Days
Pricing Varies
Mon/Tue/Wed/Thur or Fri
Times:
8:10/8:30AM - 12:10/12:30PM
Our Forest TK & Kinder Program is for children aged 4-5 Years
