Our Approach

Foundational skills in the morning, Hands-on Learning in the afternoon

At MeadowLab, we bring together the best of several approaches we trust: structured literacy grounded in the science of reading, hands-on math, project-based learning, a Reggio-inspired studio, design thinking, and plenty of time outdoors. Kids build strong foundational skills with an experienced educator in small groups and one-on-one, then put those skills to work on things they are curious about. The skills give them the tools, and the projects give them a reason to use them.

All of it lives inside the four values we hold: Curiosity, Agency, Community, and Empathy.

How we shaped our approach

MeadowLab Learning Toolkit

  • Learning to read and write can be a joy. Through small-group activities matched to where your kid is, kids learn how letter sounds and words fit together, so they can read on their own, put their ideas on paper, and dive into books they love.

    What This Looks Like

    • Daily small-group reading and phonics games

    • Fun visual tools (Secret Stories) that make tricky letter sounds easy to remember

    • Writing original sentences using words they just learned to sound out

  • Kids first explore math with physical materials, then connect those ideas to pictures, and finally move to numbers and symbols on paper. This step-by-step path builds number sense, spatial thinking, pattern recognition, and the confidence to tackle tricky problems without fear of making mistakes.

    What This Looks Like

    • Moving from physical blocks and pictures to numbers on paper

    • Building early number sense through real counting, sorting, and measuring

    • Solving real-world math puzzles and logic games through projects in small groups

  • Kids are natural scientists. We build on their curiosity by letting them ask big questions, test their ideas, and look closely at how the world around them works, teaching them to observe carefully, think critically, and learn from what happens.

    What This Looks Like

    • Weekly hands-on experiments exploring plants, weather, and simple machines

    • Findings written and sketched into their portfolio

    • Investigations that start from something a kid noticed, guided by an educator

  • Kids dive deep into big, exciting questions that bring reading, math, science, and history together. Working on a real project from start to finish helps kids learn how to stay focused, lead with their ideas, and collaborate with others.

    What This Looks Like

    • Multi-week group projects driven by topics kids are curious about

    • A kid curious about birds might interview a naturalist, build feeders, and share what they found with the younger kids

    • Showcasing their finished projects to families at the end of a unit

  • Kids express their thinking in many different ways, not just through words. The studio gives them the freedom to create, experiment, and bring their ideas to life through art and hands-on building.

    What This Looks Like

    • Open exploration with clay, paints, wood, charcoal, and natural materials

    • Multi-day projects, like designing and building a miniature city

    • Work gets documented as it develops, not just the finished piece

  • Kids identify everyday problems, sketch out ideas, build quick prototypes with real materials, and test them with each other. Along the way, they build empathy and learn to embrace mistakes as helpful steps toward a better solution.

    What This Looks Like

    • Kids define a problem, build something, test it, and make it better

    • Afternoon blocks built around this cycle a few times a week

    • Projects often start with a question a kid asked and are built with hands-on materials

  • Unhurried time outdoors is part of the day, not a break from it. Stepping outside gives kids space to move, notice details in their environment, take calculated risks, and build a lasting relationship with the natural world.

    What This Looks Like

    • Daily outdoor time, in most weather, not just recess

    • Occasional field trips or neighborhood walks on Fridays

    • Kids notice something in nature, like a beetle on a leaf or a change in the light, and keep following it over several days

  • Kids learn to understand their feelings and work through things with others as part of the school day. An educator guides them in the moments that come up naturally, so they grow more confident, caring, and steady over time.

    What This Looks Like

    • Working through disagreements, with an educator helping kids find the words

    • Older kids helping younger ones, and everyone getting turns to lead

    • Group projects where kids make decisions together and share roles

Check Out Program Details

How we track growth

Instead of letter grades and report cards, each kid builds a portfolio of their work, photos, and short notes on how they solved a problem, not just what they finished. We keep track of their reading, writing, and math skills along the way, and you'll get regular updates on their work, plus a summary of their progress at the end of each year.