At Ventana School, our curriculum and approach are sculpted by the questions our students bring to class with them every day. Instead of teaching them the right answers, we discover deeper questions, together.
Grounded in Reggio Philosophy:
When children are treated as competent individuals with valid perspectives, they blossom into confident, curious learners. Ventana’s educational philosophy builds on children’s innate curiosity as the vehicle for learning.
The Power of Inquiry:
At Ventana, our teachers are skilled at scaffolding and facilitating class discussions in a way that honors everyone’s ideas and participation. As a result, our students learn how to self-advocate, build upon each other’s ideas, and work together to explore authentic problems and solutions. When children’s questions are honored and explored, they learn to value their observations, their instincts, and ultimately, themselves.
Our Inspired Teachers:
Ventana School aligns our educational philosophy, leadership approach, and resources so that rather than feeling forced to ‘teach to the test,’ we are inspired to bring out the passionate curiosity in every student. When teachers have the support and the freedom to tailor their classrooms and their curriculum to respond to students’ interests, they do their best work.
Collaboration:
Collaboration is integral to our approach in every classroom, because we know that when children work together to solve problems or create something new, they learn how to value and build on each other’s ideas. Even at recess, we facilitate collaborative inquiry and creativity by allowing students to work in our ‘tinkering space.’ The children have access to a wide range of objects and materials with time to create whatever interests them. As groups naturally emerge to make interesting projects together (e.g., a go-cart, a see-saw, a tiny amusement park), their ability to collaborate effectively grows along with their confidence.
Sharing at Weekly Assembly:
At Ventana, we have a weekly assembly called Wondering Time where children are encouraged to share their personal traditions, cultures, and values. We welcome every part of each child’s identity, because every part of them matters. When children have a safe space to share their backgrounds, values, and cultures, they learn to respect and value the unique traits that they and everyone else bring to our community and the world.
Ventana School is a private school providing quality preschool and elementary education to the Los Altos, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto and surrounding Bay Area communities.
The child
is made of one hundred.
The child has
a hundred languages
a hundred hands
a hundred thoughts
a hundred ways of thinking
of playing, of speaking.
A hundred always a hundred…
from the poem “No way. The hundred is there.”
by Loris Malaguzzi. Translated by Lella Gandini
