https://www.hilltoppreschool.com https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2020/08/14/hilltop-preschool-responds-to-covid19-with-creative-educational-solutions-for-families The world today has changed. Education, being a part of the very fabric of our lives and society, has/is facing particular challenges. Clinging to what is normal is a natural reaction to loss, chaos and change. We have been feeling all that. These are trying times. While the science and the politics of it all are absolutely important things to look at - there is more! Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2020/08/14/hilltop-preschool-responds-to-covid19-with-creative-educational-solutions-for-families/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Fri, 14 Aug 2020 21:44:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2020/08/14/hilltop-preschool-responds-to-covid19-with-creative-educational-solutions-for-families thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2020/04/14/tools-for-the-quarantine There is so much to learn and navigate in a quarantine and as we begin to find a new normal, we may discover that boredom has set in. Creating a playful growth environment within your home is challenging. So today we offer some tips for utilizing your environment. While we can't recreate Hilltop at home, we can use similar principles to inspire play and learning. Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2020/04/14/tools-for-the-quarantine/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Tue, 14 Apr 2020 19:15:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2020/04/14/tools-for-the-quarantine thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2020/02/17/finding-your-way There is so much discussion in the world today about education - about the right way to do it, about how long a school day should be...play based, project based, multiple intelligences, free-range, unschooling, Montesorri, Waldorf, self directed…When we add financial and childcare needs, the question of where to educate becomes even more complex. Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2020/02/17/finding-your-way/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Mon, 17 Feb 2020 22:29:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2020/02/17/finding-your-way thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2020/01/26/a-sprouts-inquiry-can-dinosaurs-jump Sometimes "MAYBE" is the best we can do. Science is not necessarily proof - science is about discovery and the best we can do is form a hypothesis based on the evidence available at the time. Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2020/01/26/a-sprouts-inquiry-can-dinosaurs-jump/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Sun, 26 Jan 2020 17:27:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2020/01/26/a-sprouts-inquiry-can-dinosaurs-jump thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2018/04/11/hilltop-preschool-is-seeking-new-collaborators Hilltop is a place where we can all grow.  Where everyone involved can create, co-create and play. Are you a creative, passionate, lifelong learner?  Are you seeking a supportive community to grow and learn alongside of? We are currently seeking … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2018/04/11/hilltop-preschool-is-seeking-new-collaborators/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Wed, 11 Apr 2018 23:30:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2018/04/11/hilltop-preschool-is-seeking-new-collaborators thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2018/02/19/reflection-feelings-and-needs Sometimes I think it would be easier if I believed that parenting and teaching was just about passing on knowledge and wisdom – handing off what I know to the tiny little beings in my care.   But then I … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2018/02/19/reflection-feelings-and-needs/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Mon, 19 Feb 2018 22:27:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2018/02/19/reflection-feelings-and-needs thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2018/01/28/environmental-explorations “In Reggio Emilia early learning environments, the use of space encourages encounters, communication, and relationships.” (Gandini, 2004) The Blossoms are beginning to really explore all their environment has to offer! With new materials and opportunities comes new responsibilities and possibilities. … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2018/01/28/environmental-explorations/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Sun, 28 Jan 2018 19:35:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2018/01/28/environmental-explorations thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2016/11/16/from-seed-to-blossom-a-look-at-child-development Our classes are designed for the children to move along a continuum and gain a stair step of skills that lead to sophisticated problem solving as it applies to both social emotional situations and learning. We take into consideration that each child develops differently and therefor the progression from one class to another is somewhat fluid, however by going through the full program the children have the opportunity to fully explore each step of freedom and discovery. Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2016/11/16/from-seed-to-blossom-a-look-at-child-development/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Wed, 16 Nov 2016 01:24:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2016/11/16/from-seed-to-blossom-a-look-at-child-development thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2016/09/14/muddy-people-and-building-a-village If I had to choose just one idea or value to emphasize and pass on – to impart to the people big and small in my world – it would be CONNECTION. It is the critical ingredient to all of … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2016/09/14/muddy-people-and-building-a-village/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Wed, 14 Sep 2016 15:27:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2016/09/14/muddy-people-and-building-a-village thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2016/09/06/newly-inspired-and-ready The new school year is nearly upon us and while letting go of the warm ease of summer is always difficult, we come to this year refreshed, renewed and with anticipation. We are blessed by a community and board that … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2016/09/06/newly-inspired-and-ready/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Tue, 06 Sep 2016 15:37:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2016/09/06/newly-inspired-and-ready thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2016/03/17/an-invitation-to-play <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> </p> </div> Thu, 17 Mar 2016 15:09:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2016/03/17/an-invitation-to-play thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2016/03/09/exploring-our-relationship-to-trees-upcoming-tree-planting-in-plavan-park We have some true nature lovers in our classroom this year.  They seem instinctively inclined to understanding their relationship to all living things.  Recently an arborist from the city of Fountain Valley came to our school and pruned our peach tree … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2016/03/09/exploring-our-relationship-to-trees-upcoming-tree-planting-in-plavan-park/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Wed, 09 Mar 2016 15:21:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2016/03/09/exploring-our-relationship-to-trees-upcoming-tree-planting-in-plavan-park thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2015/03/25/sticks-and-stones-and-words-the-brain-science-of-social-rejection Originally posted on Views from the Fringe of Public Education: Kipling D. Williams, Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Purdue University developed a game called Cyberball, in which research subjects engage in a simple game of… <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="http://pendermakin.com/2015/03/14/sticks-and-stones-and-words-the-brain-science-of-social-rejection"> Views from the Fringe of Public Education </a> </p> </div> Wed, 25 Mar 2015 00:05:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2015/03/25/sticks-and-stones-and-words-the-brain-science-of-social-rejection thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2015/03/14/healthy-emotional-distance-and-problem-solving-with-young-children When dealing with young children and their disputes it is easy to become too emotionally involved, something we refer to as “owning the problem”.  Often times it is because we see our child’s behavior or interactions with others as a … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2015/03/14/healthy-emotional-distance-and-problem-solving-with-young-children/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Sat, 14 Mar 2015 02:19:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2015/03/14/healthy-emotional-distance-and-problem-solving-with-young-children thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2015/03/12/what-is-a-provocation A provocation is used to simply provoke. It is meant to inspire ideas, creativity, interests, and discussions. This allows them to expand on a thought or project. A provocation comes in many forms such as an event, an object, an … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2015/03/12/what-is-a-provocation/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Thu, 12 Mar 2015 04:57:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2015/03/12/what-is-a-provocation thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2015/02/28/acrylic-on-canvas-an-opportunity-to-learn-patience-and-planning   The Blossom’s class collaborated on this beautiful piece of art over the last month.  I can’t say that it is finished yet because we are not quite in agreement on that, but this is where we are today. It … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2015/02/28/acrylic-on-canvas-an-opportunity-to-learn-patience-and-planning/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Sat, 28 Feb 2015 23:39:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2015/02/28/acrylic-on-canvas-an-opportunity-to-learn-patience-and-planning thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2015/02/14/a-desire-to-learn-is-born-of-relevance The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn. ~John Lubbock Child: Is reading important? Mother: Well, yeah.  If you learn how to read you … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2015/02/14/a-desire-to-learn-is-born-of-relevance/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Sat, 14 Feb 2015 18:02:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2015/02/14/a-desire-to-learn-is-born-of-relevance thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2015/01/31/feeling-proud-of-our-children-and-the-culture-of-our-community It is the season – the season in the school year where our commitment to emotional development begins to pay off.  This time of year we begin to see that the children have developed skills and tools to solve problems … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2015/01/31/feeling-proud-of-our-children-and-the-culture-of-our-community/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Sat, 31 Jan 2015 06:00:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2015/01/31/feeling-proud-of-our-children-and-the-culture-of-our-community thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2015/01/13/discovering-the-feelings-of-others At Hilltop our greatest focus is on the building blocks of social emotional development.  We  believe that children who are confident, have permission to feel and are able to communicate will have the foundation they need to navigate the world … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2015/01/13/discovering-the-feelings-of-others/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Tue, 13 Jan 2015 23:16:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2015/01/13/discovering-the-feelings-of-others thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2014/11/07/new-study-says-curiosity-increases-ability-to-learn <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> </p> </div> Fri, 07 Nov 2014 00:49:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2014/11/07/new-study-says-curiosity-increases-ability-to-learn thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2014/10/03/finding-lost-happiness Learning always involves feelings. Young children must be allowed to freely express their emotions in a safe and validating environment if they are to learn and grow emotionally, as well as develop a healthy sense of self. If children feel … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2014/10/03/finding-lost-happiness/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Fri, 03 Oct 2014 15:07:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2014/10/03/finding-lost-happiness thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2014/02/02/not-a-box “Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine, and at last, you create what you will” – George Bernard Shaw Imagination is the beginning of abstract thought.  Children learn by imagining and … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2014/02/02/not-a-box/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Sun, 02 Feb 2014 07:17:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2014/02/02/not-a-box thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2013/12/06/to-move-on-or-not-to-move-on-exploring-educational-paradigms Hilltop Preschool has a certain feel to it.  A certain culture about it, we could say that those in our community are like minded but even in our like mindedness, whether teacher or parent, we vary greatly.  As a staff … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2013/12/06/to-move-on-or-not-to-move-on-exploring-educational-paradigms/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Fri, 06 Dec 2013 15:43:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2013/12/06/to-move-on-or-not-to-move-on-exploring-educational-paradigms thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2013/10/21/what-is-something-you-are-wondering-about-the-texture-of-lava One of the most important parts of my job as a teacher of 5 and 6 year olds is to support their natural instinct to wonder and show them where wondering can take them.  So several times in the year … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2013/10/21/what-is-something-you-are-wondering-about-the-texture-of-lava/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Mon, 21 Oct 2013 19:33:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2013/10/21/what-is-something-you-are-wondering-about-the-texture-of-lava thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2013/06/02/out-of-the-box It is not so much that we must teach children to think outside of the box, as we must foster opportunities to support their out of the box thinking.             Sun, 02 Jun 2013 18:08:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2013/06/02/out-of-the-box thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2013/05/13/trevor-green-plays-benefit-concert-for-hilltop-preschool Hilltop Preschool will soon have its very own family concert in the park and Trevor Green’s biggest little fans will benefit in more ways than one. “For me, music is all about inspiration.  When I listen to music it moves … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2013/05/13/trevor-green-plays-benefit-concert-for-hilltop-preschool/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Mon, 13 May 2013 15:50:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2013/05/13/trevor-green-plays-benefit-concert-for-hilltop-preschool thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2013/03/11/607 A Bloom wonders at the motivation of his peers? Why does everyone like to paint? We just like to paint!  We like to draw pictures. We just like to make pictures. When you paint, it comes to life. What he … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2013/03/11/607/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Mon, 11 Mar 2013 18:39:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2013/03/11/607 thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2012/11/07/being-right-a-road-block-to-wonder So, twice in two days Kathryn Shultz and her Trapped in Being Right – TED Talk has presented itself to me. Kathryn Shultz – “If you really want to rediscover wonder, you need to step outside of that tiny terrified space of … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2012/11/07/being-right-a-road-block-to-wonder/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Wed, 07 Nov 2012 04:44:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2012/11/07/being-right-a-road-block-to-wonder thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2012/11/02/this-is-me Through the language of paint the children tell us about important events in their lives. They also express how they see themselves and tell us about their key relationships. Miss Anthonette expresses how painting in the studio gives her an open door … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2012/11/02/this-is-me/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Fri, 02 Nov 2012 01:21:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2012/11/02/this-is-me thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2012/09/30/exploring-new-ways-to-explore We recently acquired these salad oil bottles.  A sensory explorers dream! We put watercolor in first and used coffee filters: It felt a little out of control but filled the need for exploring and excess. Then we tried watercolor in … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2012/09/30/exploring-new-ways-to-explore/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Sun, 30 Sep 2012 01:30:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2012/09/30/exploring-new-ways-to-explore thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2012/03/19/inspiration-nature-provides It was pretty windy this last weekend and many of our tiny peaches were blown off the tree. The children loved how small and soft they were and soon found uses for them.  Nothing is ever wasted and everything is … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2012/03/19/inspiration-nature-provides/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:15:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2012/03/19/inspiration-nature-provides thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2012/03/17/thelifecycleof In January we surprised our children and “planted” a forest.  It proved itself to be quite the inspiration for all.  To see the beginning of this adventure see our previous post – The Outdoor Classroom – A Forest Appears… As … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2012/03/17/thelifecycleof/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Sat, 17 Mar 2012 16:28:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2012/03/17/thelifecycleof thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2012/02/18/sensory-exploration With sensory awareness we perceive more accurately.  We discover subtle nuances, we become more aware of the world around us and involve all parts of ourselves in exploration.  In other words, sensory awareness keeps us present in the moment. From … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2012/02/18/sensory-exploration/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:45:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2012/02/18/sensory-exploration thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2012/02/14/what-if-we-changed-their-perspective When the school year began the Blossoms had definite ideas of who they were in relationship to each other.  He was Her “husband”, They were BEST FRIENDS (almost exclusively), She and He were best friends and She felt she needed … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2012/02/14/what-if-we-changed-their-perspective/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:03:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2012/02/14/what-if-we-changed-their-perspective thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2012/02/13/hilltop-families-runwalk-for-our-school The City of Fountain Valley’s 5k Fun Run gave our little non-profit school a little extra boost and some community time. According to the Fountain Valley Patch – they started in the stroller but finished on foot. Big thanks to … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2012/02/13/hilltop-families-runwalk-for-our-school/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:26:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2012/02/13/hilltop-families-runwalk-for-our-school thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2012/01/16/the-outdoor-classroom-a-forest-appears-and-inspires-learning The teachers have long dreamed of following Bev Bos’s fabulous Christmas tree forest idea.  This year thanks to community enthusiasm, the forest has arrived. On January 31st a pack of parents slipped away from their homes and children and worked … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2012/01/16/the-outdoor-classroom-a-forest-appears-and-inspires-learning/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:45:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2012/01/16/the-outdoor-classroom-a-forest-appears-and-inspires-learning thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2011/10/14/exploring-watercolor-in-blossoms We have discovered in the Blossom’s class that words are not currently our primary language.  The children have a strong interest in drawing and painting and creating in general. One of the languages that we are exploring right now is … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2011/10/14/exploring-watercolor-in-blossoms/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Fri, 14 Oct 2011 23:08:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2011/10/14/exploring-watercolor-in-blossoms thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2011/08/11/summer-explorations One of our most fun days of summer by far was the scavenger hunt.   We wanted to make it fun for all the children, ages 2 yrs 9 months to 6. So we first read clues without pictures and discussed … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2011/08/11/summer-explorations/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:06:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2011/08/11/summer-explorations thumbnail https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2011/07/15/hello-world We, the Hilltop staff, have talked so long about creating this space and sharing our world with the greater world and we are so excited to be here at last! We began in 1957, a tiny little preschool on a … Continue reading → <div data-rss-type="text"> <p> <a href="/2011/07/15/hello-world/"> Continue reading <span> → </span> </a> </p> </div> Fri, 15 Jul 2011 19:10:00 GMT https://www.hilltoppreschool.com/2011/07/15/hello-world thumbnail