Question 1

Is The School of Wonder a good fit for my family?

Accepted Answer

The School of Wonder is a good fit for parents who want to be engaged in their children’s education. This engagement looks different for each family. Some of the ways you can choose to be involved in our community include attending the morning gathering, sharing a special skill, reading a story to the class, or attending the Nights of Wonder, which is an evening when parents can view the children's project work.

We are also a good fit for families who don't want their children to be bogged down with homework or pressured by tests and grades. We have more holistic ways to measure how our children are doing, which paint a more complete picture than a letter grade and are far less stress-inducing. We have found this method of education and assessment leads to intrinsic motivation and joyful learning.

Question 2

How is The School of Wonder different from other schools?

Accepted Answer

The School of Wonder is different from other schools in that we do not have a fixed, predetermined curriculum. Our teachers utilize the NC state standards for each grade level, and they weave core subjects such as literacy, math, science, social studies into an emergent curriculum which they carefully create as they observe the interests, needs, and culture of their class. By following their passions, children take ownership of their learning and retain information because it is important and meaningful to them.

The School of Wonder does not compare or rank children according to tests and grades. Our teachers observe and guide the children, and they document their process and progress. This creates a far richer and more complete picture than a letter grade.

The School of Wonder does not give children homework. Home is your family's domain.

Question 3

How will I know how my child is doing academically without tests and grades?

Accepted Answer

The Reggio Emilia approach places a strong emphasis on documentation. Our teachers carefully observe, assess, and record the children's intellectual growth and academic progress. They are also mindful of the children's emotional wellbeing and how they collaborate with their peers. Our emergent curriculum requires our teachers to be acutely aware of how the children are doing, in order to prepare the ever-evolving curriculum.

In addition, parents will receive mid-year and end-of-year reports, which are written assessments describing the child’s learning and development from a holistic viewpoint. These reports help parents see where their child has come from, and how they can grow.

Beginning in third grade, we will give one standardized test at the end of the year.  This test may give teachers and parents helpful information, but we realize the test will measure just a few of your child's many intelligences.

The sights and sounds in our school are a far better metric to judge how our children are learning and growing. We hear children conversing, inquiring, laughing, reading, and pondering. We see them creating, playing, tinkering, climbing, failing, and trying again. Their messy hands and excited eyes are evidence of a full day's work well done.

Question 4

Will an emergent curriculum prepare my child for traditional education in the future?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our teachers incorporate NC state standards into the curriculum. But most importantly, our emergent curriculum empowers children with confidence and cultivates the skills they need to thrive in any school, such as problem solving, critical thinking, and social-emotional learning. We also find that children are able to better retain information when their education aligns with their passions and learning styles.

Question 5

What is a typical class size?

Accepted Answer

Our class sizes are 12-20 children. We prioritize a low student-teacher ratio to ensure quality engagement for each child.

Question 6

How do you deal with discipline issues?

Accepted Answer

The School of Wonder is a nurturing community that fosters a sense of belonging and supports conflict resolution. Our teachers incorporate social-emotional learning into classroom life. We follow the Conscious Discipline Methodology, which emphasizes safety, connection, and growth. We strive to see beyond negative behaviors to the root cause, and we encourage children to voice what they need. The communication and social skills children gain through navigating conflict in a safe and supportive environment will serve them for the rest of their lives.

The School of Wonder encourages open communication between teachers and parents. We welcome you to reach out should you have questions or concerns.

Question 7

Does The School of Wonder offer tuition assistance?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately we are unable to offer tuition assistance this year. We are making intentional efforts to keep our tuition affordable for as many families as possible. But we also want to pay our amazing teachers the salary they deserve and provide our children with the resources they need to learn and grow.

We do accept the recipients of the NC Opportunity Scholarship! We also hope to establish our own scholarship fund in the near future.

Frequently asked questions