Educating Through Purposeful Play

The school’s curriculum is the sum total of all the child’s experiences at school, rather than an aggregate of academic subjects taught. Children learn by doing and through purposeful play.

Since the world of the future cannot be fully anticipated, we believe that reasoning, solving problems, exploring ideas, experimenting and reaching conclusions, engaging in creative work, and interacting with others help to educate more fully than mere training through academic drill and memorization. Thus the teachers plan activities that will be meaningful to children as they think about numbers, develop literacy or work out social/emotional relationships. The teachers actively support, not pressure, children to think and develop at their own rate. There should be an understanding of the necessity of rules to govern individual and group conduct. The children learn to expect fairness, consistency, affection, and respect from teachers. They discover the joy of mastering skills and basic knowledge, and of applying them. Mary Meyer School provides varied opportunities for each child to live and learn as fully as possible at each stage of his growth.

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"Our children have left Mary Meyer School, excited about school, curious to learn, and a better friend."

Mary Meyer School Parent

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"I love Mary Meyer School and love doing art with my teachers!"

Mary Meyer School Student

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"When you walk in to the little schoolhouse it’s just like a big warm hug."

Mary Meyer School Parent

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"Mary Meyer School is a place your child will want to come every day and be excited about coming, regardless of the type of child they are."

Mary Meyer School Parent

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"When you are here with the rug and the bathtub, and the play areas and the kitchen, it really feels like an extension of our house. That's what a preschool should be, somewhere where your child naturally feels like they are going to an extension of what they already know."

Mary Meyer School Parent

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​"I like a lot of the books there. Thank you for teaching me!"

Mary Meyer School Student

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​"There isn’t pressure to meet any sort of level or expectations, but it is all just about fostering and environment that promotes care and courtesy and a passion for engaging with each other and with the school."

Mary Meyer School Parent

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​"My daughter ended her first school experience loving school, and for that we are so indebted to Mary Meyer School."

Mary Meyer School Parent

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​"I love my teachers and playing all day at Mary Meyer School!"

Mary Meyer School Student

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"​Thank you Kevin for listening endlessly and caring deeply about our whole family not just our little one at Mary Meyer School this year. You are a true friend."

Mary Meyer School Parent

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​"The teachers take such joy in teaching and getting to know each child individually."

Mary Meyer School Parent

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The Role of the Teacher

The teachers at Mary Meyer School believe in helping children find the capacity for empathy, kindness and listening. They help children learn patience with themselves and others. The teachers assist the children in making and sharing friendships. They foster an environment where children learn how to behave responsibly in a group. They also facilitate activities that capture the interests of the children while helping them to take safe risks and try new things. Above all, the teachers strive to make Mary Meyer School a place where children feel self-confident and happy.

Everyone at Mary Meyer School is committed to making a child’s first introduction to school positive and, of course, fun. All of our teachers are trained in early childhood education and posses a deep commitment to the needs of three, four and five year old children. With a child to teacher ratio of 6 to 1, Mary Meyer School provides a small and intimate environment where each child is known and valued for his or her unique contribution to the classroom. We want to be an active part of your child’s life, and we welcome an open communication between teachers and the director and parents. We have two formal parent teacher conferences per year to discuss your child’s progress. However, we are available to meet informally to discuss your child’s experience. We are just as likely to contact you to discuss a particular concern as we are to tell you a great or funny story about your child’s day. We want to celebrate with you your child’s daily achievements.

Typical Daily Schedule

Activity
Time
Arrival and Free Play
30 minutes
Meeting. We sing the “hello song”, “who’s here song”, and discuss the daily jobs. There may be a presentation of new projects, activities, or playthings as well as a group conversation about topics of interest to the children.
15 minutes
Work Time. Children explore the classroom, and they develop eagerness and curiosity as learners by taking initiative in actions, practice appropriate communication skills by engaging in cooperative play, begin to share materials and experiences and use the classroom environment purposefully and respectfully. The varied areas of the classroom allow the children to explore the domains of language arts, physical development, mathematics, science, social studies and fine arts.
50 minutes
Clean-Up
10 minutes
Book Time. Children look at books independently, sing songs and then listen to a story read to them by a teacher.
10 minutes
Hand Washing and Snack
20 minutes
Outside Play in our “Playgarden”
35 minutes
Dismissal. Children collect belongings, sing our “goodbye song” and meet up with parents and caregivers outside.
10 minutes

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions most frequently asked can be found in the information below. Of course, if there is anything else you would like to know please don’t hesitate to contact us. We would love to hear from you!
What is a play-based pre-school?
We believe that children learn through purposeful play. The activities and curriculum designed by our teachers support science, math, literature, small and large motor work, social and ecological responsibility and presentation and public speaking skills. When children play, they are experimenting. Play is about self-discovery, self-analysis and self-awareness. Children are learning about themselves and they are learning about their friends while teachers observe, ask questions and offer support and guidance.
What programs do you have?
Our Preschool Program consists of a Morning Program and an Afternoon Program.

The Morning Program runs from 8:45-11:30am, Monday through Friday. The Afternoon Program runs from 12:45-3:30pm, Monday through Friday. In each class, there are not more than 20 students under the care of 3 teachers. Visit our Preschool Program page for more information.

We also offer a Parent & Toddler Program for children ages 21-33 months. Visit our Parent & Toddler Program page for more information.
How old does my child need to be to attend Mary Meyer School?
Children eligible to apply for the 2022-2023 Morning Program need to be 3 years old by December 1, 2022, and therefore children must be born between December 2, 2018 and December 1, 2019. Children in the Afternoon Program must be born between September 2, 2017 and June 30, 2019.
​What is the annual tuition?
​The annual tuition for the 2022-2023 Preschool Program school year is $12,705 per child. Please visit our Tuition page for more information.
​How early can I apply for admission?
We only accept applications one year in advance of entrance. For example, to apply for the 2022-2023 school year, you should apply in the fall or winter of 2021-22. The application deadline has been extended. Apply today!
How do you select new students?
Siblings or children of former Mary Meyer School students are given priority. In admitting other applicants, the school aims to strike a balance between factors such as the ages and backgrounds of the children. We seek a diverse student body, and we encourage applications from children of all backgrounds, races, and faiths.
How many spaces are typically available for new families?
Each year is different, but typically there are 6-10 spaces available in each of the Morning and Afternoon Classes.
​What are my chances of being accepted?
Siblings or children of former Mary Meyer School students are given priority. In admitting other applicants, the school aims to strike a balance between factors such as the ages, genders, and backgrounds of the children. We seek a diverse student body, and we encourage applications from children of all backgrounds, races, and faiths.
​Does my child need to be potty-trained?
No, children do not need to be potty-trained. Mary Meyer School believes that toilet training is specific to the individual child and therefore is not a requirement of admission to the school.
​​How do you handle parent and child separation?
We believe that it is equally important to help parents separate from their children as it is for children to separate from their parents. It is a key component in our work at the beginning of the school year.

We have a staggered start to our school day. The school year begins with a brief 20-minute classroom visit for pairs of students. During the current school year we began with visits to our Playgarden. We transition to half-group half-day visits for children and then gradually to our typical half-day schedule. We require parents or caregivers to remain nearby to support this transition to the child’s life as a student. We support both parents and children through this process sending frequent photo updates to parents during the first few days of school.

Our gentle approach is reflective of what children will experience once they have adjusted to their student life. We insure that we are creating an environment that feels safe, warm and welcoming to the pace of every child who is left in our educational care.
Do the children go outside?
Yes! Our preschool is one of a few preschools in Chicago with an attached outdoor playground. Our Playgarden serves to provide children with the opportunity to run and bike and climb developing their gross motor skill and continuing to develop their social and negotiation skills. Utilizing our outdoor space is integral to our daily curriculum. Even in winter we bundle up with snow pants, gloves, hats and boots and take advantage of our Playgarden space to run, jump and interact. This allows our students to develop their gross motor skills, their social skills and negotiation skills, when it comes time to share bikes or sandbox tools. During the current school year we have expanded the use of our Playgarden as a classroom space. 
​Where do Mary Meyer School students attend elementary schools?
​Mary Meyer School children are represented in private, public and parochial schools throughout Chicago.