Florida

As more and more preschools get away from the day care mentality and begin to write curricula for real education, more and more places like this and the GS will be available to parents. It's a good sign.

New preschool stresses the arts
Terra Nichol Academy

ENGLEWOOD -- Children learn in many different ways, and each child deserves an educational structure that best suits his or her needs.

That's the premise behind the new Terra Nichol Academy of the Arts preschool and after-school care programs.

Parents are welcome to check out the learning center 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Wednesday and Thursday at 1362 Manasota Beach Road, just off State Road 776.

Owner Terra Nichol Tominelli, who has more than 15 years of experience teaching in preschools in the area, said she takes Howard Gardner's approach to education. Gardner is a professor of education at Harvard Graduate School of Education, and he is best known in educational circles for his theory of multiple intelligences.

According to Tominelli, Gardner identifies many ways children learn: by doing, by playing, by being interested, through the senses, through language, by moving, through success, through repetition, through experimentation, through interacting with peers by using real materials, by pretending and by constructing their own knowledge.

"The curriculum is designed for each individual," Tominelli said. "Each child learns in a different way."

Tominelli said that everyone thinks predominantly in four different ways, but everyone has the ability to improve skills in the other cognitive learning processes.

Tominelli said in addition to academics, the children at her preschool will get a taste of different forms of the arts.
"My background is the arts," she said. "I used to teach drama and yoga at local preschools. I think it's a great outlet for children. They're under a lot of stress these days.

"Children naturally respond to dance and music and drama, and this is the time you want to expose them to those many experiences," she continued. "They're like little sponges. They just soak it all up."

Studies have shown that exposing children to the arts increases self-confidence, develops critical thinking skills, aids brain development and improves excellence in reading, math and science, Tominelli said.

"Teachers recognize that performing arts are an essential part of learning," she said.
Tominelli said Terra Nichol is in the process of getting accredited with Gold Seal, through the YMCA, a program subsidized and encouraged by the state.

The school also participates in Florida's voluntary prekindergarten program.

She is hopeful her academy will open Aug. 7. It accepts preschool children ages 2-5 and after-school children in kindergarten through grade 5.

There is transportation from both Taylor and Englewood elementary schools.

"There's a bus stop right in front of our school," she said.
Tominelli is offering "mommy and me" classes 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Monday through Friday. The classes include "play-away-baby beats" and "baby boot camp," she said.

Classes will be taught in music, dance and drama, photography, art appreciation, pottery and scrap-booking. The physical education will be yoga and gymnastics, karate and gardening, she said.

Tominelli is teaching computers and cooking, as well.

Part of the academics includes language literacy, poetry, science, math, social studies and Spanish.

All teachers have degrees in either early childhood education or in visual and performing arts, Tominelli said.

Terra Nichol Academy of the Arts can accept 69 students.

There is a full-time program and a half-day program.