Our Programs

Educational Pedagogy In All Of Our Programs

At Zebra Crossing Academy, our educational pedagogy integrates Montessori, Reggio, and Waldorf-inspired methods across all programs. We emphasize individualized learning, adapting our emergent curriculum to students’ interests for meaningful engagement. Our holistic approach combines structured academics with play-based learning to foster cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development. Additionally, we offer Specialty Enrichment Classes, including Physical Education, Music, Second Language, Sign Language, Visual Arts providing cultural and artistic enrichment to enhance overall growth and prepare children for future success.

Montessori Method

CHILD-CENTERED

This system prepares children for the real and practical world, where they are supposed to work with people of different ages and dispositions. This scheme also enables the students to develop self-discipline, self-determination, and logical thinking. The students of Montessori exhibit a true lifelong love for learning and understanding their work rather than rote memorization. This method focuses on the students’ growth and development and promotes creativity and maturity in them.

Reggio Method

PROJECT-BASED

Reggio Method is intended to be child-centered, identifying and honoring the uniqueness of each child. This method believes that children are strong, competent, and powerful from birth. The areas of learning in the classroom would be art, construction, light and shadow play, dramatic play, sensory and creative expression.

Waldorf-Inspired Practices

PLAY-BASED

This approach, based on an understanding of child development was originated by Rudolf Steiner in Germany, the founder of Anthroposophy. Its pedagogy strives to develop pupils’ intellectual, artistic, and practical skills in an integrated and holistic manner. The cultivation of students’ imagination and creativity is a central focus.

Emergent Curriculum

INTERESTS & PASSION

Emergent curriculum is a philosophy of teaching and a way of planning curriculum that focuses on being responsive to children’s interests to create meaningful learning experiences. This philosophy prioritizes active participation, relationship building, flexible and adaptable methods, inquiry, and play-based learning. Curriculum is child-initiated, collaborative and responsive to the children’s needs and wants.

Specialty Enrichment

CULTURAL ARTISTIC & MORE

The Art School – Picasso’s Art Studio

The Art program at Zebra Crossing Academy, helps children transcend limiting expectations and explore and develop their authentic selves through creativity education. The Art program is designed to encourage children to embrace, value and express their own experiences, and in the process, discover the joy and excitement of learning.

The Music School – Mozart’s Studio

The music program offers children ages 19 months to 5 years of age, a solid foundation of music skills. The Academy delivers favorite songs and activities, instrumental music, books, and lyrics, learning games, and crafts.

The instructors are dynamic, creative, and passionate about teaching. They are dedicated to cultivating a lifelong love of music through the development of each student’s abilities.

Secondary Language And Sign Language

Recent research has been leaning towards identifying areas in which bilingual children excel and the tests are conclusive. Therefore, there will be an emphasis at the Academy. The results of these studies demonstrate that childhood bilingualism is a significant experience that has the power to influence the course and efficiency of children’s development. There is an abundance of anecdotal evidence -if not clinical evidence- to support the idea that children learn second languages more quickly than adults or even older students.

Sign language at the Academy is designed for kids, especially preschool and elementary ages, and is a playful, challenging, language-rich, activity that uses a variety of learning styles. Signing is not only used to strengthen vocabulary, improve vocabulary, and support reading readiness, but using sign language will also provide learning through a fun bonding activity.

Physical Education

At Zebra Crossing Academy children are encouraged to discover the joy in physical activity and to develop a deep appreciation of fitness, sportsmanship, and fair play. Students in the younger levels learn a variety of skills while developing physical and spatial abilities in a safe environment. The ultimate goal is for every child to understand the importance of physical fitness and to develop a lifetime enjoyment of healthy physical activity. 

Our Programs

Academic Daycare Toddler Program

(12 months to under 3)

Fosters social-emotional development through Montessori principles, integrating academic learning with play-based activities in a nurturing environment equipped with Montessori materials.

Academic Daycare Program / Preschool Program

(3 – 6 Years Old)

Focuses on holistic development through Montessori principles, integrating play-based learning with academic foundations in math, language, geography, science, and early literacy. The nurturing environment promotes social-emotional growth and school readiness.

kindergarten Program

 

Montessori based program that has a child-centric approach which focuses on hands-on learning, practical life skills, and freedom of choice. The mixed-age classrooms provide a foundation for younger children to learn from older peers and for older children to lead and reinforce their learning and skills.

Before And After School Program

(6 – 12 Years Old)

Supports academic and social development with homework help, specialty enrichment classes, and activities that build self-esteem and confidence. We offer a balanced mix of structure and freedom.

Academic Daycare Toddler Program

Academic Daycare Toddler Program (12 months to under 3)
In our toddler day care programs, our caregivers follow the Montessori principles, focusing on the social-emotional development of your child for smoother transitions to a school setting. We offer a balance between the academic environment and a play-based program. During their time at daycare, your child will also explore their musical and artistic abilities, with qualified teachers who help them discover all the world around them.

The toddler classroom is equipped with Montessori material which will help to stimulate their physical, social, emotional and cognitive development in the early years. Children need time, space, materials and skilled early-childhood educators in order to develop their full potential. In our program, we make sure to encourage many forms of play: exploratory play, object play, construction, and physical play.

We will provide a special area for nap time as well.

FULL DAY: 8:00AM – 4:00PM
FULL DAY AND EXTENDED CARE: 7:00AM – 6:00PM

Learn More

Academic Daycare Program / Preschool Program

Our daycare program is based on the 4 pillars of teaching (Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio and Specialty enrichment), the common factor amongst these pillars is the concept of emergent curriculum. Our program is designed to prepare the child with a strong academic foundation to ensure readiness for grade school. We offer multiple learning environments, specialty Enrichment Classes, and physical activity.

Academics: Our program works based on repetition and practice until the child masters the skill. In academics our curriculum is based on math, language, geography and science. We will reinforce early literacy skills and provide strong foundations to success and help the child to have an easy transition to their future educational experience.

Our preschool program works based on repetition and practice until the child masters the skill. In academics our curriculum is based on math, language, geography and science. We will reinforce early literacy skills and provide strong foundations to success and help the child to have an easy transition to their future educational experience.

Specialty enrichment classes: Physical Education, Music, Second Language, Sign Language and Visual Arts

FULL DAY: 8:00AM – 4:00PM
FULL DAY AND EXTENDED CARE: 7:00AM – 6:00PM

Learn More

kindergarten Program

Our Kindergarten program follows the Montessori method which emphasizes individualized learning and promotes development of children by allowing them to progress at their own pace. The hands-on learning aspect of the Montessori method encourages exploration and discovery which can foster a deeper understanding of concepts through direct experience.

Our mixed-aged classrooms provide an environment of natural interaction between the children. Younger children lean on the older children to learn from experience and older children foster leadership skills by reinforcing their knowledge working with younger children.

Academics: We focus on practical life skills such as self-care, time management, and problem-solving in addition to other academic subjects.

Freedom of choice allows for the children to choose which activities they want to take part in and work on projects that pique their interest. This approach develops a sense of independence and naturally, a love for learning.

Learn More

Before & After School

Before and After school program is designed to empower children to make positive choices, develop self-esteem, and reach their full potential.

Children face educational and social challenges during their early elementary school years; with our Enriched Curriculum program we help them to ease the challenges with a positive attitude, focused on building and improving their social and self-confidence skills.

We assure the right mix of structure and freedom to inspire them to explore our environments based on their interests and preferences. Teacher assistance will be provided to help them to complete their school daily assignments.

The balance between sports, artistic, hands-on activities and team building activities will support children to develop individual and social behaviors to be successful in life.

BEFORE SCHOOL: 7:00AM – 7:45AM
AFTER SCHOOL: 2:30PM – 6:00PM

Learn More

Need a subsidy for childcare?

Have you qualified for subsidized childcare? You can use it with our daycare programs, if you qualified for the Alberta Child and Youth Services. Click here for more information OR CALL 1-877-644-9992.