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Curriculum & Enrichment
Experience Curriculum through Brightwheel—plus every enrichment program included
Powered by Brightwheel
Experience Curriculum at Birch
Birch Learning Academy uses Experience Curriculum, Brightwheel's research-based early learning system trusted by educators for over 30 years. It is a complete, play-based curriculum aligned with national and state standards—not a loose collection of activities, but a thoughtfully sequenced program designed to help children excel.
Daily lesson plans, hands-on materials, and developmental assessments are integrated directly in the Brightwheel app. What makes Birch different is how that curriculum is delivered: elite 1:7 to 1:8 ratios, capped enrollment, and degreed teachers who have the time and training to implement every lesson with precision—not pass children through a crowded classroom.
What's Included in Experience Curriculum
A complete system—not just an app, not just a workbook
Research-Based Lesson Plans
Daily, teacher-ready lesson plans built on decades of early childhood research—aligned with NAEYC, Head Start, Common Core, and all 50 state early learning standards.
Hands-On Learning Materials
Monthly themed kits delivered to Birch with books, manipulatives, art supplies, and activity materials—so teachers spend less time prepping and more time teaching.
Experience Assessments
Integrated developmental assessments track growth across 8 learning domains, 36 skills, and 73 subskills—giving teachers and families a clear picture of progress.
Brightwheel App Integration
Lesson planning, observations, milestones, and progress updates live in one place—so parents see what their child is learning, not just that they had a good day.
The Birch Difference
Experience Curriculum gives Birch a rigorous, standards-aligned foundation. Our boutique model ensures it is executed the way it was designed— with instructor-led academic preparation layered on top of play-based discovery, and nature-inspired learning that you won't find in a franchise center running the same system at 1:12 ratios.
For the 2025–2026 school year, Experience Curriculum includes enhanced literacy aligned with the Science of Reading, expanded mathematics foundations, and a revised developmental continuum of skills—keeping Birch at the forefront of early education research.
8 Learning Domains
Where your child's growth is intentionally built
Experience Curriculum follows evidence-based literacy instruction with phonological awareness, phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension built into daily activities. Programs like Alphabet Adventure, Write & Wonder, and Storytime Connections prepare children for kindergarten reading expectations.
A research-based math progression builds number sense, counting, composing and comparing quantities, shapes, measurement, patterns, and early addition and subtraction—developing confidence and foundational reasoning skills.
Structured activities emphasize problem-solving, positive peer interactions, self-regulation, and emotional vocabulary—the skills that predict success in kindergarten and beyond.
Hands-on exploration and inquiry-based activities encourage children to ask questions, test ideas, and discover how the world works through guided, play-based STEM experiences.
Themed art projects, music, and dramatic play are woven into each month's curriculum—complemented by daily access to Birch's dedicated art studio and music enrichment.
Fine and gross motor activities, outdoor learning, and yoga enrichment support healthy bodies and brains. Deanna's clinical wellness standards ensure the environment supports whole-child health.
Children develop curiosity, persistence, and flexible thinking through activities designed to encourage exploration, focus, and the confidence to try new challenges.
Teachers log observations and milestones in Brightwheel, aligned to the Experience Curriculum developmental continuum. Families receive real-time updates, photos, and progress tracking—plus formal conferences twice yearly.
Enrichment Programs
Beyond the core curriculum—all included in tuition
3× weekly
Music & Movement
Live music sessions develop rhythm, coordination, and joyful self-expression.
2× weekly
Yoga & Mindfulness
Age-appropriate breathing, stretching, and mindfulness build emotional regulation skills.
Daily access
Art Studio
Open-ended exploration with professional-grade materials in our dedicated art studio.
Daily
Garden & Nutrition Education
Children explore where food comes from through hands-on garden activities, connecting nature-based learning to the premium organic meals served each day.
Kindergarten Readiness
Experience Preschool is designed for children ages 3–5, with a developmental continuum that prepares graduates for kindergarten with strong literacy, math, social-emotional, and executive function skills. Birch extends that foundation to children entering at 2.5—with the same rigorous curriculum delivered in a classroom small enough for every child to be known.
Our Pre-K graduates enter kindergarten across Johnson County school districts confident, curious, and academically prepared. Parents stay connected every step of the way through Brightwheel.
Experience Curriculum is a product of Brightwheel. Learn more at mybrightwheel.com/experience-curriculum
Ready to See the Birch Difference?
Schedule your private tour today. We can't wait to meet your family.