Learning through play, individualized instruction and plenty of time outdoors are available for children enrolled in Miss Tanya’s Woodland School kindergarten in Westborough.

“The program is perfect for kids who just miss or make the cutoff for public kindergarten,” said Heather Straz, Woodland School director. “Our age-appropriate kids go to first grade, while others have ‘the gift of a year’ and move onto the public kindergarten.”

Starting in September, kindergarten runs from 8:30-11:30 a.m. on Mondays and 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. from Tuesdays through Fridays.

“We have two qualified teachers for the class of 18 children,” said Straz, noting the teachers have worked together for eight years. “Our teachers meet each kid where that student is at academically, like helping the child who is learning the alphabet and assisting another who can read.”

The curriculum includes traditional subjects interspersed with time to explore classroom centers, outside activities and field trips.

Woodland has an enclosed outside area where students play three times daily.

“In the summer, we have the hose running, and in the winter, we go sledding,” said Straz.

Students also have time each day to participate in four classroom centers, two directed by teachers and two on their own. The centers offer a mix of art, language arts and math.

Straz noted most classroom activities focus on one country that students study for a month.

“They read books about the country, learn its foods and animals, what it makes and more,” she said. The curriculum also features author studies with students reading different books by one writer.

Continuing the individual emphasis, Straz said each kindergartener gets to be the student teacher for a day, leading the class in activities.

Another feature is the regular field trips and visits from outside specialists.

“We visit Teamworks for sports, host the Discovery Science Museum several times and have MassWildlife experts teach animal behaviors,” said Straz. Students also explore downtown Westborough by visiting stores and the fire and news stations.

“The kids then create their own stores and sell products to their parents,” said Straz.

Summing up the program, Straz said, “Our kindergarten is unique locally; there is nothing else like it.”

Anyone interested in more information or registration for Miss Tanya’s kindergarten program can visit MissTanya.com, email woodland@gmail.com or call 508-366-5700.

Miss Tanya’s also is taking registration for summer programs at its three Westborough nursery schools at MissTanya.com.

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