Welcome to the Younger Group!
A lively, chatty, vibrant, joyful, and creative space for children to take risks and practice social and academic skills.
At-A-Glance
- Teacher: Christine Lipari-Althaus
- Class Size: 22-24 students with 1 teacher and 1 assistant
- Schedule: 8:30 - 3:00
- Outdoor Time: Children have ample access to the outdoors and our expansive campus at multiple points throughout the day.
- Snack/Lunch: Snacks are provided in the morning and afternoon daily, lunch is brought from home.
- Classroom Focus: In the Younger Group, the children practice communicating their theories and emotions. They are learning about themselves while building relationships and academic skills. The children take risks, and spend their days practicing what they are learning in a way that allows for mistakes and restarts as needed. Each member of the group creates the community.
A place to Explore and Grow!
At the Antioch School, Younger Group children are building confidence in their academic skills while continuing to discover who they are as learners. A predictable daily flow gives them the security they need to explore, make choices, and take increasing responsibility for their learning and their classroom community.
Children immerse themselves in the written word through stories and books, whether they are reading with an adult, with a peer, or independently. They explore math concepts through games and hands-on activities, create art with a variety of materials, and develop the fine-motor skills and stamina needed to express their thinking through writing, drawing, and mathematical representations.
Together, these experiences help children grow as confident, capable learners while developing the independence, curiosity, and agency that will support them throughout their time at Antioch, and beyond.
An Interview with Christine
This year is my tenth school year as a member of the Antioch School Faculty and my seventeenth year as an early childhood educator.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education with a reading endorsement for Kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as a master’s degree in intervention focused on supporting diverse learners.
I’ve also completed Orton-Gillingham science-based reading training, children’s yoga certification through Day Yoga in Dayton, and nature-based outdoor education courses through the Association for Nature-Based Education in New England.
I love sharing the things that bring me joy with children. Music, nature, gardening, cooking, yoga, and storytelling are all passions of mine, and I especially love finding ways to bring these interests into our days in Younger Group. It’s wonderful to see children’s curiosity come alive as we explore, create, move, and learn together.
The yearly Halloween play is one of our favorite YG traditions. The children create the entire play. They collaborate on the storyline, write the script, design and make the set, and coordinate their costumes. They love seeing their ideas come to life and knowing that they created something special together.
A Day in the Life
Each day, the children arrive at school with lots of social energy, so we give them time to ease into the day in a relaxed social atmosphere. Some of our emerging readers head off to a small reading group, while others stretch out into the outdoors to move their bodies before we settle into our classroom routines.
The YG bell rings, and we gather as a full class for Morning Meeting. This is a time to connect and share with the group. We notice the date and take a moment for breathwork, too.
From there, the morning flows through journal writing, Free Time, snack, and story time, before wrapping up with small-group lessons. The children alternate between lessons with the YG faculty and our Art & Science teacher, Elaina.
Lunch is a very social time, with children eating their lunches from home together at long tables. After eating and cleaning up, they have an extended period of Free Time. Most days, children head outside to play on the playground before returning indoors to build with large blocks in the hall, read a book on the classroom couch, or work on a personal project.
When the group comes back together, we have a read-aloud from a novel, often continuing the same book over many days. Afternoon activities are frequently project-based, with certain days set aside for visiting teachers and special activities such as physical education and twice-monthly swimming trips at the nearby Antioch College Wellness Center.
Before the day concludes, there is one more period of Free Time for outdoor or indoor child-led choices, followed by classroom cleanup and jobs. The children gather their belongings for pickup and end the day with a snack, story, game, or song.
We’re Always Learning!
In the Antioch School Younger Group, children develop essential academic, social, and life skills through meaningful experiences.
Social & Emotional Skills
Children practice empathy, emotional regulation, and boundary-setting through collaborative play, group meetings, and shared problem-solving throughout the day.
Confidence, Resilience & Bravery
Through risk-taking in play, trying new physical challenges, and persisting with complex projects, children build confidence, patience, and resilience.
Problem-Solving & Decision-Making
Children learn to assess risk, make choices, and solve problems by planning activities independently and with peers, experimenting, and navigating real situations together.
Early Literacy & Math Skills
Physical Development & Body Awareness
Responsibility & Community Care
Self-Awareness & Reflection
Connection to Nature & Experiential Learning
“We could not be more happy with the support our daughter has received from her teachers. Christine’s support and encouragement of her growth means so much to us. Also, I think she’s the most patient person I’ve ever met. She speaks to the children in such an incredible way.”
Parent of a child who attended YG
Who Thrives in This Classroom
The YG is a great match for children who are curious, active, and eager to learn through doing.
Children who love to move, make, create, and explore often thrive here, especially those who enjoy being outside, trying new art techniques, and engaging in longer projects such as woodworking, knitting, and storytelling.
YG is also a wonderful fit for children who are ready to take more ownership of their learning. Students are encouraged to make choices, work independently, collaborate with peers, and persist through challenges as they build confidence in their academic skills.
Children who enjoy asking questions, sharing ideas, and learning alongside others will find many opportunities to grow both as learners and as members of the community.