The curriculum, inspired by the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori, blends the Portuguese language with a variety of activities such as arts, music, storytelling, yoga, cooking, and much more!
GIRAFAS designs fun and engaging Portuguese immersion classes and programs for children 0 to 12 years old. Kids will learn Portuguese through guided projects, arts, music, and free play while they develop “global” social skills.
Part-time or full-time
The curriculum, inspired by the philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori, blends the Portuguese language with a variety of activities such as arts, music, storytelling, yoga, cooking, and much more! A child's day at GIRAFAS includes a comfortable balance of indoor and outdoor (at Fort Greene Park) activities, including free exploration and guided learning.
In the mixed-age group, children ages 3-6 work together in the same classroom. During work cycle, the strategic display of materials in the environment invite scholars to work independently and discover their potential.
Children are encouraged by the teachers to participate in mini-lessons/material presentations individually, in pairs, small groups, or large groups. Each child is grouped and taught with other children at his or her developmental level, providing a family-like setting that is ideal for developing personal and social skills.
The small group size of up to 12 students and two teachers (6:1 teacher ratio) allows educators to provide personalized attention, establishing an ideal emotional and social base, while working around each child’s needs and interests.
GIRAFAS Play & Learn is the first and only full-time Portuguese Immersion School for children ages 0 to 12 in Brooklyn, NY.
GIRAFAS Play & Learn, a Portuguese Immersion School, for children ages 0 to 12, was founded by NYS and Montessori certified early childhood educator Mônica Rocha.
Over a decade of work with children and parents revealed that there was a special opportunity to enhance the learning potential of the Brooklyn youth through a language-driven approach.
In 2010, GIRAFAS launched Portuguese immersion playgroups, which allowed children and parents to connect and develop stronger relationships through safe, fun, engaging activities, in a supportive and nurturing environment. The program has expanded since 2011 and in 2014 GIRAFAS became the first and only full-time Portuguese Immersion Preschool in the NYC area.
Mission
Our Environment
Neighborhood
Conveniently located in the heart Fort Greene, GIRAFAS is surrounded by all major subway lines for an effortless commute. The school is just a block away from Fort Greene Park, which our students visit daily to remain in contact with nature, play, and learn.
Our Classrooms
The Montessori way dictates that “The first aim of the prepared environment is, as far as it is possible, to render the growing child independent of the adult.” (Standing, Maria Montessori - Her Life and Work - pp. 267). With that mission in mind, we've carefully designed our classroom environment to feel like an extension of our children's homes. Our classroom conditions create a place where our scholars feel welcome, safe, and confident enough to take ownership of their surroundings through learning and exploration.
This nurturing space, created by our trained instructors, demonstrates the care, respect, and love we at GIRAFAS hold for children. We're well aware of the crucial influence classroom setups can have on a child’s mood and behavior.
Our space is designed with organic and natural materials, neutral colors, walls without distractions, and proper lighting. The aesthetic beauty and simplicity allow our scholars to focus on the work at hand in the different curriculum areas of the classroom: practical life, sensorial, mathematics, language, and cultural. We've also given great importance to our Peace Corner, in this cozy little nook students can have a peaceful moment.
Montessori believed that children must be offered what is most beautiful and pleasing to the eye to help them enter into a “more refined and subtle world.” The strategic display of materials in our classrooms invite children to work independently and discover their potential.
Our safe and cozy space provides children the freedom to develop without the interference of the adult, giving them a sense of trust in the environment and the teachers. Montessori believed that “such an environment provides the foundation for an integrated life,” as it celebrates and respects children's innate curiosity and motivates a lifelong love of learning (Montessori, The Discovery of Childhood - pp. 52-53).
Our programs and language classes are specifically tailored to fit the demands of working professionals.
Become a conversational Portuguese speaker in a matter of weeks. Learn vocab, verbs, and simple phrases.
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General foreign language program which enables students to acquire structures and vocabulary progressively and efficiently so that they can communicate with native speakers on a number of essential topics.
Portuguese is both the national language of Portugal and Brazil. In Portugal it is spoken by about 10 million people and in Brazil by almost the entire country of more than 180 million people.
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