Bright Smiles at AOILV

February is all smiles at The Academy of Indian Lake Village as we celebrate Dental Hygiene Month! 😁🦷

We were absolutely thrilled to welcome a special visit from Just 4 Kids Pediatric Dentistry, who spent the day teaching our little learners all about healthy choices, cavity prevention, and how to keep their bright smiles shining.

Our students had the best time diving into hands-on activities that turned important life skills into playful learning experiences. From practicing proper brushing techniques to sorting “tooth-friendly” foods versus sugary snacks, our classrooms were buzzing with excitement. We talked about how sugar bugs can cause cavities and how brushing, flossing, and regular dental check-ups help keep those sugar bugs away. (Spoiler alert: our students are officially plaque-fighting pros!)

Throughout the day, our teachers reinforced these lessons through art, sensory play, dramatic play dentist stations, and engaging science activities to help these healthy habits stick. At AOILV, we believe life skills are just as important as ABCs — and taking care of your smile is a skill that lasts a lifetime!

To top it all off, each student went home with an epic swag bag generously provided by Just 4 Kids Pediatric Dentistry filled with goodies to continue practicing healthy habits at home. We are so thankful for community partners who invest in our students’ well-being and help make learning both meaningful and memorable.

We’re brushing up on responsibility, flossing away fear, and smiling a little brighter thanks to this special day. Here’s to healthy habits and happy smiles! 🪥✨

Our halls were bursting with hugs, hearts, and happiness as we hosted our annual Sweetheart Social at The Academy of Indian Lake Village in Hendersonville — and let’s just say, it was love at first sight! 💌 This Valentine celebration brought together our students and families for an evening full of connection, creativity, and hands-on fun that truly made our hearts skip a beat.

The Enrichment Room was transformed into a Valentine wonderland where families could roll into fun with giant bowling, send sweet messages soaring at our flying Valentine airplane station, and dive hands-first into our growing heart sensory table. There’s nothing we love more than watching children learn through play — and this event was a perfect reminder that when learning is fun, it really blossoms! 🌸❤️

In honor of the Winter Olympics, our little champions showed their spirit with Team USA tattoos, proving that at The Academy, we’re always cheering on big dreams (even the pint-sized ones!). We also had a talented balloon artist twisting up smiles, a creative Murla station sparking imagination, and of course, a crowd-favorite kissing booth that had families puckering up for the sweetest photo ops. 💋

We want to give a heartfelt thank you to ABA Therapy for joining us and sharing valuable resources and information with our families. Building strong partnerships and supporting the whole child is something we truly treasure.

Events like our Sweetheart Social are just one example of how we create meaningful, joy-filled experiences that bring our school family closer together. At The Academy, we don’t just celebrate holidays — we celebrate connection, community, and the little moments that make childhood magical.

If you’re looking for a preschool where learning is playful, families feel welcomed, and love is always in the air — we’d absolutely adore meeting you. 💕

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at The Academy — we love our school, and we love our families even more! 💘

From the Ice Rink to the Classroom: How Teacher Interests Spark Learning

We believe the best learning happens when curiosity leads the way—and sometimes, that curiosity starts with our teachers.

Recently, one of our teachers attended her first Nashville Predators hockey game and instantly became a fan. The excitement didn’t stop at the arena. She brought that newfound passion right back into the classroom, and the results have been nothing short of magical.

Our students have been exploring the world of hockey through age-appropriate, play-based activities. They’ve learned new vocabulary like puck, goal, and ice rink, practiced counting and sorting through hockey-themed games, and worked on gross motor skills by “skating” and passing imaginary pucks during movement time. Even our dramatic play center has transformed, with children pretending to be players, fans, and announcers.

What makes this experience so powerful is that it’s rooted in genuine enthusiasm. When children see their teacher excited and engaged, that energy becomes contagious. Learning feels fun, meaningful, and connected to the real world—not something separate from it.

This is a beautiful example of how we bring learning to life by following interests—both the children’s and our teachers’. When educators share what excites them, it opens the door to new topics, experiences, and connections that spark curiosity and confidence in our students.

Let’s go Preds—and let’s go learning! 💛🏒✨

Measuring Fun with Frog Street

As part of our exploration, the children met a familiar fairy-tale friend—the itsy bitsy spider! Using real measuring tapes, students practiced early math and problem-solving skills by measuring teeny, tiny spiders. This playful activity helped build number awareness, fine motor skills, and vocabulary, all while keeping learning fun and engaging.

To introduce the activity, we shared a special poem inspired by a favorite nursery rhyme to help connect music, movement, and math:

🕷️ The Measuring Spider 🕷️

(sung to the tune of “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”)

The itsy bitsy spider

Was teeny, short, and small,

We grabbed our measuring tapes

To see just how tall!

We stretched them out so carefully

And counted one, two, three—

That itsy bitsy spider

Is just right as can be!

Through activities like this, our students learn that math can be playful, stories can come to life, and even the smallest spider can teach a big lesson. We love watching our fairy tales turn into meaningful learning moments—one tiny measurement at a time! 💫

We ARE Fitness Fanatics

January is an exciting and energetic time at our school as we participate in Fitness Fanatics! Throughout the month, our students are learning about the importance of fitness, movement, and healthy habits in fun, age-appropriate ways.
One of our favorite weekly highlights is Fitness Friday! Each Friday, children take part in personal training–style sessions that focus on core body groups. Through playful exercises, stretching, and movement activities, students build strength, coordination, balance, and body awareness—all while having fun and staying active.
These activities are carefully planned by our experienced educators to support physical development and promote a lifelong love of movement. Fitness Fanatics encourages children to see exercise as something enjoyable and empowering, helping them grow strong in both body and confidence.
We love watching our students move, laugh, and cheer each other on as they explore fitness in a positive and engaging environment!

Learning Through Nursery Rhymes

This week, our preschoolers have been diving into the wonderful world of nursery rhymes and classic stories—bringing beloved tales to life through hands-on, playful learning experiences.
As part of The Princess and the Pea, children explored early math and sensory skills by stacking marbles underneath felt, discovering how even small changes can be felt and observed. For Goldilocks and the Three Bears, students used watercolors to paint beds of different sizes, encouraging creativity while reinforcing concepts like size, comparison, and storytelling.
The number three was a big focus this week! Using colorful Wikki Stix, children practiced forming the number three to connect with The Three Bears, strengthening fine motor skills and number recognition in a fun, tactile way. To wrap it all up, our students used puppets to retell the story of The Three Little Pigs, building language skills, sequencing, and confidence as they shared the tale of the Big Bad Wolf.
These engaging, learning-through-play activities are thoughtfully designed and guided by our experienced educators using the Frog Street curriculum. Through storytelling, creativity, and hands-on exploration, our children are developing essential early learning skills—while having a whole lot of fun!

Three Little Kitten & Their Little Mittens

Preschool students have been diving into the classic nursery rhyme “Three Little Kittens Who Lost Their Mittens,” and it has been such a purr-fect way to blend storytelling and hands-on learning! Using magnets from our Frog Street curriculum, the children retold the story from beginning to end. They practiced remembering key details, sequencing events, and using expressive language as they moved the characters through the rhyme. Watching them proudly share the story in their own words was a wonderful reminder of how learning truly comes alive through play!
To extend the activity, students explored math and critical-thinking skills by sorting mittens by size. They compared big and small mittens, talked about similarities and differences, and strengthened early classification skills—all while staying engaged in the theme of the rhyme.
From storytelling to sorting, this classic nursery rhyme gave our learners the chance to build literacy, math, and confidence in a fun and meaningful way. We love seeing our kittens keep track of their mittens and their learning! 💙