Hilltop Children’s Center: Meeting the unique requirements of a child’s development

How Hilltop blends classroom observations and play within the Seattle Preschool Program

Nestled in North Queen Anne, Hilltop Children's Center has been a beacon of inspiring early childhood education for over 50 years. Hilltop creates inclusive environments where children are empowered to learn and grow. Their approach is rooted in the belief that education is not a one-size-fits-all journey but a dynamic environment where children are empowered to learn, grow, and lead.  Hilltop offers the Seattle Preschool Program (SPP) at their Queen Anne and Fremont locations.

Hilltop's innovative curriculum helps children grow and thrive. By observing children's interests, questions, and developmental themes, educators co-create meaningful learning experiences. Their anti-bias, equity-driven approach ensures children are equipped to thrive in an increasingly diverse world, fostering empathy and confidence from a young age.

A hallmark of Hilltop's philosophy is its use of learning stories as a primary tool for documenting child development. These narrative-based evaluations celebrate children's individuality, offering a richer, more authentic insight into their growth than traditional assessments. Learning stories not only highlight developmental milestones but also delve into the processes children engage in to reach them-emphasizing their agency, identity, and voice.

Learning Stories

Hilltop's educators excel at creating learning stories by observing children at play-an essential mode of exploration and expression. They reflect on these observations through a developmental lens, collaborating with colleagues to ensure a holistic understanding of each child's experience. This reflective process results in narratives that capture the essence of a child's growth, seamlessly integrating social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development.

Families are consistently moved by these stories. As one parent described it, "It's not just about what my child is learning, but who they are as a person."

By including families in this reflective practice, Hilltop builds a strong partnership that enhances the child's learning journey, connecting classroom experiences to home life.

Observing and documenting a student's success ensures they are ready by the time they graduate preschool and enter kindergarten with a solid foundation. SPP classrooms across the city utilize the Teaching Strategies GOLD® (TSG) student assessment tool which asks teachers to observe children and document their learning in different areas of the child's development, like social emotional, literacy, physical, and others. These learning objectives are also used by kindergarten teachers to determine a child's readiness for the kindergarten classroom through the Washington Kindergarten Readiness Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS) when that child reaches the kindergarten classroom. The blending of learning stories done by Hilltop with the TSG® assessment allows for providers like Hilltop to track a student's progress and experiences using a "shared language" across the whole Seattle Preschool Program and through their Seattle Public Schools kindergarten transition.

For children not meeting all of the learning benchmarks, learning stories highlight their strengths and unique learning paths. This strengths-based approach empowers both the child and their family. "Learning stories can highlight a child's strengths who might not be meeting all…competencies," says Darline Guerrero, Executive Director at Hilltop. "This can greatly benefit the child's experience, as well as how they see themselves and apply themselves in future learning and engagement."

SPP students take part in play and exploration activities at Hilltop Queen Anne.

Celebrating the Wonder of Childhood

Hilltop's dedication to reflective, relationship-centered education sets a high standard for early learning. Through its innovative practices, the center not only prepares children for academic success but also nurtures their ability to navigate a complex, diverse world with confidence and empathy. Families and educators alike are inspired by the center's commitment to honoring childhood as a time of discovery, creativity, and endless possibility.

SPP teacher Kit Fellner leads an arts and crafts activity with students. SPP student explores building blocks.

Qualified Providers invited to join the Seattle Preschool Program for 2025-2026 school year - Deadline December 18!

The Seattle Preschool Program is currently seeking Request for Qualifications from qualified center-based early learning providers to join the SPP Expansion for the 2025-2026 school year. Approximately $3 million is available to contract for approximately nine new SPP classrooms. The deadline to apply is December 18, 2024! Learn more and apply here.

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Enroll your three or four-year-old in the Seattle Preschool Program today!

SPP has seats still available at Hilltop and other SPP providers across the city for the 2024-2025 school year. Parents can learn more about SPP sites and how to begin the application process at  seattle.gov/applySPP. In-language Applications are available, families who need language assistance to complete the application process can contact DEEL at 206-386-1050 or email [email protected].  SPP provides free tuition to most Seattle families who apply, with rates calculated based on household income and family size to prepare all children for success in kindergarten.

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