SEED School

At Lipscomb Academy, we believe early childhood education is the cornerstone of child development and sets the foundation for future school success.

Academic Calendar

SEED & Lower School Academic/Events Calendar

Young children are learning rapidly in the first five years of life, and how they learn and develop is critical. The SEED School encourages students to Seek, Explore, Experiment and Discover (SEED) the world around them. We teach them of God’s never-ending love and ignite their innate curiosity as we explore the wonders of His kingdom. We realize our young learners are changing daily and strive to provide a rich, engaging experience that nurtures and challenges their hearts and minds.

Unique learning opportunities

All SEED classes (PK2-Kindergarten) follow a literacy-based curriculum focused on content knowledge, social skills and linguistics. As our young students begin to master listening, speaking and writing, we maximize their learning opportunities by teaching them to be inquisitive, adventurous and creative. We know a high-quality early education experience yields greater gains in social, emotional and cognitive development. For this reason, we capitalize on every child’s strengths and set each one on a uniquely individual trajectory for success.

More than a preschool

The benefits of the SEED School program reach far beyond the typical preschool experience. We follow high-quality academic standards, implement developmentally appropriate curricula and offer smaller class sizes. We equip our young students with social, emotional and spiritual knowledge that will help them succeed throughout their lifetimes. Our teachers play a critical role in your child’s growth and development which is why we require them to be faith-based, licensed educators. They are specialists in the world of early childhood and know specifically what this population needs. The schema from these formative years will provide all Lipscomb Academy SEED School students with the fundamentals needed for lifelong learning.

Experience the difference

Your child’s early years are important to you, and they are important to us. It is during this time children have the greatest capacity and appetite to learn. We take pride in being a part of their education and daily lives. Our entire SEED School program seeks to support and nurture young children and their families. We invite you to be a part of this safe and welcoming environment and look forward to partnering with you on this journey.

Available class options

The SEED School is not only a stellar kindergarten preparatory program but also a visionary, faith-based community committed to serving your child’s spiritual, emotional and academic needs. Our program is designed with each child in mind, giving attention to individual talents and learning styles to better prepare every young learner for a successful school experience.

We begin our pathway with younger students in order to provide a consistent and natural flow of instruction. All grades in the SEED School follow a rigorous set of guidelines and developmentally appropriate standards to produce students who internalize a growth mindset specific to readiness for kindergarten and beyond. Our student:teacher ratios are intentionally below state program requirements enabling us to provide this individualized and differentiated approach to instruction.

The class levels are pre-K2, pre-K3, pre-K4, pre-K5 and Kindergarten.

Classes pre-K2 serve any student who has turned two on or before August 15 of the upcoming school year.

Classes pre-K3 serve any student who has turned three on or before August 15 of the upcoming school year.

Classes pre-K4 serves students who have turned four on or before August 15 of the upcoming school year.

Classes pre-K5 will begin in the 2021-22 school year as an optional grade level for students who:

need a bridge between pre-K4 and K
need a year for emotional or social maturity
need time for developmental growth
need additional academic support
have a birthday close to the August 15 state requirement

Kindergarten will serve students who have turned five or older before August 15 of the upcoming school year.

SEED School Resources

Courses Offered

Thinking Club

Lipscomb Academy is one of the only early childhood schools in Nashville to offer services for gifted and talented students. Our SEED Thinking Club is led by a licensed early childhood gifted specialist and meets each Tuesday and Thursday. All SEED school grade levels have unique criteria that is used for the selection of students. We reassess as the year progresses to ensure the intellectual needs of each student are being met as they grow developmentally and academically. Students entering Lipscomb Academy with an intellectually gifted psychoeducational report are automatically eligible for Thinking Club.

Chapel

SEED School students attend a chapel that is designed for their age and developmental understanding.

pre-K2 and pre-K3 students attend Little Lights chapel twice a week.
pre-K students attend SEED chapel twice a week and participate in Memory Verse Mondays.
Kindergarten students attend SEED chapel twice a week, full school chapel once a week and participate in Memory Verse Mondays.

The primary goal of chapel and daily Bible instruction is to help our students recognize their value as children of God. Students will be taught to appreciate God as creator of the universe and will learn to value the Bible as His inspired word. They will enjoy Bible stories, children’s songs of worship and prayer time. They will learn of the fruits of the spirit and how that relates to daily living.

Heart and Mind

Each SEED grade will participate in heart and mind classes that focus on the social, emotional and spiritual aspects of life. These lessons relate to the fruits of the spirit and relate back to weekly chapels. They empower our young students to form a healthy self-concept, learn to make good personal choices and have empathy for others.

Language Arts

Students experience new growth in spoken and receptive vocabulary each year in the SEED School. Such growth is a critical component for future reading achievement. Teachers read aloud to students multiple times each day. Students are encouraged to develop more precise vocabulary and speech patterns to express information, needs, interests and concerns.

Language skills are taught through a balanced literacy program utilizing the Tennessee Learning standards and Lucy Calkins Reading, Writing and Phonics. Students develop phonemic awareness, expressive, language, receptive language and listening comprehension. Guided reading, shared reading and small group literacy centers give our students multiple opportunities to build reading and language skills appropriate to their specific age and needs.

Writing

SEED School students begin to write at age two. As fine motor skills develop naturally, they progress into printing their names, writing words, crafting sentences and creating personal stories. We believe reading and writing are directly related which is why all SEED classes write every day.

Math

Math instruction in the SEED School is implemented using a hands-on approach. Concepts are taught by allowing children to manipulate objects to fully understand ideas. Varied types of instruction are utilized to expose students to multiple problem-solving strategies. Exposure to real-life experiences and practical use of math allows our students to apply learning to their world. These powerful connections secure mastery of specific grade-level mathematical standards.

Science

Students will be exposed to the scientific method as they explore the world around them. They will develop an understanding of science by describing, classifying, comparing and predicting. Homeroom teachers will partner with the SEED Science teacher to meet their grade level’s specific developmental needs. All students will attend a weekly hands-on science lab to bring concepts to life. Our outdoor classroom provides numerous hands-on opportunities to extend in-class learning as well.

Social Studies

SEED students are fascinated with the nature of their cultural and environmental world. They will learn about their community and their personal responsibilities as members of that community. They will be exposed to other cultures and taught to recognize and respect the differences. As they progressively begin to relate to concepts of past, present and future, they will gain an appreciation for their heritage and learn of the many cultures and customs around the world.

Art

All SEED School students participate in weekly art classes specific to their age and developmental readiness. They are encouraged to create drawings, paintings, models and other art creations that are detailed, creative or realistic. Students use a variety of materials to intuitively design original artworks. They are taught to recognize the beauty and respect for personal work and the creative work of others. This instruction culminates in an annual art show which exhibits creative projects from all SEED grades.

Music

All SEED students engage in weekly music instruction that helps find their singing voice, learn to play instruments and classify different sounds and timbres. Students develop listening skills, enjoy movement activities and learn an appreciation of multiple genres of music. They are taught the behaviors to perform for an audience and also how to be a respectful member of an audience. The musical talent of all SEED School students is showcased annually.

Spanish

All SEED children participate in weekly Spanish classes. They begin by learning simple greetings, colors and numbers. They progress to learning animal names, sounds, foods and body parts. This instruction is primarily through games, songs and hands-on activities. As the learning progresses, they will learn to follow simple directions spoken in Spanish as their teacher speaks exclusively in the language during class times.

Library

All SEED students have the opportunity to explore the wonderful world of books in weekly library classes. Our school library houses books for all levels of readers beginning with ones appropriate for our youngest students. Classes begin by learning the purpose of a library, the proper care of books and personal responsibility. They then progress to learning of genres, organization and how to select books of interest. Our librarian shares stories that are culturally relevant and engaging to young readers. Each visit exposes students to a variety of books available to them. Library classes play a huge role in fostering a love for reading in our students.

Physical Education

Our physical education curriculum is based on teaching students large motor skills such as running, jumping, hopping, galloping, sliding and skipping. As skills develop, they are taught manipulative skills such as throwing, catching and kicking. Students learn how to work cooperatively with others using various games and exercise activities. The goal for the physical education program is to lead students into activities that promote lifelong healthy habits.