2026 Fall Weekly Little Learners Now Open

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Beanstalk HQ X Once Upon a Time Teaching

LITTLE LEARNERS • Ages 3–5 • Wexford, PA

Where little minds build big foundations

Research-based literacy & social-emotional learning - in a warm, play-centered small group designed to give your preschooler a joyful head start.

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Every parent wants to give their child the best start

  • Wondering about school readiness

    Is your preschooler building the literacy foundation they'll need for kindergarten?

  • Navigating big feelings

    Does your child struggle to manage emotions, make friends, or communicate their needs?

  • Wanting more than daycare

    You're looking for structured, expert-led instruction.

If any of this resonates, Little Learners was built for your family. Our program blends the science of reading with social-emotional learning in a joyful, small-group setting where every child is seen, known, and celebrated.

WHAT WE COVER

Two pillars. One powerful program.

Every session weaves together foundational literacy and social-emotional learning so children grow in both skill and confidence.

FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY

Early Reading & Language

  • Phonological & phonemic awareness

  • Letter knowledge & sound-symbol connections

  • Rhyming, syllables, beginning sounds

  • Concept of print & book awareness

  • Pre-writing & fine motor development

  • Oral language & storytelling

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING

Confidence & Connection

  • Identifying & naming emotions

  • Self-regulation strategies

  • Friendship & turn-taking skills

  • Empathy & perspective-taking

  • Focus, attention & impulse control

  • Growth mindset & perseverance

HOW WE TEACH

Joyful & Research-Backed

  • Movement-based phonics games

  • Puppets, storytelling & role-play

  • Multisensory literacy tools

  • Collaborative group activities

  • Hands-on exploration & discovery

  • Celebration & positive reinforcement

A PEEK INSIDE

Learning that feels like magic

A woman reading a colorful children's book to two young girls sitting on a green rug in a cozy room.

At Beanstalk HQ, we believe early childhood is too important to leave to chance. Our programs, powered by Once Upon a Time Teaching, combine proven instructional methods with the warmth and creativity children thrive in.

Small groups. Expert teachers. Real results.

12

Week program

2x

Per week sessions

6-8

Children per group

  • This enrichment class blends Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Foundational Literacy through play-based, developmentally appropriate lessons that meet children where they are.

    • Grounded in CASEL’s 5 Core SEL Competencies-self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, responsible decision-making, and relationship skills

    • Built on Science of Reading (SoR) principles, Little Learners strengthens oral language, phonological and phonemic awareness, and alphabetic knowledge through movement, storytelling, and multisensory exploration.

    • Each class helps children communicate clearly, manage emotions, and build the focus and confidence they’ll need for kindergarten and beyond.

  • Week 1: Feeling Self-Aware

    • Identify emotions using visuals, vocabulary & real-life examples 

    • Introduce names and beginning letter sounds

    Week 2: Listening & Following Directions

    • Practice impulse control and attention through multistep & movement based directions 

    • Focus on syllables and initial sounds in spoken words

    Week 3: Friendship & Feelings

    • Explore empathy, turn-taking, and cooperative play

    • Explore rhyming and oral storytelling through puppets and partner games

    Week 4: Big Body, Big Feelings

    • Explore how emotions feel in the body and how to move through them

    • Use gross motor games to reinforce segmenting and blending sounds

    Week 5: Managing Strong Feelings

    • Learn strategies for calming down; feelings “toolbox” 

    • Sound isolation, visual sound sorting, and movement-based phonics

    Week 6: Problem Solving Together

    • Introduce simple social problem-solving steps and language; promote growth-mindset

    • Practice oral sound blending and letter-sound matching

    Week 7: Empathy & Cooperation

    • Build teamwork and perspective-taking through role play

    • Literacy review: rhyming, syllables, letter-sound review

    Week 8: Communicating Clearly

    • Practice using words to express needs and feelings

    • Focus on oral language development and story retell

    Week 9: Making Kind Choices

    • Reinforce responsible decision-making and classroom citizenship

    • Forming letters, lines & curves using multisensory tools 

    Week 10: Confidence Builders 

    • Focus on building self-esteem through “I Can” statements and celebration

    • Integrate all foundational literacy and SEL concepts

    Week 11: Review & Reflect

    • SEL review using stories and role-play

    • Literacy stations for independent review

    Week 12: Celebration & Closure

    • Celebrate friendships and personal growth

    • Create a keepsake project

Pricing & Options
View Readiness Checklist
Four children wearing black graduation caps and gowns standing inside a colorful playroom, with a woman sitting in front of them and raising her hand.
A woman and two young girls sit at a light-colored table in a classroom. The woman helps the girl in a yellow shirt with play-dough, while the girl in a white shirt with red and blue pattern watches. The table has colorful play-dough containers and p
A woman and a girl are sitting at a wooden table, smiling and writing on papers. The woman has blonde hair, and the girl has brown hair. Behind them is a dark wall with a gallery of framed animal photographs, including lions, tigers, and dogs.
Two young girls sitting at a small table in a classroom or daycare, with one adult standing nearby. The girls are facing away, engaged in an activity with colorful markers or crayons on the table.
A woman and a young girl sitting on a blue rug inside a classroom. The woman is holding a small object, and the girl is reaching out to it. The girl is wearing pajamas with Spider-Man on them. There are toys and papers around them, and a table with c
A woman and two girls sitting on a rug in a living room playing a tabletop game with a green die and a game board.
A boy and a woman playing with a blue robot toy at a wooden table by a window in a modern home.
A teacher demonstrating science experiments with two young girls at a classroom table, with various science materials and bottles on the table.
Child wearing a pink shirt with black stars arranges small colorful square tiles on a dark table, with a whiteboard showing ordered math equations nearby and various craft supplies like paper, markers, and glue in the background.
Two young girls sitting on a blue rug on the floor, engaging in play or conversation, wearing colorful pajamas with cartoon characters.
A woman and four children playing a board game on a green shag rug in a cozy, colorful room.
Two young girls sitting cross-legged on a green shaggy rug, playing a colorful board game, with a child supporting in the foreground. A pink toy stroller is behind them in a playroom with blue walls and toy shelves.
A young girl writing on a whiteboard in a classroom with a world map in the background, while a young boy looks on.
A woman teaching a group of young girls in a classroom, with some girls sitting at a table playing with slime, while one girl is on the floor reading a book on a rug.
A teacher helping four young children with a worksheet at a table in a colorful classroom, with toys and decorations in the background.
A woman reading a colorful book to a group of children sitting on a green carpet with plush pillows. The children are engaging with the woman, who is sitting cross-legged. The setting appears to be indoors with a brown leather couch and a children's

  • "Our daughter (3.5) has been working with Ms. Brandi for 9 weeks, and we are genuinely blown away. She is naming her feelings, communicating her needs, and showing emotional awareness far beyond her age. Her preschool teacher has commented multiple times on how advanced she is - we credit so much of that to Ms. Brandi. Collins' confidence is blossoming, and we can't wait for her brother to start too!"

    - Melick Family, Little Learners Parent

  • "My daughter enrolled just after she turned 3 and I can't recommend it enough! After just a few weeks, she's shown increased confidence with alphabet knowledge, social skills, and her love of reading has flourished. Ms. Brandi engages each child at their own pace with personalized attention."

    - Miloni Shah, Little Learners Parent

  • “She is like the Rolls Royce of teachers. She is so incredibly thoughtful, caring, organized, intelligent and to put it simply: she’s just great at what she does. You can easily tell she is passionate about helping kids learn in different ways other than traditional pathways they get from school.”

    - Paula

  • “My son developed a special relationship with Ms. Shipley and would openly share issues he faced in school with his friends and teachers and Ms. Shipley supported him. She is a very special teacher and we feel extremely fortunate that our kids got an opportunity to learn from an outstanding teacher!”

    - Ruchika

  • “She has an unbelievable ability to assess each child and meet them exactly where they are on their education journey. With our family, she achieved the perfect balance of targeted instruction in each child’s unique areas of opportunity and fun, stimulating, yet always educational games and experiments to keep their energy and attention at constructive levels.”

    - Martha

Have questions? We'd love to help.

We’d love to help you find the best fit for your child!

Use the form if you:

  • Want more details about Little Learners (Ages 3–5)

  • Have questions about scheduling, groups, or enrollment options

  • Need guidance on payment or add-on options

Once submitted, we’ll reach out promptly to answer your questions and help you choose the right program and time.

No payment is due at this stage — this form simply helps us match you with the right group and time.

THE EXPERT BEHIND THE PROGRAM

Brandi Cox

Founder, Once Upon a Time Teaching

Brandi began her career in Chicago and now brings her expertise in child-centered learning to families across Pennsylvania. Her approach blends structured literacy, creativity, and social-emotional learning — helping every child discover how truly capable they are.

Learn more about Brandi