Howell

HOWELL | IXL LEARNING CENTER

CONTACT
p: 517.546.2000 | f: 1.855.205.4534
howell@ixlkids.com
5424 E. Grand River, Howell, MI 48843

HOURS
Monday - Friday
7:00 am - 6:00 pm

DIRECTORS
Sara Cartwright- Director
Ashley Plate- Assistant Director
Kelsey McLaughlin- Assistant Director

HOWELL CLASSROOMS

At IXL Howell, we strive to provide a wide array of classroom environments that foster both personal and educational growth in all children. Discover more about each of our classrooms by clicking on them below.

INFANT

Here at IXL, personalized care is our speciality, because we know that no two babies are alike. Walk into one of our Infant classrooms and you’ll quickly discover a loving, highly individualized environment. Our caregivers work effortlessly to ensure every baby’s needs are met, including those particular little routines they fall into at home. Every child is provided with their own crib, and play time is encouraged through tummy time, jumparoos, exersaucers, and boppy seats, all of which contribute to their wellbeing, awareness, sensory perception, and motor skills.

To further stimulate your baby’s development, we created our Littlest Smarties Curriculum, a comprehensive program featuring weekly themes, art projects, songs and fingerplays, sensory activities, sign language, and the introduction of early learning concepts.

Led by well-trained, highly attentive staff who love what they do, our infants are nurtured and loved every minute of their day. We work hard to ensure every child is provided with the materials and experiences needed to grow and develop. This begins with a strong parent-teacher partnership and open communication.

INFANT TOO

We get it: the road to toddlerhood can be bumpy. That’s why we offer Infant Too classrooms, a safe environment that actively encourages babies to explore, learn, and grow their way into a strong, independent toddler. Just like our Infant classrooms, Infant Too babies receive highly personalized care from their teachers, all of whom communicate regularly with parents about their child’s routines, developmental progress, and memorable milestones.

The program is designed to keep your baby exploring and interacting with their classroom comrades and teachers. Through our Littlest Smarties curriculum, children are engaged in age-appropriate activities, including art projects, songs and fingerplays, sensory play, sign language, and early learning with colors, shapes, and numbers.

Led by well-trained, highly attentive staff who love what they do, our Infant Too babies are nurtured and loved every minute of their day. We work hard to ensure every child is provided with the materials and experiences needed to grow and develop. This begins with a strong parent-teacher partnership and open communication.

TODDLER

If there’s one thing we know about toddlers, it’s that they are learning and developing so quickly, each day is different from the last. During this transformative season of development, our Toddler classroom provides the exploratory experiences your child craves while nourishing their social, physical, emotional, and cognitive growth. A wide array of materials and equipment are provided, meeting them at their individual level of development.

This classroom operates on a flexible daily schedule, giving children a sense of security and familiarity. Guided by our Little Smarties curriculum, our toddlers engage in a small circle time where they sing songs, practice sign language, and learn basic early learning concepts. To further promote their independence, our toddlers practice washing their hands, cleaning up their play space, and sharing with friends. Everything we do, from the skills we teach to the attentive care we give, encourages constant growth and development in our youngest toddlers.

TODDLER TOO

Deep in the age of discovery and curiosity, toddlers are constantly moving, exploring, and experiencing. To satisfy their drive for exploration and independence, our Toddler Too classroom provides a consistent daily schedule loaded with fun activities, purposeful play, and educational opportunities.

Led by our Little Smarties Curriculum, Toddler Too children are encouraged to practice communication and language skills in order to express their needs and wants. The curriculum features weekly themes, art projects, songs and fingerplays, sensory experiences, sign language, and a variety of academic concepts. Additionally, we practice skills of independence! You’ll find toddlers eating with silverware, washing their hands, using the bathroom, cleaning up after themselves, and sharing with friends.

The supportive and nurturing environment helps our toddlers step confidently into the next stage of their development: Preschool!

YOUNG PRESCHOOL

After graduating from the energetic toddler phase, our children enter the Young Preschool classroom. This is a warm, welcoming environment that builds upon their skills of independence and promotes creative discovery.

Our Young Preschool classrooms are guided by our IXL Social Emotional and Smart Start Curriculum, two comprehensive programs that focus on communication skills, socialization, and emotional development. The room operates on a daily schedule, and engages children through various art projects, sensory experiences, gross motor activities, outdoor play, story time, and small circle times. Our Smart Start Curriculum focuses on the mastery of shapes, colors, and counting, and introduces kiddos to the alphabet, phonics, and handwriting skills.

Although children learn from one another and socialize together, our teachers ensure that each child receives the individual care and attention they need. Through hands-on experiences, we develop personal interaction and problem-solving skills, improving their ability to communicate, socialize, and be part of a greater community.

PRESCHOOL

At this age, your child is developing into a mature communicator who craves independence. In other words, they’ve entered the preschool phase, a magical season of rapid growth, blossoming personalities, and exciting milestones!

In our IXL Preschool room, we focus on two major concepts: independence and education. From toilet training to manners to dressing themselves, our preschoolers are exposed to a myriad of experiences that fulfill their craving for independence. Guided by our Social Emotional Curriculum, children learn how to solve problems through conflict-resolution techniques, and our teachers show them what it means to be a good friend who listens carefully and communicates thoughtfully.

Education is also a primary focus in our Preschool room. Structured by intentional learning stations, our classroom encourages children to try new things, test out their ideas, and fuel their imaginations. Through our Smart Start Curriculum, our kiddos practice a variety of skills, including IXL Phonics, multi-language word recognition, number, shape, and color recognition, counting, and sorting. Teachers assess each child’s development and growth, and academic and creative work is saved in their preschool portfolio.

young PRE-K

In our Young Pre-K class, we continue to offer a play-based program that prepares students for Kindergarten in a developmentally appropriate way. This classroom establishes a foundation based on school routines and structure, enhanced by a consistent daily schedule. At this age, our Smart Start Curriculum dives deeper into letter formation through programs like Handwriting Without Tears and IXL Phonics. We practice sight words and learn other essential pre-reading skills, and we focus on growing the whole child by challenging them to build fine motor skills, gross motor skills, and social emotional tools.

Our Social Emotional program revolves around building relationships and learning how to self-regulate those very big feelings. We practice daily transitions, encourage positive reinforcement, set whole-class goals, and use visual steps to break down tasks and expectations.

Young Pre-K children learn the value of cooperation, friendship, and teamwork, all of which lay the groundwork for a successful experience in our Young Pre-K classroom. And with Kindergarten right around the corner, we work intentionally and creatively to make sure your kiddo is absolutely ready.

PRE-K

As the final stepping stone to Kindergarten, our Pre-K Classroom focuses on social emotional development, and empowers children to build their confidence, establish routines and transitioning skills, and finesse their communication skills.

Our Smart Start Curriculum offers a more concentrated educational focus, and actively promotes a love of learning in each of our children. Students develop their word recognition, practice writing their first and last names, and expand upon the pre-reading skills they learned in previous classrooms. We emphasize good choices, set goals, and we learn the value of cooperation, friendship, and teamwork.

After graduating from our Pre-K Classroom, your little learner’s toolbox will be fully stocked for a successful experience in grade school and beyond.

BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL

When you’re a working family with a busy schedule, finding reliable before and after school care can be hard to find. At IXL, we’ve got you covered! Convenient and fun, our before and after school programs provide a safe, structured, and social environment for our oldest kids to play and learn while awaiting the bus or a ride home.

Our morning care greets kiddos with free play opportunities, group games, and fun conversations. We build lasting friendships, learn new games, and help each other with homework. In other words, we begin each day on the right foot, and we send our kiddos to school with a loving wish to “have a fun day!”

The fun doesn’t stop after the final bell rings! Our afternoon care includes snacktime, homework help centers, and outdoor play. Whether they’re crafting cards for teachers and friends or running a charitable bake sale, our after-school program gets kids involved in daily acts of kindness and encourages respectul, helpful behavior. We believe there’s no better way to end the day than by making someone smile.

HOWELL SUMMER CAMP

Join us this summer for unbelievable fun!

Summertime is the season of adventure and fun! Through play-based learning, weekly virtual field trips, water play days, team-building challenges, and much more, Summer Camp at IXL promotes fun-loving learning that lasts a lifetime.

Our campers experience a whirlwind of excitement daily, as they engage with technology, create & experiment, write daily, create friendships and participate in STEAM activities. Summer Camp at IXL is guaranteed to give your child a summer to remember!

EXPERIENCE SHARE

What are Howell families saying about IXL?!

/

For the last eight years, my children have attended IXL Learning Center. During this time, I have been able to leave my children with the peace of mind that they are in great hands. The teachers and the directors at IXL work collaboratively with one another to design authentic and meaningful learning experiences that engage students with age appropriate curriculum. IXL and their staff have also put into place routines that have provided my children a safe place to take risks and grow as learners. IXl has prepared my children for kindergarten not only academically, but also socially as they have provided the necessary skills and environment to foster my children's social- emotional well being. Another IXL parent once said to me, "As your child moves up through the different classrooms at IXL, you are going to initially be sad because you are leaving an amazing teacher; however, I promise you that all the teachers here are amazing. Each teacher has a special talent that is tailored to where your child is at developmentally." This statement could not be closer to the truth. We have been amazed with the level of love and compassion the teachers and staff at IXL have bestowed on our children.

Nicole Roehrig

/

We are so happy with our experience at IXL! Our daughter loves going to “school” everyday and she is only 1.5 years old! I love all the art projects she comes home with, and that they taught her sign language before she started talking. It made communication so much easier! The staff all treat you like family and make a point to get to know you. We also LOVE all the “extras” like the apple orchard, the winter extravaganza, the Halloween party, etc. It truly is a wonderful place to take your child(ren)!

Alexandra Kenney

/

I am so grateful that I found IXL Learning Center. As a former employee, and a mother with a child still enrolled, It is a wonderful place. I loved every second working there and miss the staff, parents and children still. As a mother I love the curriculum and care that my daughter receives. Choose IXL, you won't be disappointed.

Rosie Navarre

/

I love IXL! So far my child has gained a love of learning, concepts, and language and plenty of friends! People are amazed at his sign language abilities and every time I walk in the door I feel like I'm with close friends and family and not a business. My child has thrived and I highly recommend it!

Gina McGarey

/

We have been at IXL since 2012 with our oldest child and have the pleasure of currently sending our middle and youngest there as well. IXL has become an extended family for us, as we entrust our most important valuables (our kids) with them each day. We have made such meaningful and personal connections with the helpful and caring staff (teachers and administrators) as they all played a role in helping prepare our oldest for elementary school.

IXLs philosophy is to teach the whole child, not only the academic basics (letters, numbers, colors, writing, drawing, etc.) but the social (sharing, taking turns, helping, etc.) and emotional (feelings, emotions, etc.) areas as well.

IXLs communication with parents is outstanding by using the tadpoles app for curriculum and frequent pictures, emailing newsletters, text message reminders, bulletin boards and of course talking to them each day at drop-off and pick-up.

IXL is committed to keeping all kids safe whether in a classroom, on the playground, with meals and food allergies. This has been clearly evident in the protocols and practices they have put in place with the current COVID-19 situation.

IXL invests in their staff as they provide trainings and host their own teacher conferences, so it is not surprising that many of their teachers stay around for a quite awhile and when they do move on it’s because many are pursuing educational opportunities in child care fields. IXL seeks to employ helpful people who genuinely care about kids and their growth.

We have personally recommended IXL to many families in our neighborhood and have consistently heard positive remarks from those families about their own experiences with IXL.

Having been around IXL for so long it has been enjoyable to see the staff finish educational degrees, get married, have kids of their own, etc. and advance in the company. The staff seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs and being around my kids.

IXL has provided many opportunities to get to know their staff and other families that also attend IXL at events like picnics, Halloween and Holiday craft days, Holiday concerts, Easter egg hunts, Preschool graduations, etc. (This year we are missing some of those memorable events - for safety reasons - but hope they come back in the future.)

I wholeheartedly am glad that we made the decision to become part of the IXL family and I know that the day when our youngest is done that it will be tough to not see them daily, but IXL and their staff will always be part of our lives.

John Heinrich

/

IXL SNAPSHOTS

JOIN US IN HOWELL

If you are interested in learning more about our IXL Howell location, please contact us!