Today we’d like to introduce you to Xochitl Salcido.
Hi Xochitl, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Kids Korner Explorers was a concept that came to fruition at the end of 2019 when my son was a homeschooled preschooler in need of a community. Using my education and experience in teaching, I launched a science and sensory enrichment program at a small community center in City Heights. The goal was not only to homeschool but to build a community in which we could learn and grow together. When COVID shut down the center, Kids Korner was put on the shelf.
I went back to working from home for a previous company I was employed at, and as the world began to open up again, so did my passion to serve my community and be more available for my children. Once again, I decided to take a huge risk and quit my 9-5 to relaunch my program. For the last two years, Kids Korner has gone through tremendous growth. Our mixed-age group explores science concepts, learns life skills as well and engages in traditional school topics using movement and hands-on methods.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has been full of detours and bumps. From losing venues, increased financial costs and figuring out the balance between work and life. It has been a hard but very rewarding journey. The sky is the limit, and we have big dreams.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Kid Korner Explorers?
Kids Korner Explorers is an immersive learning experience inspired by the philosophies of Reggio Emilia using an indoor and outdoor space. Our curriculum is emergent, “child-led” and project-based. Provocations and explorations facilitate a love of the sciences, math, literacy & art. Above all, we cater to the whole child, ensuring each friend builds a strong social-emotional base/community, which we believe is the foundation of all learning. We are passionate about bridging the gap in access to alternative education programs by connecting the local homeschooled community to quality science and sensory enrichment.
Kids Korner Explorers offers a child-led enrichment class/community. Each exploration is designed to challenge your child’s critical thinking skills. Our Enrichment class encourages group projects, exploration, and problem-solving rooted in healthy social-emotional development.
Offering a mixed age group class for grades TK-3rd, we facilitate quality enrichment that is investigative and reflective. Children will flourish into confident explorers by creating a curriculum emergent from their learning styles, developmental levels, and interests.
We are most proud of our growth and impact from an idea to a functioning and successful program. Our services are covered by multiple charter school funds, and we work with cash-pay parents to ensure all have an opportunity to participate.
What matters most to you?
Faith, Family, and the Future. Looking forward to what is to come, it is most important to me to be intentional in my personal life and business decisions as well as productive with my time. These three things keep me moving forward and not looking back, which is important when I consider the long-term goals in my plan.
Contact Info:
- Website: Kidskornerexplorers.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidskornerexplorers?igsh=YzAwZjE1ZTI0Zg==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kidskornerexplorers?mibextid=9R9pXO
Image Credits
Sophia Elizabeth Photography
