Date: Thursday, October 05, 2006

Resource: Daily Herald

ANDREA VILLEGAS - North County Staff
From the playful trees on the entry way walls to the teacher-inspired picnic or castle walls, the building of Learning Dynamics screams kids. Learning Dynamics is Lehi's newest preschool, located north-east across from Micron.

The sophisticated school offers parents and children eight classrooms with a variety of teachers. The school accepts students ages three to five years old. Students can attend two or three times a week for two and a half hours each day. "We try to balance between academic and social aspects so we offer things like music, art, teaching about the world around us, writing, math and a phonics reading program," Cheryl Lant, owner with her husband John, said.

The Lehi school is now the third location of Learning Dynamics, which is also located in Orem and Saratoga Springs.

"It has been two hectic years opening two new schools in two years," Cheryl Lant said.

Learning Dynamics started 24 years ago in Cheryl and John Lant's home until it got to big and they had to rent a space in Orem.

"We started the business because we saw the tremendous need for well rounded pre-schools," John Lant said. It has now grown into a family business with the help of their son, John Lant.

Over the years the Lants have developed their own original curriculum. The reading program they developed is called Frontline Phonics.

"Our curriculum was developed working with children. We use a multi-sensory approach that makes reading fun," Mrs. Lant said. Seven years ago the Lants publish their curriculum and have sold it to school districts all over the country.

Besides being used in school districts throughout the country, the program is well know for providing students with the skills to become readers.

"Ninety percent of the four year olds when they leave our program are reading on a first grade level," Cheryl Lant said.

Teachers are an important aspect of any school and no less so at Learning Dynamics. Not only do they follow a comprehensive curriculum that provides daily lesson plans but they also receive extensive training.

"Many of our teachers are public education certified with master degrees. But they also have to get certified through Learning Dynamics. This is a year long process where they will have teacher training, a mentor, evaluations, and classroom visits," Cheryl Lant said.

But first in the Lants minds, before teachers and before curriculum, is the children.

"One of the challenging things about this business is that each child is different," Cheryl Lant said. As such the Lants want to provide each individual child with the best experience possible.

Because younger children have a lower attention span, the teachers try to provide a variety of different activities each school day.

"Every 12 to 15 minutes there is a different learning experience," John Lant said. "It is also a very low pressure environment. We don't force the learning. It is providing children with a learning environment and allowing them to participate in it."

One thing that makes Learning Dynamics unique is a special kindergarten enhancement class.

"Kindergartners come two times a week. They come in the opposite schedule. So if they have morning they come in the afternoon or vise versa. They are provided literature rich activities in a small classroom setting," John Lant said.

The kindergarten enhancement class extends what students are learning in the classroom.

"They would get everything they would normally get in a private school for pre-school price," Cheryl Lant said.

Although the Lants do no advertising other than word of mouth, their business is steadily growing. Cheryl Lant attributes this to relationships.

"It is all about relationships. We build relations ships with students and parents. We see ourselves as a part of the support group," Cheryl Lant said.

Their Lehi Business continues to grow as well. At full capacity the school accommodates 384 students.

"Right now we have 360-365 students," Cheryl Lant said.