Thank you to all who were able to join us for Curriculum Night last week. It’s always a wonderful chance not only for you to learn more about your child’s school year, but also for the teachers to highlight their passion for early Childhood Education. The comment I heard most form that night was “I had no idea there was so much going on in the classroom!” We hope what came through in the presentations was the intentionality that goes into each day at The Village Nursery School.
All of our teachers have taken specific courses to be certified at various levels as an early childhood teacher. In addition, many of us have completed coursework at the graduate level, and several have Master’s Degrees in Early Childhood Education. That background in understanding child development gives us the basis for the goals we have for each classroom. Those goals, along with our daily observations help inform our planning. A one size fits all, required curriculum, with one specific philosophy doesn’t reach everyone, which is hugely important to us. By observing and getting to know the children in our classroom, we can plan activities that are meaningful for them, interesting and fun. We often have a general plan when we start out the year, and can modify it many times based on the children we have.
As a teacher at VNS for many years, I loved that each of us was encouraged to bring our own strengths and interests in the classroom. One of my favorite teaching quote is “Don’t just teach; be” What we share of ourselves is much more meaningful than lessons of any task. That’s why you’ll find baking in one classroom, lots of nature walks in another, some are heavy on literature, and some on science or music. We also collaborate quite a bit to make sure we’re able to add all sorts of activities in each classroom. Our relationships with the children, families, and each other help provide a comfortable and engaging learning environment for everyone.
Throughout the school year, we’ll be highlighting some of the activities going on in different classrooms and pointing out the value and reasoning behind what we’re working on. You may see playdough at a morning table several days in a row, or get a hug at the end of the day from your little one covered in sand or paint, or see children working on scrubbing apples in soapy water. Ask your child’s teacher-there’s a reason for it!