I am a mom of five kids ranging in age from 4 to 12. I have enjoyed homeschooling them and running various programs for toddlers and preschoolers for many years. I consider myself a life-long learner and am passionate about education. I love teaching every age, but particularly love the wonder and joy and innocence of little ones. My experiences teaching my own kids and others has greatly informed my (ever-evolving) philosophy about education. These are some of the nuggets of wisdom I have gained:

• The importance of play—not as a break from learning, but as the most important medium through which learning happens. Children are hard-wired to learn through play and they are experts at it. Play offers them amazing opportunities for building social skills, problem-solving skills, and creativity. I approach learning through play in three ways:
  1. Enhancing learning opportunities during free play by providing a stimulating environment.
  2. Engaging in guided play with children to achieve specific learning goals.
  3. And lastly, building academic fluency through games.
• The importance of learning in context.
  • The best place to learn about farms is on a farm. Contextual experiences make learning relevant, engaging, and meaningful. We enjoy nature walks, field trips, and adventures on my friend Sheri's farm. We also love to learn and play outside. Whether we're picking apples, digging in the dirt, playing on the playset, or going for walks, it's good for the body and it's good for the soul.
• The importance of a loving and safe learning environment.
  • I feel very strongly about the importance of family, home, and especially about the parent-child bond in the early years and do my best to recreate the loving and nurturing environment of home in my preschool. One of the few guarantees I feel comfortable making is that I will love your child and they will know it. I believe that is the best thing I can do for them to help them succeed.
• The importance of a holistic approach to education.
  • Children often become fascinated with letters and numbers around preschool age. I'm excited to build on that fascination. We will work on building strong foundations in math and literacy in ways that are relevant and playful.
    
    Decades of research shows that a balanced approach to early education, especially one which promotes curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning, leads to longer-lasting gains than those which emphasize academic learning alone. I love to cook with kids, plant flowers, and grow butterflies. I incorporate music wherever I can. I love to see the boundless creativity that emerges during open-ended art activities and the wheels turning inside their curious minds as they experiment with science. My approach to both academic and non-academic learning is to follow the child's cues and try to keep it relevant and enjoyable.