Starting as a parent, she so valued the co-op experience she became a preschool teacher. We have been lucky to have her as an instructor at Jack & Jill since 1994.
As people enter Jack and Jill it is my hope for them to find an atmosphere that is warm and engaging for themselves and their children. Over the years many families have built life-long friendships that endure through every stage of development in their children’s lives. It is so important for you to feel that you have a community of support as you engage in the most important job you will ever have – that of a parent. I have always believed that my role here as teacher is one of support and guidance, helping parents understand all areas of development and to prepare our children for a life of growth and learning for both the present and the future.
Teacher Kim
“Play is the highest form of research.”
Albert Einstein
Play with a Purpose
Here at Jack and Jill we follow the NAEYC guidelines for best practices of a developmentally appropriate curriculum. We believe that children learn best through hands-on experiences in a child-initiated atmosphere, as opposed to a primarily teacher-directed setting. Throughout our time together I will be reinforcing our philosophy that children learn best through play, but I would like to emphasize that much learning is actually occurring.
Learning through play may lead many to assume that we have a non-academic program, because they don’t see the more traditional school activities such as flash cards, worksheets or rote learning. Nothing is here by accident. It is purposeful, and chosen to enhance the children’s skills and experiences, and in reality you will see academics and the over-arching Six Domains of Early Childhood represented throughout our school. Here are some examples of academic topics that you will see in class each day that may not be obvious at first glance:
| Developmental Goals | Activities & Examples |
|---|---|
| Letter Recognition | cubby cards, chore cards, name cards, item labels, writing desk |
| Literacy | library center, story time, books throughout the school |
| Math Skills | calendar, counting, games, music, manipulatives, center time |
| Science / STEM | science experience center, outdoor play, field trips, block areas, manipulatives |
| Art / Fine Motor | art experiences, play-doh table, painting, scissors, writing, manipulatives |
| Social / Emotional | snack time, group time, during parallel and cooperative play opportunities |
| Self-help / Adaptive | handwashing, snack time, dress-up time, putting on coats and shoes |
One of my favorite places in our school is the water table. This feature encompasses all six of the domains as the children experience play. They use and develop Gross Motor and Fine Motor dexterity, Language, Math (counting, measuring), Science, and Social Skills (sharing, cooperation, patience). It is the very definition of learning through play. The acquisition of the above competencies will guide the children in their own excitement of discovery, knowledge and learning of new skills, giving them the confidence and ability to self-regulate, resolve conflicts and be socially capable.
Teacher Kim
“Play is really the work of childhood.”
Fred Rogers
