Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Table of Contents
Section_________________________________________________Page Number
childcare since I was fifteen years old, and I knew from the time I was a
small child that teaching was my passion. I wanted to help develop the
my views on education, the curriculum in our Pre-K classroom, Apple Hill’s own rules and
policies, and so much more. I love magic. Magic gives the mind room to explore beyond their
imagination. The light that shines in my student’s eyes when they learn something new is
magic, it’s fantastical, and wondrous. Magic is an on-going theme in my class because I find it
Guidance of Philosophy
At the Apple Hill Learning Center, we encourage play and exploration. We believe that
children should have the opportunity to make decision and explore on their own, within
reason, so that they can develop problem solving skills which will ultimately help them for the
rest of their lives. We want students to have an understanding of the world around them, and
to treat other kindly. Each child in our facility is valued, important, safe,
and loved. We care deeply about everyone in our facility, and that
and we want them to have the means and tools to be helpful, caring, and compassionate to the
Philosophy of Education
Introduction
Through the classes I have taken at Westmoreland County Community College and
Seton Hill University, the time I have spent in classrooms observing, and from my own
personal experiences, I have developed my own teaching philosophy, based on my beliefs and
classroom to give the children the education and classroom environment that they deserve. To
help them build a successful future. I believe that play is a very large part of a child’s life; it is
something that gets over looked or taken for granted. Children need play in their lives, they
need room to explore and make their own decisions. I feel that children deserve to be a little
silly sometimes, because through that, whether they know it or not, they are opening their
minds to new worlds and building on their social-emotional, cognitive, and motor
development.
such thing as someone being better than another because we are all humans, which makes us
all equals. I want families to feel comfortable in my classroom, know that I will go out of my
way to help families in need, and be there for them when it comes to their child’s education. I
have an open mind open heart, and I believe that every life that comes into my classroom is
important.
Page
4
Summary
I believe that every child who walks through my classroom doors has something
new and unique to bring to the class to share with the other children. I understand that each
child has his/her own way of learning and that various adaptations have to be made in the
classroom to reach each individual. Howard Gardner, who is theorist who created the theory
of Multiple Intelligences, stated that there are seven different categories in which a child’s way
of learning can be classified. He said, “Anything that is worth teaching can be presented in
many different ways. These multiple ways can make use of our multiple intelligences” from the
website (https://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-lynch-edd/howard-
gardner_b_1192229.html). I believe that no two children can learn one subject in the same
exact way. I often experiment with various ways of teaching; whether it be through scientific
experiments, worksheets, presentations, or group work. I want to know that each child is
enjoying the classroom, because what they are learning applies to their interests. I set aside
time in class where the children can ask any questions they have based on the lesson and can
give me feedback on what they would like to do in the classroom that would help the children
Along with Gardner’s Method, I also believe in the Montessori Method of Education,
which is based around giving students real life experiences in the classroom. I want to give
each child to have the opportunity to experiment with new materials and give them room to
explore on their own, within limits. I do not think that pencil and paper, day in and day out,
lecture after lecture, is going to expand children’s knowledge in a classroom. I want to involve
color and sounds and show the children what they are learning so that they can physically see
Page
5
it to better understand what they are learning. I feel these methods when combined, brings out
the best in my classroom and gives the children the very best education, and the education
they deserve. I want to give children a foundation which they can build on and be proud of
I very much believe in parent involvement in the classroom. I understand that there are
educational life. However, I feel that an adult figure, whom the child trusts, being present in
their lives has a massive effect on their ability to do well in school. It is fact that children who
do not have a parents or guardians involved in their school lives have a higher dropout rate in
high school. I want to make sure that my students are not going to be the ones who make the
drop out risk increase. I will do my absolute best to allow the parents to be active in the
classroom, and in the school district, so that they will always be aware of what is going on, in
our school and community. Every child deserves the right to a good education, and I feel that I
Conclusion
The way I look at it, teaching provides me with the opportunity to teach young minds
about the world around them, not just what’s in their backyard, but what’s happening ocean’s
away from them. I feel that a child should respect their selves, just as they respect others, and
should always make room for play. I know I can provide a safe, fun, and educational
environment for my students, that they will enjoy coming to. I want every day to be different
and full of new activities. I am aware that there are various ways that children learn
Page
6
information, and I am willing to work with every child’s multiple ways of learning. I know that
teaching is a lifelong process and there will always be room to learn, grow, and improve. I
enjoy teaching just as much as I hope my children enjoy learning. I am here for my students to
feel comfortable talking to me in confidence, about anything they may be facing. For as long as
I am a teacher, I will always do my best, work with the children, and strive to give my students,
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/246712885812345697/?lp=true
References
Lynch, E. M. (2012, January 09). Living Legends: An Interview With Howard Gardner, Part I. Retrieved October
Class always begins the Wednesday after Labor Day and Follow’s the Pennsylvania
school district schedule throughout the year. Tuition payments are due on the first Friday of
every month. Please note, there are no tuition discounts granted for absences for any reason.
Below are the prices for my Pre-K program, at the Apple Hill Learning Center.
If for any reason there would be a delayed start to the day, school will either be cancelled, or
10:00-11:30 AM or 1:00-3:30 PM
Reporting an Absence
In the event that a student is not able to make it to school, please call in before school
begins, for that will give the teacher, in this case for Pre-K, that will be myself, time to prepare
for the child’s absence. When your child misses school, I will have activities and work in his or
her cubby, for them to take home when they return. If your child is absent, or is expected to be
absent, three days, the director or I will personally call to check in on your child’s health.
Page
8
Every teacher has their own unique touch in their classroom, based on their student’s
interests and some of our own personal interests. We like our classrooms to reflect who we are
as teachers, while making our classrooms developmentally appropriate for our students.
Though there are few minor differences in the classrooms, in our building we all have
designed our rooms with the same components and learning activities in mind. We all believe
that play is a vital part in children’s lives, and we have our rooms designed to allow children to
exploring areas in the classroom like; the painting area, science center, sensory motor area,
dramatic play, water table, and reading corner for some examples. On the following page, you
will find a sample of my classroom design, featuring various sections to represent classroom
centers.
gross and fine motor development. It is crucial to me that children have the opportunity to
explore these areas of development every day, because the more they build in those
developmental area, the stronger their foundation will be to build on in the future. In my class
I have a dramatic play center, computer center, reading/quiet area, painting center, sensory
motor table, and circle time area, that duels as a gross motor area on days when we cannot go
outside. In the dramatic play area there are cribs, toys, and dress-up clothes that the children
have access to, to be whoever they want to be that day, and to act out real world experiences,
like playing house or dressing up as various professions. The library and quiet area holds
Page
9
books, pillows, soft furniture, and stuffed animals. Children are free to go here when they feel
they need a break from the day. Children may need time to refocus, going to school is a new
experience for them and can be over whelming for them, and though I want to challenge my
students I do not want them to feel overwhelmed in my classroom, and I want to give them the
opportunity to recuperate. In the computer center students can use the area to draw and color,
as well as practice their writing, and explore the various reading and mathematics programs on
the computers. The painting center allows children to freely express their feelings. I feel that
painting can be very therapeutic, and sometimes children need that positive energy in their life
to give them positive vibes throughout the day. We use the circle time center to dance and let
out the end in our pants when we’re feeling a little rambunctious throughout the day. I also
provide exercise balls during this time, though they are not available at all times of the day for
safety purposes. All of the centers in the facility have access to the playground outside to
further children’s learning and give them a change of scenery, when they weather is permitting.
Each classroom is strategically designed, to give our students the best educational experiences
We pride ourselves in our curriculum. We find that it is very successful with our
students, and have the flexibility to be tailored to meet each child’s needs in the classroom. It
is important to me that my students are interested in the lesson at hand, and I like to give
them the opportunity to make choices in the classroom, for example what book we read to go
along with the lesson, so that they are intrigued but still learning the lesson at hand. Each unit
encompasses literacy/language arts, science, mathematics, social studies, and creative arts. Our
center has classrooms which serve children birth through the age of 7, therefore there are
many different types of various curriculum to meet the needs of each classroom. Below is an
example of one unit that I have worked on with my own Pre-K classroom, and the guidelines I
follow for most of my units. I like to have a theme for each unit so that the children have
Ocean Life
Literacy- In my classroom, we read fiction and nonfiction books to expose the students to what is
reality and fiction in the ocean. Students recall the stories, and we discussed what they think is
fiction and nonfiction, and why they think that way. Then we go over why it is actually fiction or
nonfiction. Students practice tracing words that we read in our stories, like; fish, sea, water, ocean,
and sand, with pencil, markers, and Play-Doh to work on their fine motor skills, and penmanship.
They also identify beginning sounds of the words. Through this lesson, the students have
expanded their vocabulary on ocean life, and learned five words in Spanish as well, which were;
fish, ocean, water, reef, shark. Each lesson I like to teach my class some words in Spanish, because
Page
12
with it becoming such a popular language, it’s important for our students to be able to
communicate with one another, and other people they meet throughout their lives.
Mathematics- At the sensory water table, students have the opportunity to catch play fish,
and then count how many fish the caught. They will count their friends fish and figure out
who caught the most fish. Children work with numbers one through twenty. Students
determine the difference between more, equal, and less. We talk about sizes of different
Science- We talk about different parts of animals and the importance each part plays on the
various animals. For example, fish have scales, gills, and fins, that allow them to live
underwater, some turtles have feet and some have flippers so that they can be on land and in
the water. Each animal in the ocean plays an important part to our ecosystem, which I explain
to the children is the world around us. We talk about what aquatic animals need to survive
Social Studies- Students meet workers and volunteers whom are involved with taking care of
aquatic life. A volunteer from the Marine Conservation will teach the importance of keeping
out oceans clean, and the precautions we can take to keep our oceans clean. We practice
recycling in the classroom, to help keep our oceans free of plastic and contribute to keeping
the oceans clean. We will also have a Marine Biologist, who works at the Pittsburgh Zoo come
in and teach us about their job, and what they do to keep the aquatic animals happy and
healthy. Students will discuss having empathy and respect for animals.
Page
13
Creative Arts- During circle time, students will act out their favorite animal and walk or
crawl around the carpet like their favorite animal. We will also watch the movie finding Nemo
and talk about what is realistic in the movie, and what is made up. They will pick their favorite
ocean animal from the movie, or one we talked about, and draw a picture of it using crayons,
Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP) as teaching young children in the order the
classroom, because though we want to challenge our students, let them explore on their own,
and expand their minds to promote creative thinking, it is so important that we provide those
opportunities within our students learning capabilities. Our curriculum specifically addresses
all areas of development by implementing the following 12 DAP Principles in each classroom
in our facility.
1. There is no such thing as a learning area that is more important than another. Each area of
2. There is a specific sequence in which we learn. We can’t build if we do not have a structured
foundation.
3. Not all students will learn at the same pace or in the same way. It is vital that each child’s
4. Early experiences will help build on later experiences as the child grows and learns.
6. Learning is based on the child and what they know from previous experiments and how
7. When a child has a solid foundation with a parent or caregiver it will positively affect their
learning. I provide help to all of my students and am here for them whenever they need help
10. Play is not overlooked it is vital to a child’s development and it encouraged in our facility.
11. We challenge our students, if they are not challenged they cannot expand their knowledge.
NAECY Standards
Since our center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young
o Part of being a teacher is constantly learning about new methods to give our
students the best education possible. We do this by keeping up to date with the
apply to our classroom, to make learning fun for our children. We ensure that
all children feel welcome in the classroom and learn how to respect their
o Our goal is to keep you, the guardian, in the know on all things relating to your
want to keep you updated on all changes made in the classroom, and have one
on one conferences to discuss your child, our facility and what you think works
and does not work. We have community helpers and volunteers come into the
classroom, and we would love for you to come into the classroom as well. It is
important that we build relationships amongst our families and students, and a
meet this standard in our facility. It is crucial that we keep up to date on our
student’s progress, or when they are stuck on something, so that we know which
steps to take to ensure all the resources they need are provided to them. Parents
and Families
o It is important for the teachers in our facility to build relationships with the
life can affect their education and focus, so we like to know a little bit about of
are also here to provide resources to families in need. We like to tailor our units
based on the interest of the children, learning about these interest can only help
us build partnerships with our students. Students see their teacher for the same,
Page
17
if not more, than they see their guardians. We want them to know we can be
trusted, which can happen by keeping contact with parents and good
communication.
o All of our classroom teachers are required to have a bachelor’s degree in Early
craft, and will do whatever it takes to make sure all students in our classrooms
feel welcomed and are very well educated. We utilize the PA Early Childhood
o Every school year our teachers are to present professional portfolios, so that we
know that we are all staying on the same page with our education, and if we see
that someone wants to put a creative spin on their classroom we make sure that
it fits the guidelines. Although we want our students to have fun, we also want
to provide an educational classroom for our students. Just like our students, we
are always expanding our knowledge as well, every six months all teachers in our
Involvement
Each child is a bright sphere of energy, they are waiting for their chance to shine and
show the world what they can do. It is important for parents to be involved in the making of
that light with their children. Parent involvement can make a difference in a child’s education.
Children need a guardian to give them guidelines so that they grow in the right direction.
When a child is growing up everything is new to them and they want to talk about their
experiences, learn more, and they want to ask questions and have their questions be listened to
and answered. Parents can provide this for their children. What a special thing that is, because
parents show interest in their child’s lives it can make them more motivated to learn in school.
When a child has a supportive parent that asks about their day and genuinely listens to what
the child has to say, that creates such a unique and strong bond that the student will
remember for the rest of their life. I remember, in elementary school, sitting at the kitchen
table with my dad and him helping me with my spelling and math homework, and my mom
would always read me a story before I went to bed. They were helping me with my education,
whether they realized it or not. They made me motivated to do well in school so that I could
come home and tell them about my success. I loved making them feel proud of me. Children
will strive for that feeling, they want their parents to know when they are doing well, and it is
Page
19
important for parents to acknowledge the work that children put into their educational lives.
Just like how chemistry may be difficult for someone in high school, a child learning their
spelling words for the week can be just as big of a challenge to them, because it is new to them.
possibly can. I know that we are living in a world that is always going one hundred miles per
hour, and we have bust parents going even faster than that. However, it is crucial that we slow
down to benefit our children. I would love to see the parents in my classroom volunteering at
school events, field trips, family projects, homework assignments, community events. Any
opportunity that parents can take to spend with their children, especially involving their
educational lives, should be fully taken advantage of. According to the website,
http://www.centerforpubliceducation.org/Main-Menu/Public-education/Parent-
involved in their education are more likes to get higher grades and graduate high school and
go to a post-secondary school.
We all want the best for our students and children, and I know that so many people
strive to provide the best for their children. The early stages of a child’s life are magical. We
need to continue to let that magic live, their curiosity grows, and help ignite that spark of
and beautiful
knowledge.
Always take an
Page
20
opportunity to help children grow, they will be thankful for it for the rest of their lives.
Technology
We live in a world that is constantly changing and technology is now more used now
than it ever was before. Our center proudly uses technology in our classrooms. My classroom,
for Pre-K, has three computers, and we occasionally all use I pads together. It seems popular
for the media for talk about the negative effects that technology has on our children, however,
there are so many educational benefits with technology. We do limit the time for each student
to be in the technology center to a half hour, and we keep a log on who has been in the
technology center, but we do feel it is important to have them exposed to technology, because
they will be using it in their futures. So we keep everything developmentally appropriate and
safe for our children, we have an adult access code on our computers, which allows us to
monitor if a child has accidently clicked Internet Explorer, or if they need to be on Internet
Explorer, they cannot leave the page they’re on without the access code. We use the Web 2.0
tool’s, Glogster and Buzzmob in our classroom. Glogster gives our classroom a creative twist, in
Page
21
which the students love and it is educational, students may not even know they are learning
with Glogster. It allows us, the teachers, create storyboards to share with our students and we
can work on story boards together as a class through this website. Glogster allows us to take
virtual field trips all over the world and has a virtual library for times we do not have the
chance to actually go to the library. We use Buzzmob to keep in contact with the families in
our classroom, it can be accessed through the computer or through their Smartphones. It
allows the teacher and guardian to communicate privately, and gives the teacher the
opportunity to make general announcements for the guardians to looks at. It is lovely to send
letters to families, but when there’s something quick they need to know like; a class
cancelation, a community event, or substitute teacher, this allows the teacher to communicate
fast and efficiently. We gladly take suggestions for apps and computer programs that will be
beneficial to our classroom. Tell us about your child’s favorite use for technology and we can
At Apple Hill Learning Center, we make sure that all children fell welcome into our
classrooms, and safe, regardless of ethnicity, gender, or ability. All children are included in the
classroom with their peers of the same grade level. All classrooms are equipped for students
with disabilities, teachers are First Aid certified, and know how to use an EpiPen and CPR in
and one of our computers are accessible for a wheelchair. I teach basic sign language, and have
posters for sign language hung in the reading center for children to practice. I think that it is
important that we all have a basic understanding on how to communicate with one another, I
never want anyone to feel left out in my classroom, and I want everyone to have the means of
If you feel your child has a disability, please set up a meeting with the director. We will
have a meeting and figure out the best ways, together, on how to accommodate your child and
include them in the classroom. Each classroom has a schedule of the day, for students to
follow, and keep them on track throughout the day. Here at Apple Hill, we have a speech
pathologist who comes in once a week for students who are in need of her services. She
provides assistance for student whom are in need of it, and tests students who could need her
We are here to help your child feel equal and welcomed in the classroom, and in the
facility. Together between you, the teachers, and the director we will come up with the best
possible plan and make appropriate modifications and in Individualized Lesson Plan for your
child. If your child is diagnosed during the school year, we will plan a meeting, which fits into
your schedule, and plan accordingly. Below is an example of a picture schedule that we use for
students, who are in need of it. This can and has been changed based on the individual child’s
needs.
Page
24
Best Friends
By: Mark Chambers
Family Resources
Page
26
I am here to help you, the families in my classroom, in times of need. I have provided a
list of resources for you to use to how you see fit. If you need more information, please do not
PAEYC- Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children. They provide
the latest insight on what’s going on in the educational field, and new practices for our
students. Parents can use this sight to keep up to date on the most recent curriculum
health or intellectual issues. I want to help families as much as I possibly can, but in
cases where I cannot be involved, the experts who work with this company will help
someone to talk to. You are not alone. These services meet the needs of many
individual cases. Hard times can directly affect a student’s education, talking to
someone about solutions can help children achieve academically and make for a
At this age, children begin to really expand on their imaginations. Be aware that it is
not uncommon for children at this age to be highly energized, and maybe even a little bossy.
Children at this age want to learn what they can and cannot get away with, and they’ll want to
test their boundaries, and maybe even push your buttons a little, but you know what? This is
normal behavior. Let them explore, and instead of harshly disciplining them guide them on
the right and wrong behaviors. By this age, you should see children being able to stand on one
foot, swing, and hop. They should be able to use some of their fine motor skills, like using
silverware, dressing and undressing, and being able to hold writing utensils like pencils,
markers, and crayons. By this age, children are going to explore their imaginations through
storytelling, and they’ll be more expressive on what they like and don’t like. They’ll be able to
recall events from their past and, know the difference between past and future, and tell the
difference between fantasy and reality. By this age, students are going to want to be more
helpful, and the best thing to do is allow them to help. Children should want to show
independence and want to play with friends. The child should also be able to go to the
Just because these are things that children should be doing at this age, does not always
mean that they will. They are merely steps to look for between theses ages. Children develop at
their own rate. If your child is not performing these tasks, please do not panic, that does not
mean that they have a disability. However, if they are not to do any or most of these task you
may want to speak to a Pediatrician and the center director for more information on
evaluation and services for your child. We are here to ensure the well-being of our children in
our facility, we pay attention to the milestones that are students should be reaching, and notify
Page
29
parents if we see that there may need to be an intervention. Parents can rest assure that we are
professionals at recognizing milestones and will makes sure to interview when needed.
Page
30
Appendices
Appendix 1: Emergency Contact Form
Parent/Caregiver Address:
__________________________________________________________________________
permission to attend the above event or trip. He or she has my permission to use the
transportation provided by the school to the location. I understand that I cannot bring my
child to the location site, and may only pick he/she up in the case of an emergency. I
understand my student must be at the center prior to the arranged time, in order to attend.
Date: ________________________________________
Medication Authorization
Page
33
___________________________________________________________.
Amount/Dosage: ____________________________________________________________
My Favorite Things
Page
34
Here at Apple Hill Learning Center, we take children’s interests to heart. We want
them to be interested in our curriculum, and want to do this by including some of their
favorite things in our classrooms. We ask you to take a couple minutes to talk with your child
about their favorite things, and any additional comments you would like to share. We will talk
about our favorite things the first and second weeks of class.