Entry 3: Teacher Interview

For this assignment I interviewed the Pre-K teacher in the room next to 'S' class, "Kelly". Kelly is the lead English teacher in 'T' class and has been teaching at POA for three years. She is currently certified in teaching Childhood Education (grades 1-6), and is working towards her Masters in Early Childhood education. 

Beliefs about Early Childhood Education:
Kelly emphasizes the importance early childhood education has on children's experience of school. She believes that early childhood education is essential for setting the foundation for school, "Preschool is the beginning of them learning a lot of stuff, like the alphabet, being introduced to school. If they're placed in a nurturing environment, then then throughout their lives they will think education is fun, but if they're not in a good preschool, they might not see education as fun" (personal communication, March 17th, 2015).

Curricular Scope:
At POA the school uses the creative curriculum. Kelly reports that general monthly themes are suggested by the school's administration, then teachers choose which specific elements within the topic they would like to teach the children. For example this month the topic was Authors. 'S' class decided to hone in on Dr. Seuss stories, while 'T' class decided to focus on Mo Willems.

A brief abstract of the Creative Curriculum can be found in Fred C. Lunenburg article, Curriculum Models for Preschool Education: Theories and Approaches to Learning in the Early Years:

"The Creative Curriculum for Preschool was developed by Diane Trister Dodge. The approach is based on her career in working with preschool educators. The approach helps teachers to make their practices consistent with their goals for children by arranging their classrooms to support teachers’ developmentally appropriate practice and children’s active learning, which is directed toward their social competence. Teachers arrange the learning environment into ten interest areas: art, blocks, cooking, computers, house corner, library corner, music and movement, the outdoors, sand and water, and table toys" (http://www.nationalforum.com/) 

Modifications to Meet all Students Needs:
Kelly pays attention to how each child reacts to each lesson and modifies her lesson depending on the student's level, "If kids are having a problem [with a lesson] I might make it easier. Or if they know it, I might change it. Or if its too easy I might make it harder. And if I notice one particular child is really struggling I might spend more time with that child during center time" (personal communication, March 17th, 2015).