New Beginnings
5/23/2020
It seems unbelievable that we have come to the end of the year! In a way, I have felt a bit sad about missing out on projects and adventures I was looking forward to having with your children, but I have always tried to remember that when one door closes, another always opens. So, while we didn’t get to all of the things we were looking forward to, we did have adventures that we could never have imagined! Who could have envisioned preschool through distance learning? As a teacher I feel blessed to be part of a school community which is completely dedicated to the success of our students. We were able to begin delivering distance education almost immediately upon the school closure, but this could never have happened without our dedicated school leadership and phenomenal parent support! Together we were able to continue our mission of educating independent thinkers and exceptional learners of courage vision, and integrity! What a joy it has been to have had these children as my students. I am so grateful for all the PNA families who have shared their sweet children with me this year. It has been exciting to watch them learn and grow, and I know they have great things ahead of them!
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One of the hallmarks of the PNA experience is the focus on Project-Based Learning. This is a strong evidence-based practice which capitalizes on a child’s naturally strong disposition to explore and discover, with the ultimate goal of developing an independent child who loves to learn. According to the website projectapproach.org, “The Project Approach builds on natural curiosity, enabling children to interact, question, connect, problem-solve, communicate, reflect, and more… It essentially makes learning the stuff of real life and children active participants in and shapers of their worlds.” It also gives the teacher the ability to work with a class who may have a wide range of abilities and needs, while also offering varied outlets for learning. Project-based learning is great method teachers can use to help their students be motivated, authentically engaged, and excited to learn. Despite its many benefits, project-based learning isn’t often associated with Early Childhood curriculum. This is a shame, since learning is most meaningful to young children when it is based on their interests and on real-life experiences! The project approach in preschool does require some modification in order to be successful, but these changes are not difficult – they just require a little forethought. Project-based learning involves children’s in-depth investigation of a worthwhile topic developed through authentic questions, and it is usually divided into three parts: selecting a topic, data collection, and the culminating event.
Because of our unique circumstances due to the coronavirus, we have been we have been somewhat limited in our implementation of our usual preschool routines. We have worked hard, and lately we have noticed children, parents (and teachers!) have begun to burn out. To combat this, we felt that using the project approach for the last 2 weeks of school would be a great opportunity to re-engage our students, and I have not been disappointed with the response! It is wonderful to see the children’s enthusiasm as they talk about their Alaskan animal! They have been more engaged and have been excited to tell me the things which they have learned about their animal’s appearance, diet and habitat. This coming week they will share a display about their animal’s habitat and then make a short video to share with the class as their culminating event. I am so excited to see the evidence of all their learning!
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Melissa SmithMs. Smith has a degree in Early Childhood Education and has taught kindergarten for many years. Alaska has been home to Ms. Smith for 28 years, and she can't imagine living anywhere else! She has four children, a dog and two cats. She loves reading, camping, gardening, and genealogy! Archives
April 2021
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