Early Childhood Literacy Specialist

 

“Education is a social process; education is growth; education is not a preparation for life but is life itself.” John Dewey

 

If one believes that education is living, then it is important that educators and families set the stage for children to encounter meaningful challenges and provide them with the tools that they need to makes sense of their world. Those tools include social skills, academic skills, and engaging and important problems to solve.

 

“I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.” Albert Einstein

 

A nurturing school environment grows a child’s social-emotional, intellectual and physical skills. It encourages children to take risks, to try new things, to learn from mistakes and to build confidence. It provides children with engaging literature, opportunities to read and write for authentic purposes, and presents challenges that require thoughtful problem solving. A nurturing school is a place where children and teachers invest in living and learning together.

 

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” William Butler Yeats

 

The role of an early childhood teacher is to feed the fire of curiosity and creativity in young minds. This fire, when encouraged in very young children, sets the stage for life-long learning.

 

“Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.” Chinese Proverb

 

When teachers involve children in learning, they not only learn information and skills, but they build relationships and understandings that they can draw on in new and different situations.