My mission is to provide a safe and nurturing enviroment for children. I believe in creating principles and practices that promote children's social, emotional, physical and intellectual growth. Experiencing a variety of early childhood education methods may create a blend that most benefits a child and helps to ensure a place for everyone in our society. By working on development, their own skills, talents and interests, I hope to help {along with you parents} to create people who care about their world by learning and working together.
- I have been awarded a Step 2 rating by Quality For ME from the Maine Early Care and Education Quality Rating System. This rating is given to child care providers from the Maine Department of Health & Human Services Early Childhood Division.
- I am fully accredited by the National Association for Family Child Care.
- I am a registered member of the Maine Roads to Quality Career Lattice at "Level 6" and in November 2007 was recognized by Maine Roads to Quality for completing 45+ hours of Core Knowledge Training in just this past year.
- In August 2007 I attended the PreK Literacy Institute at the University of Maine in Orono for six hours of professional development.
- Since October 2007, the backyard and play space at Ms. Judith's has been recognized and certified as a wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.
- I also am a member of:
- National Association for the Education of Young Children
- National Association for Family Child Care
- Maine Montessori Association
- National Wildlife Federation
- Maine Audubon Society
- World Wildlife Fund
- The NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct :
- Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment
- Reggio Emilia info:
- ReggioInspired.com
- Brainy-Child.com
- Montessori Info:
- Montessori.edu
- Webster.edu
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Testimonials
"My grandson began preschool at Ms Judith's at 3 years old. He was very
shy boy. This is his second year at school and he has made so many
strides. He can't wait to arrive at preschool with his friends and do
whatever is planned for the day. His vocabulary has expanded and his
speech has improved greatly. The children are like a little family. These
children are taught art, music, history, poetry just to mention some of
the advantages they receive. I love the intimacy of a small group. The
children are so protected by her environment. I never worry about my
grandson. You knock before you can enter because the door is always
locked. I love this aspect. Ms Judith is a great asset to this community
and its children."
Grandmother of a 4 year old
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My preschool program is the result of my 28 years of experience in the
field of Early Childhood Education. I believe the first educational
experience for a child is perhaps the most important one. I can still
remember my pre-school teacher Mrs. Hardy and what a positive impact she
had on my love of learning.
In all my years of working with young children I have recognized the need
for small-individualized child focused groups. The intellectual, social,
emotional and physical growth of the young child is best addressed in this
kind of environment. A nurturing and caring program makes a child feel
safe. This can then lead them to being open to learning. I have taken
great effort to ensure that my preschool classroom and atmosphere will
always foster this philosophy. Each child will find their own place by
developing their own skills, talents and interests. My style incorporates
active parent involvement and a sense of belonging to their child’s
educational experience in their community.
In my years of Montessori experience I have witnessed the encouragement of
hands on materials. This helps the child associate sounds of speech and
uses touch, sight and hearing. This creates preparation for future reading
and writing. For example, we read a book from left to right so we
encourage fun exercises or simple materials that require moving items from
left to right. By introducing the many wonders of Maria Montessori’s
Methods, the Reggio Way and the other practices that I have learned over
my many years of teaching I think I may have come up with the almost ideal
setting for learning.
The Reggio way is a "co-explore" learning experience with the child and
teacher. This helps to provoke ideas and problem solving. I love to take
ideas from the children and further explore their interests. My happiest
moments are when a child makes the "connection". The glee and wonder in
their face is heart warming, this is what early learning is all about.
I have set up my classroom with a blend of these approaches and an
environment that is aesthetically pleasing to look at. When a child walks
into my classroom they are invited to touch, admire and inspire.
Reading readiness or emergent reading is focused on at Ms. Judith's. When one visits the classroom you will see many examples that encourage a child's interest in letters and words in the world around them.
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