Kara Bailey E Portfolio

Aug.05
0

Kara Bailey

Posted by in Curriculum Vitae

Email: karajbailey@gmail.com Bachelor of Education: University of British Columbia 2014-15 (Kindergarten/Montessori Cohort) Bachelor of Arts: University of British Columbia 2009-2014 (Major English Literature, Minor History) Areas of Interest/Future Growth: Outdoor/experiential education Play-based education (kindergarten instruction) Inquiry/explorative learning Project and individualized assessments Social emotional learning (virtues, yoga, mindfulness) Dynamic indoor and outdoor learning environments Language (self-restitiution, growth mindset) Reggio Emilia & Montessori Philosophies Professional Development: Early Childhood Education: kindergarten curriculum development and theory Early Childhood Education: supporting learning in the kindergarten year Yoga and Mindfulness for Special Education Landscapes for play:…read more

Aug.04
0

Classroom Climate

Posted by in Pedagogy

Students need time in the day to be quiet and mindful; I believe the mind-up program and yoga are a very accessible way of incorporating this into the curriculum. Additionally, I believe all students require time outdoors exploring and learning in nature, in addition to experientially in the classroom. It is for these reasons that I hope to incorporate nature walks, outdoor lessons and a class garden into my year plan. For students to be successful I think they require a well organized, clean , and inviting classroom environment; some…read more

Aug.04
0

Safe and Supportive Classroom Environment

Posted by in Pedagogy

It is important to engage students in experiential learning and be transparent in lesson and classroom goals and objectives. A caring classroom environment can be created by engaging students in meaningful dialogue about their emotions and values. This can be done through effectively introducing daily morning meetings/circles and teaching virtues, which become vocabulary for conversations throughout the day. I hope that my students will internalize these daily routines and act on them in other situations without prompting. As a class we would begin the year with a discussion, setting out…read more

Aug.04
0

My Passion

Posted by in Autobiography

Teaching allows one to continually be immersed in an environment of discovery and learning; taking the role of teacher will allow me to be constantly attentive to the unique vision of children and the opportunity to assist in their growth and exploration. Children posses a unique ability to observe what is often unnoticed by the adult mind and have a innate desire for learning and exploration which is insatiable; It is these natural tendencies of children which regularly fill my mind with wonder and heart with immense joy. Teaching children…read more

Jul.27
0

Emphasising Social Cohesion

Posted by in Montessori Inspired

Social cohesion is achieved in a Montessori elementary classroom by ensuring multi-age groupings include students that are different: abilities, genders, personalities and developmental levels; this allows the classroom environment to function more like that of a community allowing all of the children to perform different aspects for the good of the whole. The structured freedom of the classroom environment invites students to look to their peers for: assistance performing difficult activities, the opportunity to practice newly acquired skills, recognition, socialization, and behavioural models. The teacher’s role in ensuring social cohesion…read more

Dec.16
0

Where it all Began: My First Gift as a Teacher

Posted by in Autobiography

I conceived of the idea of teaching at a young age due to a wealth of experiences I  gained at school in a small rural town. I was in awe of my teachers throughout my school career but I think the specific moment I knew that I wanted to teach came in kindergarten. I attended half day kindergarten in a room that functioned the second half of the day as a preschool. My mom was a parent volunteer in the class and my little brother was a preschool student. By…read more

Dec.16
0

Accepting and Inviting Silence

Posted by in Pedagogy

The public school system, at least as I have observed it in Western Canada, praises students for quickly raising there hands and providing frequent boisterous responses in the classroom; this is not a negative observation but what is cause for concern is the lack of reinforcement given to students who require extra time for reflection and thought formation. These children may often have the capacity to formulate eloquent and insightful comments but are denied the opportunity because of the emphasis on speed of response. It is common knowledge that humans…read more

Oct.11
0

The Art of Observation

Posted by in Montessori Inspired

To watch over a classroom environment means to carefully observe all of its aspects and contents with a critical eye. The teacher should be constantly monitoring the individual development and progress of each child  and using this information to assess student learning, provide support or challenges. The teacher should be observing not only the child’s verbal interactions with other children but also their non-verbal interaction with the materials in the environment; it is the teacher’s task to consciously make note of significant changes in development or behaviour and decide on…read more

Oct.11
0

The Prepared Environment

Posted by in Montessori Inspired

The composition of any learning environment is crucial for student success. An ideal learning environment, Montessori describes, should include materials that promote the correct kind of stimulation; materials in a Montessori classroom are designed to be easily accessible for all children, visually appealing and developmental stage appropriate while also including a control of error to ensure that the child can be independently successful after an initial introduction to the material from an adult. The classroom itself is designed to be orderly, beautiful, and child-focused. Montessori designed her first Casa dei…read more

Oct.06
0

Nurturing Respect and Love of Nature

Posted by in Pedagogy

Fostering a love of the environment is critical for moulding students who are aware of and comfortable in the natural world. Environmental education allows children to view themselves within the larger context of the world, as one aspect of a complex ecosystem, which contrary to common belief is not human centred. Children are given the opportunity to learn nurturing behaviours in an environment which promotes their physical health and growth while also developing important motor skills. Children learn important knowledge in the classroom but they also thrive when separated from…read more

Spam prevention powered by Akismet