Meet Our Favorite LANK Kindergarten Teacher; Mrs. Joan Roesch
Last year on January 10, I wrote a blog for our LANK website entitled All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten. It is actually one of my favorite blogs because it cuts right to the chase of what is important in a kindergarten classroom. It can be difficult to summarize in a short blog what is most valuable in a kindergarten classroom, but every year as we approach our annual open houses and kindergarten information session, we hope we can convey to our parent community exactly why LANK is special and should be considered for your child. Please take a few minutes to read the archived blog, and also come to our information session on Wednesday, January 17th at 9:30 AM and 7:30 PM to learn more!
The Q and A below will provide just a glimpse into why we love kindergarten at LANK. Meet our beloved teacher, Mrs. Joan Roesch.
Q: How did you first become interested in teaching?
A: When I started at Florida State University I enrolled in a Child Psychology class and really enjoyed it. I decided to take more childhood development courses which lead to my degree in Early Childhood Education; I also extended my degree to Elementary Education and English Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) Certifications. Teaching is perfect job for me. I love what I do!
Q: What do you think distinguishes your teaching style?
A: My teaching style starts with an open door policy and a partnership with parents. I develop a loving, happy and safe environment that encourages learning through play. Creativity is at the heart of how I teach, whether it's making a "camp" space for the children to read, or an engineering experience that ties into a story. I also believe that a child responds to tone, environment, and pace, so my calm style and easy-going nature establishes a warm environment for children to feel safe to be curious and express themselves. I am, by nature, a social person, and studies have shown that a child's social skills will lead to future success (professional, personal, etc). Therefore it is natural for me to foster social experiences in my classroom, such as games, dramatic play, and team work!
Q: What gets you most excited about working with kindergarten? A: I absolutely love this age group. This is the age when they are curious about the world around them, and are making connections. I love the light bulb moment - when understanding a concept is understood.
They are engaged learners, who ask questions, solve problems, and feel pride; yet they have the magic of wonder and imagination. In a nutshell, Kindergarten is the age of discovery. And I am honored to be a part of this stage!
Q: When your kindergarteners graduate, how do you hope they will remember their experience? A: I hope they say “Kindergarten Rocks!” Kindergarten should be a new adventure every day. We read, make friends, write, weigh, measure, play, act, cook, cope, create, research, explore, make connections, and observe!
Q: LANK is a very special community; how do you think that impacts your teaching?
A At LANK we are a family. When you are in Kindergarten you are part of a family that loves and cares for you every day. This makes for an amazing environment to work and teach in.
Our kindergarten information session is on Wednesday, January 17th at 9:30 AM and 7:30 PM. We hope you'll join us to learn more about this wonderful program! Please contact us to reserve your spot.
