“Play is the work of childhood.”
Jean Piaget
Cathy Shumaker, Teacher
Education and Experience in Early Childhood Care and Education
I attended Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Education with an endorsement in Early Childhood Education. While attending college I had practicums in preschool, a special needs classroom (with preschool aged children), kindergarten and elementary aged children. After these experiences I decided that I really enjoy working with young children. I obtained a job in Maryland at LaPetite Academy where I was employed for seven years. In those years I predominantly worked as a teacher with children from six weeks to kindergarten. I was promoted to assistant director and held this position until we moved to Chicago in 2001. I stayed home with our children over the next several of years until they were school aged. I then got a job at Creative Scholars when it opened and have been here ever since.
I Enjoy Working in Early Childhood Because…
I love working in early childhood because I can see how rapidly children develop and mature. You get to witness skills that weren’t previously attainable becoming second hand to them. I get to see more of the wonder and ah ha moments with young children.
Play’s Role in the Learning Process
Through play children develop their cognitive, social, emotional, motor and language skills. While children play they learn about the world around them. Playing is an important part of a child’s life. Playing by oneself and with other children is important for healthy development.
My Favorite Way to Play as a Child…
My favorite way to play when I was younger would probably be playing with the neighborhood children. We would play all sorts of running games like tag, red rover, and hide and seek. We would also build forts out of mud, leaves, sticks, snow, you name it we probably used it. Anything to do with playing outside was my favorite thing to do.
What do I do When I’m not at CSP?
When I am not working I like to spend time with my family baking, cooking, traveling, watching them compete in swimming and water polo meets and visiting family.
“Once children learn how to learn, nothing is going to narrow their mind. The essence of teaching is to make learning contagious, to have one idea spark another.”
Marva Collins
Daniela Guano, Teacher
Education and Experience in Early Childhood Care and Education
I majored in social work and a minor in psychology at the University Of The Sacred heart located in Puerto Rico. I loved doing my internship in a community center where I worked in three schools from third to sixth graders.
I Enjoy Working in Early Childhood Because…
Every day is a new day to learn. Observing and teaching the children in discovering the world around them and how it works is ever so interesting since every child sees the world so differently.
Play’s Role in the Learning Process
Play is already the process in how the children learn and discover their surroundings. Using this method helps us to make learning fun once again and not something being forced on the child.
My Favorite Way to Play as a Child…
When I was a child, I loved playing tag, hid and seek and telling scary stories with my cousins.
What do I do When I’m not at CSP?
When I’m not at work, I enjoy going to the library to learn about different cultures, writing short poems and being part of a dance group.
“Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning.”
Mr. Rogers
Charlie Anderson, Teacher
Education and Experience in Early Childhood Care and Education
I graduated with a Bachelors in K-12 Art Education Cornell College! Throughout my many practicums and semester of student teaching, I spent quite a bit of time with little ones! It always put a smile on my face to see their imagination and boundless creativity come through in their artwork.
I Enjoy Working in Early Childhood Because…
I love the energy, creativity and ingenuity that I see! It’s often that I set out to do things one way and then find myself seeing things through their unique and wonderful point of view! It’s so great to help them learn, grow, and be a part of their day.
Play’s Role in the Learning Process
I think play is absolutely necessary to the learning process. Especially for the kiddos! When I was student teaching art, it wasn’t a surprise to me that a majority of my students loved art time because it was “play” …little did they know, they learned plenty about all the other subjects just through the hands on experience of mixing, measuring, cutting, coloring, etc.
My Favorite Way to Play as a Child…
As a child, I loved making things! I would always make my own toys out of sticks or little odd bits I found around my house. My favorite animal is a horse, so I made plenty of wood chip horses help together with tape.
What do I do When I’m not at CSP?
When I am not at CSP, I’m almost always hanging out with my dog and best friend, Fox Mulder! Unsurprisingly, I also enjoy making art whenever I have the chance. I love drawing on my iPad or getting my hands dirty with clay!
“It takes a big heart to shape little minds”
Gabriela Barron, Teacher’s Aide
Education and Experience in Early Childhood Care and Education
I have been working with children for over two years from birth to five years of age. I am currently working on getting a degree in early childhood.
I Enjoy Working in Early Childhood Because…
Working with children is fun and rewarding to me. Children motivate me to be a better person inside and out.
Play’s Role in the Learning Process
Play is one of the main ways in which children learn and develop. Practicing and repeating skills and having fun is one of they key foundations to early childhood education.
My Favorite Way to Play as a Child…
I loved going to the park with family and friends and playing soccer when I was younger.
What do I do When I’m not at CSP?
When I’m not at CS, I enjoy spending most of my time with my family and taking walks at the park.
“Creating memories and experiences with each other it creates long life experiences. we become who we are and what we see through the things we learn with each other”
Unknown
Vanessa Treviso, Teacher
Education and Experience in Early Childhood Care and Education
I am currently finishing up my degree in Early Childhood Education and will be transferring to National Louis University to further better myself educationally. I have been working in a childcare facility for the past three years.
I Enjoy Working in Early Childhood Because…
Children at this age are so excited to learn something new in a playful way. The early years are extremely important especially with the milestones infants and toddlers make. I enjoy being a teacher because it brings me joy when I’ve seen a child finally master a specific task whether it be sitting up on their own, crawling to walking, or learning how to strengthen their fine motor skills.
Play’s Role in the Learning Process
The importance of play is how we learn by engaging with each other and learning through play to gain experience. Through experience you gain knowledge, and this is how we grow and develop our learning process.
My Favorite Way to Play as a Child…
I loved using my imagination while playing with dolls or dressing up to pretend I’m a teacher or doctor.
What do I do When I’m not at CSP?
When I’m not at Creative Scholars, I am spending time with my daughter. We love doing fun activities with each other. I love to travel and recently had the opportunity to visit London and Ireland. It was an amazing experience!
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create ripples.”
Fred Rodgers
Natalie Sumrall, Teacher’s Aide
Education and Experience in Early Childhood Care and Education
I study American Sign Language to English Interpreting with a minor in Education at Columbia College, Chicago. I plan to use this degree as a stepping stone to eventually teach deaf students in the classroom. I have many different experiences with early childhood in and out of the classroom over the years but some of my favorite experiences have been in daycares or at my local deaf school back home.
I Enjoy Working in Early Childhood Because…
Working in childhood reminds me of how simple and amazing life can be. Children encourage imagination and creativity. Their new ideas inspire me and having a part of a child’s life and ability to help them open their mind to new possibilities and ideas is rewarding. Answering questions that lead to more thinking and providing a positive and safe place for a child to open their minds and learn and want to learn is the goal.
Play’s Role in the Learning Process
Playing encourages children to think. While playing, children are able to develop skills that they will need later in life. Physical, cognitive and social/emotional skills can all be gained through playing and without them even knowing it. By playing, children’s new ideas, imagination and creativity is expanded and their ability to problem solve and express themselves is gained. By playing children can understand different roles, concepts such as time and reach full potential in all developments of their life.
My Favorite Way to Play as a Child…
My favorite way to play as a child was always pretend. Being able to use my imagination and creativity to make new scenes, situations and environments was always fun and always a good boost in many parts of my development.
What do I do When I’m not at CSP?
I spend most of my time in class or studying, but I do enjoy reading, yoga, and baking.