N IS FOR NURSERY
Nursery. What does it mean to you? Cute little children just playing lots of games? Having fun every day without a care in the world? If you had asked me a couple of years ago when I started my journey into teaching, I would definitely have answered the same, but when you ask me now, here is my answer.
N is for New. Every day children in my class learn something new. Why do people fly to space? What do they use to fly? What are dinosaurs? Are they all the same? Who lives under the sea? What is a healthy diet? Can we eat crisps everyday? Do we differ from each other? Every single day, children come to school with a huge amount of questions that I am always happy to hear and answer.
U is for Useful. When a child starts school, do they know how to hold a pencil with a tripod grip or how to handle a spoon so as not to spill anything? Are they aware of how to use a pair of scissors properly? To adults (and even bigger children) these all seem such trivial tasks, but these actions are taught and learned and it takes so much time and practice for a child to be able to do all these necessary everyday actions.
R is for Revolutionary. Do you remember yourself as a child at the age of 3 or 4? I’m sure you don’t or if you do it’s fragmentary and major moments, only those massive positive, or negative points.
The approach of teaching this age group has changed since you and I were this age and it’s so obvious that the more we develop basic skills, the more experienced a child is. 90% of our children who have enter into our Reception class from our Nursery in the past two years are working above age related expectations.
S is for Safe. Here in the British School of Saint-Petersburg we constantly work to create a safe environment that surrounds every child. We do our best to make sure that your child is safe when he is in school or outside. Someone who is safe and comfortable is far more able to learn to the best of their ability.
E is for Eager. Since I first started teaching, I’ve strived to encourage children to do their activities with pleasure. All the activities I do for my students are planned with their improvements in mind and I’ve found that if I, and the rest of the EYFS staff are enthusiastic, then these tasks are always welcomed and children even ask to do them on a regular basis.
R is for Radiant. Every morning I see beaming smiles on children’s faces when they are entering my class. They always rush to do morning activities and come to school on time to be able to have fun in the mornings. Safe + fun = excited children who are excited to learn.
Y is for Young. Yes, young. Children are young. They have the whole world before them. Who knows who they would like to be? Doctors, scientists, singer, astronauts, entrepreneurs? Nobody really knows, so I’m here to broaden their minds. The sky's the limit, isn’t it?
Finally, when you have a teacher who knows what they’re doing, you’re halfway there to having the person your child needs, but when you have someone who knows and loves what they're doing, you and your child don’t need to ask for much more.
Daria Boeva, Pre-Nursery/Nursery Teacher
