Sarah James

Philosophy

I believe that a love of learning begins in early childhood. Setting up children to enjoy the learning process at a young age is the most valuable gift we can give them. I strive to foster a love of learning in my students through intentional and hands-on learning opportunities. Children develop confidence, curiosity, and the ability to take initiative through play-based learning. In a one-on-one learning environment, play-based learning can look like a variety of things. Through conversation and relationship building, I aim to help children gain self-confidence. I believe that children thrive when they feel safe and comfortable in their learning environment and part of that is building trust with me. I strive to build personal connections with all my students: not only so they feel comfortable with me but also so that I can tailor activities to their interests. This is a crucial part of making play-based learning engaging and successful. By using each child’s individual interests to inspire the activities and learning opportunities, this allows the child to guide their own learning experience. This builds confidence in their learning abilities by allowing them to feel successful and excited about what they are learning. I utilize a variety of educational philosophies to inspire my teaching practices as I believe that every child’s needs and learning style is slightly different. I like to take inspiration from both Reggio Emilia and Montessori philosophy to help tailor the play-based learning for each child and their needs. I can’t wait to meet your children and help them develop to their fullest potential.