This website chronicles my Masters Program studies at Shady Hill School's Teacher Training Center (TTC) in 2018 - 2019.
Teaching in an early childhood educational setting is...
an exhilarating, exhausting, glue-covered, often interrupted—“Mr. Bouchard, can you help me?” —amazing, laugh-filled, challenging, coat-zipping, shoe-tying experience. Each day begins with high energy, filled with “Good mornings!” and “Hello, nice to see you!” Morning is full of subitizing and phonics, disagreement and discussion, possibly a few tears and hopefully many kind words. Lessons are taught. Children are playing and learning and having fun.
Recess—let’s get outside! Safety is the goal, but there will be risks and red-skinned knees and brown flexible Band-Aids.
Social risks produce complex injuries that involve hurt feelings, ultimately cured by words and actions and time.
The entire day I observe and learn as each student’s story unfolds. The day ends with both backpacks and minds full and ready for grown-ups at home. For me, there is then personal preparation for the next day. I bike home to get refueled and ready by morning. A new day begins early.
And when I wake up and begin again in darkness, I think of the kids in my class. I think of their stories, their strengths, their challenges and how I am entrusted with their safety and development. I think of my own children, Kiran and Sage, walking to school to be with teachers of their own, to grow and learn away from me. I want the best for my daughter and son, just as my students’ parents yearn for the best for their children.
I will give these parents and their children my best.
an exhilarating, exhausting, glue-covered, often interrupted—“Mr. Bouchard, can you help me?” —amazing, laugh-filled, challenging, coat-zipping, shoe-tying experience. Each day begins with high energy, filled with “Good mornings!” and “Hello, nice to see you!” Morning is full of subitizing and phonics, disagreement and discussion, possibly a few tears and hopefully many kind words. Lessons are taught. Children are playing and learning and having fun.
Recess—let’s get outside! Safety is the goal, but there will be risks and red-skinned knees and brown flexible Band-Aids.
Social risks produce complex injuries that involve hurt feelings, ultimately cured by words and actions and time.
The entire day I observe and learn as each student’s story unfolds. The day ends with both backpacks and minds full and ready for grown-ups at home. For me, there is then personal preparation for the next day. I bike home to get refueled and ready by morning. A new day begins early.
And when I wake up and begin again in darkness, I think of the kids in my class. I think of their stories, their strengths, their challenges and how I am entrusted with their safety and development. I think of my own children, Kiran and Sage, walking to school to be with teachers of their own, to grow and learn away from me. I want the best for my daughter and son, just as my students’ parents yearn for the best for their children.
I will give these parents and their children my best.