Teachers' Perspectives

What I like about teaching at Pine
by Mathilda Element
Early Childhood Educator and current Pine Teacher

Teaching at Pine is exciting because every day is unique.  I love the freedom to create my own curriculum in consultation with the students - we are not limited by anything other than our imaginations and where we want to go! With smaller group ratios, we are able to embark on sometimes very ambitious topics (eg filming our own TV show, building a bug museum, holding a digital photography exhibition in a local gallery) as well as having the freedom to explore individual interests and topics as they arise.

Smaller groups also means that the children have more teacher attention, and I really enjoy the conversations we have together as we learn, explore and play.  I like being able to get to know the children as individuals, and I appreciate being a part of their growth.  Being in a multi-age group, you get to teach children over a longer period of time which allows you to develop strong relationships with each child and with their families.  I love the connections I have with children and families, and being a part of their lives is very special.

Also, I like working in a multi-age school because it allows children to learn so much from their peers, not just from adults. The strong friendships that I've seen develop across sometimes large age gaps are beautiful to watch and I think it's great that we facilitate an environment where children of all ages can interact positively and learn together.

Finally, it's satisfying to work at a school that follows the individual developmental path of children's learning.  I believe that when children work at their own pace, the learning is deeper and more meaningful than when their natural rhythms are disrupted. Also, I believe that learning is happening all the time - through play, through social interactions, through exploration, discussion, discovery and a sense of wonder, planned curriculum experiences and spontaneous teachable moments. Pine is a place that allows all these things to occur - it is a very child friendly place to work, which makes it a great place for educators who enjoy being friends with children!