A small school in Port Townsend, WA.
I am a passionate teacher and mom, who finds great joy in learning myself. My first experience teaching kindergarten was 17 years ago when I decided to become a homeschool mom. Since then I have taught in several schools for young children, including Reggio Emilia and Montessori inspired settings. I have put extensive independent study into many theories on early childhood education and development as well as formal education in early childhood education, psychology, child development, art, history, and many other topics
Teacher as Facilitator
Amber Jones
The teacher’s role is that of a fellow learner & researcher, to provide information and material that will scaffold the children’s learning. Some ways I accomplish this are: to ask questions before providing answers, observe the children’s play and interests to expand upon their experiences, use observations as a starting point to prepared
“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” -Albert Einstein
I am inspired by many educational theories and have adopted what will best support our overall mission: to create a joy in learning. A few ways I am inspired by those theories are:
Reggio Emilia:
Emergent, child-led curriculum, documentation, the role of the teacher, a beautifully prepared environment & The Hundred Languages of Children.
Montessori:
Respect of children’s intelligence and abilities, play as work, support of independence and the “discovery" model, where students learn concepts from working with materials rather than by direct instruction
Charlotte Mason:
Living books, nature study, narration, poetry and artist study.
Waldorf:
rhythm of the day, week, month, and seasons, home environment, preference of natural materials, and productive work.
Please ask if I can clarify any of these ideas.
Our Philosophy
About
Discovery House Preschool
Our Teacher
Our
Curriculum
Our main curriculum emerges from the play of children and the play of teachers. It is co-constructed by the children and the adults and the environment itself. To develop curriculum in depth, adults must notice children’s questions and invent ways to extend them, document what happens, and invent more questions. The process is naturally individualized.
In an ever evolving curriculum I must keep on my toes, I carefully watch and document what is interesting the child(ren) and also stay in tune with the many branches of learning at this age and any age. I brainstorm how many connection can be made in any given topic and then make sure to keep them in check as the children exclaim with excitement what connections they have made themselves and what they want to explore next. Maybe....just maybe I will have thought of it or......
A moment captured while studying the letter E (The first letter of this child's name)
We also explore with Montessori materials, especially in areas of language, number and practical skills.
"Learning and teaching
should not stand on opposite
banks and just watch
the river flow by;
instead, they
should embark
together on a journey
down the water.
Through an
active,
reciprocal
exchange,
teaching can
strengthen
learning how
to learn."
-Loris Malaguzzi,
founder of the
Reggio Emilia
approach
Calender
Tuition
September 12th
first day of school
We mostly follow the Port Townsend School Districts holiday schedule to keep all members of the family on the same page.
2 half days a week
To help ease children from either home or a preschool to Elementary School, we offer a short day in a more structured home & school environment. In our Reggio inspired classroom, sctructure is about how we interact instead of when we do it.