Welcome to Our Older 4's Classroom
Our classroom serves as a stepping-stone from early childhood education to Kindergarten. Our classroom includes a variety of child-directed and educator-directed experiences, acknowledging that all learning is mutual: adult to child, child to adult. We encourage children to think independently by giving them opportunities to make choices throughout their day. We support a play-based philosophy, intermeshing play and social experiences as well as practicing the necessary pre-academic skills that will support your child’s experience as he or she moves on to kindergarten. Just as important, we promote and encourage an environment filled with love, kindness and empathy among our educators, students and families.
Shady Lane Philosophy
We encourage learning through hands-on exploration with materials at each child’s developmental level. We balance play and creativity, while enhancing pre-kindergarten readiness. Throughout the day, the children are exposed to a range of learning activities that allow them to learn in different modes and make meaningful connections. They have the opportunity to work in small groups as well as through free choice and self-directed play.
Daily Schedule
Our day balances teacher-directed activities with those chosen by students. We begin our day with free choice time where children choose from block, water play, dramatic play, art and writing activities. We enjoy the outdoors as much as possible (weather permitting) throughout the year, spending time on the playground or in the gym twice a day. We enjoy quiet time together during our morning and afternoon snack, served in a family-style manner.
After a quiet reading time, we sing songs, learn finger plays and games, and introduce reading and math readiness concepts to the whole group. In anticipation of the coming challenges of Kindergarten, we incorporate all necessary reading and math readiness skills in the goals we set for each child throughout the school year.
Older 4's Team
The Older Fours Team includes Lead Educator Lorraine Galloway and Educators Mary Ellen Kormos and Doris Gaskins. Mary Ellen attended the University of Toronto, and has been at Shady Lane since January 2008. She was an Educator on the Young Fours team in 2008-09, and joined the Older Fours team in September 2009. Doris has earned her Child Development Associate credential, and served as an Educator in Older Twos beginning in 2005. Doris joined the Older Fours team in September 2010.
About the Lead Educator
Lorraine Galloway earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Slippery Rock University. She’s enjoyed teaching and learning from young children for over 25 years. Before coming to Shady Lane, she taught at Carlow College Children's Center. In 1995, she joined Shady Lane as part of the administrative staff. Recognizing that her true love was the classroom, Lorraine became Co-Lead Educator in Shady Lane's Kindergarten in 1996. From 2006 through the 2008-09 year, Lorraine served as Co-Lead Educator in the Young Fours Class. Lorraine enjoys working with children, senior citizens, and supporting community outreach programs.
We look foward to an exciting school year and are eager to meet all of you.
