Lil' Learning Sprouts Wonderschool

Our Teachers

Hello! My name is Michaela, I am the owner of Lil’ Learning Sprouts Wonderschool - an Early Learning Childcare here in the beautiful fields of Rancho Cordova & Mather, California. I began my incredible journey working with and educating young children in a formal early learning center 15 years ago. It’s hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that the children from my first preschool class are now teenagers! I have completed college course credits in Early Childhood Education and Guiding Childhood Behaviors, and my plan is to finish my degree in ECE within the next few years. Through the years, I have also accumulated many logged STARS continuing education courses and attended many NAEYC AND WAEYC (National & Washington Association for the Education of Young Children) seminars and classes. My plan is to expand my center in the next couple of years to an even larger space. Having multiple centers is a huge future goal for Lil’ Learning Sprouts, and by adding more incredible teachers, being able to offer more age ranges, and introducing special new programs, will allow us the capacity to provide quality early learning to even more children! It has been a dream, passion, and mission of mine to open my own Early Learning Childcare. I am thrilled to begin this new chapter!

Two of the greatest passions in my life are being a mother to my kind, bright, and hilarious 2-year-old daughter, and the importance of an early education for all young children. I am a native of West Seattle, Washington. Where I lived for 30 years before adventuring and moving to Sacramento 2 years ago. I am a warm, empathetic, open-minded person, with a child-like heart and an old soul. Aside from my love for being a mother and Early Childhood Education, I enjoy reading and collecting books (personal and children’s), exploring and learning new hobbies, music, dancing, art, DIY, all things plants, flowers, and gardening, a good garage sale, laughing, spending time with my family, and appreciating life’s blessings to the fullest.

Philosophy

My Curriculum Approach –

The Creative Curriculum offers an evidence-based way to teach in the early childhood setting, using the most current research in child development, learning and educational objectives. It is rooted in educational philosophy and theory as well as practice. It builds on the stages of socio-emotional development, theories of how children think and learn, on principles of physical development, and an appreciation of cultural influences. It is also built on theories that all children learn through active exploration of their environment and therefore the environment plays a critical role in their individual learning. The goal of the Creative Curriculum approach is to help guide children to become independent, self-confident, inquisitive and enthusiastic learners by actively engaging, exploring, and playing in their environment, one that has been thoughtfully planned out with specific interest areas to meet the appropriate developmental needs of each individual child in my care, both indoor and outdoor.

During childhood children deal with three of the eight stages of socio-emotional growth. They learn to trust others outside of their families, to gain independence and self-control, and to take initiative and assert themselves in socially acceptable ways. This curriculum will help me foster positive responses to these three stages and will encourage me to recognize the interplay between socio-emotional, cognitive, and physical growth. The large differences in the development of each child are perfectly normal and these goals are guideposts for my implementation of the Creative Curriculum. There are five basic components that comprise the Creative Curriculum Framework. From these five categories, my focus and planning will be aimed so that quality learning is achieved in each child.

1. How children develop and learn: This curriculum really focuses on the “whole” child. Physical, cognitive, social/emotional, and language development, as well as highlighting the importance of each individual child’s unique traits and characteristics. I will use the curriculums recommended assessments as guides to assist me in monitoring each child’s development, and to track their progress according to the curriculum’s objectives.

2. The Learning Environment: The structure of each space is very important, making it possible for me to effectively teach each child. By maintaining high level interest areas, establishing daily routines and structure, and introducing small and large group activities will create a community that helps children to work together, to get along, and to solve problems together.

3. What Children Learn: With a focus on state and national standards in math, literacy, science, social studies, the arts, and technology, this curriculum demonstrates how children learn both content and skills through the daily experience and opportunities that I will provide.

4. My Role: Through my careful observations of each child, and through the interactions we share each day, I can create a variety of ever-changing teaching strategies and plan appropriate lessons to guide all learning opportunities. Using the assessments as mentioned above will enable me to plan for each child and family individually, and therefore creating a strong bond and healthy parent-teacher partnership.

5. The Family’s Role: This curriculum highlights the importance of creating a family - provider partnership to support each individual child and family’s needs. This partnership benefits the child’s learning and development outside of the childcare.

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Location

Independence At Mather Fields is a lovely and quiet neighborhood located in Sacramento near the Mather Air Force Base and Mather Elementary. Independence at Mather is surrounded by acres of beautiful natural landscape, farms, and two big and safe parks within 5 - 10 min walking distance.

About our program

Here at Lil’ Learning Sprouts Wonderschool, the safety and wellbeing of the children in my care are my top priorities. I know how crucially important these early years in a child’s life are and it is a paramount time for their development, the experiences and interactions a child has each day will help build the tools for future successes through their adolescence and adulthood. Your child will be praised, celebrated, and loved for the individual that they are, every moment of their day. Through my daily implementation of The Creative Curriculum, STEAM, and Play Based philosophies, your child will spend their days in an environment rich in all forms of play, new experiences, open-ended questions and conversations, tons of exploration and learning, friendships, and, of course, FUN! while I effectively focus on the nine areas of development and learning in each individual child: Social-Emotional, Physical, Language, Cognitive, Literacy, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Social Studies, and the Arts (Fine Arts and Expressive Arts).

· ++Socio/Emotional Development -++ To experience a sense of self. To exhibit a positive attitude toward life. To demonstrate cooperative, pro social behavior. Positive feelings about themselves, the development of responsibility, and their ability to relate positively and empathetically to peers and adults, learning how to identify and understand emotions and practicing how to express them appropriately. etc.

· ++Cognitive Development -++ To acquire learning and problem-solving skills. To expand logical thinking skills. To acquire concepts and information leading to a fuller understanding of our ever-changing complex immediate world. To demonstrate skills in pretend play/make believe. To expand verbal communication skills. To develop and acquire beginning reading and writing skills. etc.

· ++Physical Development –++ To enhance gross motor skills. To enhance and refine fine motor skills. To use all senses in learning. etc.

Feelings and emotions will be spoken about, and encouraged every day! children have BIG emotions, they are tiny humans after all! I believe it is our task as adults to help guide children in understanding their emotions, letting the child know that their feelings are always accepted, and being there as a support and mentor as they go through the rollercoasters of everyday experiences. Giving children the positive guidance and tools for learning self-regulation is crucial during these precious and formative years.

I will provide the children with exciting and engaging weekly educational themes, lesson plans, and new experiences. For example, if we are doing a fun unit on Italian culture, I will introduce Italian words and phrases to the children, the dramatic play area will feature a shop like a pizza parlor, Italian restaurant, or a gelato ice cream shop! We will learn about their communities, and the holidays they celebrate. We will enjoy tasting Italian recipes and food. Dance and sing to their music, while exploring art.

OUR GARDEN – I have a big love for gardening, and for caring for our beautiful earth. I believe it is extremely important for children to know how to grow and cultivate their own food. We will enjoy tasting our yummy grown fruits and vegetables also! Nature will be a big focus here at my program.

FOOD - The children will eat homemade meals for breakfast and lunch, organic & local fruits and vegetables, homemade fresh squeezed juices and smoothies, purified water, organic milk (in % you request). Children will always be encouraged to try new food experiences, but never forced. I am open to any individual food preferences and needs of each child. Differences are embraced, always! (food allergies are taken extremely seriously)

*More information will be given upon touring the space, and through the application process! Opening winter or spring 2023, but please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions about my program. They are always welcomed!