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Trisha Dart, Owner and Lead Teacher
Trisha graduated from Grand Rapids Community College in 2008 with an Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences Degree Child Development. She also has an Associate of Arts Degree General Education degree. Trisha does continuing education classes annually related to early education, child development, advocacy, business practices, and more. She has been an early education teacher and professional for nearly 20 years working in variety of settings including non profit and profit based childcare centers and home-based programs, along with public school programs in the Greater Grand Rapids area. Trisha is currently a Girl Scout Troop Leader with Daisies and Brownies. She was formerly a camp counselor for the Michigan Fraternal Order of Eagles organization. Trisha has been married for nearly 15 years to her husband Christopher and has two daughters of her own. She has 2 dogs and 2 cats as well. She enjoys camping, reading, gardening, organizing, game nights, and spending time with family and friends.
Trisha’s also an active participant with advocacy in the State of Michigan for Early Education. She has been a part of the Great Start to Quality Advisory Committee since 2019, she is a part of the Mainspring Early Care Alliance in Kent County, and she recently joined the MiAEYC Advocacy Committee.
Philosophy
To create a nurturing and educational environment that encourages the development of each individual child. I allow children to explore and learn at their own pace. Children are provided open ended materials and experiences where they are given the opportunity to build on their current knowledge of the world and how things work. Little Ones Learning know children are naturally curious. I blend qualities from several theorists in early childhood that help children learn the best way they can. Children learn best with concrete experiences. Therefore, children are given many hands on experiences that are developmentally appropriate. Children are encouraged to try at least once but are not forced if they choose to. Children are guided to explore, learn, and discover through all areas of development. Children are provided developmentally age appropriate activities through art, music/movement, science, math, language/literacy, fine and gross motor, social/emotional development, and self-help skills. Children are encouraged to make positive choices. I know young children are learning so we know mistakes will be made. So I reinforce positive behavior through redirection, positive language, and natural consequences.
Location
Little Ones Learning is located on a dead end street in Plainfield Twp (Comstock Park). Little Ones Learning is 6 minutes from the Post Dive exit off 131 and 5 minutes from the Comstock Park exit off 131 and is 2 minutes from M-37(Alpine).
About our program
Little Ones Learning is a home-based mixed age preschool program that has been verified as a Demonstrating Quality Program through Great Start to Quality and the Michigan Department of Education since 2019. Little Ones Learning is located in Comstock Park on a dead end street with a fenced-in playground. Little Ones Learning is play-based early education program with an emphasis on authentic hands on learning experiences to get all children ready for the rest of their lives. When children leave Little Ones Learning to head off to kindergarten, they will have all of the necessary knowledge to be successful in Kindergarten and beyond. Children will be able to successfully go to the bathroom independently, they will be able to successfully recognize and write their names, they will be able to count to 20 and recognize numbers 1 through 10, they will know their letter names and sounds, they will know how to solve disagreements with others, take turns, and use appropriate language. Children will have a love of learning because they had authentic hands-on play experiences during their early education years.
Since Little Ones Learning believes in children having authentic hands-on learning experiences, Trisha routinely has guests at Little Ones Learning. This includes parents and other family members reading to children throughout the year, attending field trips, and class parties. Zoe Gates and Regina Lum also visit Little Ones Learning on a bi-weekly basis teaching yoga and music to children enrolled. Zoe and Regina both own programs in the Greater Grand Rapids area. These programs help develop the whole child. Trisha also has community volunteers that often visit ike the local fire station, sheriff’s department, and dental hygienists. Although Little Ones Learning is a play-based program we do follow the Creative Curriculum, Heggerty, and Zoo phonics. Using these research based, state approved curriculums, Little Ones Learning is able to hold conferences twice a year with parents.