Preschool teachers and support staff at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Bucks IU) just completed the first month of school and spent these opening weeks encouraging young students to come ready to interact with peers, learn, and explore.
“My focus right away is building positive relationships with the students,” said Rebecca Salzano, a Head Start Teacher at the Bucks IU’s Lower Bucks Early Learning Center in Bristol. Salzano and her staff greet each child warmly each day, maintain a consistent routine, acknowledge how each student may be feeling about school, display their artwork in the classroom, and encourage parents and guardians to send in family photos for display. “I hope that each child feels that our classroom is a warm and safe place where they can try new things,” Salzano said.
An inviting classroom environment is also essential for preschoolers because they are active learners, according to the national Head Start website (www.HeadStart.gov). The site notes that it is important for young learners to use materials and opportunities in their environment to explore, solve problems, and learn about the world around them.
Bucks IU staff members create positive learning environments at Early Learning Centers and sites throughout Bucks County to help young students get the most out of their educational experience, said Dr. Mark Hoffman, Bucks IU Executive Director. “The time we invest early on each school year pays off in stronger connections and better outcomes for the students we have the honor of serving.”
Helen Quimby and her Pre‑K Counts team at the Bucks IU at Lower Southampton Early Learning Center worked together for days before the school year began to set up individualized learning centers for the children to explore. “I hope they take away a feeling of autonomy over their learning, feeling brave to try, and a sense of independence,” Quimby said.
Building consistent routines early on is also critical for preschoolers’ success, said Dr. Roseanna Mitsch, Bucks IU Director of Early Childhood Programs. “At this time of year, teachers dedicate time to guiding students through daily routines, explaining the ‘why’ behind the routines, and providing time for practice,” stated Dr. Mitsch. “Established routines and an understanding of expectations ensure everyone knows what to do and when.”
The daily routine in Kristi Eckert’s Pre‑K Counts class includes individual exploration time, snack breaks, and circle time, when students sit together to sing songs, read stories, play games, and work on developing academic, emotional, and social skills.
The children, who range in age from three to five, also develop social skills by taking turns as the “super star helper” each day, said Eckert, who teaches the Pre‑K Counts class in a Bucks IU classroom at Neshaminy’s Herbert Hoover Elementary School. One responsibility of the “super star helper” is classroom greeter. Each morning, classmates decide how they would like to be greeted by the helper—for example, with a high five, pinky squeeze, or elbow bump.
Once the helper greets a classmate, the two children “are encouraged to look each other in the face and say, ‘good morning,’” said Pre‑K Counts Teacher Kristi Eckert. “This is another way for the students to be seen and heard in the classroom.”
“In the beginning of the year, we do activities on getting to know each other, getting to know the rules of the classroom, and getting to know the teachers,” said Head Start Teacher Rosie Seidelmann, who teaches a Head Start class at the Bucks IU’s Upper County Early Learning Center. “I hope my students enjoy good learning experiences in my classroom and are well-prepared for their next adventure in kindergarten. I hope they can take their learning from the classroom and continue it outside of school.”
John D’Angelo, President of the Bucks IU Board of Directors, said he is proud of how the agency’s educational teams across the county work together to create safe and nurturing learning environments every school year. “We are blessed to have such wonderful teams of dedicated and competent people who always keep our students as their top priority,” D’Angelo said.