Honk Jr. With the Kinders

Today I worked with the kinders in the Early Learning Community at Pacific University. We took the children to the local theater to watch a for-children-by-children production called Honk Jr. The play was based on the premises of The Ugly Duckling and teaching children that being different is not only okay, but something to celebrate and feel good about. The play was adorable and everyone seemed to enjoy it. The highlight of the day was when the villain in the play (the hungry cat) kidnapped the ugly duckling, and when his family was searching for him, one of the kinders (a particular character by the name of Evan) shouted out "It was the cat! The cat took him! IT WAS THE CAT!" He had the whole theater giggling. It was adorable because of his sincerity and tone of genuine concern in his voice. Overall, it was a very positive experience for the children. It is wonderful that they got the chance to experience the creativity and wonder that accompanies a live production.
A little about The Early Learning Community. It is an ideal school in my opinion with all of the latest and greatest resources made available to the staff and students. The ELC provides a learning environment organized around the principles of inclusion, active experiential learning and best pedagogical practice. They believe that children learn best in a place where they feel good about themselves, where they are allowed to explore their world, and where the learning materials match their interests and needs. That is why a lot of time is spent in the creative playroom and atelier. The learning environment at the ELC is supported by teachers who recognize developmental norms, respect individual differences, and inspire a sense of wonder and a desire to learn. It is an ideal situation for children as it is their goal to foster collaboration between students, teachers, and families as a means of supporting all aspects of children's development. I hope to get the chance to teach in a school environment such as this one. I truly feel it is a step in the right direction as far as improving educational practices and increasing learning end enjoyment of school for the children.

Project Learning Tree & Project WILD Conference

Hello again! I am really excited about a conference I will be attending in November here in Portland. It is a two day conference where they put us up overnight in a hotel in Vancouver. The conference will be covering Project Learning Tree and Project WILD.
What are they, you ask? Great question! So far I know that Project Learning Tree is an award winning, multi-disciplinary environmental education program for educators and students in PreK-grade 12. PLT is a program of the American Forestry Foundation and is one of the most widely used environmental education programs in the United States and abroad. PLT meets state and national education standards and the curriculum materials provide the tools educators need to bring the environment into the classroom and their students into the environment. Topics range from forests, wildlife, and water, to community planning, waste management and energy. Through PLT, students learn environmental content that correlates to national and state standards in science, social studies, language arts, math, and other subjects – and strengthen their critical thinking, team building, and problem solving skills.
Project WILD is another one of the most widely-used conservation and environmental education programs among educators of students in kindergarten through high school. The program emphasizes wildlife because of their intrinsic, ecological value, as well as their role in teaching how ecosystems function. In the face of competing needs and pressures affecting the quality and sustainability of life on earth, Project WILD addresses the need for human beings to develop as responsible citizens of our planet. It is based on the premise that young people and educators have a vital interest in learning about our natural world.
Pretty exciting, isn't it! I will be sure to share all of my new found knowledge after the conference, and hopefully we can all learn a few tricks on how to incorporate "green" into our classrooms and curriculum.

All About Me!

Hello Everyone! My name is Megan Dalthorp and I am currently in the MAT program at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. Let me tell you a little about myself to start off with... I am native to the Pacific Northwest, born and raised in Beaverton, Oregon. I recently moved back to Beaverton after living in Raleigh, North Carolina for the last four years where I completed my undergraduate work. I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at North Carolina State University where I played on a softball scholarship. I enjoy working out, outdoor activities such as hiking, snowboarding, and bike riding, I love to read, and I am passionate about teaching. I am currently doing my student teaching at Bethany Elementary in Beaverton in a 5th grade classroom with Cheri Martin and 2nd grade with Heather Beach. It is a wonderful school with a hard-working and caring staff that would do anything for the students. I observe and help on a part time basis right now, but will begin my work sample when I am at Bethany full-time at the end of January. I will spend my first nine weeks in the 2nd grade classroom and the second nine weeks with the 5th graders. Come June I plan on completing my student teaching hours in Tapalpa, Mexico. The details are still being worked out, but I consider it a great opportunity to further myself as an educator and diversify myself by working with international students. I will keep you updated on that adventure!