Chantel van vollenstee

Kia Ora,

My name is Chantel van Vollenstee and I am the Centre Manager of Country Footsteps Christian Preschool. I have a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood and Primary Education, obtained at the University of South Africa. I have taught ages 2 to 13 years. In October 2019, I moved to New Zealand and in January 2020, I moved to Taranaki.

I believe that life is all about gaining knowledge and sharing what we have learned with others. I feel that education is a lifelong process and the building blocks of learning are developed in the early stages of life. I feel that all children deserve to have the highest quality education that can be provided to them.

The early childhood classroom should be flexible and stimulating. I feel that children in early education should have an organized, clean, and safe environment. It should be a place where tamariki can be engaged in learning through interacting with things around them. Children in early years need to have lessons using exploratory play, guided discovery, problem solving, demonstrations, and direct instruction.

An excellent teacher should give tamariki opportunities to share their thoughts and ideas throughout the day. Teachers should recognize each child as a unique individual, with strengths and weaknesses. The teacher should be an excellent example of high values and be a role model for all children.

Students need to learn to show and share love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control through learning about the Fruits of the Spirit.

My final thought comes from Ann Lieberman. She said, “Great teachers empathize with children, respect them, and believe that each one has something special that can be built upon.”