Teacher Profiles

Our teachers have extensive professional experience and backgrounds in early childhood education, including certification. A number of our teachers and assistants have been associated with Watchung Co-op for more than 15 years. These dedicated professionals are committed to the children, parents, and philosophy of our school. Our assistant teachers have diversified roles, which makes them familiar to all students. Whether it's assisting in the classrooms, supervising lunch, helping out in summer camp or greeting students at the door, our wonderful assistants are indispensable to the smooth operation of our school.
Christi Porter Johnson Director/Lead Teacher, Discovery Pre-K
	Christi was introduced to the Co-op in 1998, when she completed her practicum here for Montclair State University's M.A. in Teaching/Early Childhood. She has taught the Co-op's mixed-age summer camp (to rave reviews from students and parents alike) and works with many of those children again throughout the year, providing them with a comfortable transition from one class to the next. Christi discovered her love for teaching preschoolers during her previous career as a dance instructor (her undergraduate degree is in Dance), and was inspired to return to school for her Masters in Teaching. She looks forward to the Co-op parents' active involvement in her classrooms, having observed first-hand during her practicum the positive impact that their presence can have on a child's first school experience.
Anneliese Scherfen Discovery Pre-K AM/PM Teacher
	As a former parent at the Co-op, Anneliese was very involved and embraced the cooperative philosophy whole-heartedly. Her enthusiasm and involvement in the school was motivating for the entire community. Locally and professionally, Anneliese led a preschool class at the Ben Samuels Children's Center at Montclair State University and taught young children throughout New York City. She has a Master's Degree (with high honors) in early childhood education from Hunter College and is NJ State Certified. Anneliese is an energetic, passionate and dedicated teacher and is a perfect addition to the Co-Op community. We welcome her to the Co-Op and look forward to her bringing all of these qualities with her as she leads the Pre-K AM and PM classes.
Marianne Robertson Creative Play Teacher
	Marianne has been part of the Watchung Co-op since 2002, when she enrolled the first of her own three kids at the school and became committed to the philosophy of learning through play. As a Co-op parent, Marianne was an active member of the school and served on the Board as treasurer. In 2009, the Co-op welcomed Marianne back to the school as a member of the staff when she stepped in to teach the Pre-K afternoon class when the teacher of the class went on maternity leave. The following year, Marianne assisted a special needs child as an aid in our Pre-K class, and was integral in helping him make a comfortable adjustment to a classroom setting. Marianne was such a valuable part of the staff that she worked as an assistant in Pre-K for the next four years before becoming the teacher of our Creative Play class in 2014. A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, Marianne brings all of her artistic talent and creativity to her classroom, developing imaginative projects to stimulate and engage our littlest Co-op kids. Her warm and caring nature is just what it takes to nurture their socialization and separation skills.
Elaine Paruta Teacher's Assistant
	On staff at the Co-op since 1996, Elaine gets to know virtually every Co-op child and his/her family, as she assists in a variety of capacities. Elaine’s easy-going, friendly manner is especially suited to working within multiple classrooms, as well as juggling varied teacher styles and preschool personalities.
MaryAnne Guerriero Teacher's Assistant
	MaryAnne enjoys working with the children, and marvels at how much they learn. Her warmth and cheerfulness endears her to them and helps guide them through their day. She joined the staff in 1998.
Janet Hines Teacher's Assistant
	Janet joined the staff in 2008 after seeing two daughters through the school where she enjoyed her time co-oping and serving on the Board. A nurse who has previously worked in trauma/critical care, Janet enjoys reading just about anything (mostly limited to children's literature in recent years) and loves animals.

Classes

Class Descriptions

Creative Play

Age of Students:	2 1/2
Days:	Monday through Thursday
Time:	9:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Lunch:	11:30 AM - 12:00 PM (optional)
Number of Students:	8
Co-op Requirement:	Once every 5 - 6 weeks, depending on enrollment

Goal: To provide a positive, enjoyable first school experience, establishing a healthy foundation for future school years. For some children, this may encompass an individualized approach to easing separation anxiety.

Creative Play creates an environment for young children to explore, learn, and grow through hands-on play. Guided by an experienced early childhood teacher, children aged 2 1/2 to 3 have the opportunity to play with a variety of age-appropriate materials, participate in a peer group, discover new activities, test new ideas, and practice new concepts such as social interaction and using language to communicate with peers. The class introduces a balanced structure (replicated in other Co-op classes) of group activity (music activities, story time, dramatic role-playing), snack time, free play (varied art activities, activities for fine motor development), and outdoor play. Parents are encouraged to stay in the classroom for as long as their children need them to ease separation anxiety. For many children, this is their first school experience, and we want them to feel comfortable, allowing their natural enthusiasm to flourish. A happy, successful school experience at this age paves the way for positive feelings about school.

Discovery/Pre-K Combo

Age of Students:	3 - 5
Days:	Monday through Friday
Time:	9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 12:30 - 2:45 PM
Lunch:	12:00 PM - 12:30 PM (optional)
Number of Students:	20
Co-op Requirement:	Once every 4 - 6 weeks, depending on enrollment

Discovery and Pre-K classes were joined into one class in 2014, offering a full, five-day program for children 3 to 5 years old. The multi-age classroom is used widely in preschool settings for this age group. Certified teachers Christi Porter-Johnson and Anneliese Scherfen-Brown co-teach this class and will tailor activities throughout the curriculum for the needs of each child based on age appropriate goals and individual child development.

Goal: To address the important emotional, social, physical, and intellectual issues that are critical to a preschooler's development.

This is facilitated in a positive and nurturing environment. Teachers encourage children's individual thinking, creativity, language, and problem solving abilities through developmentally -appropriate activities. The curriculum emphasizes learning by doing, with play as the primary vehicle. Routines in the classroom help children to develop a sense of trust and offer opportunities for individual and group interaction, encouraging children to work in harmony with both children and adults.

Discovery

Goal: To address the important emotional, social, physical, and intellectual issues that are critical to a preschooler's development, while introducing aspects of the Pre-K curriculum.

This fun-filled class provides a valuable introduction to the school for first-time students and a natural progression for Creative Play alumni. Each subject unit throughout the year - for example, studying the seashore - recognizes and encourages the growth objectives detailed below through various activities introduced by an experienced, certified early childhood teacher.

Emotional growth goals include the ability to: separate from parents; verbalize feelings; begin to develop inner control; take turns and wait; begin to make some choices; and develop a positive self-image.

Social growth goals include: enjoying school and being with other children; learning to stay with a group for an activity; beginning to share, take turns, and show courtesy; playing cooperatively; and beginning to develop a helpful attitude toward the group.

Physical growth goals include: improving large and small muscle coordination; developing hand-eye coordination; dressing with a minimum of help; recognizing and developing all five senses; discriminating likeness/differences in objects; responding to listening games; and developing a sense of directionality (perceiving and orienting oneself to the top/bottom/sides/front/back of objects).

Intellectual growth goals include: improving language skills and vocabulary (receptively and expressively); following simple directions; increasing attention span; enjoying learning new things; matching objects by color, shape, and size; developing an inquiring attitude; introducing numbers/shapes/measurement/time; name recognition and sight vocabulary; fostering imagination and differentiating between reality and make-believe; increasing listening skills; beginning to use inner resources instead of relying on adults; and becoming aware of language symbols.

Pre-K AM

Our morning Pre-K program may be combined with our afternoon Pre-K class to give your child a full-day school experience three days a week. See "Pre-K PM" below for details.

Goal: Making Each child's experience positive and enjoyable by offering acceptance in a nurturing environment; encouraging each child's thinking, language, creativity, and problem-solving ability through developmentally-appropriate activities; providing a curriculum that emphasizes learning by doing, with play as the primary teaching vehicle; establishing a routine that helps children develop a sense of trust and offers opportunities for individual and group interaction; encouraging children to play in harmony with each other and with adults.

The Pre-K curriculum is a rich one, preparing the child for Kindergarten and future school years. Under the guidance of an experienced, certified teacher.

Language arts activities follow a whole language approach along with instruction in phonics, enhancing the child's receptive and expressive language through finger plays, rhymes, songs, and discussions. This interactive, hands-on technique allows the children to more fully appreciate the activities they are learning about. Reading readiness is fostered through practice with letters, sounds, and whole word recognition.

Science concepts are introduced through activities that encourage observation, comparison, exploration, testing, inquiry, and problem-solving.

Nutrition/foods experience experience helps children learn about group cooperation as well as math and science concepts such as weight, measures, and changes of matter from one form to another. Adhering to a recipe also helps develop an understanding of how to follow directions in sequence.

Music, movement and dramatics help children develop language and pre-reading skills and encourage imagination and spontaneous play. Children gain skill in body control, rhythm, following directions, and group coordination.

Social Studies for this age group gradually broadens a child's concept of the world by focusing on self, home, family, transportation, animals, and community.

Art for preschool children is a process that allows for choice, exploration, experimentation, and imaginative expression in a supportive atmosphere. Opportunities are provided to explore color, line, and form and to discover the effects of various media.

Math concepts are presented through the activities involving sorting, comparing, and ordering. Playful activities develop skill in rote counting, numerical recognition, sets, and 1-to-1 correspondence.

Discovery/Pre-K PM

Age of Students:	3 - 5
Days:	Monday through Friday
Times:	12:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Lunch:	12:00 PM - 12:30 PM (optional)
Number of Students:	15
Co-op Requirement:	None

This class offers children attending a morning Pre-K or Kindergarten program (at the Co-op or elsewhere) an opportunity to experience a full school day. It can also be a standalone Pre-K class for families who prefer an afternoon schedule. Because this program is non-co-oping, it's a great opportunity for children who are already enrolled in our Co-op to make the transition from parents in the classroom to teachers only in preparation for Kindergarten. The program explores monthly themes through the use of literature, math and science activities, cooking, art, and music and movement. Themes may include harvest time, Native Americans, weather, bears, etc. The program consists of outdoor play, quiet reading time, circle time, a small group activity, indoor play time, and snack time.

Lunch Program

An optional half-hour lunch program is available to children in any class offered by the Co-op. Children bring their lunches and are supervised by a teacher's assistant.

There are several advantages to the lunch program. Children enrolled in half-day classes are provided another opportunity to practice self-help skills in a relaxed, social atmosphere where they can share and communicate feelings and ideas with schoolmates. And, of course, for children enrolled in a full day of classes, the lunch program provides the transition to the afternoon's activities. For children enrolled in a full day program, there is no extra charge for the lunch program on the days when your child is attending both morning and afternoon classes.

Field Trips

Several field trips are typically scheduled throughout the year. These may include outings to the pumpkin patch, petting zoo, the Montclair Art Museum, a theater group, etc. Sometimes, special guests are invited into the classrooms. These activities help broaden the children's awareness of the world.

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