Leah Androski
reporter@greenepublishing.com
Alice Cox has been an educator for 23 years, and is currently a preschool teacher in Madison County at North Florida Child Development (NFCD).
Cox recently earned her National Child Care Development Associate (CDA) credential. Cox has also studied the State of Florida Standards required for school readiness. The Voluntary Pre-K program at NFCD is a program that teaches school readiness, which teaches the Creative Curriculum. This covers child development and school readiness. The Pre-K Program teaches children from three to five years old.
Cox states, “Teachers are responsible for insuring that the learning environment for preschool age children is safe. There are several procedures and checks we should have in place.” Hazard prevention may include replacing broken equipment, making sure electrical outlets are covered or examining toys to ensure there are no parts that are a choking hazard. Having an indoor and outdoor checklist helps identify these hazards so that children can be safe. Cox also said that you should always have a fully stocked first-aid kit nearby. Good hygiene is also another good thing to model for students. This ensures that the children’s health is protected by washing hands correctly after using the bathroom, coughing or sneezing and before eating.
“I believe that learning takes place naturally when children are provided with several choices of activities created with the children’s needs in mind,” Cox states. The learning environment for children should also be appropriate for the children’s ages, says Cox. For the Pre-K aged children, things like centers, learning environments and physical movement are very special in molding their brains. Cox says activities such as puzzles, coloring or painting help strengthen the fingers for writing. Art and music are also good examples to help children express themselves. She also says that parents need to work with their children at home.
“Childhood should be a time of fun, warmth, security, exploring and discovery. I believe that parents, along with teachers, must accept this, in providing the best education possible during these early years of development,” Cox stated, while not failing to mention that what a child learns in their early years will set a pattern for the rest of their life. “It is my hope to create an environment of trust and safety where children are able to acquire basic skills to become independent and successful students.”
Cox has 17 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. She loves to travel, read and serve at her church.