An Excellent Academy for Curious Learners
Top Notch Academy Preschool provides exceptional educational services for children 3-6 years old. I center each child’s plan around their individual social, emotional, intellectual, and physical developmental needs. Skills children learn young stay with them for a lifetime which results into well-rounded, capable adults.
Because these programs are developmental, I believe that children’s interest and skills must guide my curriculum planning. Because I focus on process learning, activities are designed to emphasize the experiences children are having rather than what results from activities. Helping children learn how to learn is what this program is about.
Teaching Philosophy and Goals
Distinguished physician and educator Maria Montessori once said, “It is necessary for the teacher to guide the child without letting him feel her presence too much, so that she may always be ready to supply the desired help, but may never be the obstacle between the child and his experience.” To be great educators, we follow what this passage implies to be the role of teachers and many other teaching principles.
Self-directed play builds problem-solving, self-help, physical, cognitive, communication, and critical thinking skills. As the teacher, I will supplement these experiences with activities that encourage socialization. I give children the foundations that prepare them for elementary school and set them on a path of life-long learning.
Learning Is Not a Race
We believe that everyone learns differently and at their own pace, especially preschoolers. Just like how there are many ways to teach, there are also various methods to learn. We let children be their selves at our academy, and we do not pressure them to achieve great heights right away.
The Power of Mistakes
At our academy, we do not look at mistakes as terrible things to be avoided. We believe that our errors are what make our future successes more enjoyable. It is okay to let preschoolers commit mistakes, and we should not scold them for their confusion. They will appreciate our compassion and confidence in them when they achieve their goals in the future.
Letting Preschoolers Learn Freely
At our school, we aim to provide a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment for children. We make sure that our methods and surroundings are appropriate to provide education that is dedicated to exploration, experimentation, and self-discovery.
Meet the Teacher
Ms. Olson graduated from Black Hills State University in 2009. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education (K-8) with minors in Early Childhood Education (ECE) and Reading. She also has endorsements in ECE and Kindergarten.
Upon graduation, Ms. Olson has taught in a public school and now has her own business.
Aside from being a teacher, she loves reading, being outdoors, spending time with her family, and learning new things.
Teaching Experiences
Before establishing Top Notch Academy in 2016, Ms. Olson was the primary teacher in a 5th-grade classroom for six years in Hill City, SD. Apart from her professional teaching experiences, she also participated in a summer recreation program that involved 130 children ranging from pre-K to 6th graders. She was a part of the educational program for 12 years.