My time at Guidance Preparatory Academy has been incredibly rewarding and educational. As a floater, I’ve had the chance to step into different classrooms, working with children from babies to twelve-year-olds. This variety has given me valuable experiences and tools that will be essential for my future career as a child psychologist. Each day, I learn something new—whether it’s calming a crying baby, engaging a curious preschooler, or helping a pre-teen with social challenges. The supportive teachers and staff have made this journey even more enriching. This summer at the academy has deepened my understanding of child development and strengthened my passion for helping children. It has been an inspirational and meaningful experience.
I typically work with around 8 to 13 different children every other day, and when I’m with the older kids, aged 6 to 12, I work with 25 to 30 children alongside a co-teacher. This summer, we focus on teaching them important social skills such as how to treat others, the value of friendship, and what respectful group work looks like. We also emphasize loving yourself and showing love to others. We create group activities to reinforce these lessons while incorporating fun experiences like splash day, bringing ponies to school for the kids to play with, and going on various field trips.
One major challenge I faced was learning to have more patience. It can be stressful at times, especially when working with younger kids aged 1-4, who require constant attention and care. Additionally, I had to learn to apply various teaching styles to cater to the different needs and learning paces of each child. Every child is unique, and finding the right approach to help each one thrive has taught me adaptability and creativity in my teaching methods. These challenges have helped me grow both personally and professionally, enhancing my ability to support and nurture every child I work with.