KK Photography

Mary Linsmeier Schools is pleased to introduce one of our newest partners KK Photography llc! Kathy Kohl, owner of KK Photography, has been taking pictures of the children at many of our locations.  Not only has Kathy’s experience as a professional photographer captured the excitement and enthusiasm of the children as they learn and discover new things in their classroom, but she has also taken some really cute videos that can’t help but bring a smile to the faces of all of us that love watching children grow. 

 

KK Photography is offering a $50.00 discount through December 1, 2011.  This offer is good for all Mary Linsmeier staff and families. Please pick up your discount coupon at any of our Metro Milwaukee locations.

 

It's a Small World and I Love It!

 Photo by Kathy Kohl, KK Photography, LLC

Sue Harenda has positively impacted the lives of parents and children for over 17 years. She is a lead infant teacher at the Brookfield Children’s Edu-Care. I sat down and spoke with her and she was kind enough to share her story.

Susie, you began working for Mary Linsmeier Schools October 15, 1993.  What prompted you to apply to be an infant/toddler teacher?

My Niece, Jenny was an infant teacher in Brookfield with Children’s Edu-Care. She told me about her job all the time and made it sound really interesting. I had previously worked as a secretary for a mortgage company and quit to stay home and raise my son Mark who is now 31 years old.  I guess I really loved being a Mom and thought this position would be fun!

What was your educational training upon accepting the position and what educational training have you taken over the years to become the exceptional teacher you are today?

When I started, I had my high school diploma.  I had gone to work right away out of high school and then worked to put my husband, Bob, through college at MSOE.

When our center went through NAEYC (National Association Education Young Children) Accreditation, I obtained my CDA (Child Development Associates) which was focused mainly on infants.  These courses really helped me flourish as an infant teacher although as I really loved my job, a lot of it came naturally.   

At what point in your time with Mary Linsmeier Schools did you decide that this was your “calling” and your chosen profession?

I knew from the day I was hired that I really enjoyed what I do for a living. Time went quickly!  I don’t think that there was a determining factor that made me say, “This is the job for me!”  It was just a good fit and I love getting up and coming to work in the morning. 

You very rarely, if ever, miss a day of work.  What is and has been your motivation over the last 17 years to be at work every day?

I love my job!  I look forward to seeing the children and parents every day.  I know that the parents really depend on me being at work so they can get on with their jobs without worrying about their most valued possessions.  I also know that the other staff members rely on me to be at work as well.

Talk a little bit, if you would, about your professional philosophy.

I believe that the infants should be loved and cared for the way that I would want someone to take care of my own child if he was in day care.  I want to make sure that each baby is taken care of according to the parent’s instructions.  Moms and Dads know their children the best.  They relay information about their baby to me so that I can provide care in the same way and on the same schedule that the baby is use to at home.  I in turn believe it is my responsibility to communicate with each parent about their baby’s day so they know if any problems or exciting new advances, like scooting or crawling are on the horizon. 

Susie, all of us in early childhood relish the cute things that the children do and the things that gave us joy or just plain made us belly laugh.  Can you share some of your experiences with us?

I smile all the time.  Babies notice when I rearrange the room.  They get very excited.  It is also funny when they first learn to eat table food.  They make the funniest faces at me!  Babies are so cute when they “share” toys.  One baby will just decide that the “sharing” should happen and the first baby will take the toy from the second baby and gently replace it with the one that he or she had.  The second baby looks at his new toy and then at me with the expression of, “we traded, you know.” It is really cute!  I also can’t help but laugh when a baby giggles.

I have special moments every day so it is hard to think of just one.  I also really get excited when a baby is on the verge of doing one of his or her “firsts”.  When they are rocking on all fours and you know they will be crawling or when they stand up and hang on to things and you know they will be taking their first steps.  It is always as much fun for me to hear the excitement in Mom or Dad’s voice when they come in to my room to tell me the good news about the first time their baby has crawled or taken those first steps.

Susie, you have such pride in the Brookfield Center as a whole, can you share with us your relationship with your co-workers?  What makes the center so special?

All of the staff members I work with are great!  They all will jump in and help a co-worker out whenever needed. Our center is lucky to have such a dedicated and educated team that all pitch in to get the job done each day and make our center a great place for the children.

How important is the support of the parents to what you do every day with the children?

The parents are wonderful and very responsive when we need something!  Raising a family and working is a very stressful time in life, but the parents always make time to come to our events at the center and help us with fund raising efforts.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

It really has been wonderful working with all of the children over the years.  I love it when the preschoolers or grade schoolers come back to visit me.  I had a family come back to visit that now has a daughter in her first year of college and a daughter in High School.  It is wonderful to think that I was a part of their early development.

Thanks to all the parents who have allowed their children to enrich my life!

Interview by:

Theresa Smith

HR Director

Mary Linsmeier Schools

Heroes. We all have them. We all grew up with them. Having an example to look up to is very important, especially for children. Even as an adult, I find it important and helpful to have heroic figures in my life who have gone before me. As a teacher, I love taking on this very rewarding role.

Some time ago, I was talking with some friends of mine who are parents of young children and the subject of heroes for children came up. As we discussed this, we acknowledged other hero examples that children have, such as sports figures, actors and characters from learning programs. Eventually we arrived at the obvious and talked about pop culture "hero" characters that are seemingly inescapable for anyone to ignore, especially children.

As with the pop culture, there are many violent examples out there, but we all agreed that traditional "hero'' archetypes with a code of honor were still alive and well. Among them were the obvious Superman, Batman, Spiderman, etc. I realized how much they resonated with everyone as I noticed that my friends' little boys owned toys and accessories with these "superhero" images and logos on them. Sometimes these items would inspire the boys to pretend they were these characters. Just as I began to smile about this, I noticed the daughter of my friends was playing with toys that all had the Disney princess themes. I pointed this out to my friends and they explained that this was still a very popular thing for little girls. I wondered aloud if this was the heroic pop culture equivalent for little girls. The mother of this girl laughed and said the princess theme would not have been her choice but she did say her daughter gravitated to that theme all on her own. The mother had grown up as the family jock and couldn't have been farther away from anything pink or princess. "I certainly didn't encourage this, but, if she likes it, then I'll let her enjoy it!", the mother said. Ultimately, as a mother, she didn't find any harm with it and it certainly was the daughter's expression of individuality from her mother.

As a teacher, I look for materials less pop-culture oriented and introduce the classroom children to books and stories that have universal learning and story book characters that everyone can identify with. I'm less concerned with the "hero" archetypes in pop culture, but I do wonder what messages are being sent to young children outside the classroom. As I write this, I'm immediately reminded that there is a cartoon called "Dora the Explorer" that shows a girl in a positive, self-reliant light that appeals to all children. This cartoon appeals to both girls and boys in a positive learning way.

I am always looking for learning vehicles that children respond to. I certainly would love to find more examples of what I'm referring to regarding positive and heroic examples for girls as well as boys outside the classroom. I invite parents or anyone else to share thoughts on this...

Mr. Charlie

No Ordinary Song and Dance

Use all your resources! Be animated! Throw self-consciousness out the window! That's a lesson I learned some time ago and it has served me ever since. As a parent or teacher it is helpful - even necessary - to climb out of your shell and sing and dance as a part of a child's learning experience.
Before teaching in the Early Childhood field, I was an art teacher who used a pretty straight-forward approach to teaching my lessons. Giving instruction and encouragement to the older age groups left little room for animated performances, much less singing. After all, the creation of art itself was enough creative expression.
Encouraging creative learning in the young mind soon beckoned me, and I shifted gears to become an Early Childhood teacher. During this transition, I was pretty confidant using art as a learning tool for many things besides art itself, and that was my angle when interviewing for positions in this field.
After one fateful interview, I received a call back requesting a "working interview" where I would be observed by the staff as I taught a lesson with the children at the school. I enthusiastically put some lesson plans together and had a good feeling about how they would play out. In preparation, I called a teacher friend of mine who worked with young children and asked her for any feedback regarding the lessons I put together.
She gave me a big "thumbs up" on everything and added that I should sing a particular song to go with the lessons. After teaching me the song itself and the happy motions to accompany this number, I told her, "I'm not singing in front of a room full of people! Nobody needs to experience that - especially me!" She respectfully disagreed and told me how useful singing and dancing are with children as they are learning. "Forget about the adults in the room - they don't exist. It's you and the children and they WILL respond in a positive way to your singing. I promise!" I made no promises of my own at that time.
During my working interview I did indeed have fun and kept the interaction between the children and myself. Nearing the end of the art section I felt things were going very well when a voice somewhere inside me (not thinking it was mine) said, " ...And now I have a great song to teach you that goes with our activity!!!" Before shock and dread could set in I found myself performing this ditty as well as blatantly singing off-key and even messing up the lyrics. I had no time for remorse as I found my audience smiling, laughing AND participating. This had an immediate and universal appeal in our group.
To no surprise, I was told as I was offered the position that "my animated presence really engaged the children". After all, that is the goal when teaching. Now there isn't a day that goes by without a song and dance.

Mr. Charlie