Mission

The mission of the Little Eagles Preschool laboratory classroom is to provide a safe, nurturing environment where we can help to produce skilled and competent teachers who plan and teach developmentally appropriate curriculum, manage classrooms effectively, and differentiate for the needs of individual learners. The staff at Little Eagles Preschool helps to build these skills by modeling best practices in education and by providing students with relevant and engaging learning and teaching experiences. Over the course of the school year teaching responsibilities are slowly turned over to the Teacher Education students, under the close supervision of the lab school instructor.

Purpose

The purpose of our lab classroom is to allow the preschool students a nurturing environment to engage in age appropriate hands on activities/lessons, while also providing quality student teaching experiences for the Teacher Education students.

Guiding Principles

• The Little Eagles Preschool laboratory classroom exists because of the high school program. We serve preschool students in this context.
• The Teacher Education curriculum aligns with best practices on a local, regional, and national level. Therefore, the teaching methods and techniques used in the Little Eagles Preschool laboratory classroom align with the methods and techniques being taught in the Teacher Education program.
• The Gradual Release of Responsibility model is used in the Little Eagles Preschool laboratory classroom. Over the course of the year, the classroom responsibilities will gradually shift to the student teachers under the guidance of the lead teacher.
• Teacher Education student teachers are a welcome addition to the laboratory classroom. They are regularly engaging in the preschool with supervision.
• Teacher Education students learn as much through failure, as they do through success. They must be given the time and space needed to make mistakes. They will learn from these mistakes through structured reflection on their teaching practices.
• Teacher Education student teachers are still students. Their success is improved by positive relationships with students, staff and parents.
• Student teachers are just beginning their careers in the field of education and need guidance and modeling to help them understand the professionalism, ethics, and responsibilities required by this career.
• Children who attend the Little Eagles Preschool laboratory school will have numerous interactions with a variety of Teacher Education students throughout the day.

Keeping Current

For the most up to date information, visit our Little Eagles Facebook page.

Newsletters

October 2016

March 2017