Mary Ann Forbes

As an Early Childhood Educator in Annabel's Darfield (Nursery), I have the same role and responsibilities I have in our West Melton centre with an additional focus on:

• Continuous research of Te Whariki's (NZ Early Childhood Curriculum) strands (Well-being, Belonging, Communication, Contribution, and Exploration) and its four principles (Empowerment, Holistic Development, Family and Community, and Relationships) and apply these as foundation and basis of planning of the tamariki's (children) learning experiences and provocations and assessment
• Researching more on Infant and Toddler Pedagogy with a focus on children's schemas, urges, RIE, Tikanga Maori, and the effect of Respectful practices and relationships in children's overall development and well-being
• Cultivating a safe and inclusive classroom environment that fostered respect, empathy, and cultural awareness among students and our whanau (families)
• Fostering creativity in the classroom through art and crafts, dramatic play, storytelling, and heuristic play. and
• Consultation and regular korero (conversations) with parents to build and maintain positive support networks and support continuing education strategies (particularly their child's individual learning pathway)

As an Early Childhood Educator, I have:

• Engaged with children on individual basis to build positive, trusting relationships.
• Developed age-appropriate activities to encourage physical, social and intellectual development of children.
• Fostered an atmosphere of multiculturalism that encourages respect for all individuals regardless of gender, race or religion.
• Observed and monitored the behavior of children in order to ensure safety and provide positive guidance.
• Organized indoor and outdoor playtime activities to promote physical and mental development of children.
• Encouraged creativity through art, music, dramatic play and other creative activities.
• Maintained accurate records of each child's progress in their portfolios including daily observations, learning stories, individual planning and assessment.
• Attended team meetings with other educators in order to share best practices or discuss anything related to children's development and progress.
• Ensured compliance with relevant regulations such as health and safety standards.
• Implemented hands-on, play-based strategies for experiential learning.
• Collaborated with parents to develop and maintain strong support networks and build rapport to foster seamless communication and discuss their child's progress or any concerns they may have regrading their child's development or behaviour.
• Maintained and fostered positive and constructive interactions with staff, families, and children.
• Cultivated a safe and inclusive classroom environment that fostered respect, empathy, and cultural awareness among students.
• Fostered creativity in the classroom through art projects, dramatic play, storytelling exercises, and other imaginative pursuits.
• Observed children to identify individuals in need of additional support and developed strategies to improve assistance.
• Implemented developmentally and culturally appropriate curriculum for children, creating positive, and safe classroom environments.
• Strengthened parent-teacher relationships through consistent communication, increasing parental involvement in the educational process.
• Contributed to staff meetings and professional learning communities, sharing insights and strategies for continuous improvement of teaching practices.
• Enhanced student learning by incorporating hands-on activities and real-world examples in lesson plans.

• Applied play-based strategies to provide diverse approaches to learning.
• Gave one-on-one attention to children while maintaining overall focus on entire group.
• Established ongoing professional development goals, participating in workshops and conferences to stay current on emerging trends in early childhood education.
• Implemented developmentally and culturally appropriate curriculum for children, creating positive, and safe classroom environments.
• Strengthened parent-teacher relationships through consistent communication, increasing parental involvement in the educational process.
• Contributed to staff meetings and professional learning communities, sharing insights and strategies for continuous improvement of teaching practices (for example, Internal Reviews)
• Worked with teaching staff to evaluate individual progress and recommend appropriate learning plans.

As an Assistant Teacher, I have:

• Assisted classroom teacher in developing and implementing lesson plans based on International Baccalaureate Curriculum.
• Provided individualized instruction to students who needed additional assistance.
• Supervised small group activities.
• Helped maintain a safe and orderly learning environment.
• Collaborated with other staff members to ensure student success.
• Attended faculty meetings as requested by the lead teacher.
• Assisted in planning field trips and special events such as assemblies or performances.
• Organized instructional materials, bulletin boards, displays, and demonstrations.
• Utilized technology such as computers, projectors, iPads. to enhance lessons.
• Maintained safe, educational environment for students during learning and free play time.
• Interacted positively with children to encourage development and involvement in activities, treating each child with dignity and respect.
• Assisted teacher with enrichment activities, correcting papers or supervising classroom to foster positive learning environment
• Arranged age-appropriate activities to help children develop interests and talents.
• Assisted children at mealtime to teach social and self-help skills and sound nutritional practices.
• Communicated regularly with parents, teachers and administrators regarding student progress and needs.
• Created colorful and attractive displays for bulletin boards and hallways.
• Implemented lesson plans for students with varying learning styles.
• Participated in parent-teacher conferences to discuss children's development and progress.
• Participated in workshops, trainings and conferences to improve educational skills.
• Built and strengthened positive relationships with students, parents and teaching staff.

As a Lead Teacher, I have:

• Developed and implemented strategies and lesson plans in numeracy, literacy, science, and arts to improve student learning outcomes.
• Collaborated with other school staff to ensure that all students have access to a safe and supportive learning environment.
• Monitored classroom instruction on a regular basis through observation, feedback, and collaboration with teachers.
• Facilitated meetings with parents and guardians in order to discuss student progress or behavior issues.
• Maintained an open line of communication with administrators regarding curriculum implementation and program initiatives.
• Attended district meetings related to curriculum changes or initiatives.
• Assisted in developing evaluation tools such as rubrics or checklists for assessing student work.
• Organized field trips or extra-curricular activities for students under their supervision.
• Organized activities to promote physical, mental and social development of each child.
• Maintained secure and disciplined classroom to provide positive learning environment.
• Involved parents in student learning to increase family interaction and student support.
• Evaluated and improved classroom environment to promote ultimate learning experiences.

• Created and implemented a program to enhance the social interaction of children attending playgroup.
• Reviewed, revised and updated policies and procedures for the playgroup.
• Oversaw daily operations of the playgroup including staffing, scheduling and budgeting activities.
• Planned and organized special events such as field trips, parent-teacher meetings, holiday parties and other fun activities.
• Maintained inventory of supplies, equipment and materials needed for the playgroup.
• Provided guidance to staff on how to handle difficult situations with children or parents.
• Developed educational programs designed to promote physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of children attending the playgroup.
• Prepared reports outlining attendance records, progress made by each child and overall performance of the playgroup.
• Monitored playground safety rules ensuring all areas were free from hazards or dangers.
• Organized group activities such as crafts, music time, storytime or outdoor games that encourage learning through exploration and discovery.
• Facilitated communication between parents and guardians regarding their child's progress in the program.
• Assisted in developing age appropriate curriculum plans designed to meet individual needs.
• Promoted positive behavior management techniques among staff members.
• Provided feedback on individual performances during regular staff meetings.
• Attended workshops aimed at professional growth in order to stay up-to-date on best practices in early childhood education.

As a Preschool Lead Teacher, I have:

• Developed and implemented age-appropriate activities to promote physical, mental, social and emotional growth of the preschoolers.
• Created a safe and stimulating environment for children to learn through play.
• Monitored students' progress using observation techniques and documented development records.
• Maintained up-to-date knowledge of early childhood education best practices.
• Provided guidance on appropriate behavior and discipline methods in the classroom setting.
• Instructed children on basic concepts such as colors, numbers, shapes, letters.
• Established positive relationships with parents to ensure open communication regarding their child's progress.
• Encouraged creativity in young minds by providing materials for art projects or music time activities.
• Supervised playground activities during outdoor playtime sessions including monitoring equipment use for safety purposes.
• Attended staff meetings regularly to stay informed of new policies or procedures.
• Prepared lesson plans based on curriculum objectives set forth by school administrators.
• Promoted language development skills through storytelling, singing songs and reading books aloud.