Jenny H. › SmartSitting

Family Application

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I am a certified teacher in Primary Education who currently works for Making Books Sing, an arts-in-education nonprofit. Since graduating from Vassar College in 2008, I have been finding and loving work that invites me to facilitate fun and meaningful experiences for young learners. My work, as a teaching artist for Making Books Sing, promotes literacy and social development through music and creative play. I guide students through the process of writing their own scenes and songs, all based on quality children’s literature.

When working with children, I am devoted to encouraging structure and safety alongside high-energy fun. The children I work with are my inspiration for song-writing and our sessions together are always language-rich, positive experiences. As an undergrad, I wrote and recorded two children’s albums as part of my senior thesis. This is when I confirmed my belief that through imaginative play and/or music, learning is a joyful activity in which original thoughts and curiosities are heard and valued. I play ukulele, guitar and banjo and enjoy utilizing music to encourage creativity, and to help with transitions, winding-down and focus. Along with song-writing, I enjoy running in Prospect Park, attending comedy shows/potlucks/BBQs/fundraisers/lectures in Brooklyn, skateboarding, and doing all I can to hone my philosophies and practice in child-centered and critical pedagogy.

I am hoping to work as a tutor/babysitter for one or two children on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays after school.

Education

Vassar College, 2008

B.A., American Culture
Graduated with Departmental Honors
Thesis Project: Wrote and recorded two albums of children’s songs for children and adults. Awarded Distinction

New York State Childhood Education Certification

Hunter College, currently in second year of program

M.S.Ed. in Childhood Special Education: Behavior Disorders

Childcare experience:

1 year, student teacher
3 years, teaching artist in NYC Public Schools
3 years, camp counselor
6 years, tutor
4 years, after-school sitter

Availability:

Tuesday-Friday, 2pm-10pm
Available for occasional weekend sitting

Long-term availability:

Available until June 1, 2012.

I will be SmartSitting while...

Acting as the Associate Director of Education for an Arts in Education non-profit organization and taking classes at Hunter College towards my Masters in Special Education.

My childcare expertise lies in working with…

Pre-schoolers and school-aged children.

Activities and skills I love to teach and share with children:

Song-writing, ukulele, guitar, banjo, volleyball, basketball, beginner skateboarding, reading and imaginative play connected to books, poetry, reflecting on our days in creative ways (finding new ways to make our feelings mentionable and manageable), and improvisation activities.

Most memorable childcare experience:

While babysitting a set of siblings (ages 5 and 7), we ended up making up a playful song called "Hello Teacher." I recorded the song while babysitting and brought it with me as a Teaching Artist to different classrooms of first and third graders and to different groups of seniors in college (at Vassar and NYU). Each group of students was thrilled to learn the song "Hello Teacher," as the fun and creative energy was hard to escape- and each group of students would add their own verse to the song. Bringing back all the different verses of "Hello Teacher" to the original 5 and 7 year olds and enjoying the creations together was a very exciting experience for the children as they saw their own imaginations impact many people in positive and meaningful ways.

In 5 years, I hope to be...

A third or sixth grade teacher in a school that values community and creativity (ideally!). Along with teaching, I hope to be writing and recording children's music and touring to share songs with kids/communities in different boroughs of NYC.