Background info
Educator name: Lauren Ellis
Centre name: Red Apple ELC Balwyn
How many years of experience: 7 years
How many years at Red Apple: 3 years
Questions
1. What do you like best about working at Red Apple?
Red Apple is one big family. It is a joy to walk into work each day, being greeted by everyone smiling faces and seeing the joy in all of the children. No two days are the same, but they are always filled with excitement.
2. How is your education program different from other early learning centres?
All of the educators plan for each and every individual child. We do not have room leaders who do all of the planning so this allows every educator to contribute to the plan and build in depth bonds with all of the children, they are able to get a thorough understanding of each child as an individual.
3. What is your favourite activity to do with the children?
I love messy play. Anything that allows the children to just get in and fully explore every aspect of the experience; whether it be paint, slime, sand, water etc. You can always clean it up afterwards.
4. Why did you choose to be an early learning educator?
I have always loved young children. Being able to assist in shaping them as an individual, and having an impact on their life from a young age has always interested me. It doesn’t feel like a “job” to me, it is a pleasure to work with these children everyday.
5. What are your interests outside of the early learning centre? Do you bring any of that into how you teach the children?
Do you bring any of that into how you teach the children? I love cooking and baking, and I definitely try to bring this into the program as much as possible. Cooking with the children involves a lot more learning concepts than we think. It involves math, science, fine motor skills, self-help skills and is a great way to teach children about healthy eating. I think it is a great way to develop these skills in a fun learning experience.
