The Little Learning Chiefs program is a preschool program that has been offered since the 2020-2021 school year. The preschool takes place at the high school and is led and taught by high school students. Students enjoy this program so much that during the 2023-2024 school year, Education 1 and Education 2 classes were introduced so that students who had been in Child Care 1 & 2 can continue to participate. This class is so popular that at the end of the year, there was a cap put on the number of students who can be in one of the classes around the preschool. Now, there can be up-to 14 students in the class and 14 children.
Ms. Sands describes some of the highlights throughout her years teaching the program. She has enjoyed seeing the students’ loyalty to the children and the lengths they will go to to support them in their learning and development. It’s important to Ms. Sands to have a student and child-centered program because most people typically learn best socially in that way. Her goal is to guide the students toward guidance of the children in a way that is warm, supportive, and understanding but also helps the children establish an understanding of respect and boundaries related to what’s needed in early-learning. Ms Sands says, “I am a big advocate for respecting the child first so that we model how the children should treat us and others.”
Ms. Sands speaks very highly of the high school students and how they are an encouragement to her. “Our students’ emotional coaching of the children is THE BEST. There is no way I would have enough energy to be as good as they are if I was all by myself.” Another benefit to the program is the growth in the community. The parents, children, and students all love to see each other around the community and often our students are right there guiding them in community activities. Ms. Sands explains how the structure of the program is 50/50 with half free time and independence, and half learning and lesson time.
I was able to gather some insight on the high school students as well as one of the children in the program! Kayleigh Hensley mentions that her favorite thing about the program is watching the kids learn and grow. Ezra, a child in the program, enjoys playing with dinosaurs and having beat box battles at school. He adds that his favorite thing is when he gets candy at school. Emily Clarenson says that she has had lots of good experiences working with kids and that being in the program will help her have that knowledge.
Overall, the Little Learning Chiefs Program has been hugely beneficial to our school, not only for the children that are being taught, but also the high school students that are learning crucial character building and life skills. If any students are thinking about being a part of this program, definitely sign up for Child Care 1 next semester!
