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About the space
Meine Freunde und Ich - Play and Grow Together has a loud, a quiet, and a messy room. We also have a backyard that can be any of the above, and more.
In the loud room, we have a wide variety of open-ended imaginative play objects and building blocks. Here, children are allowed ample time of uninterrupted play every day. This is also the space where we sing, dance, and have our morning and afternoon circles.
In the quiet room, there are books and a cozy corner/cave. This is also where we rest.
In the messy room, there are tables where we sit to make art. It is also the kitchen. Snacks and lunches are prepared here, bread is baked, and then, of course, eaten too. Children participate in prep work and clean up.
The backyard offers some props for imaginative play, such as a mud kitchen and a little ice cream truck. Its also the place to play ball, run, or spin. We usually get both sun and shade at all times of the day, and lemons from our tree twice a year. [CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION]
Meine Freunde und Ich is also my family's home, and you will find character in this space. We hope this will help your child feel homey and at ease here. We will decorate the walls with the kids' artwork and projects as we move through the year to create a sense of belonging and to make the space more beautiful.
About the philosophy
Meine Freunde und Ich is inspired by Magda Gerber and the Educaring Approach (RIE). We consider the child as an initiator eager to learn. And children learn best through play. We support each child in their undertaking to understand the world by creating a safe and stimulating environment, and by building and fostering a strong relationship with each child. We invest in a secure bond of reciprocal trust that opens up a space in which each child moves about confidently and independently. During playtime, the kids are allowed full freedom of expression while they play, under the caregivers' supervision. When it is time for caregiving activities (eat, use the potty/change diaper, change clothes, etc.), the caregiver and child handle them together. Expectations are communicated clearly and respectfully.
Children also learn through movement. Their bodies want to move, and need to move. To support this, we dance! The creative dance activities are based on the BrainDance exercises developed by Anne Green Gilbert. They are a multi-sensory experience to spark creativity and bring joy and happiness to our day. Children develop confident and healthy bodies and sharpen their minds.
Meine Freunde und Ich also draws from other theories of education, with bits and pieces of Reggio Emilia and Waldorf integrated into our curriculum.
We are fully committed to building a sustainable world for our kids:
All our meals and snacks are organic and vegetarian, and the children help prepare them.
We have a subscription with ReDyper, a service that delivers compostable diapers and collects soiled diapers to take them to a composting facility (so that they do not end up in a landfill!).
About me
My name is Nora Schmitt. I was born and raised in Germany. As an adult, I lived in Denmark for several years, where I worked as a language teacher at an elementary school and as a teaching assistant at an inclusive business high school. I have a MA in Global Studies and a BA in Cultural Studies. Issues of social justice and sustainable food systems have always been of highest importance to me and have guided my decisions in my private and professional life. In recent years, I worked with Veritable Vegetable, an organic produce distributor and legacy business here in the city. In 2020 and 2022, I became a mother. This life-changing event reconnected me with my passion for education and inspired me to open Meine Freunde und Ich – Play and Grow Together. It is a place driven by my believe that early education matters, and it is my desire to create a welcoming, joyful, and meaningful space that nurtures empowerment, independence, confidence and creativity.
I am currently enrolled in Early Education at City College San Francisco. I am a RIE Foundations graduate, I have taken the Hand in Hand Parenting foundations course for caretakers, and have taken 'Love, Move, Play; Dance in Early Childhood' and learned about elements of creative dance in early education with Luna Dance and Creativity, Berkeley.
"I had the privilege of meeting Nora when she enrolled as a student in my RIE Foundations class. During this intensive, Nora was an active participant in discussions and readily reflected on how she could apply Magda’s teachings to her role as a mother and future educator. Together we learned of the practical aspects of care and classroom set up, and most importantly we learned how to put respect into action through each interaction, offering safe spaces for children to grow as unique individuals. Nora demonstrated a strong self awareness and always showed a willingness to grow and learn. I could see how deeply this course influenced her and the passion she has for offering her best to children and families. I am confident Nora will provide a supportive environment for both children and families to thrive and know the community will be blessed to gain her services as an Educarer."
Kristy Thomas, Early Childhood Professional and RIE® Associate
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