Mrs. McNeil and her oldest son Harrison enjoying their Valentine’s Day celebration before their group activity. Photo By: Janessa Salazar
At Plymouth High School, walking into a classroom visitors would normally see young teenagers, but during fifth and sixth hour in Mrs. McNeil’s room young teenagers are not the only people in the class.
While there are classes full of learning going on at PHS, three days a week during the last two hours of school there is one class that is full of children as well as the students. Playschool is like a daycare at the school where students who are interested in working with children get a chance to experience being with and taking care of them. Sophomore Andreya Soria said that she took the class to learn more about taking care of children saying that she has, “[nine] nieces and nephews and have watched them but [it’s] nothing like having your own child.” It is not all about being taught how to take care of a family though, the experience learned are also for future job plans too. Like senior Samantha Grant who said that she took child development because she is going into the field of early childhood, and because it will “help [her] understand children.”
Samantha Grant helping her student pack up everything to take home after the Valentine’s party. Photo By: Janessa Salazar
Even though Playschool does help with better understanding children, not all students are there for that reason. Curious about the way children act junior Krysta Cantero said that she “just wanted to learn more about why children do what they do.” Children are different from the teenagers that spend time with them, they have a different mind set as to what the world holds. Soria comments on the fact that “[…]kids aren’t just all [about] playing, sleeping, eating, etc. They have things they need help on and every child needs to be taught differently[…]” This does not just benefit the student but also the child, and together they benefit from each other creating a one on one learning experience for the child before he or she heads off to kindergarten.
Natalie Wright and Ashley Shepperd help make little Valentine cards to have their students take home to their parents. Photo By: Janessa Salazar
With meeting new people especially little ones it can be awkward at first just because meeting new people is hard for the children. Cantero explains that, “first I was assigned to a little boy named Grady. He is super adorable and kind of shy, but I had a lot of fun with him. Now, I have Eli and he is more outgoing and likes to talk a lot.” Throughout the class sometimes the students will be partnered up with another child just so they can get used to meeting new people more often. Other than meeting new people and playing they also have assigned themes each week.
Theme of the week is space and galaxy so the group game is “How far can you just to the moon?” Photo By: Janessa Salazar
Themes are not just about learning about the world but also about teaching children ways to act. “Themed weeks switch every week. Last week we did manners, and this week we are doing oceans. It all depends on who’s week it is and what they have planned for the kids,” Soria said. What is planned for the kids is “extremely fun and interactive, the children all work well together. Sometimes we go to the gym and let the kids play around.”
Having the interaction between children and teenagers can be beneficial for both and also a great learning experience for everyone involved.