Teacher Spotlight- Nancy Reitzel
What is the most significant new or different aspect to your program this year?
"Due to the building construction, we walked the children down to our classroom every day from the temporary main entrance."
What are some of the more common career pathways your students take when they leave CPACTC?
"Some students go onto additional school for 2-4 year degrees, Teaching certifications, others go right to the workforce in the childcare facilities."
What are some recent technologies/trends in the profession with which students become familiar?
"There is a current trend that calls for "screen-free" early childhood experiences. Students need to create learning activities for our preschool children that don't involve screen time."
What unit or topic do students struggle the most with in your program, and why do you think that is?
"Chapter 4 unit, is about theory and theorists of child development. It is a lot of great information, but it is a lot to try to absorb and retain all to once."
Explain a typical day in your program.
"Preschool Day: (Tues, Wed, Thurs)- ECE Students arrive 8-8:15AM or 12-12:15PM. Preschool begins 8:20AM and runs to 10:20AM for AM session, and 12:20-2:20PM for PM session students. Students observe and interact with the preschool children, or lead lessons for the day in Circle Time, Snack, Large Muscle, Song and Story."
What advice would you give to students who have completed your program?
"Never stop learning."
How many years have you been at CPACTC?
"I started teaching here in September 2013, so 13 years."
What was your experience before coming to work at CPACTC?
"I taught music and preschool for many years before working here."
ECE Students Spotlight
Summarize what your learn in your program in one sentence.
"How to educate young children."
"Early Child development, and how to teach children."
"Developmental stages of infancy to 13/18 years of age. You learn how to educate and make learning accessible."
"I learn how to write and carry out lesson plans, and the development of children, and how to handle children's behaviors."
What is the hardest part of your program?
"Being Consistent, multi-tasking, gaining confidence in presentation of lessons."
"The hardest part is when you are working with preschool children that don't speak English, you can't communicate in the traditional way, so you have to find other ways, and use devices. It is hard but very rewarding when they understand you through alternative methods."
What is some recent technology you are learning to use in your program that is specific t your profession?
"Canva-designing templates for children to use for activities."
"Starting to use AI."
What is the most fun part of your program?
"Seeing our preschool children grow and learn over the 8 months we get to teach and work with them."
"Collaborations with my peers."
"Learning with my teacher, Mrs. Reitzel, and working with our preschoolers."
What is your plan for after high school?
"I plan to work at Little Lights Learning Center, and go back to school for additional degrees in child development."
"I am attending Thiel College for a 5 year Master's Degree Program for Speech Language Pathology."
"I plan to attend Messiah University for a Teaching Certification and Degree in History."
"I am moving to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and taking a gap year, during which I will attend Cape Cod Community College for free for One Year."
What is going to be the highlight of the year?
"The children singing their end of year songs that they learned in class."
"Graduation, mine and the preschoolers."
"Doing well on my NOCTI (Mrs. Reitzel is a great teacher)."
Explain a typical day in shop.
"Monday and Friday are our "bookwork" theory days. Tues-Thurs. are the preschool "in" days when you get to work with children and teach lessons."
What are you proud of learning how to do in your program?
"Overcoming my fear of public speaking."
"Being given this opportunity to learn how to care for, and teach children."
"How to keep the lessons captivating to my young audience."
How would you say your program at CPACTC is different than other classes you have had in the past?
"The communication skills. You need to be able to communicate well with Peers, Preschoolers, and Preschool Parents."
"We get to be the teachers. We have our own students to present lessons to instead of just being the ones taught."
What advice would you give to a beginning level 1 student who is just starting the program or a student who is considering enrolling in your program at CPACTC?
"You need to stay on top of/ahead of your work. Do not fall behind."
"Being professional is very important. You need to show kindness, and compassion. You need to keep in mind you are working with children, patience is the key factor."
"Listen to the level 3's in your program, they've all been where you are, and they know better. Do all of your work on time. Do your observations. Do NOT complain."