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Sea Turtles - Room C11 - Phone: 734-439-5120
Lead Teacher: Danielle Huff, huffd@milanareaschools.org
Welcome to our Sea Turtle community! In our preschool classroom, children are active participants in the process of learning new concepts through individual and group experiences and activities. Our Sea Turtles have many opportunities incorporated into their day to support the development of self-help and social skills, which are an important component of their transition to kindergarten.
Young children like to seek out activities and play experiences where they can make discoveries and achieve an understanding of their world. Each week our lesson plan will link together specific curriculum items integrating activities that reflect the children’s interests. Through play, these activities support development in the HighScope Curriculum, which supports these experiences that children need to help them grow and prosper. The HighScope Curriculum’s content areas and key developmental indicators (KDIs) are guideposts defining both our beliefs about how children develop and the actions we must take to support that development. HighScope’s eight curriculum content areas are:
- Approaches to Learning
- Social and Emotional Development
- Physical Development and Health
- Language, Literacy, and Communication
- Mathematics
- Creative Arts
- Science and Technology
- Social Studies
Children have opportunities for hands-on experimenting and interactions with classmates, which encourages them to make predictions and experience outcomes in all areas of learning. There are also special activities, which include visits to the nature center, music, and gym. Through teacher-directed and child-initiated activities, teachers can observe and assess as children develop and strengthen their skills. These outcomes are shared with parents during conferences.
Our goal for children is a relationship-based environment with peers, teachers, and families working together to enhance learning, create friendships, and promote positive outcomes.
If you have any questions about our classroom’s curriculum, please do not hesitate to ask a teacher. We are so happy to be working with you this year!
Sea Turtle Teachers
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Mrs. Danielle Huff
Hello Families! My name is Danielle Huff, and this is my 6th year teaching at Paddock’s Early Childhood Center. I graduated from Eastern Michigan with my Bachelor's Degree in Children and Families. I live in Milan with my husband, and my three wonderful children, and our two dogs. I enjoy spending my time with them and visiting friends.
Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your child’s preschool experience. I am excited about a great year together!
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Mrs. Isabel Lewandowski
Hello Sea Turtle Families! My name is Isabel Cawood, and I will be one of your child’s preschool teachers this year! This is my second year teaching, and I'm so excited to join Milan schools! I am from Tecumseh, but I live in Dundee with my husband and my daughter (she will be in the tadpole class!) I spend my free time with my daughter, playing in our garden.
I will be attending Monroe County Community College this winter to further my education and get my teaching certificate. I originally went to the University of Toledo for Special Education and Early Education, so I'm excited about moving closer to home and learn more. I have three years of working in daycares and nannying as well.
I'm very excited for this school year! It's going to be great!
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Mrs. Christy Wachowicz
Hi! My name is Christy Wachowicz (Mrs. W), and I thought you would like to know a little about me. I was raised in Mattawan, MI which is west of Kalamazoo.
I earned an Associate of Arts degree in Special Education from Kalamazoo Valley Community College. After earning my AA, I enlisted in the U.S. Army, and was stationed at Ft Ord, CA for 2 years. I joined the Michigan Army National Guard and served in Midland, MI., while attending Central Michigan University. During that time, deployed for Operation Desert Shield/Storm where I met my husband (Robert). We both attended CMU and served in the MIARNG when we had our two sons.
I graduated from CMU with a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree with a Home Economics Major, and minors in Child Development, Foods and Nutrition, and Foodservice Administration.
We moved to Aurora, IL after we both graduated, and had our daughter. After 5 years, we decided to move back to Michigan. My husband started working in Flat Rock, and we bought our house in Milan soon after. We have lived in Milan for 23 years. During this time, I have been active with BSA, 4-H, VFW and the American Legion. I have held many different roles in each of these organizations. Our oldest son (Andrew) graduated in 2010, and is an Eagle Scout and an Army Veteran. Our other son (Dylan) graduated in 2012, and is a Marine Corps Veteran. Our daughter (Sarah) graduated in 2016 and earned a BA in Psychology from WMU. We have a Chocolate Lab named Sophie and 2 rabbits named Penelope and Bethany.
The past year, I worked at a preschool specializing in children with autism. I’ve worked with a diverse group of individuals during my lifetime and am truly excited to be working with you and your child!