Global Garden International School, Seattle, Washington

Global Garden International School206-860-6112

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Ask us about our weekly Friday Spanish class open to the public! HOME No Frame

WELCOME

Note from Director, Paige Dean:

"Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood, for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child's soul." - Fredrick FroebelHello and Welcome to Global Garden!I am passionate about sound Early Childhood Education that respects young children exactly where they are in their development. I view teaching as an art, the art of assisting discovery. I feel lucky to be able to spend many of my days with children as they explore, imagine, and wonder about the world in which they live. Do children really learn through play? You bet they do! There are many academic studies and research that illustrate the vital importance of a student-driven curriculum. And with more and more pressure for children to memorize facts and take tests, I believe we must advocate for young children not only in their right for a play-based environment but for a childhood that isn't rushed.After many years of studying and teaching in Europe and Asia, I have always enjoyed sharing with students little treasures from my travels, whether it be a wood marionette from Burma or colorful hand-woven fabric from Thailand. In 2007, I spent several weeks in Vietnam and Cambodia volunteering in various preschools and orphanages. When I returned to Seattle, I shared with the children stories and pictures of my journey. Our classroom is reflective of the many places I have traveled. Global Awareness begins now. When children attend GG, I hope that they will feel at home, experience the joy of discovery, and meet friends from around the world. As a first school experience, it should be loving and supportive as they begin their journey as lifelong learners with open minds and hearts to the beauty and diversity in our world.
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Paige with children in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam - 2007

ABOUT

About Global Garden:

History:Global Garden Preschool was founded in 2002 by Paige Dean. During the first years, the school occupied a Victorian home, now a state historic building, on Capital Hill. Paige, along with 2 teachers, had a class of 12 preschool age children. In 2005, the school moved to it's current building, located in the lower level of the University Friends Center. Over the course of the next year, we added "International" to our name to reflect our diverse student body. The school now offers a half-day preschool class 4 days a week and a toddler class 2 days a week.Philosophy:Our philosophy is founded in sound practice for helping to educate young children. We believe that each child is a unique and capable individual. Each child has their own strengths and growth areas, and all children inherently possess a curiosity and natural desire to learn.Our spacious airy classroom is filled with natural light, plants, lovely wood tables and chairs, and a tree fort made of natural wood. Pictures of our students engaged in projects line the walls of the hall. The room and the documentation provided by teachers is reflective of our Reggio Emilia approach to learning.Our learning environment promotes independence and resourcefulness combined with tolerance, understanding and respect for self and others. Our underlying philosophy regarding communication and relating to one another is NVC or Compassionate Communication based on the work of Dr. Marshall Rosenberg. Teachers act as facilitators, while supporting children in finding solutions to challenges with respect and empathy. Teachers work to look deeper than a child's outward action and help model the necessary vocabulary to express their needs. Respect, Empathy, and Presence help create a nurturing space for children to develop the social and emotional skills needed in life.Some of the educational pedagogy that has influenced our program includes: Reggio Emilia and Waldorf, as well as educators such as Alfie Kohn, Howard Gardner, Marshall Rosenberg, and Bev Bos.
TEACHERS

Our Teachers:

Phoebe Muth, Assistant Director & Head Preschool Teacher: Miss Phoebe has been working with children for over 10 years. She is a native of Seattle and holds a BA in Fine Arts from the Evergreen State College. Her previous experience includes teaching at the Children’s School, a Montessori preschool, the LSA after-school program at The John Stanford International School, and the Wallingford Childcare Center where she worked with both toddlers and preschool age children. Student driven curriculum and art projects that expose children to larger ideas is a main focus in her teaching. She is interested in the methodology of Bev Bos and Reggio Emilia. In the Reggio tradition, Miss Phoebe creates a beautiful classroom, which is a joy to see.Naoko Yoshikawa, Head Teacher and Japanese Specialist: Naoko-sensei holds a BA of Studio Arts from Bunka Women’s University, Tokyo. She also attended the English language program at the University of California, Berkeley. She has worked in several Seattle Japanese preschools including the Megumi School in Bellevue and the Seattle Japanese School. Miss Naoko will be working in both the preschool classroom Mon-Wed and the Toddler class on Thursdays. She is an energetic and outgoing teacher who enjoys being with children and watching them develop. She is married and the mother of a 14-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son.Erika Bristow, Head Spanish Teacher: Maestra Erika is a local Ballard mom and native Spanish speaker originally from Chile. She has been teaching for the past 12 years and has an 11-year-old daughter that she is raising bilingual. Maestra Erika studied for 3 years to become a nurse while in Chile. She holds certification in both nursing and a bilingual Child Development Associates degree (CDA). She especially enjoys using drama, art and music in her teaching. She has participated in Puerto Rican dance festivals promoting multicultural Spanish diversity. More recently she was a Senior Educator at La Escuelita for more than 10 years. She is very excited about bringing Spanish language and culture to Global Garden.Janessa Nedney, Lead Toddler Teacher & Assistant Preschool Teacher: This is Miss Janessa’'s third year with GG. She is currently a student at the University of Washington completing her final year in the Early Childhood & Family Studies Program. She has been studying Spanish for the past 6 years and is an intermediate Spanish speaker. Miss Janessa’s philosophy is play-based and child- centered. She is currently applying for a position at Teach for America, and is passionate about all children having access to quality early childhood programs.
GALLERY

Photo Gallery:

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CONTACT

Contact Us:

4001 9th Avenue NE

Seattle, WA 98105

Phone: 206.860.6112

We love to chat with potential new families on the phone. Please provide your phone number in your message to us.

Thank you and we look forward to speaking with you soon!

We are an International Preschool joyfully co-creating with our young students a nurturing & child-centered program based in the tradition of Reggio Emilia. We offer weekly Brain Gym classes & an introduction to Japanese & Spanish with an emphasis on global awareness._ 2011 Global Garden International School - 4001 9th Avenue NE, Seattle, WA 98105 - 206.860.6112 - Design by Synergy