“Much of what I learned from my experience at ECC is put into practical use every day at my school.”
Inspired by Madeleine L’Engle’s concept of Kairos, Nola Glatzel’s Oral Thesis explored the way that children experience time and their surroundings. After graduating from the Art of Teaching Program, Nola spent time teaching at public elementary schools in New York City and in rural environmental education programs upstate. Her journey in these disparate classrooms led her to found Earthstar Play School in 2019; something she says she never would have done were it not for her time as at Sarah Lawrence.
Why did you decide to pursue your MS in Education at Sarah Lawrence?
I went to an information session on campus about the Art of Teaching program and was immediately interested in the unique perspective that the program had on the vocation, especially the focus on emergent curriculum and children as meaning makers in their own lives.
Is there a course or fieldwork placement that particularly influenced you?
In the “Emergent Curriculum” class, I developed a love of designing curriculum based on the place where my own interests meet the interests of my students to create a classroom environment that is rich in curiosity and wonder. I also found the “Observation and Documentation” class to be foundational to my teaching practice. It was in this class that I learned to observe the child without judgment and to document the work of the child. These observational methods have helped me to be present with my students and to be creative in how I support them.
What was the dynamic of your cohort?
Because it was such a small group, we all came to know each other quite well and rooted for each other throughout the program. By the time we got to our oral presentations, we had a deep understanding of each others’ educational experiences, teaching philosophies, and interests. We all enjoyed celebrating each other and all of our hard work.
What advice would you give to a prospective student?
In speaking to a prospective student, I would recommend taking as many opportunities as you can to delve into the real work of teaching at multiple age levels. While the theoretical underpinnings of the program provide a critical foundation to your future teaching career, the practical experience that you gain through student teaching will also make a huge difference when you go into your own classroom on day 1.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I recommend finding one or several mentors whose teaching philosophies you really admire. Having mentors who I trusted as a beginning teacher made a huge difference for me. I also recommend not getting too stuck in one age group. I always thought I would be a lifelong elementary school teacher. Now I am working with young children and loving it. I am so grateful that I took the opportunity to work with young children while I was at the Art of Teaching program.
As an Art of Teaching student, how did you engage with what we are now calling the Children, Childhood and Education Collaborative which includes the Early Childhood Center (ECC), the Child Development Institute (CDI), the Child Development Program etc.
I had the opportunity to work as an assistant teacher at the Early Childhood Center in a 3’s class. This was a formative experience for me. I learned so much about how to respect, observe, and support the growth of the young child. Much of what I learned from my experience at ECC is put into practical use every day at my school.