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Description:
Ryan graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor's degree in Human Development in 2019. He recently completed his Master’s in Education at George Mason in 2021
Throughout his teen years, he helped his mother working with infants and toddlers as well as babysitting. Throughout college, Ryan was a part of Reading Hour where he went to local childcare centers to read and teach preschool-aged children on an individual level. In his junior year of college, he completed a Field Study as a teacher at the Virginia Tech Child Development Center for Learning and Research working hands-on with the children. In his last semesters, he also completed an Independent Study (Preschool administration) and worked as an office aid at the Virginia Tech Child Development Center for Learning and Research.
Ryan’s Learning Center introduces a foreign language (Spanish) to develop an appreciation for the cultures of the second language. We also introduce the basics of sign language.
Ryan's Learning Center also takes pride in focusing on classroom exercise and outdoor sports.
Our curriculum is inspired by Developmentally Appropriate Practices, the schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy, and, most importantly, by the children! It is our goal to be attentive to the interests and theories of all children and to frame and facilitate a curriculum that is respectfully responsive. We are enthused and inspired by the many ways in which children represent their learning and understandings of the world referred to as the “hundred languages of children” (Edwards, Gandini, Forman, 1998.) These hundred languages are nourished and nurtured in our school. You will see a wide variety of materials and experiences available for exploration.
Ryan’s Learning Center is a full-year school program operating daily from Monday to Friday, 7:50 am to 5:00 pm. Daily activities revolve around the interests and developmental needs of children. There are monthly themes that revolve around the children's curriculum and learning. We keep portfolios of children's work to demonstrate their progress over time. Activities include free play with a variety of stimulating sensory activities, fine and gross motor skills, reading books, music, dancing, and creative play with puppets and costumes.
Our children take advantage of the natural outdoors on the playground. We spend time outside in all conditions in order to use the five senses to experience the weather: warm sun rays, breezes, winds, snowflakes, and crunchy fall leaves.
We pride ourselves on our mindfulness activities during the day such as yoga or breathing activities, to help express our emotions and develop our social and emotional intelligence.
Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are given at appropriate times throughout the day. According to the needs of the child, we provide homemade healthy meals and snacks. We also make accommodations for a child with dietary restrictions.
Mr. Ryan's is a fantastic teacher, and he and his staff are phenomenal, making sure the children have fun while learning in a safe, healthy environment. We are always so impressed seeing how our child comes home excited to count, practice writing letters, teach us new songs or words (in English and Spanish), and show us the latest silly yoga poses. Mr. Ryan is clearly excited to teach the children every day, constantly coming up with new activities based on what the children are interested in, or based on current events, holidays, or other fun themes for the kids. The children learn important life skills too, such as sharing, table manners, and even how to stop-drop-and-roll during fire safety week. I highly recommend Mr. Ryan's Learning Center, he and his staff are absolutely wonderful!