Early Childhood Assistant

Marlene brings a wealth of teaching experience to Prairie Hill, having worked in various educational capacities, including tutoring, serving as a missionary, and working as an interventionist for students with diverse learning needs. Her most recent experience includes co-teaching 5th grade across all subjects, where they prioritized classroom practices that foster creativity and student curiosity.

Marlene's dedication to educating the whole child (head, heart, and hands) aligns perfectly with the Waldorf philosophy. Outside of the classroom, she balances her time by exploring nature through hiking and enjoying Classical and Russian literature.

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination circles the world”
– Albert Einstein

In early childhood, young children are nurtured in a home-like environment. Their days include time in nature, artistic activities, creative play with natural toys, stories, songs, and practical activities such as building, sewing and cooking. The curriculum fosters the curiosity and joy of childhood and builds the self confidence and pre-academic skills that become the foundation for formal learning in the grades.

All elements of the kindergarten are guided by trained teachers who deeply understand how your child learns – engaging him or her intellectually, emotionally and physically. The curriculum is supported by a strong oral tradition that provides rich language experiences that are successful in cultivating good speech and expression. This approach exposes your child to significantly larger vocabularies than those found in early-reader programs, allowing her or him to expand their literacy skills through dramatization, poetry, puppet plays, songs, storytelling and drawings – creating a foundation in reading and writing.