By Ms. T (Edwina Tolbert)
Kids Network Academy is located in Logan Square with an unique focus on diversity and cultural responsiveness. We boast a diverse child population representing many different cultural groups. Our young scholars and parents, regardless of their cultural status, feel respected in our school. We ensure that every child feels accepted, loved and cared for. We aim to ensure that every child learns, inherits, and respects diverse world cultural and familial belonging within our school climate.
I am Edwina Tolbert, M.Ed (Ms. T), a Professor of Early Childhood Education and an Infant/Toddler Specialist with over 20 years of experience in early childhood education and Head Start Administration. I am passionate to lead implementation of a learning approach which encompasses a natural aspect of children at play and environmental learning. We strives in assisting parents nurturing their children intellectually, emotionally, and socially. We do this by providing a warm, caring environment with hands-on, active developmentally- and age-appropriate learning experiences for young children. We take pride in honoring all who enter our school community and teach not only our curriculum, but include the teaching of the impact of Chicago Public Schools, private schools, and Catholic schools.
At KNA, we are dedicated to help all types of learners to thrive. We have adopted and implemented literacy learning strategies so all of our young scholars are engaged in reading, writing, processing, and representing literary concepts. Strategies such as read-aloud that include explanations of targeted vocabulary can support word learning, presenting vocabulary thematically, interactive storybook reading, the use of classroom libraries, “pretend” reading and writing games, and other interactive experiences with language and print through poems, nursery rhymes and songs are continuously incorporated into our learning program and school plan.
Beyond academic learning, we offer a variety of extracurricular programs. These include Spanish classes daily, baby yoga and fitness for kids, Sign Language and potty training. Our young scholars thoroughly enjoy Music, Visual Art, Dance and Drama. They take pride in their skill development in all strands. Additionally, we attend monthly field trips and often enjoy outdoor learning.
Our young scholars are provided an opportunity to explore, grow and develop in a peaceful, diverse, and nurturing environment. Do you have a little world scholar in training? Come check us out at 2930 N. Campbell Ave. Chicago, IL. 60618 or contact us at 773-539-KIDS (5437) or at Kidsndaycare@yahoo.com.
Our infant program is completely individualized as to how you care for your baby at home. We work extremely close with families to establish a strong trust with their child, our teachers, and parents to ensure that each child is getting exactly what they need. One of our main goals here at The Nook is to see our school as more of a partnership with parents, where both parties share the same goals and expectations to raise a well-rounded child. Every moment of our day with our babies is an opportunity for learning. We tackle motor skills, help each child realize the power of language through books, songs, finger plays, and through positive continuous interaction. We get to know each child exceptionally well and are able to easily identify both verbal and nonverbal messages each child is sending. Our infant program holds both aspects of being loving and nurturing as well as staying developmentally appropriate to be academically challenging.
Our toddler program is designed for the children to explore on a very physical level. We here at The Nook realize that children learn more by doing, rather than being told. Our toddlers are working on becoming autonomous and the teachers respect this and allow the children to be responsible in making their own choices. Expectations for behavior are developmentally appropriate and allow the child to be challenged yet feel the support from their teachers. Our environment allows the children to choose activities and teachers respect their need for ample time to use and reuse learning tools. This fosters competence within the children. We use art as a huge tool for interactive learning and as window for creativity. Sometimes art projects don’t go exactly as planned and you catch a child using something differently than intended. It’s truly a beautiful thing when the children teach us something new and to see how his or her mind works differently or perceives an idea in a new way. We treat each child as completely their own person with different needs, personalities, and feelings and respect each child as such.
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