Applied Psychology Internship: Assistant Teacher-Spanish

This play-based, multilingual nursery school has an emphasis on Nature Science and yoga. It immerses children through play and discovery in Mandarin, Spanish, and English using the 100% language immersion model. It serves children 18 months to 6 years in a small lab school where it helps the field develop best practices in Early Childhood language immersion through the Toddler Language Project. Its program is Reggio, Waldorf, and Flying Deer inspired, emphasizing authentic learning and design opportunities and nature exploration.

Mission: To cultivate the language genius, open mindedness, and wonder-filled hearts of young children.

Philosophy: Since the work of childhood is play, we believe young children thrive in nurturing, fun environments with space to create, imagine, play, and explore. We believe in the power of nature and human creativity in developing mind and spirit. And, since children are geniuses at learning languages, we think they should play, explore, and create in as many languages as they have the capacity to acquire. Our curriculum is spiritually conscious, which means we are comfortable exploring such concepts as respect for all living things, love, gratitude, and mindfulness. We wonder about everything.

A Model Early Childhood Language Program: We are successfully building, month by month, year by year, a model early childhood Spanish immersion program using best practices in the field and contributing to the literature on best practices by documenting and publishing our work.

Gain Training / Experience in:

• Receive coaching & learn best practices in Spanish Immersion teaching.
• Communicating with children in the target language (Spanish).
• Designing developmentally appropriate play activities. 
• Maintaining a safe classroom.
• Designing developmentally appropriate play activities. 
• Assisting in the collection of data on student and program performance.
• Helping to guide children’s growth and development, and create a culture of exploration, respect for nature, and creative play.
• Interacting with children as a facilitator of their learning and inquiry.

Desired Abilities & Experience:

• Is a native Spanish speaker.
• Has early childhood coursework or experience.
• Possesses a very positive attitude and demeanor.
• Loves working with children.
• Demonstrates a high level of mindfulness and confidentiality.
• Treats everyone with dignity and respect while allowing for individual difference.
• Can carry out responsibilities and tasks while playing and communicating in Spanish with children who are native speakers of other languages.
• Is mindful and respectful of nature.

Responsibilities / Learning Objectives:

• Greet children and parents upon arrival.
• Check children for signs of good health upon arrival.
• Perform childcare, teaching, and other duties assigned by the Executive Director and Lead Teacher.
• Supervise and interact with children at: mealtimes, rest periods, diapering/restroom times, playtimes, and during activities.
• Provide care for young children, toddlers and infants, including changing diapers, potty training, feeding, dressing, comforting, and administering first aid.
• Contribute to a harmonious, pleasant, and joyful work and play environment.
• Maintain an open, warm and very professional relationship with all families.
• Ensure the safety and welfare of the children and protect each from physical or emotional harm. Help to maintain safe classroom.
• Attend and contribute to staff meetings, parent meetings, assigned professional development days, and marketing programs. (Some of these may occur outside of regular work hours.)
• Encourage children to explore the world in which they live.
• Assist the Lead teacher in providing toddlers with an engaging play-based experience of Spanish immersion.
• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with the staff, faculty, and administration.
• Maintains appropriate communication with staff, children, and families at all times.
• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Note: All interns and staff are required by law to undergo health and criminal background checks by the NYC Department of Health.  These checks must be completed prior to the start of the internship. This is an unpaid internship.

If you are interested, contact Professor Richard Paino ( rpaino@ccny.cuny.edu ) Reference (MPC-2)