My name is Laurissa and I graduated from the Psychology program at Ryerson University two years ago, and I'm planning to become a primary school teacher. I believe I have the necessary qualifications to succeed at this position. I worked at Kids & Company as a full time Toddler teacher for 6 months, and I also filled in for breaks for a preschool class. I also currently work at Coppens Academy as a supply preschool and school age teacher. I help the school age children with the homework in the after school portion of the program, in all subject areas. I have tutored school-age to highschool age children in various subjects such as math, science, english and psychology. My past experiences have taught me the value of teamwork and leadership when it comes to fostering development in children. Also, being organized is very important, as there's a significant amount of paperwork that must be filled out daily. Being able to stay on top of it, as well as be engaged with the children, requires exceptional organization and flexibility. Working as an Early Childhood assistant, I was required to be flexible when developing programming based on the children's interests. I would observe their interests, then incorporate activities in the areas of cognition, sensory, art, math, science, dramatic, self-help and outdoors. This way, the activities would be engaging to the children and be suited to each individual's needs.Thus by working together with the children, I was able to create a positive, respectful learning environment that allowed for individual growth and development. My past experiences have also taught me patience, assertiveness, and the ability to handle under the pressure situations. I've also gained an intuitive grasp on the needs of the students, and have been able to respond to their educational and emotional needs effectively. Every individual can succeed in all areas of life, as long as they are given the opportunity and support from those around them, especially teachers. Working with kids is my passion. I feel lucky to be able to work with children, influence their lives, and help them reach their full potential. I'm very creative, energetic and a kid at heart, so it's easy for me to get along with the children! I'm also very positive, outgoing, and empathetic, which are important traits in making me approachable to the children. Thus I believe my personality and skills make me a positive role model for the children, and that is one of the most important aspects of being a child caregiver and tutor.