Denise U.

Education

Barnard College, Columbia University,
B.A in History and Education
Minor in Environmental Science

Teachers College, Columbia University,
Masters in Philosophy and Education

Professional Childcare Experience

Nanny
Brooklyn, NY, 07/12 - 08/14
Boy, age 6 months - 2

Babysitter
Brooklyn, NY, 09/13 - 08/14
Two Boys, 6 months - 1 and age 4-5

Babysitter
Brooklyn, NY, 09/13 - 08/14
Girl, age 2-3 and boy, age 6-7

Babysitter
Brooklyn, NY, 01/14 - 08/14
Boy, age 2 and girl, age 6

Other Experience

6th Grade Reading Teacher
Brooklyn, NY, 08/14 - 08/16

Academic Program Administrator and Coordinator
New York, NY, 05/11 - 05/12

Social Studies Student Teacher
Bronx, NY, 01/11 - 05/11

Environmental Science Teaching Assistant
New York, NY, 09/09 - 12/10

About me

I truly love working with children and their families. As a nanny and former classroom teacher, I find greatest fulfillment in not only helping kiddos develop academic and life skills, but also in satisfying their natural curiosities about the world--all while having fun of course! I have worked with kids in various developmental stages--from infancy to adolescence--and I have loved every second of it! Kiddos remind me of how curious we all are and they inspire me to never stop learning!

As a former classroom teacher, I truly believe that kids learn best in a safe, structured, and fun environment. However, a huge piece in collaborating with young minds is developing a trusting relationship with them. In order to learn and grow, kids need to trust the adults who they look to for knowledge and safety. Therefore, I continuously strive to establish a strong bond between the kiddos and myself. This way, we all feel comfortable in not only being ourselves and having fun, but also in learning from one another and helping each other become the best version of ourselves!

I also enjoy collaborating with families to insure that their kids are happy and safe. I believe that working with families in true partnership not only teaches children that value of cooperation through example, but also reinforces the values of trust and care.


I have professional child care experience with...

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    Infants
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    Toddlers
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    Preschoolers
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    School-aged (K-5)
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    Preteen
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    Teenagers
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    Multiples

In 5 years, I hope to be...

In five years, I see myself sharing my passion for teaching and educational reform with new teachers at a progressive school. There, I hope to collaborate with new teachers as they embark on their first year of teaching and guide them in developing their natural talents and craft.

Activities & skills I love to teach & share with children...

The best way to engage with kiddos is to have fun with them while offering them experiences and activities that aim to develop life skills and a passion for learning. I love to center our fun filled-activities on a kid's current interests while encouraging the development of age-appropriate skills. I also enjoy exposing kiddos to new experiences and encouraging them to discover new interests and talents, so we spend a lot of time learning through experience and play. In working with three toddlers and a six-year-old, we spent quite some time reading about trains, playing with toy trains, visiting the transit museum, and creating our own choo-choo train costumes out of cardboard boxes. The kiddos were thrilled to learn about trains and then design, paint, and wear their homemade creations!