Situated within walking distance to Dairy Farm Nature Park, GESS makes good use of our strategic location to expose our kids and students to the wonders of nature, incorporating them in our daily school life. Our Preschool Educator Agisa Abdulla was recently certified as a Forest School Leader. Hear from Agisa on this interesting approach to education.
We know you have been at GESS for just over a decade and your passion working with the kids is simply commendable. How has this certification as a Forest School Leader changed or boosted your approach towards preschool education?
Nature has been shown to have numerous positive effects on children, including reducing stress, promoting physical activity, and fostering creativity and imagination. Spending time in nature can also help children develop an appreciation for the environment and a sense of connection to the natural world. Becoming a Forest School Leader has given me more in depth knowledge and shown me ways of incorporating nature and outdoor learning into the children’s daily routine in an authentic way for them to get the benefits of nature.
Could you share more about this Forest School Leader certification, who/which institution is it by? How did you go about attaining this certification?
I have an AIM Qualifications Level 3 Certificate for Forest School Leaders from the UK. I did my course through Forest School Initiative Ltd UK. It was partly online, and I had my practical units in Singapore through the Forest School Initiative representative here.
What is the approach about and what are the benefits for our kids and their well-being? How about some examples of its application in our daily school life?
Forest School is a long term holistic learning process that aims to raise self-awareness and self-esteem in participants. Regular sessions take place in a natural environment, where nature itself is the main part of the experiential learning. Qualified practitioners, trained in child development and learning theories, facilitate sessions to gain personal outcomes for each student. Forest School can be applied to all age groups and abilities.
Early childhood educators can easily incorporate elements of forest school into the children’s daily routine simply by making some time for children to explore nature without interruption, and observing them in play. Educators then use these observations to create opportunities for the children to extend their play and achieve different learning outcomes. For example, if children are showing interest in creating a shelter, simply provide some ropes, sticks and some material that they can use as a shelter.
As a holistic international school, GESS prides itself on – among others – student well-being. In addition to the outdoors/nature being part of our kids’ life at GESS, what are some other ways the Preschool team optimises and ensures their well-being?
Our teachers develop deep connections with the children and have strong relationships with them. As a result, our children feel safe with GESS teachers and communicate their needs without hesitation. We observe the children, listen to them closely, and address their needs. We create a safe and nurturing environment with different spaces for children with different needs.
In your opinion, are there any other areas that you feel GESS can improve or strengthen in preschool education and student well-being? How about your own areas of interest and expertise that you are personally keen to upgrade/upskill/next explore?
I think our Preschool is a wonderful and nurturing place for our young learners. I love the culture of the Preschool as it is centred around children and their needs. We believe in the ’image of the child’, and the teachers are guided by needs and interests of the children. We believe that children learn through constructing knowledge through play and exploration, and by collaborating with their peers and teachers. Our role as teachers is to facilitate this and create an environment that is nurturing and safe for the children to explore.
I recommend bringing in even more nature as a part of our children’s daily learning, so that being in and playing in nature become part of their daily routine.
What is the motivation behind your staying at GESS for over a decade and continuing to be passionate about working with kids. How has GESS enabled/empowered you to dedicate your best to our kids?
I have always loved working with children, and it is highly rewarding for me. It is magical when you see the ‘aha’ moment on a child’s face when they understand a concept through their inquiry. I love to watch how children extend on their play and create such beauty from something as simple as mud and a few dry leaves. Children are so creative and filled with imagination that you will not have a boring day at work if you spend your day with them.
GESS has supported me throughout my career as an early childhood educator and I learnt so much here. The school has always been supportive and provided several professional development opportunities for me to advance myself. Our Preschool community is caring and respectful towards one another, and it is joy to go to work every day. There are people in my school community who deeply inspire me, extend my thinking, and help me grow as an individual.
What is the one thing you tell yourself that helps overcome all your challenges as an educator and keeps you going?
Just as in any other profession, there are challenges that we have to face as teachers as well. And some days are just harder. In such situations I try to remember the many positive things that I have in my work. This always helps me to have a balanced view and have a positive mindset.
Related read:
July 2021 | GET TO KNOW GESS – A Decade at the GESS Pre-School
