Today we’d like to introduce you to Meredith Howard.
Hi Meredith, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started working as an assistant teacher in a preschool classroom in 2019 and I loved it. I then decided to pursue a Master’s degree in early childhood education and early childhood special education and became a certified teacher. I was a classroom teacher for three years before leaving to start my own school. Starting a school was always a dream of mine and I finally took the leap in 2024. We had been renovating our house for a few years and it just so happened that we had the perfect space for a classroom in our house. It’s a walk-out basement with windows all around and it’s own bathroom (meant to be!) My husband and I spent the summer of 2024 working with state guidelines and renovating the basement to prepare for students starting in the fall.
I loved my time in public school but I knew that with starting my own school I wanted the chance to do certain things differently. First off, my max is 8 students per class. I believe that having a small class size allows the teacher to be effective in meeting students’ needs. Secondly, I knew I wanted my students to be able to spend as much time as possible outdoors because I believe in the benefits of fresh air, risk taking opportunities (i.e. climbing, balancing) and most important, time for student-led learning through play. I love the fact that at my school we take every opportunity to be outdoors and learn about nature by having picnics when possible, extra recesses and opportunities to play in many types of weather.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
While being a public school teacher had its challenges, having a businesses brings challenges of its own. Luckily, my mom and sister are both local business owners, so I was prepared for some of the classic challenges that business owners face such as acquiring business licenses and preparing for taxes.
One particular challenge was during the renovation process as we insured we met state and local guidelines of in-home childcare. The state has many rules (as they should!) for anyone starting in-home childcare so I worked closely with the fire department, health department and my state representative to make sure my classroom and playground met the requirements. For anyone thinking of starting in-home childcare, I would recommend familiarizing yourself with all the rules well in advance so you can make sure your space complies. Personally, if I knew how much work it took I would’ve started preparing one year in advance rather than 6 months before. Lesson learned!
Even with these challenges, I am so grateful for my decision to start my own business because I was able to create my dream school!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My four main goals with Chez Meri Preschool include
1. Confidence
This is #1 for me because I believe that when a student believes in themself they become eager to learn more and more. I support students’ confidence by setting up my classroom to allow them to be as independent as possible with things like step stools, low shelves and all age appropriate learning materials that promote their independence.
2. Creativity
During my time in public schools I received a lot of training on the Project Construct leaning curriculum which theorizes that students learn best by constructing their own learning. What does this mean? It involves things like having open ended learning materials available for students (open ending mean they are toys without one specific purpose such as disks of wood which could become blocks, plates, a canvas or whatever a student decides it is!) I don’t often create art assignments with an end product in mind (i.e. “draw a flower”). Instead I provide materials (and sometimes a little inspiration) and allow students to create what they wish. I have found that children, who usually don’t have any ego in their way often think of much more creative ideas than my adult brain could. I also believe in using phrases like “You did it!” or “Way to go!” instead of “Good job!” so students know they should be proud of themselves for trying/exploring something and not feel like the goal is to have a “good” end product that pleases others.
3. Connection to Nature
I’ve discussed this already but I love getting to create my own curriculum because a large part of our school year is focused on the changing seasons. We discuss what plants and animals are up to, changes in weather and spend a lot of time using our 5 senses to simply notice things happening in the world around us. We grow plants, observe bugs, play in the snow and we are encouraged to get messy! Clothes and shoes can be cleaned and there are so many benefits to getting outside and getting muddy!
4. Global Perspective
I have a Bachelor’s degree in French and I knew that with starting my own school I wanted to prioritize dual-language learning. Preschoolers can pick up on a second language so quickly it is just amazing! Even if they do not continue French after preschool, their time learning the language reinforces certain brain pathways that strengthen their brain in the future. By learning French my students are also gaining an understanding that there are many types of people and many languages spoken right here in our town and around the world. This is one way of showing students that our differences make us all unique and amazing. Different does not equal bad. Another way I promote a global perspective is by introducing students to various holidays from around the world. We do not just discuss Thanksgiving and Christmas but also holidays like Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Lunar New Year, Holi and more! This allows us to learn about and respect other cultures and their traditions.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Yes! I love the Conscious Discipline Curriculum created by Dr. Becky Bailey. She has resources for both teachers and parents on how to approach difficult situations such as helping students to better understand their feelings and managing unsafe behaviors. Conscious Discipline provides a framework to help parents/teachers see all behavior as a form of communication instead of good vs. bad. I first found Conscious Discipline in 2019 and I’ve been obsessed ever since. It is so different from the way many of us were likely disciplined as children and it actually works! The word discipline often carries a negative connotation – I used to equate it to the word “punishment.” Behavior management can often be one of the most difficult things for both parents and teachers and Conscious Discipline helps by focusing on the real meaning of the word discipline- “to teach.”
I love the Good Inside podcast by Dr. Becky Kennedy ( a different Dr. Becky). She is a clinical psychologist who tackles a lot of tough topics related to discipline.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chezmeripreschool.com
- Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561870055576
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/chezmeripreschool
