Education

Infant and Toddler

Our Classrooms

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Pink Classroom

6 Weeks to 18 Months

Goals and Class Details

Welcome to Pink Class, where we snuggle and care for infants aged 6 weeks to 18 months old.

In the Pink Class, we love and care for your babies as if they were our own. When you drop your little one off, you’ll walk away with the certainty that your baby will be safe, loved, and well taken care of. We talk with your babies, sing and read to them, and genuinely love them as a part of our family.

On sunny days, you might find us lounging on a blanket under a leafy oak tree, exploring in the sensory garden, or going for a walk in our strollers. We love watching your little one grow and develop each and every day.

We provide infants with a safe environment and a routine that they come to expect and love. We make sure our environment supports infants’ growing physical abilities. We strongly believe that children start learning from the day they are born. Therefore, we offer them ample opportunity to grow their gross motor and fine motor skills.

We want children to develop their curiosity and explore the world around them, so we provide them with a safe, fun, and enjoyable environment to develop their senses and explore.

At this stage, children need to learn movement. It’s a time when they learn to sit up, stand, and eventually walk. As they learn to be more mobile, their curiosity unfolds and leads them to discover their environment.

As experienced teachers and professionals, we distinguish each child’s personality, temperament, and preferences at this stage. Children at this age exhibit their first characteristics—traits that will define them in the future. As teachers, we need to understand and respect children’s different trajectories to learning.

Our goal is to engage children in fun, enjoyable, and worthwhile activities and experiences where they will express themselves and explore their environment. It is through play and exploration that children understand, learn, and grow.

Thank you for allowing us to be a part of their lives!

Teachers

We are so excited to have your child in our class this year! I cannot wait to get to know your child and watch him or her learn and grow. Because we will be spending the school day with your child, we thought you might want to get to know us a bit.

Ms. Ashley

Learn About Ms. Ashley

I have received my certification for Quality Infant Toddler Care and Child Development Associate, and this year will be my second year as a teacher for Bright Beginnings/Maslow in the Pink Class for infants and toddlers.

Prior to joining the Bright Beginnings family, I worked in the hospitality industry for 11 years. In 2019, I gave birth to my second child and decided to make a career change to be closer to my kids. My husband and two children keep me busy. My hobbies include hiking, camping, fishing, playing sports, crafting, and creating, as well as reading. AND I love chocolate 🙂

My co-teacher, Ms. Mariana, and I have lots of things planned for this next year. Our class is focused on helping your child grow up healthy and strong. We will help your child reach each milestone, and more!

There will be a monthly newsletter sent out to keep you up to date on our current lesson plans (very simple and basic learning concepts). This will help you to encourage your child’s development.

I am really big on communication; you will receive a daily report of your child’s activities, and there is also a school-wide app called REMIND that we use to send pictures and other important information. Mrs. Chrissy will send out a weekly newsletter on the latest activities, breakfast and lunch menus, and much more, so please make sure that the front office has your email address to stay up to date.

Again, I am so excited to start this new school year. Current events have made us change the way we do some things in the class, but we are up to the challenge. The safety and health of your child is our priority!

Ms. Mariana

Learn About Ms. Mariana

I had the pleasure of joining the Bright Beginnings teaching staff last year, following my internship at the Early Childhood Center. I realized early on that child care was my passion, and look forward to a long career in teaching. In high school, I had an internship at the early childhood center. I learned lots of great things there and realized that child care was the career I wanted to pursue.

My hobbies include spending time with my family, reading, playing sports, and crafting. My co-teacher, Ms. Ashley, and I have lots of things planned for this next year.

Our class is focused on helping your child grow up healthy and strong. We will help your child reach each milestone, and more! There will be a monthly newsletter sent out to keep you up to date on our current lesson plans (very simple and basic learning concepts), thus helping you to encourage your child’s development at home. I am really big on communication; you will receive a daily report of your child’s activities.

We also use an app called REMIND to send more detailed school information. Mrs. Chrissy will send out a weekly newsletter on the latest activities, breakfast and lunch menus, and much more, so please make sure that the front office has your email address to stay up to date.

Again, I am so excited to start this new school year. Current events have made us change the way we do some things in the class, but we are up to the challenge. The safety and health of your child is our priority!

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Red Classroom

12-27 Months

Goals and Class Details

We are very busy, active, moving-and-grooving little learners of 12-27 months of age!

In the Red Class, we are having lots of fun while learning new things. We love to sing songs, dance, read, and play pretend. We also work on developmental skills through different forms of play, practice sharing with friends, and learn our first bits of sign language.

Now that most children are mobile and active, we take advantage of their curiosity to introduce them to arts, language, and movement. Children are more adventurous and observant at this age. They become more aware of their environment and try to connect and interact with it.

At this stage, children understand a few words and try to imitate spoken language by babbling. As their senses develop, they increasingly become more receptive of their physical environment and start recognizing—although not yet accepting—the existence of other children around them.

This is the time they will start attempting to communicate with adults and their peers. They will also slowly become aware of their own emotions.

RESOURCES:

Teachers

Ms. Devan

Learn About Ms. Devan

Hi, my name is Devan Woods. My son, Ezra, and I are originally from California.

We moved out here about a year and a half ago, and have been a part of Maslow and Bright Beginnings for the same amount of time. My son will be transitioning into Yellow Class this fall.

Moving into September, I will be inviting my nephew, Kingsten, into our home and into our school family as well. With having a child of my own and now fostering my nephew, the decision to get my degree in Early Childhood Education has just reinforced my passion and eagerness to gain more knowledge and understanding of the development of children aged 0-8.

Along with working toward my Associate’s Degree, I am also simultaneously working on my Director’s Certificate and should finish both by fall 2021.

Last autumn, I participated in a certification course called Expanding Quality in Infant/Toddler Care (EQIT) provided by Colorado Shines.

I am looking forward to putting my research and studies into practice and assisting your children in their personal developmental growth this year.

Ms. Myrya

Learn About Ms. Myrya

Hello, my name is Myrya Cisneros. I started working in childcare three years ago here at Maslow Academy and Bright Beginnings. It has always been a lifelong dream for me to work with and educate children.

Before I started my career, I took many courses at Delta Technical College and earned my early-childhood teaching certificate. I have also taken online professional development workshops to continue learning about the best way to teach and care for children.

Another learning adventure begins this fall. Currently, I am enrolled at Colorado Mesa University to acquire a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education. I am anxious to continue my personal development and use the newly obtained knowledge in my classroom with your children.

My education has taught me a lot about children, but I also have firsthand experience: I am a mom of two wonderful boys. So, I understand the importance of finding quality child care. That’s why both of my boys attended Maslow and Bright Beginnings for many years.

Please feel free to reach out to me throughout the year to answer any questions. I am here to help you and your child. I am very excited to meet you and cannot wait to facilitate the growth and development of your children this year!

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Maroon Classroom

15-30 Months

Goals and Class Details

The Maroon Class provides care for our younger toddlers, aged 15-30 months.

In the Maroon Class, we are having lots of fun while learning new things. We love to sing songs, dance, read, and play pretend. We also work on developmental skills through different forms of play, practice sharing with friends, and learn our first bits of sign language. Our class ratio is 1:5 adults with a ten-toddler class size.

Now that most children are mobile and active, we take advantage of their curiosity to introduce them to arts, language, and movement. Children are more adventurous and observant at this age. They become more aware of their environment and try to connect and interact with it.

At this stage, children understand a few words and try to imitate spoken language by babbling. As their senses develop, they increasingly become more receptive of their physical environment and start recognizing—although not yet accepting—the existence of other children around them.

This is the time they will start attempting to communicate with adults and their peers. They will also slowly become aware of their own emotions.

RESOURCES:

Teachers

Ms. Makayla

Learn About Ms. Makayla

I have worked at Maslow and Bright Beginnings for over two years now, after having obtained my Early Childhood Education teaching certificate from Colorado Mesa University. I am thrilled to start this new school year with the children and families in Maroon Class. I cannot wait to watch these children grow and learn throughout this year.

Ms. Berenice

Learn About Ms. Berenice

Caring for young children is my passion. It has been a lifelong dream to work with children and provide them with loving care and education.

I have worked over a year at Maslow Academy and Bright Beginnings and am thrilled to start this new school year. I am thrilled to meet all the children and families in Maroon Class.

I am delighted to be a part of the Maroon Class family, and I’m excited to provide great care and education for all the children.

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Orange Classroom

18-36 Months

Goals and Class Details

The Orange Class provides care for our older toddlers, aged 18-36 months. Each day is filled with new adventures!

In the Orange Class, we have a very full schedule consisting of music and movement, storytime, basic signing, English, Spanish, and learning games. Everything we do has a purpose because children are so eager to learn and everything is new to them.

We teach shapes, colors, counting in English and Spanish, letters, and very beginning letter recognition. We have a very organized and structured classroom, and believe that children learn better when they feel safe and comfortable. This is why we encourage friendships amongst the children and take a very hands-on approach.

In the Orange Class, we begin to work with potty training the children, if needed, and celebrate this wonderful accomplishment with pride.

We never miss an opportunity to teach. Learning happens around us all the time. For example, instead of asking a child to sit in a chair, we will ask the child to sit in the “blue” chair, thus improving their color recognition. We strongly believe that parent involvement in the children’s learning is very important to their early development, and encourage parents to participate whenever possible

Children at this stage are testing their independence and limits. They want to see how many tasks they can do on their own, and prove their abilities to themselves and their peers. Everything catches their attention, be it arts, toys, books, kitchen utensils, or sand.

RESOURCES:

Teachers

Ms. Amy

Learn About Ms. Amy

Ms. Claire

Learn About Ms. Claire

Hello! My name is Claire Felix and I am one of the teachers in Orange Class.

I currently am a full-time online student at Grand Canyon University (GCU) in Phoenix. I am studying to get my bachelor’s degree in the science of Elementary Education. Because of Covid-19, I am not able to return to campus. However, I will hopefully be lucky enough to graduate early despite the pandemic.

I started working with children during my junior year of high school during a community internship at Olathe Elementary.

I also concurrently enrolled in my senior year through CSU with Mrs. Chrissy Simmons (our Executive Director) as my instructor. Through those courses, I earned an Early Childhood Teacher Certification.

I gained more experience with children during my first year of college when I worked at the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Phoenix through GCU. That year I had an amazing experience of going on a mission trip to the Hopi reservation with a group from my school. This last year of college I completed my practicum hours at a certified Montessori school in the heart of Phoenix.

This year, I am very excited to work at Maslow Academy and Bright Beginnings and do what I absolutely love with my whole heart, and continue my education safely in my hometown.

Fun Facts:

  • My favorite color is yellow
  • My go-to drink is iced spiced chai with almond or oat milk
  • My favorite animal is a pig
  • My favorite flower is a daisy
  • I am the second oldest of four kids
  • I love animals and have tons of pets
  • I love reading about history
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Yellow Classroom

2- to 4-Year-Olds

Goals and Class Details

In the Yellow Class, each day is filled with new adventures for our 2- to 4-year-olds!

In the Yellow Class, we have a very full schedule consisting of music and movement, storytime, basic signing, English, Spanish, and learning games. Everything we do has a purpose because children are so eager to learn and everything is new to them.

Our students begin to recognize the letters of the alphabet, as well as basic colors, shapes, and numbers.

We place a special emphasis on building the children’s social and emotional skills, not only with their fellow peers but with the adults in their lives as well. We strongly believe that parent involvement in the children’s learning is very important to their early development, and encourage parents to participate whenever possible.

In the Yellow Class, we begin to work with potty training the children, if needed, and celebrate this wonderful accomplishment with pride.

Children start to learn about healthy eating habits and the importance of a healthy body. Their muscles are fully developed at this stage, so they can engage in activities that involve even the small muscles. They use utensils and control their movements.

As they grow, children become interested in their peers and their interaction with them. They want to play, learn, and engage with them—although there is still some antagonizing.

We pay special attention to emotional stability, balance, and behavioral health. We want children to develop their social and emotional skills and build valuable and meaningful relationships. If we see aggressive or disruptive behaviors, we gently steer children toward recognizing their emotions and developing their impulse control and self-regulation skills.

Our Yellow Class slowly introduces literacy, letters, the alphabet, logic, reasoning, and mathematics to children in a fun and play-oriented way.

Our days are busy and filled with lots of exciting learning!

RESOURCES:

Teachers

Ms. Tiffany

Learn About Ms. Tiffany

Greetings! My name is Miss Tiffany. I have two spectacular children: an 8-year-old boy, and a 2-year-old girl. I am originally from both South Dakota and Utah, but moved to Montrose about four years ago. The community here is amazing and the scenery even better!

Working with children has been a huge part of my life since I was old enough to start babysitting. Being the oldest of six girls gave me plenty of childcare experience before I even knew this was the career I wanted to pursue.

After high school, my life consisted of working with event coordination, food, and kiddos. Since having my own children, I have decided to further my credentials in childcare.

I am very family-oriented, and my children and I spend a lot of time out and about enjoying nature and the community. I am beyond excited to be in Yellow Class this year and cannot wait to see what wonderful new adventures the future holds!

Mariah Teacher

Ms. Mariah Loco

Learn About Ms. Mariah Loco

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