Meet Meredith Saylor | Preschool Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Meredith Saylor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Meredith, what are you inspired by?
Working with young children is continually inspiring. Research in child development and early childhood education confirms the powerful benefits of invested educators and quality care. Longitudinal studies confirm the long-term social and financial benefits of quality early childhood education for both individuals and entire communities and economies. That is the big picture. But for myself, the most motivating moments are the quiet small ones I experience with children and their families. I am inspired when a reserved child who struggles to separate from a parent is suddenly able to wave goodbye with a smile at drop off; when the rough and tumble child pauses, controls an impulse and confidently expresses her emotions verbally with a peer; when I observe the lightbulb moment of joy as a child watches yellow and blue mix on a page and magically become green. Knowing that I have been a part of that child’s developing the skills to confidently become a generous member of a larger society, to advocate for himself, to find joy in learning is a sublimely inspirational and personal reward.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
UCUC Preschool is a Reggio Emilia-inspired program. Observation is the key component of a successful Reggio Emilia program. It is a habit that helps us make sure that we are acting on the interests of children and following their lead. Children are the creators of their own learning, and we make a habit of observing them closely asking the question: what are the patterns of behavior the children are repeating? Are they consistently watching as things roll and slide down ramps? Then perhaps we need to create more opportunities to investigate gravity. Are they consistently reaching for the trucks? Now perhaps we should explore the wheel, and other simple machines. The observation never ends! We continually observe, reflect, revise our space and materials, and observe again!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Coming to San Diego with young children? Of course there is the San Diego Zoo, the beaches and museums in Balboa Park, but I also recommend a few other less known places. Poway-Midland Railroad features a narrow-gauge train which runs on weekends and will delight your train-enthusiast children. Pack a picnic to enjoy in the park as you watch the train circle the track, and take a ride yourself with the purchase of a ticket. On Saturday mornings, pickup your picnic foods from the farmer’s market there at the park.

The San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas has an awesome, interactive children’s area with water play, climbing opportunities and a music area. Also great for the gardener is the Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
UCUC Preschool is successful thanks to its dedicated and experienced staff, involved and supportive parents and beautifully curated space. Our small team of educators has decades of experience in the field of early childhood education. We have many years of teaching, of taking courses in child development, and of participating in professional development training. Our team also has a deep background in additional fields: a conservatory art degree; a Masters Degree in Conservation Biology; a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre; years of professional music performance; a degree in Religious Studies with a thesis on Eco-Feminist Theologians; years in the restaurant business; fluency in multiple languages. Combining our skills and passions, we can create a rounded environment for education for children.
While the teachers’ skills and expertise are critical, the real motivators of the program are the children themselves. Our curriculum is not created by the teachers and imposed on the group. Rather it grows organically from careful observation, documentation and reflection of the actions, words and interests of each unique child.
The year has only just begun and yet our classroom has already undergone a big change. For the first two weeks of school, we were focusing on creating a comfortable, familiar space. Our dramatic play area, a vital place for children to develop social-emotional and language skills, was set up as a kitchen. It had ceramic mugs, wooden spoons, glass cups–things you would see in a real home. The children enthusiastically served each other meals, mixed “soups” on the “stove”, and “washed” dishes. After a week or so, the teachers observed that the children were not drawn to that area any longer, and needed a change. We decided to build on the kids’ conversations and stretch their interest in camping, something that many had done with their families over the summer. Our dramatic play area became a campsite. We added a tent and children spent a week creating a “campfire” from materials found on the playground. Teachers brought in fake trees from their garages, collections of decorative birds, a real propane stove (don’t worry-no propane!), camping chairs, and together we created a very life-like campsite. The children’s interest in the dramatic play area was immediately revitalized, enabling deeper investigation and conversation and more fun.

Website: https://www.ucucpreschool.com/

Instagram: @ucucpreschool

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Other: 858-455-0336