Early Childhood Demonstration Center

Utilizing a new assessment system, the Early Childhood Demonstration Center, located in the Education building of the Glassboro campus, has a program that is both interactive with parents and engaging for their students aged 2 ½ to 6 years old.

The new assessment system used by the Early Childhood Demonstration Center is called “Creative Curriculum.” Its purpose is to provide parents with a quick and easy way to know what their child is learning and track their child’s progress.

Creative curriculum includes an online planning tool. This tool has a group planning feature that includes themes of study. These themes of study inform parents what their child is learning while at the center.

The innovation of these programs is why Gabby McNamara, a senior early childhood psychology major with a children with disabilities endorsement, decided to work as a student worker at the center.

“[I like working here for] the opportunity to work with kids,” McNamara said. “It’s really innovative here and it’s really cool. I love being here and I love the kids and the whole atmosphere and community.”

The job provides more than just the work experience for McNamara.

“My favorite part of coming into work is being greeted with hugs,” McNamara said. “That’s a plus of work. I don’t think many other jobs have people run up to you and give you hugs in the morning.”

The children spend their days exploring, experimenting and learning social skills. They learn the basic subjects taught in school, but also participate in a whole group discussion, small groups and a free choice period. Though every part of the day is a learning experience, the activities designed to look like play, such as them choosing which game to play during free choice.

“The teachers have to plan for children,” said Lorraine Ricchezza, coordinator of the demonstration center. “Freeplay and choice work if intentional.”

All staff members sit down each week to create lessons plans that are looked at by the coordinator. These lesson plans are also viewable for parents.

The teacher at the center, Jamie Lokaj, enjoys her work with the children in this environment in particular.

“I like working with the kids and seeing them make progress throughout the year,” Lokaj said.

Lokaj also felt that the experience of working with younger children is something education majors should get involved with when given a chance like this.

“For education majors, it would be the fact that they can put it on their resume and they get to work with younger kids when they usually don’t,” Lokaj said. “In the education program, there’s not a whole lot of opportunities for them to get into preschools. They get more hands on experience for elementary programs that often don’t get the contact with younger kids.”

The center is mainly based on what the Rowan community needs. The objective is to serve the needs of the student body.

“The center is meant to serve the needs of students,” Ricchezza said. “We fall under the SGA and are open to alumni.”

The center accepts 26 children at a time. Enrollment is all-year round and dependent on how many children are currently enrolled. Rowan students without children are also welcome to participate in the center. Volunteers are also encouraged to come and help out.

“One on one time means a lot to the kids,” Ricchezza said.

Volunteers of all majors are encouraged to help out at the center. While primarily education majors use the volunteer option to gain experience working with children, every major can get something out of helping out the kids.

“I think it’s a chance just to make most of them happy,” Lokaj said. “It’s totally different from being around college kids all of the time. They get to see younger kids and play more which can be more fun than working in an office or something like that.”