Shark Enthusiast and Preschool Teacher

April 26, 2018

By Shawn Deiter

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the preschool…

Preschool Teacher Velecia Passaro and her classroom dive into Shark Week every summer. Velecia loves animals; her favorite is the shark. Her fascination with the ocean and marine life splashes into her classroom projects.

Velecia’s students attending LVCC at South Mountain in Allentown compare the differences and similarities between sharks and other marine life like dolphins and whales. They analyze real shark teeth and a jaw brought back by their teacher from Ocean City, MD. They make shark fins out of craft foam, attach to their backs, and swim around the room accompanied by the theme music to Jaws.

With Velecia’s help, the children list what they know about sharks and what they want to learn. They then find the answers by reading books about sharks.

“My favorite question was if sharks ate mermaids,” Velecia laughs. “We discovered that they do not.”

Velecia also loves doing science experiments with her students. Activities involving concepts in science, technology, engineering, or math pique a child’s natural curiosity. The experiments encourage children to think like scientists —to make predictions, observe, and communicate about what is taking place. Preschool is a fun time to introduce experiments, mainly because of the reactions at this age.

“Whether the children are observing or watching a change or reaction, they get so excited. They love it,” Velecia says. “We also learn that sometimes things do not turn out the way we want them to, but instead of being disappointed, we try again. If we make a mistake, we try our best to fix it.”

Colorful, hands-on materials and toys fill the preschool classroom. As they play, the children learn new skills. Although Velecia develops her lesson plans in advance, she takes a child-led approach to learning. She remains flexible if the children take the lesson in a different direction.

“I believe children learn best when they have more of a say in what we are studying and learning. I try to give them choices and base our projects on their interests and passions,” Velecia says.

Velecia’s alma mater is Kutztown University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. After nearly a decade working for LVCC, she appreciates the life lessons a three- or four-year-old child brings to her classroom.

“No matter how much I think I know about a topic, the kids will ask a question and I find myself learning something new right along with them,” Velecia said. “It pushes me to expand my own knowledge and keeps me on my toes when the kids want to know more.”