June's teaching talent shines in the way she communicates with toddlers and helps them verbalize their needs. She spends many weekends creating special toys for her classroom out of ordinary objects. According to parents, kids adore the shapes she cuts out for the felt board or the interesting dolls she makes from fancy bath sponges. This kind of special creativity makes June's classroom an unusual place. So, too, does its location in an on-site center.
Parents drop by during the day to see their children, read to groups, or go with the class on walks.
They know they are always welcome. At age 6, Nick was still in diapers and did not have social skills. After watching early-intervention teacher Scott Simon in action, Karen decided on the Scott Elementary School at Scott Air Force Base in Mascoutah, Illinois. Scott determined that although Nick's social and physical skills were weak, his reading skills were strong. Scott, who teaches a cross-categorical class with students ages 5 and 6 who have a variety of disabilities and delays, loves being able to make a difference in children's lives.