Meet
Ms. Pilai from Lincoln1. Where are you from?
I am from Thailand. I married an American and moved to the U.S.A.
2. How long have you been with ADNPP?
I have been with ADNPP for 20 years.
3. What is your teaching background and experience?
I earned my B.A. from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand and my M.A. from
Central Missouri State University. I was a college instructor in Thailand
for 15 years and an elementary teacher in the SLEP program at Alawai School
in Hawaii for two years before I started working at ADNPP.
4. What do you like most about your job?
It is an opportunity to experience the joys of childhood again, as I can
share the children’s excitement in learning and in play.
5. What do you think is special about your ADNPP
location?
The teachers work together closely and help each other. The director and
assistant director are next door and are well aware of what we are doing in
our classrooms. The children’s rest room is inside the class room, making it
very convenient to supervise the children.
6. What is your favorite part of the day at ADNPP? Why?
I like the academic time when the children are learning new things in
preparation for the next state of their education.
7. What is the last book you read out loud?
Eric Carle’s A House for Hermit Crab
8. What is the last book you read to yourself?
I enjoy reading magazines, particularly Sunset.
9. What is the funniest thing a child has said to you?
When I mentioned in class that I had no children, a boy responded
sympathetically, “Don’t worry Ms. Pilai, you can make one.” After a pause,
he added, “It’s priceless.”
10. What do you do in your spare time?
I like traveling, reading, gardening, and watching TV.
11. What achievement are you most proud of?
I am most proud of being able to successfully adapt from teaching college
students to teaching pre-schoolers and that at the end of each year I can
see that we have provided a good foundation as the children prepare to move
up to Kindergarten.
12. What should children look forward to doing/learning
in pre-kindergarten?
They are expected to learn to recognize visually the letters and numbers,
pronounce the sounds of the letters of the alphabet, and write their names.
Some children are also able to learn to write numbers and the letters of the
alphabet. They should also learn sorting, matching, patterning, rhyming
words, interacting with other children, solving problems, and exercising
self-control. Developing social and emotional skills are as important as
academic skills.
13. What is the single best piece of advice you can give
parents of pre-kindergartners?
Take time to talk to, work with, play with and discipline your children.
Such attention shows that you love and care about them.
14. Do you have any healthy lunch ideas?
Stay away from fast food and frozen food. Eat more fresh vegetables and
fruits.
15. Do you have any learning to read tips?
In pre-school, children should develop pre-reading skills by learning to
pronounce the sounds of the letters of the alphabet and teachers attempt to
encourage them to develop a love of reading. Parents should reinforce this
by spending time reading to their children at home.
