As Preschool teacher Deborah Cuccaro began maternity leave, substitute Emily Kochasic has stepped in and is adjusting to teaching preschoolers and high school students amidst online learning.
The Preschool class provides an opportunity for Penn-Trafford students to observe and create lessons in early
childhood education while teaching P-T’s preschool program. While working with preschoolers is nothing new for Kochasic, she has learned how to incorporate high school and online learning into the curriculum.
While earning her degree in early childhood and special education at Carlow University, Kochasic worked at a childcare center for children six weeks to 12 years old. After graduating in 2019, she became a K-2 life skills teacher at Level Green elementary and is now Cuccaro’s long-term substitute for P-T’s preschool classes.
“Before Mrs. Cuccaro started her maternity leave, I was able to come in a few days a week and work alongside her to learn the rhythm of the classroom. It was awesome, and I felt prepared to take over when she left,” Kochasic stated. Cuccaro said that she was confident leaving the class to Kochasic, as she had observed and asked questions about the details of the class before teaching on her own.
Kochasic added that while she felt prepared, teaching online and high school students has been an adjustment. She describes her biggest challenge as finding a rhythm with the high school students.
“This is really my first experience with high school students, so learning how to interact with them and keep them engaged was a challenge. I had to learn how to approach problems, teach content, and build relationships in a new way,” she said.
She stated that she feels lucky to have students that help her navigate the new environment.
“We really work together and collaborate all the time,” she said.
Junior Alyssa Rupp said that Kochasic has been helpful and flexible throughout the challenging semester.
“It makes me feel comfortable that she is okay with what we do in class to help her,” Rupp said.
As Preschool class is an interactive learning experience, the pandemic has changed some of the normal classroom procedures to keep the preschoolers and high school students safe. The high school students continue to teach in large and small groups, and through one-on-one instruction. All of the students sanitize frequently, and the preschoolers have individual art kits to limit the sharing of materials.
Before she went on leave, Cuccaro described her biggest challenge as coordinating the hybrid schedule at the high school with the preschool schedule.
“When I thought I had things figured out, we would have a flexible instruction day, and we would not have preschoolers that day, or the green and gold days would get switched and I would have to reschedule projects,” Cuccaro stated. She added that though the schedule has been unpredictable, the preschool parents have been understanding throughout the changes.
Cuccaro and Kochasic also offer a website for online preschool students this year. The teachers post videos of calendar time, read alouds, and letter, number and shape activities throughout the week.
Even with a diverse learning environment, high school students are learning how to accommodate the preschoolers.
“I feel like [the preschoolers] are more timid when speaking because of the masks,” Rupp said. “This year has been a great learning experience for me to help the kids open up,” she added.
Kochasic said that having a pandemic during her first year of teaching has helped prepare her for challenges that she may have throughout the rest of her career.
“I think teachers have found really great ways to engage students online, even though it was all very new to us,” she said. Kochasic added that her experience at P-T has been great, and hopes to find a full time teaching position locally.
“I love working with students and I am excited to continue to do that throughout my career,” she added.
Carleigh Bruno, Staff Writer
The Warrior congratulates Mrs. Cuccaro on the birth of baby Grayson!