Junior Explorers: Animals of the Arctic

SHINY HAPPY KIDS is an educational organization that is committed to creating spaces where all kids can come together to explore ideas and face challenges together in a safe, inclusive, positive space.
The best part about our classroom is that we get to meet each other where our curiosity and our passions align.  Love dragons?  We have a class for that, taught by a teacher who also loves dragons! Love STEM?  We have a class for that, taught by a teacher who loves exploring and experimenting!  Love drawing? Dnd? Storytelling? You guessed it: We have a teacher for that, who loves it just as much as YOU do!

**About our teachers:**
Miss Alex (Alexandra McCarty) is the founder of Shiny Happy Kids.  In her own words: I've been a STEAM educator for 8 years, as well as a homeschool parent, teacher, and advisor for nearly a decade.  I use an eclectic approach to teaching.  I see myself as more of a facilitator and fellow life-long learner than lecturer.  I love getting to know my students.  I combine different learning styles in my lessons, and use humor, lots of interactive discussion, and an approachable attitude to help everyone feel included and valued.  As an ADHD parent of ADHD and neuro-diverse children, it is important to me that all types of learners are able to have a positive experience in my classes.  My goal is to open your child up to the joy of wondering, learning and connecting with the wide world all around us.

Miss Ashley: I have always loved to work with young children through arts and crafts! From a young age, I was very creative in coming up with unique ways of expressing myself. That uniqueness carried over into my adult life, and that is what brings me here today! I’m a mom to two amazing kiddos, both currently in elementary school. Before having my kids, I had 7 years experience in working with children primary aged through elementary school. I was an assistant Pre-K teacher followed by working at various summer camps through my local Parks & Recreation department. I love my wonderful husband, my amazing kids, my 3 crazy cats, gardening and sewing. 

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Mr. Bence: Storytelling and writing are huge passions of mine, and D&D is one of the best methods of getting audiences invested into a story, as you make audiences become quite literally apart of the narrative that you created for them to experience. I'm also experienced in teaching online D&D classes to kids, as I've DMed online D&D campaigns for about a year for another Outschool organization know as Trammell Classes. The age range for the kids I DMed for was 9-14, and while teaching at Trammell Classes, my D&D courses received multiple 5-star reviews from parents.

A lot of D&D is also centered around team-building and making connections with other players, so in my online D&D courses I try my best to create scenarios in game where players will have to work together to overcome an obstacle.

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Ms. Annette:  
Ms. Annette (Annette Frontz) always knew she wanted to grow up to be a teacher. Since obtaining her Bachelor Degree in Music and PA Certification in Music PreK-12 as well as graduate level studies in early childhood and elementary education, Annette has taught many different subjects using a variety of methodologies in a multitude of learning environments. Annette has taught in preschools, parent-child programs, afterschool programs,libraries, summer camps. homeschool co-ops, theaters, choirs and music programs, public school summer emrichment, and even published her own seasonal early childhood curriculum, Seasons of Joy. Through the years, Annette has embraced Waldorf, Montessori, and Reggio Emilia philosophies, finding joy in the emphasis on storytelling, the competency of children, the importance of the learning environment and collaboration, and the value of the arts. She enjoys teaching mythology, science and nature, music, drama, and STEAM classes. 
Annette says she “was a ‘quirky kid’ who grew up to be quirky adult” and that she “takes great joy in all the quirky learners the universe sends her way.”