Childcare & Afterschool Center
"Where children learn through play, exploration, and hands-on activities."
Program Objective:
To provide a high quality program that challenges each child to grow academically and socially/emotionally. We aim to cultivate each child’s inner abilities through age appropriate instruction, structured play, and consistent care.
Program Philosophy:
At Little Scholars Journey, we believe that children learn a great deal of information via play, modeled behavior, and positive encouragement. As we know, play can be purely physical, like running, climbing, or throwing a ball. Otherwise, highly intellectual, like solving a complex puzzle, comprehending a math problem, or navigating through an unfamiliar town. When thinking about how children develop, we deem, it is experience that will have direct influence on how they grow and build their own knowledge. Children learn best when wanted behaviors are modeled and they are given the opportunity to actually do the work (or play) themselves. Rather than being simply told, shown, or explained how to do something, we highly encourage independence. Therefore, our program will offer an engaging environment for young children to autonomously learn. Our teachers will provide unconditional positive regard and constant support. As a result, children will be able to observe, think, and solve problems on their own.
At Little Scholars Journey, we build a stimulating environment that is safe for ALL children to explore, learn, and have fun. We realize that consistency, security, respect and team work are essential to a child’s growth. Ultimately, it is our understanding that every child will not prosper at the same rate nor will they have the same interest. Individualized plan and goals per child will allow each child to meet his/her needs. More importantly, we believe that with collaboration from parents, students, staff and all stakeholders EVERY child can reach their fullest potential.
Meet Our Staffs
Sandy Tan, Executive Director (Owner)
Sandy harbors a deep passion for teaching and holds a profound commitment to the value of education. With over five years of experience teaching high school mathematics, she has cultivated a unique approach to instruction, engaging with students both individually and in small groups. Her keen observation skills enable her to tailor lessons to meet the specific needs of each student.
Following the birth of her two children, Sandy discovered a newfound passion for working with young children. This led her to pursue a degree in Early Childhood Education, drawing inspiration from her personal experiences in seeking a high-quality childcare center. Ultimately, she decided to open her own center, driven by her unwavering commitment to creating a nurturing environment where young children can thrive, learn, and flourish. Sandy firmly believes that all children possess the potential for growth and development, provided that their environment aligns with their developmental milestones.
Sandy holds a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from Quincy University, complemented by a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
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Mykhanh Nguyen, Director
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Ms. Kim, Lead Teacher (BlueDino Room)
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Ms. Angie, Assistant Teacher (BlueDino Room)
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Ms. Stephany, Lead Teacher (RedButterfly Room)
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Ms. Janet, Assistant Teacher (RedButterfly Room)
Ms. Jennifer, Lead Teacher (Caterpillar Room)
Ms. Erendira, Assistant Teacher (Caterpillar Room)
Ms. Darina, Lead Teacher (Sunshine Room)
Ms. Darina is the lead teacher in the Sunshine room for our two-year-old classroom. Most of her students refer to her as Ms.D. Ms. Darina holds an Associate of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education from City Colleges of Chicago and is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in the same field at National Louis University. Ms.Darina has been working with us since November 2018 and has experience working with children aged 2 to 12 years old.
Ms.Darina has always been passionate about working with children, but her love for teaching emerged during her junior year of high school when she worked with diverse learners to create lesson plans and activities that accommodated their individual needs. From that moment on, she recognized her passion for teaching and became determined to pursue it as a career.
Ms.Darina believes that teaching is about establishing a strong bond with children that fosters a love for learning and encourages them to thrive while simultaneously meeting their developmental milestones. She advocates for a well-rounded, creative curriculum that emphasizes areas such as play, reading, writing, mathematics, and science, ensuring that students remain engaged and motivated throughout their learning journey. Ms.Darina also understands that each child learns differently and makes a conscious effort to accommodate the unique needs of each student. Above all, her primary objective is to create a welcoming and safe environment for both students and their families within her classroom.
When Ms.Darina is not engaged in her professional responsibilities, she dedicates herself to studying for her evening classes or enjoys spending time outdoorswith her family and friends.
Ms. Ana, Assistant Teacher (Sunshine Room)
Ms. Sandra, Lead Teacher (Rainbow Room)
Ms. Vanessa, Assistant Teacher (Rainbow Room)
Ms. Vicky, Assistant Teacher (RainbowRoom)
Ms. Vicky joined our team in 2016, serving as our two-year-old teacher assistant. She holds a deep appreciation for her position at this exceptional center, recognizing the nurturing and supportive environment it fosters. Ms. Vicky derives immense satisfaction from witnessing the daily growth and development of our young learners.
As a mother of two children, Ms. Vicky possesses a profound passion and commitment to working withchildren. She cherishes the opportunity to guide our young learners in their discovery, learning, and personal growth duringtheir early childhood development.
Ms. Vicky firmly believes that providing love and nurturing is essential for children to establishlasting bonds with their educators. She is dedicated to maintaining open communication with parentsand families, thereby strengthening the foundation for children’s academic, emotional, physical, social, independent, and cognitive development.
In her leisure time, Ms. Vicky enjoys spending time with her family. She also finds fulfillment in cooking, shopping, and traveling.