MY EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY
Julianna Druyor
I have always loved learning even from a very young age. I was homeschooled by my mom pre-k through 8th grade and most of my foundational skills I learned from her including reading, math, science, history, and life skills such as cooking, baking, doing laundry, etc. I attended Arizona Virtual Academy for high school. It was at AZVA where I took my first Psychology 101 class and fell in love with psychology. After high school graduation, I moved on to Grand Canyon University. I graduated from GCU in December 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. My family has always been a big support to me in my educational journey. My mom taught me a great deal in my younger years. My dad helped me through many intense philosophy papers in college. Suzanna (my sister) helped me make it through college statistics. My grandpa (pictured with me on the right) was a very intelligent and curious person and his love for learning will forever be an inspiration to me.
MY CHILDCARE
JOURNEY
I have been spending time with, taking care of, and teaching children since I would have been considered a child myself. I spent a great deal of my time during junior high and high school babysitting for families. In my senior year of high school, I took on two jobs as a nanny for two different families where I spent long days not only watching the three little preschool aged children but also cooking for them, reading to them, taking them to the park, engaging in learning activities with them, etc..
After I started learning about psychology, childhood development, and emotional regulation skills I noticed how much the kids I worked with needed to be taught these skills and how much it would help them relate to their peers, participate in their family activities, and grow academically. I have seen how having emotion regulation, communication, and organization skills has helped me and the kids I work with in so many areas of life.
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I have been blessed to have my grandma, and mom, and many other ladies around me to teach me how to do practical things. I love sharing those skills with the children I work with which makes their lives more manageable and gives them the confidence they need to try new things and keep growing.
A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT ME
I have four older brothers and twin siblings younger than me. Spending time with my family is very important to me. I am not married and I do not have any children of my own, but I spend a lot of my free time loving on my nieces and nephews. Being the involved and fun aunt who also is not afraid to keep them accountable is one of the most important and meaningful parts of my life. Other ways I like to spend my free time are reading, spreading mental health awareness, and snuggling my dachshund Baxter.
MY TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
As a paraprofessional, I approach teaching first with curiosity. Being curious allows me to learn how best to teach the student in a way that will help them be engaged, understand the skill, and build on abilities they already have. Skills are often learned through consistent practice so I am not quick to rush through any step along the way. I believe that collaboration is important when working with any child. I strive to communicate clearly with the child, the child’s parents, and any others involved including teachers, tutors, etc.. I incorporate the learning of emotion regulation, organization, and communication skills because I have seen how these elements encourage a child’s ability to ask for help as well as their own motivation to persist when they come across something that is hard for them. My goal is to help encourage and equip each child I work with to become more confident and independent!