Philosophy and Vision

My name is Becky Brown and I am the owner/director and lead teacher at Smart Start Academy of Emmett. My passion is teaching and I have 15 years of teaching experience. I graduated from Carroll College in 2003 with a BA in Elementary Education and a minor in Reading.

I have taught 3rd grade in both Nampa and Emmett School Districts and also taught K-8 virtual education/online school for three years. I have been a substitute teacher, a private reading tutor, and most importantly, mom for my three children. I opened Smart Start Academy in 2015 in a small meeting room inside the Catholic Church. I had 18 students. Four years later, I have multiple classrooms and sessions in my own building and I have 65 preschoolers that come to learn and prepare for kindergarten each day.

Smart Start Academy is my interpretation of the perfect introduction to formal education. We strive to give children (ages 3-5) the opportunity to learn while playing in a purposeful way. We are not only working on academic skills, we are learning to be part of a community. How to be kind, how to be a good friend, how to make good choices are key. We are also learning to be independent and develop skills necessary to be successful in the kindergarten setting.

During our 2 ½ hour session, we play ALOT, because children LEARN through purposeful play. Every toy in our classroom is research-based and teaches a skill:

- We cut things with scissors, we sing songs, we jump, spin, hop, and dance together.
- We talk about and write letters, we read and write our names,
- We pretend to do grown up things like house, doctors office, or an auto garage.
- We build with blocks and playdoh.
- We count to twenty. We learn our shapes.
- We sort things, share things, and look for patt
- We explore art by painting on the easel or rolling marbles through paint.
- We talk about our families, pets, and read lots of books.

Sometimes there are tears, lots of germs, a mysterious wet spot or spills. Teaching preschool is hard and sometimes messy, but you absolutely cannot have a bad day at preschool because they love EVERYTHING! The joy and excitement to learn is amazing at this age and something that I wish we could bottle and preserve for when they are 16 and not as enthused.

For many kids, preschool is the first experience with a school setting. My goal is to create a love for learning and a love for school that will carry through to the next step. I want Smart Start Academy to be a funnel and solid foundation for success, so no matter which avenue for formal education each family decides to take, whether it be public, private, charter, co-op, or any other alternative, the preschool child is ready to succeed.