Keene
State College
229 Main Street
Keene, NH 03435-2611
www.keene.edu
May 16, 2018
To Whom It May Concern:
Carol (Christy) Vinnenberg completed her 14-week student teaching placement at the Child Development
Center at Keene State College. The Child Development Center serves infants through preschoolers and is
a best practices demonstration site for early childhood development majors enrolled in the teacher
education certification program (Birth to age 8) at Keene State College. The center is open 10 months a
year for full days from 7:30-5:30.
As a teacher in the infant classroom Christy worked with 5 infants, ages ranging from 4 to 18 months. In
the same large room as the Infant program, but divided by a half wall, is a Toddler program enrolling 9
toddlers, ages 18 months to 3 years. Permanent staff for both the Infant and Toddler programs include a
morning Facilitating Teacher, an afternoon Infant/Toddler Teacher each and one teacher who floats
between the two classrooms. The program is also staffed with Work-Study students and two methods
students. Christy worked in the classroom with children five days a week for seven hours a day and took
on week long lead teaching responsibilities three times during the 14 week program.
During Christy’s placement she was responsible for all aspects of teaching in a childcare setting. Her
responsibilities included family communication, child guidance, curriculum development/implementation,
classroom environment, supervising daily routines and collaboration with team members. In addition, she
wrote daily reflections, implemented daily plans, and documented children’s progress through journals.
Christy attended weekly seminars with her site supervisor and daily seminars with the Facilitating
Teacher. She organized a family engagement project that included a take home book of songs familiar to
children.
During the first weeks of her placement, Christy focused on learning and observing the children’s
temperaments and cues so that she was able to individualize for and deepen her relationship with each
child. All the infants responded positively to her. Christy was very respectful in her approach, gaining the
children’s attention and letting them know exactly what was happening prior to and during care giving
routines.
Christy provided an environment that was peaceful and appropriate for all children as they separated from
their parent(s) for the first time for most of them. She demonstrated empathy, thoughtfulness, respect, and
an understanding of their situations in such a way that allowed children to feel safe in her presence. She
developed sweet, trusting relationships with each child. When we met each day to conference, Christy
was able to articulate what she saw, heard, felt, and did for and with each child with both confidence and
clarity. When she had questions, she was willing to ask for clarification from her team. She demonstrated
safety consciousness and showed herself to be responsive to all the children’s needs. Christy’s lesson
plans were appropriate and successful in that they allowed her to explore with children what worked and
what could have been done differently. As we know, the routine and schedule of these very small children
Keene State College
229 Main Street
Keene, NH 03435-2611
www.keene.edu
is really what the curriculum is for an infant program. Christy was aware of each child’s schedule and
helped each of them adjust to the newness of being in a group with respect and encouragement.
Christy was very professional and respectful to families. She made eye contact, used their names, asked
and answered questions, as well as shared verbal and written anecdotes. She attended professional staff
development day while she was with us at the CDC. She truly showed herself to be a valuable team
player. Christy showed initiative, asked solid questions, was able to take feedback in order to improve her
practice. She got along very well with others, including other students in the classroom. Christy showed
herself to be an open minded, solid teacher, and a genuine asset to an infant child care setting.
Sincerely,
Janet C. Richards
Facilitating Teacher, Infant Room
Keene State College Child Development Center
