Jelgava kindergarten assistant: children's growth is the greatest reward

Santa Špera, a teacher's assistant at the “Zīļuks” preschool in Jelgava, has received a Letter of Appreciation from the Jelgava City Council for responsible and professional teamwork. She is one of eight teacher's assistants honoured for the first time at this year's city education workers' awards ceremony. The regional outlet Zemgales Ziņas took a look at her everyday work.

The path to the kindergarten

Santa once began pedagogy studies in Riga, aiming to become a primary school teacher, but for various reasons she did not finish them. Her wish to work with children remained: she has worked as a preschool teacher's assistant for 19 years, and at “Zīļuks” since 2015.

Children are changing

Santa has noticed that children have changed over her years in the job. Earlier they were more disciplined and accepted rules more easily; now it is often necessary to explain why rules must be followed. In her view, possible reasons are upbringing habits in families and society's attitudes, and a teacher is no longer as great an authority as before. At the same time, today's children are more knowledgeable, open and curious, express their thoughts more freely and ask questions. This pushes adults to keep improving and to look for new ways to cooperate with them.

A day in the Violet group

Every group at “Zīļuks” is named after a colour, and Santa works in the Violet group. Her day begins at eight in the morning with setting the breakfast table, in which the children help too: they count spoons, put food on plates and bring bread from the kitchen. After breakfast come lessons, sport and music, as well as play outdoors. After lunch the children take a nap, and in the afternoon they gather for a snack.