Hello! I'm Christina Harrington, a passionate educator with 7+ years of teaching experience. I began my career in education as a Kindergarten teacher at Crossroads Academy, an independent school located close to Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. Thereafter, I went on to open Grow & Balance, my own successful in-home toddler program located in Richmond, Virginia. After taking time away to raise my son, I am feeling called to re-open my doors as an in-home pod teacher.
Christina Harrington
Director & Educator, Curiosity Cottage
Masters Level Elementary (K-6) Teacher
For more details on Christina's background, along with reviews from parents, click below.
My learning pod will provide a safe, nurturing, research-based educational environment for children ages 3-5. I feel proud to be able to offer your child a personalized educational experience in my home for a learning pod of up to four children.
For our classroom, the themes and concepts I will draw upon What a Preschooler Needs to Know (Core Knowledge), by E.d. Hirsh. As defined by E.D. Hirsh, Core Knowledge is a body of solid, shared, specific, and sequenced knowledge most essential for literacy in contemporary American society. Core Knowledge consists of key concepts in history, math, literacy, and science.
Together with my students, we'll explore the world through play; investigate new themed concepts; and unlock new social-emotional tools. As a former Kindergarten teacher I know your child will leave the Curiosity Cottage learning pod feeling confident and ready for the exciting next step of Kindergarten or first grade.
9:00 AM - Morning exploration and play
9:30 AM - Morning circle meeting
10:00 AM - Healthy morning snack (provided) accompanied by story
10:30 AM - Learning stations / "Project time" / 1-on-1 time
11:30 AM - Outdoor time
(12:00PM - Half-day students depart)
12:30 PM - Lunch time (packed from home)
1:30 PM - Indoor quiet time (e.g., puzzles, books, other calm activities)
2:30 PM - Movement & music time
3:00 PM - Reflection & goodbye meeting
We limit enrollment to four children. This allows greater focus on each child, and builds stronger bonds across the class.
In a small-group setting, I am able to understand your child's learning style and emotional needs very well, and can cater activities around this.
Running late or need to shift drop off?
Let's talk about how to make the pod stress-free for parents.
By limiting the number of students, and carefully following CDC guidelines, we are reducing the risk of exposure to COVID for children & their families.
Curiosity Cottage opens its doors on September 8, 2020 and operates Monday to Friday. We offer families two formats:
9am - 12pm
9am - 3pm
Early drop off and extended day available upon request
Professional Experience
Summer 2020- , Founder & Director
Curiosity Cottage, Scituate, MA
2016-2020, At-home mom
Scituate, MA
2013-2016, Founder & Director
Grow and Balances School, Richmond, VA
2011-2012, Kindergarten Teacher
Crossroads Academy, Lyme, NH
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Relevant Credentials
2012-2013, Student
Upper Valley Educators Institute, Lebanon, NH
2009-2010, Student
Boston Language Institute, Boston, MA
“I knew right away when I met Christina that she was a caring, loving soul; but what I couldn’t foresee was the laughter and joy she would infuse into my daughters’ lives. Not only are the days at her house filled with fun endeavors, but Christina facilitates each activity with a sincere enthusiasm, that is reflected in my girl’s life at home.”
- Ladak family, Grow & Balance family, 2016
“As a first-time mother of premature twins, I was very particular about who my children were in the care of. Christina immediately put my mind at ease and opened her heart to them. She was patient and understanding of each of their needs and created an environment that was safe to explore. I am grateful for my children’s time with her.”
- Ninan family, Grow & Balance family, 2016
"Christina is a natural teacher. Her gentle spirit and intelligence are a large part of her work. She has thoughtful responses to challenging student situations, is dedicated to her students, and is a reflective aware educator. One of Christina’s many strengths lie in her strong connection to her students. She holds a caring nurturing attitude towards all of her students. "
- L. Downs, Upper Valley Educators Institute, 2013
To learn more about enrollment for Fall 2020, please reach out using the Contact Us form.
251 Stockbridge Road, Scituate, Massachusetts 02066, United States
Monday - Friday: 9:00am - 3:00pm
Saturday - Sunday: Closed
The child remains at the heart of my teaching philosophy. I believe teaching begins with creating a connected environment, an environment where each child holds a unique relationship to me as their teacher as well as to one other.
Respect starts with taking the time to build a strong relationship with each student. I believe the art of relationship-building involves fostering a genuine interest in discovering, respecting, and nurturing each child’s innate talents and interests.
Observation is key to creating a child-specific learning plan. When observing children, I am always noting the child’s process during play, what materials and activities spark joy in each child, and how each child engages in play.
My approach is informed by a wide range of early childhood pioneers, including Reggio Emilia, Maria Montessori, and other child-centric thinkers. My ongoing studies continue to broaden my view of the child, and for this reason I have an endless love of learning more about human development and early education.
The classroom environment is often referred to as the third teacher in Reggio Emilia and Montessori classrooms. The reason for this is that the classroom plays an instrumental role in discovering who the child is. It empowers the earliest of learners to create stories, explore their imaginations, sing, dance, build, tinker, and create!
The benefits of outdoor time in childhood are countless. When children are outside they are learning problem-solving skills, engaging in self-exploration, practicing decision making, and thinking creatively and with imagination. I am a large proponent of children having as much time as possible exercising their bodies and minds outside!
Copyright © 2020 Curiosity Cottage - All Rights Reserved.
Made with love in Hingham, MA