Author: brunk

About brunk

Susan Brunk has a Masters Degree in Education. She taught children in both public and private elementary and early childhood settings for more than ten years before she made the transition to educating teachers. Since beginning her journey with Stepping Stone School over five years ago, Susan has written several portions of our Platinum Learning for Life™ curriculum and has created valuable teacher education modules to improve the standard of education within our company. Through her years of teaching experience, research, and raising four children of her own, Susan has obtained a valuable understanding of developmentally appropriate practice which is demonstrated through her interactions with teachers and children alike.

09 Jan 2023

7 Simple Ways to Teach Manners and Etiquette to Children

“Let’s play Fancy Restaurant, Mommy!” 3 ½ year old Eva suggested before dinner. “How do you play Fancy Restaurant?” her Read More

Character Development

23 Nov 2022

The Empathy Nook at Stepping Stone School

Stepping Stone School is proud to introduce the Empathy Nook™ a safe place within our Prekindergarten classrooms for children to Read More

Emotional and Social Development

26 May 2020

The Necessity of Beauty

Four-year-old, Jamie stood motionless in front of a flower. Moving closer, I noticed a small white butterfly perched on the Read More

12 Aug 2019

Helping Young Children Understand Fairness

A teacher invited the children to sit down for circle time. Holding up a box of band-aids, she asked the Read More

Character Development • Joyful Parenting

05 Aug 2019

Creating Child Initiated Learning Opportunities at Home

Nurturing self-directed learning is a combination of allowing for free and loosely-guided play and activities. Cultivating curiosity and independence in Read More

Art and Creative Expression • Joyful Parenting

01 Jul 2019

How to Instill Responsibility and Independence in Your Child

Over the last several weeks, I have been working with my children to instill a sense of responsibility and independence Read More

Character Development • Joyful Parenting

03 Jun 2019

5 Ways to Develop Empathy

This month at Stepping Stone School, we are focusing on the development of Empathy as a part of our Read More

Character Development

17 May 2019

1.4 million words

Astounding new research estimates that young children who have been read to multiple times a day from infancy until they Read More

Brain Development • Child Development • Cognitive and Phonological Development • Raising a ... • Writing and Literacy Readiness

06 May 2019

Supporting the Understanding and Development of Ownership

Fred Rogers, the host of Mister Rogers Neighborhood, testified before the Senate in 1969 discussing the need for the continued Read More

Character Development • Joyful Parenting

08 Apr 2019

3 Important Ways to Communicate with Your Infant

For a new parent, it can be frustrating not knowing what your infant’s wants and needs are. What does a Read More

Brain Development • Joyful Parenting