Praxis Course: Thorne School Practicum: Bridging Research and Practice
Semester: Spring 2026
Faculty Advisor/Professor: Jodie Baird
Community Partner: Phebe Anna Thorne School
Praxis Site Supervisor: Jodie Baird
Praxis Poster:
PSYCH 215 Josie_Internicola_Tools to touch on
Further Context:
Through my Praxis Course this semester, I had the opportunity to work at the Phebe Anna Thorne School, where I was placed with the mixed-age afternoon class at the preschool on Bryn Mawr’s campus. The Thorne school’s relationship with the Bi-Co was a big draw for me when I was considering attending Haverford, but I hadn’t been able to find time to work at the school up until this semester. When I saw that this Praxis course (Thorne School Practicum: Bridging Research and Practice) offered the chance to combine working at the preschool with learning about early childhood psychology and education, I knew I had to take it. In class every week, we were able to explore various pedagogical approaches to preschool
education, as we discussed research and readings done outside of class, conducted conversations with early education practitioners of several kinds, and shared and reflected upon our own experiences from placement at the Thorne School.
The Thorne School follows a play-based and autonomy-supportive teaching practice, focused on students’ social-emotional development. My placement entailed spending three hours a week in the mixed-age classroom, where I worked with kids aged four- and five-years-old. I built relationships with the students; facilitated play, learning, and inter-personal dynamics; and assisted the teachers with organizational and programmatic tasks. Throughout the semester, I was able to develop my own educational skills, learning from my professor and peers in class, the preschool teachers I worked with, and the students I was assigned to. I learned more about the value of a play-based education, as I got to witness its benefits first-hand, and I found myself growing more intentional as an educator, thinking deeply about everything from my language to my pedagogical approach to learning and teaching. I was especially influenced by my exploration of autonomy-supportive learning and risky play at Thorne, as I was able to witness an environment in which students were encouraged to practice independence, develop confidence and appropriate self-reliance, and make choices for themselves. One example of this comes from the fact that kids could pretty much play with whatever they wanted to for however long they wanted to each day, rather than relying on teachers’ instructions or preferences. Getting to be a part of this setting expanded my understanding of what kids are capable of and provided an example for how I, as an educator, can actively care for children while simultaneously giving them the space they need to grow and flourish.
I feel incredibly grateful for the experiences and knowledge that I’ve gained as a result of this Praxis Course. The Phebe Anna Thorne School is a wonderful place, with welcoming teachers whom I could look up to as educators and remarkably kind students whom I was excited to see each week. The environment of learning and love fostered at Thorne is one that I hope to emulate in my own journey as an early childhood educator, and I know that I’ll keep this course and placement in mind as I continue to
explore education through a psychological, practical, and community-oriented lens.