About Me
Kia ora koutou, I’m Gabbie, a fully qualified and registered early childhood teacher with broad experience across all age groups. I live in Rolleston with my husband, our two tamariki, and our turtle, Strolly.
Originally from Tāhuna, Queenstown, I moved to Ōtautahi with my husband for work. While we still visit Queenstown often, Christchurch has become our home and a wonderful place to raise our whānau.
Outside of my teaching role, I enjoy early morning runs, listening to podcasts, and always having music on in the background. My girls and I share a love for sweet treats and weekend movie nights.
Places We Like To Visit
Tiny Nation events
Pop-up playgroups
Library visits
My Hours
Monday - Friday: 9:00am to 2:30pm
My Philosophy
My teaching is guided by the work of theorists such as Magda Gerber, Emmi Pikler, Vygotsky, Pere, and Durie, and centres on building respectful, trusting relationships. I prioritise making tamariki feel safe, nurtured, and valued as individuals.
I recognise each child as capable, competent, and curious learners. I follow a play based curriculum where children lead their own learning through exploration, while I support them with intentional teaching moments along the way. Above all, I want every tamaiti in my care to feel loved, supported, and encouraged in their early learning journey.
My Environment
Our home environment is calm, cosy, and thoughtfully set up to reflect the needs and interests of tamariki. Open ended resources are readily available and refreshed regularly to inspire creativity and support individual development.
We embrace a home away from home feel, where children feel part of our whānau and are supported emotionally, socially, and physically. With the benefit of small group ratios, we often head out on walks, bike or scooter rides, and enjoy nature and the many amazing local playgrounds nearby.
My Training
I hold a Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education through Te Rito Maioha. I am a fully registered teacher and hold a current child first aid certificate through Hato Hone St John.