Nick Zanoria is a long time Southern California native, having graduated high school and college in Los Angeles. He received his BA in Sociology as an undergraduate at UCLA, where he also minored in Education. He later returned to UCLA where he received his Master’s of Education with the Teacher Education Program. In addition to this formal education, Nick has received extensive training in experiential education as well instruction in the inquiry based FOSS science curriculum.
The core principle that frames and directs Mr. Zanoria’s teaching is his firm belief in the power of play. Children’s play, as most parents and preschool teachers can attest to, is serious business. In the course of their playing, children follow their natural curiosity and explore their world as well as create brand new worlds from their imagination; they negotiate norms and social mores with playmates; they investigate the laws of the physics and nature by experimenting with cause and effect.
Through all of these activities, children’s minds and attentions are actively engaged in what they are doing. This provides the perfect opportunity for educators to make the curriculum and the process of learning both meaningful and enjoyable for their students. Nick believes that by presenting curriculum in a way that invites curiosity and inquiry, students will be more involved in the process of seeking out and critically examining information. Additionally, by providing students with opportunities to interact, collaborate, and even compete with their peers, students are not only able to actively connect with the content but also with their own learning as well.
In his free time, Nick enjoys staying active and spending time outdoors. Whether he’s running around the neighborhood with his dog, exploring the trails of the San Gabriel Mountains with his family, or playing golf with his friends, Nick is most at home surrounded by his loved ones and the sublime beauty of the world around him.
