Teachers Who Inspire: Travis Wright on Early Childhood Education

Travis Wright, currently head teacher at Laurus International Preschool & Kindergarten, brings experience, competence, and deep interest and care in how the youngest of students learn.

Great teaching takes vision, dedication, and someone who genuinely loves watching children grow, and Travis Wright has spent nearly two decades doing exactly that.  We catch up with Travis where, in his role, he oversees over 50 teachers and staff, to hear more about what makes early education so meaningful, and what makes Laurus special for the children and families who are part of it. 

Q: Tell us a little about yourself — how did you end up in education, and what keeps you here?

A: I am originally from Brisbane, Australia and decided to move to Japan in 2005. When I first arrived in Japan, I started working at a small language school (eikaiwa) teaching mostly adults but a few classes with children.

I felt that teaching children was much more rewarding - watching them grow, learn and adapt - so I moved on to teaching in a more focused preschool and kindergarten. I now have 17 years of experience in Early Education. 

Q: How long have you been at Laurus, and how has your role at Laurus evolved?

A: I am now in my ninth year at Laurus. When I first started, I was teaching at the K2 level (4 to 5 year-olds) before moving on to teaching the oldest grade of Year 1 (5 to 6 year-olds) and preparing them to join the Laurus Primary school. While leading the Year 1 class, I also took on the role of Curriculum Coordinator for both the K2 and Year 1 levels. As a Curriculum Coordinator, I helped further develop the content we teach to the students and ensure they are completely engaged with learning and having fun at school.  

Today, oversee and am responsible for the entire Laurus preschool and kindergarten as well as our extensive Saturday Program that encompasses preschool through to Year 6; I also have the role as the English Coordinator for our Laurus Online School. 

Laurus’s Saturday School Program, which Travis currently oversees, offers students to learn several subjects, including STEM, in English.

Q: What's your philosophy when it comes to teaching kids this age? How do you encourage kindergarten teachers at Laurus to adopt this approach?

A: My personal philosophy for teaching children is 'Learning through fun'. I enjoy seeing children having fun and not even realize they are learning new things as they overcome problems through play and inquiry-based learning.  For the teachers, I try to provide them with content, ideas, and enough freedom to allow them to also have fun with how they teach the students. If everyone is having a good time, it feels much less like learning and work. 

Q: What does a typical (or brilliant!) day in your kindergarten class look like?

A: Any day where the students surprise you by how much they can do by themselves. This could be as simple as a preschool student using the toilet by themselves to a Year 1 student reciting a two-minute speech they have memorized for their graduation. I particularly love seeing students in the K2 class, pick up a book and start reading it independently because they have learned the skills and confidence to do so. 

Travis, presenting a trophie to the little Laurus champions at the annual Sports Day

Q: How do you make sure every child feels confident and included?

A: As a teacher, it is very important to understand that every child is unique, and they don't all have the same goals, interests, or abilities. Every student should be taught to the upper limit and just beyond what they personally can do, and they should never be made to feel they are being compared with anyone else in the class. 

Q: What do you think makes Laurus special for children at this stage?

A: Laurus has always tried to put the students first. We challenge them to attempt things they never thought they could do. We show them that mistakes and failure are more powerful learning tools than getting everything right the first time. We allow them the freedom to be who they are and what they want to be. 

Prior to entering a vital leadship role as Laurus PreK Head Teacher, Travis was teaching K2 and Y1 kids.

Q: What can parents expect to see regarding their child's growth, from when kindergarten starts to when they graduate at Laurus?

A: More often than not, parents and new teachers to the school are always surprised by the level of understanding our students have across a range of subjects. This is because Laurus is not language school where English is taught, rather it is a school where everything is taught in English.  

Q: Based on your interactions with parents, what feedback about Laurus have you received?

A: Feedback from the parents about Laurus has always been mostly positive. Parents often comment on the care given to their children at Laurus and the growth they see day to day when they come home. Seeing the parents' reactions to their children's class when they're on stage at Performance Day usually tells us how happy they are.