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Posts |
Last Post |
| Is Standardized Testing Producing a Creativity Crisis? |
1 |
08/16/2010 |
ForumAdmin
08/16/2010 |
Is standardized testing producing a creativity crisis, or are the levels of American children’s creativity as strong as ever? Should creativity be encouraged and taught from a young age, or should today’s educators focus more on teaching content and let creativity develop naturally?
Share your thoughts around this topic and what you believe is critical to the future success of today’s children. |
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| Handling Inappropriate Sexual Behavior |
1 |
07/29/2010 |
ForumAdmin
07/29/2010 |
Although experts agree that sexual behavior is exhibited at a very young age, discussing sexuality in relation to young children can be taboo. It is important however, for parents and caregivers to feel comfortable with the topic and together work as partners in guiding appropriate behavior, while being able to identify inappropriate behavior. Establishing clear guidelines surrounding this subject and sharing them with parents is critical.
Looking for strategies on how to approach this subject with parents? Share what tips you’ve learned over the years. Or share your strategies for guiding appropriate behavior and reporting inappropriate behaviors in your classroom. |
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| Healthy Cooking in the Classroom |
1 |
06/16/2010 |
ForumAdmin
06/16/2010 |
What creative cooking activities have you used in the classroom? Share how you help the children in your classroom learn about healthy eating while developing fine-motor and problem-solving skills! |
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| Science Curriculum in the Early Childhood Classroom |
1 |
05/18/2010 |
ForumAdmin
05/18/2010 |
What simple materials have you used in the classroom to engage children in science? Is there an experiment that garnered wonder and excitement from the children in your classroom? Share how science has enhanced the curriculum in your classroom! |
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| The Outdoor Classroom |
1 |
04/14/2010 |
ForumAdmin
04/14/2010 |
As winter gives way to spring, the thoughts of both children and staff turn to the playground. Early spring is an ideal time not only to review the physical condition of your playground, but to review how you incorporate the "outdoor classroom" into your lesson planning.
What processes have you put into place to ensure the safety of children on the playground? What indoor activities have you successfully moved outdoors? Please share how you have incorporated the 'outdoor classroom' into your curriculum. |
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| Art and the Brain |
5 |
04/19/2010 |
ForumAdmin
03/05/2010 |
It is generally accepted that the arts including music and movement, dramatic play, and the visual arts should have a place in the early childhood curriculum. When touring a child care center, parents rarely ask "Why?" when they hear that their children will be engaged in drawing, painting, sculpting, dancing, or playacting activities. After all, art is fun and engaging and children like it! That is often reason enough.
What art materials or curriculum have you introduced in the classroom to encourage learning through art? Share how you have promoted discovery, development and creativity through the use of art in the classroom. |
Redbone
03/16/2010 |
I am employed at a Air Force Base CDC, the teacher's are preparing for Art Gallery, I would like to share some of the ideas:
Clay Creatures
Story Collages
Wood Art
Recycle Construction
Classroom Quilts
Felt Creations
Fabric Collages
Colored Sand Art
Pipe Cleaner Critters.
The teacher's introduced several art activities to the parent's and explained to the parent's the Goal's for the activities, because most parent's associate Art with just painting,drawing and scribbling and fail to see/understand the benefits of art. |
ECLaura
03/17/2010 |
I think this is a wonderful way to help children work on different projects that engage both fine and gross motor development, as well as encouraging them to use cognitive skills and creativity. Also, seeing their work on display improves social and emotional skills by increasing self-esteem and pride in one's own work! Putting all of these different types of very hands-on, expressive works on display also shows parents, other teachers and the children just how much there is out there beyond the usual stand-bys of an art program. Some of these, like the Recycyled Construction, would also tie well into themes, such as Green Week or Science. Thank you for sharing! |
giovannito
04/18/2010 |
I think this is one of my favorites parts...help the kids....like an assitant teacher....i love to prepared the project when they are enjoying the nap time.....i start thinking about the theme of the month......i use to work with babies 12-18 months and they like paint....in some childs i help them holding their little hand and i observe that for next project they have an idea what we gonna do.....they are ecxited to coloring....to glue....or do what ever the project is.....!!!!! i love to help my kids ..... in the classroom.... |
ECLaura
04/19/2010 |
It sounds like you do a great job of providing meaningful art experiences and planning and organizing them ahead. Art is such a great way to work with 12-18 month olds to improve motor development and it sounds like you do a great job of working with each child! |
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| Stress Management for Childcare Providers |
4 |
04/14/2010 |
ForumAdmin
02/05/2010 |
You are working and playing with children - what could be more fun? Yet you feel depleted and sometimes unappreciated at the end of the day. If this sounds all too familiar you might be suffering from occupational stress! This not only affects you as the caregiver, but also the quality of care that you are able to give. In order to be successful, caregivers need to look after themselves by managing their stress and finding a sense of balance in their life.
Have you implemented a plan to manage both your stress and the stress of your students? Share how you've reduced the stress in your classroom. Or, learn from your peers and get ideas for implementing your own plan! |
Lissa0604
04/02/2010 |
I usually work with four year olds, but this week, I worked with School Agers and to keep them interested and enjoying themselves, I had a student bring in a dance cd. I also treated them to some popcorn and Hawaiian Punch. I had fun watching them dance and also joined in a few times with them trying to teach me the dance steps. |
ECLaura
04/05/2010 |
Wonderful! It sounds like you avoided the possible stress associated with a new situation by preparing ahead of time and by embracing this new age group. I think a key stress-reducing tactic is to prepare yourself, your materials and your activities ahead of time (it's also helpful to have some backup plans). |
Zee
04/14/2010 |
A thought -if a teacher is stressed the children no matter what age pick up on that.I agree pre- pare materials and always a back up plan.It is worth taking that extra time at the end of the day to prep for the next.
this will help tremendously and will allow you to be more effective as a teacher. |
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| Staff Mentoring |
1 |
01/18/2010 |
ForumAdmin
01/18/2010 |
Mentoring is the process of sharing one’s knowledge and experience. Formal or informal, mentoring allows for the transfer of ideas and information between employees with different levels of experience. Creating a mentoring program in your early childhood center can create a supportive environment where both mentor and mentee can benefit and enjoy personal and professional growth.
Have you implemented a mentoring program in your early childhood center? Looking for tips on implementing a mentoring program? Share how you developed and introduced the mentoring program in your center. Or, request tips from those peers who have already instituted programs. |
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| Literacy in the Early Childhood Classroom |
1 |
12/16/2009 |
ForumAdmin
12/16/2009 |
Early literacy skills are vital to a child’s success and happiness at home, in school and eventually in the workplace. As an early childhood professional, you play a crucial role in helping young children develop their language skills. Whether you are with a child all day long or for just a couple hours, you have a tremendous opportunity (and some would say responsibility) to stimulate and foster the development of strong listening, speaking, writing and reading skills.
In what ways do you promote literacy in the early childhood classroom? |
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| Inviting Family into the Classroom |
3 |
08/02/2010 |
ForumAdmin
11/19/2009 |
Parent-teacher conferences can be a valuable tool for both parents and teachers. Taking advantage of this opportunity to collaborate can help parents become more involved in their child’s program and reap the benefits of creating a positive relationship with the child’s teacher.
What methods have you used to encourage Parent involvement in your program? |
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| Movement, Play and Physical Activities |
3 |
04/19/2010 |
ForumAdmin
11/19/2009 |
Most experts believe physical fitness is the result of practicing a physically active lifestyle. For young children, appropriate movement tasks and experiences can enhance overall body strength, bone density, and developmental functioning of the cardiovascular system.
What movement activities have you included in your curriculum to promote play and physical activity? |
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| Music in the Early Childhood Classroom |
1 |
11/19/2009 |
ForumAdmin
11/19/2009 |
The reasons why children should have many and varied musical experiences are numerous. Among them is the belief that children exposed to music have a greater motivation to communicate with the world, perhaps because music provides their first exposure to the existence and richness of their own culture, as well as the heritage and cultures of other people and regions. Perhaps it is because music can be a nonverbal form of communication and, therefore, can bridge the gaps among people of different backgrounds.
How are you introducing music activities in your classroom? |
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| Movement, Play and Physical Activities |
3 |
04/19/2010 |
giovannito
04/18/2010 |
We have the hat time...we put music every one put a hat and they start dancing, jumping...i think this activity makes them to be relax and happy.... |
ECLaura
04/19/2010 |
That sounds like a lot of fun! Thank you for sharing! |
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| Inviting Family into the Classroom |
3 |
08/02/2010 |
CMHALL
08/02/2010 |
My co teacher and I invite parents to make up and activity they would like to have the children participate in. We have a lot of parents do cooking projects with the children (fruit pizza, lemon sorbet - healthy food).
We also invite parents to come in (2 per month preferably) and read to the children, books that they or their children select from home.
We also ask our parents to chaperon our once a month field trip to a retirement home |
ECLaura
08/02/2010 |
All three of these activities are wonderful for involving parents while also providing learning opportunities for the children. You could also tie the first two together by inviting parents to share their home culture through food, stories and possibly wardrobe or games! |
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| Creating a Developmentally Appropriate Classroom |
1 |
08/14/2009 |
ForumAdmin
08/14/2009 |
A developmentally appropriate classroom is a safe, secure yet stimulating place where each child can initiate learning. It celebrates each child’s uniqueness and family background.
Let us know how you implement developmentally appropriate activities in your classroom. Post your best practice ideas that help make specific learning centers meet the needs of the children in your classroom. |
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| Leadership in the Early Childhood Classroom |
5 |
05/21/2010 |
ForumAdmin
07/09/2009 |
Mentoring can provide teachers with a structured and supportive entry into the child care profession. Mentors take a personal interest in their staff by guiding and helping them in their jobs. Experiences with a mentor can influence the outcome of adult learning. Please share your mentoring relationships. How important have they been in your professional development? |
shahravihasnain
07/11/2009 |
ITS VERY IMPORTANT CAUSE IT HELPS US TO BE MORE POWERFUL. ITS LIKE USING TWO BRAINS.MENTORS ARE EXPERIENCED SO THEY CAN ADVISE BETTER THAN US. |
queenann49
07/11/2009 |
Professional development is a daily struggle. It requires compassion in addition to experience. It requires touching sensitive areas of a persons life. It requires you to spring forth the best possible hidden values in a human soul. It requires much love for your fellow man and for yourself. It requires one to "not be selfish", but be willing to give knowledge and inspiration where hope may have been lost. |
ECLaura
07/13/2009 |
Thank you for sharing! It is true that "two brains are better than one" and that "[mentoring] requires one to 'not be selfish', but be willing to give knowledge and insipration where hope may have been lost."
How often have we felt lost or overwhelmed in our daily lives? How often would a guiding hand or a kind word have helped us to tackle what we had to deal with? Mentors can often be this person in the lives they touch.
We as educators are constantly being educated ourselves, and what better way than by someone we cam emulate?
The mentor relationship is a tricky one to establish and maintain, as it takes so much for both participants-an open mind, a willingness to learn, and much observation on the part of the person being mentored; and patience, generosity of spirit, and confidence in one's own skills as an educator in order to be a mentor.
Does anyone have an experience they'd like to share that they have had either as a mentor or with their own mentor? |
BIGGIRL
05/21/2010 |
Professional development is a daily struggle. It requires compassion in addition to experience, Working in the field for 15 years is a big much |
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| Play is Where Learning Begins. |
1 |
06/01/2009 |
ForumAdmin
06/01/2009 |
Teachers promote learning through everyday activities. Children come to think of themselves as learners as we interact with them to impart values, tell stories, ask questions, play games, and relay messages about the world and their place in the world. What types of activities do you offer in your classroom to encourage the love of learning? |
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| What do Parents Look for in a Child Care Center? |
1 |
05/08/2009 |
ForumAdmin
05/08/2009 |
In today’s competitive childcare market, customer service separates the quality programs from the mediocre ones, and can often make the financial differences in increased enrollments that make quality programming possible. By giving customers “added touches” that are supplemental to quality care for their children; your center sets the stage for gaining a reputation for good customer service. What are some “added touches” that your center provides to the families you serve? |
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| How to Spot and Help a Child in Need |
1 |
04/17/2009 |
ForumAdmin
04/17/2009 |
In order to express their wants and needs, young children must learn how to effectively communicate with others. What are some steps teachers, parents, and other caregivers can take to facilitate a child’s communication skills? |
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| How Does Your Garden Grow? |
3 |
03/16/2009 |
administrator
03/12/2009 |
It's that time of the year! Time to start thinking about gardening!
What are some of the ways you have introduced gardening into your curriculum? What have you found to be successful? What have been your challenges? Please share activities that you have included in your daily classroom that use the garden in learning. |
sadgirl
03/15/2009 |
my first time that I do is prepare brefast and then sing for 1 1/2hr. then we go out side and play for 30hr |
ecsfields
03/16/2009 |
Sadgirl,
Thank you for posting to this discussion. Thank you for sharing a portion of your daily routine. Have you incorporated gardening into any of the activities you engage in with your children? Please share any of the activities you have introduced to the children in your care. |
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| Active Learning in Early Childhood |
4 |
04/18/2010 |
administrator
03/03/2009 |
Please refer to course CCEI122
Movement is the preferred mode of learning for young children. Active learning that combines elements of cognitive, social/emotional, and physical domains builds a bridge between mind and body. Please share how you incorporate these active learning concepts in your lesson planning. We would love to hear your creative ideas and comments! |
teach4life
03/10/2009 |
Most of my older toddlers and young twos love to play see-saw on the capret or grass.
I taught them when they were young toddlers by sitting one child in my lap, and the other child opposite and linking their hands. All three of us did the sway of the see-saw and the little song, "see-saw." Eventually they learn to see-saw without teacher's help.
It is a great tool that touches all developmental domains. Won't you give it a try with yours? |
ecsfields
03/16/2009 |
Thank you for posting this activity teach4life. I hope everyone tries this with their class, it is a great movement activity and an informal assessment of the children's cognitive skills once they begin to repeat the activity without your assistance. |
giovannito
04/18/2010 |
They love to make sounds.....when i show them for example a cow they love to make the sounds mooooo!!! the chiks....they love to make the sounds pio.. pio.. we have different cains of farm animals and they love to play with those....and they love to sing showing expressions with the face hands etc..... |
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| Selecting Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum |
1 |
05/15/2008 |
administrator
05/15/2008 |
Please refer to the related course CCEI1001- Curriculums- Do you really need one?
In your experience, how does a well implemented curriculum effect your learning environment? |
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| The CDA Assessment Process |
20 |
08/16/2010 |
administrator
04/21/2008 |
Please refer to the related course CCEI3001- The CDA Assessment
System
Share your ideas with other colleagues preparing for the CDA Assessment. How is your Professional Resource File organized? What tips can you provide for preparing and obtaining Parent Questionnaires? How long did the CDA Assessment process take for you to complete? |
nadiutta
01/16/2010 |
I actually never finished it because I did the course while I was not working in a daycare. Now I work in the public school, but in the food service. I'm waiting to find a work as teacher aid in head start or VPK so I can have my training hours, the visiting, the parents questionnaire etc... |
ECLaura
01/18/2010 |
Good! You have up to five years from your graduation date on your transcript to move forward with the Council for Professional Recognition and all of their requirements. I hope you find the position soon, and all of the process requirements are on the Council's website at www.cdacouncil.org
Good luck! |
nadiutta
01/20/2010 |
I'm having an interview this week for a VPK Lead Teacher position. Do you know if that count as a training for the CDA? Can they do the visit in the public school?
Thank you for the time line, I didn't' know about that. |
ECLaura
01/20/2010 |
Good afternoon Nadiutta,
The CDA Training requirement is specific to formal education. You need to have documentation of approved training (such as our online coursework) in order to meet their 120 hour requirement. Interviews and other experiences wouldn't count as formal education. Did you complete your online CDA Program with us? If so, you've already met that requirement. If not, you might want to consider re-enrolling to finish. You must have the training complete before moving on to the other steps.
As far as where the visit can be, once you have applied to the Council for a Verification Visit and you hear from the representative, you can decide on a mutually agreeable meeting location.
Good luck with your credentialing process and your interview! |
nadiutta
01/22/2010 |
Thank you, yes I finished the National CDA with this website, but then I received a long list of more things to do....
So if I get that job then I'll request the Application Form from the CDA Council and will do everything else.. |
ECLaura
01/25/2010 |
Great! Good luck with the job and your CDA credentialing process! |
grammy
02/01/2010 |
Waiting to be able to take my final exams. Only thing is I am no longer working in a classroom. I am thinking it will be difficult to obtain parent questinaires if I am not in a classroom.
Not to sure about my cometency statements either. I first obtained my CDA 20 years ago. What is required for the professinal portfolio is a little different. 20 years ago we had someone here on site helping us with it. Hard for me. |
a1n2n3h4
05/07/2010 |
I am ta |
nadiutta
05/08/2010 |
Grammy, I would love to have somebody here on site to tell me what to do....
I'm still not working... |
maymay
06/05/2010 |
Hi I need to renew my CDA can I use these courses to do that and if I pay for the annual membership can I take as many courses ads I want?? |
ECLaura
06/07/2010 |
MayMay, you can definitely use our CDA Renewal Program to meet the Council's Training Requirements for the CDA Renewal. You can contact one of our Admissions Representatives to discuss your options! 1.800.499.9907 ext 523.
Nadiutta, you can complete your coursework with CCEI without currently being in the center, but one of the Council's Eligibility Requirements for pursuing your CDA Credential is 480 contact hours working with young children in a licensed setting within the last five years, and you must be working in a center when applying to the Council.
For more information on their requirements, you can go to their website: www.cdacouncil.org or give them a call: 1.800.424.4310. The first step, however, is to gain employment. You cannot apply for or go through the Verification Visit until you are employed in a center. Good luck! |
ECLaura
06/07/2010 |
Grammy, I apologize-the information I just posted for Nadiutta was for you as well. Good luck! |
Zee
07/03/2010 |
Hi, I have been a substitute teacher for over 15 years and have worked for 18 months in a pre k and daycare setting.I also am enrolled in your in your course program.
My question is, once i finish my courses can that
then get transfered into your CDA selflearning courses?
That your institute provides.I am a pre-k and daycare and daycare assistant and know I have over 450 hours.
Thank you
Zee |
Zee
07/19/2010 |
Once I finish my online 120 proffessional developement courses.Will I recieve a certificate.
stating this? |
tina
08/14/2010 |
where can i get a cda |
tina
08/14/2010 |
where can i get a cda |
nadiutta
08/15/2010 |
"and you must be working in a center when applying to the Council"
Somebody on this website when I called for information, told me that I could do the classes the same, even without being working at that time.....But now I see.....They just got my money for the classes and now I'll never found a job for the requested hours of experience before the 5 years. So then if I want to apply I will have to re-take the classes again... |
ECLaura
08/16/2010 |
Good morning Tina,
We offer training that meets the formal education requirement (the first step in the Credential Process laid out by the Council for Professional Recognition) for earning your CDA. If you do not yet have the 120 hours of formal education complete, you can contact our Admissions Department and they can discuss your options with you. You can call 1.800.499.9907 ext 523.
If you have already completed the formal education component of the CDA process, then you will need to contact the Council directly for your CDA Candidate Application Packet. Their number is 1.800.424.4310.
We are proud of you as you seek to increase your own professional development and hope to be of service to you as you work toward your credential! |
ECLaura
08/16/2010 |
Good morning Naduitta,
I apologize for any confusion that you may be experiencing, but there are two requirements that we need to discuss here. I hope to clarify these requirements and the CDA process for you.
Yes you are able to take the coursework if you are not currently working in a center. So you were able to pursue the educational component of your credential and gain professional development as you searched for a job. You are able to complete the educational component of the credentialing process with us without being currently employed. You have up to five years from your graduation date to take your coursework to the Council. Having 480 hours of contact with children and currently working in the center is a Council requirement, not a CCEI requirement.
So you have the educational component taken care of and now have documentation to that effect-this is a wonderful first step! It is a reflection on you and your professionalism that you took this first step that many employers might appreciate as you look for a job. |
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| Encouraging Parent Participation |
1 |
03/25/2008 |
administrator
03/25/2008 |
Please refer to the related courses CCEI520 & CCEI520P1 – Parent Communication and Family Involvement.
Good communication between parents and caregivers in the early childhood setting is very important. Good communication can encourage the parents to get involved with events at the child care facility, which is a benefit for the children. According to the National Parent Teacher Association, parent’s involvement in their children’s school has a positive effect on the children’s self-esteem. How do you help to include working parent’s in your school activities? |
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| Preparing for a Licensing Visit |
11 |
04/07/2009 |
administrator
02/15/2008 |
Please refer to the related course CCEI959 – Legal Issues for Directors
Early care programs must comply with many state and federal laws. Specifics may vary from state to state so it is important to become aware of your state’s regulations. Children’s safety is generally handled by licensing. Licensing includes many areas. It may include staff qualifications, safety, teacher/child ratios, social services, sanitation, health services and nutritional services. What is your biggest struggle in preparing for a licensing visit? |
lizimr63
02/18/2008 |
yes why not |
Kita
02/19/2008 |
well for this year state has not come yet but the things we are trying to get together is our paperwork. From sleepcharts to immunizations and physicals. We have everything but sometimes when we enroll kids quickly you kind of slip over it. |
deka
03/02/2008 |
We are preparing for a state visit coming in May. We are basicaly getting together our calssroom portfolios right now. Its fun!!! |
hby174
03/21/2008 |
The biggest challenges are admitting that your program is deficient in whatever area(s), fixing the issues, and then educating all of your employees about what was wrong and how you plan to fix it so that it doesnt happen in the future (especially when they have the "but we've always done it like that" mentality. |
teach4life
03/10/2009 |
As a lead teacher, I have worked with different co teachers for ratio purposes.
Most coteachers I have had come in with an attitude that they know it all. But they don't!
You would be surprised to know that I have seen bleach for the diaper table used to clean a table after lunch, while the children are sitting down. As soon as I saw it, I stopped it, of course! (The bottle is marked DIAPER TABLE ONLY!)
This is only one the sorts of problems I fear during our assessment. |
ecsfields
03/16/2009 |
Teach4life,
Thank you for posting to this discussion. I understand how frustrating it can be to work with someone who does not necessarily follow proper procedures or processes in the center. I do encourage you to express the importance of upholding the proper procedures and policies to your co-teachers. You can inform them of their responsibility if they do not adhere to providing quality child care, which includes everything from following the routine of your classroom all the way up to upholding the requirements of any center accreditation your center may have earned. |
pacsmom
04/05/2009 |
We are currently preparing for a licensing visit. Our past director recently resigned and I have stepped into the interim role as I complete my CDA. The toughest thing I have come across is fixing things that were left undone. I found a staff person with no file!! How do you fix that? |
tam
04/07/2009 |
The hardest task i have with preparing for a licensing visit is getting my parents to make sure that their child's folder is up to date. |
ecsfields
04/07/2009 |
Hi pacsmom,
It is really tough to "clean up" after someone else and unfortunately you have to do this while satisfying your CDA requirements. The only thing you can do about the teacher's file is to have the teacher collect all of the documents required. If there is information you need to have documented from the time the previous director was active, you will need to back track as much as possible and get the file updated. If you have a person you can place in charge of file inventory, this will be help to free you up from a paper chase and you can check in with that person on a weekly basis. I wish you the best and I hope your visit goes off without a hitch! |
ecsfields
04/07/2009 |
Hi tam,
Getting parent participation can be tricky. One tip I can offer is to tie some type of incentive or make a friendly competition to complete the task, in this case updating the child's file. Perhaps, you can highlight the parent(s) who have an updated file and feature them in an area of the classroom visible to all of the parents or in a class/school newsletter. Before you know it, you will have parents coming to you with all the info you need to complete their child's file. |
|
| Healthy Bodies and Growing Minds |
7 |
01/18/2010 |
administrator
01/03/2008 |
Please refer to the related courses CCEI 530A, 530B, 540B, 540C, & 550
Providing healthy meals and snacks in the childcare setting is a great way to encourage children to form lifelong good eating habits. Cooking is a very enjoyable activity for most children and a wonderful window of opportunity for both teaching and learning. Please share some of your fun recipes and cooking activities. |
ruth
01/04/2008 |
Cooking is enyoyable activity for some of the kids. They love pasta and pancakes,and other healthy foods. |
ecdsowles
01/04/2008 |
Thanks for sharing Ruth!
Here is recipe that is tasty and very easy to make. You can also turn this into a science lesson as liquid will be turned into solid.
(Adult Supervison is Must)
Perfect Peachy Freeze- Serves: 3
Serving size: 4 oz. (1/2 cup)
Ingredients:
1/2 c. milk
1 c. sliced peaches (they can be either fresh or canned)
1 tsp. sugar
Utensils:
ice cube tray
blender
serving dishes
Directions:
1.Pour the milk into an ice cube tray and freeze until solid.
2.Pop the "milk cubes" out of the tray and put them into the blender. Then put the peaches and sugar into the blender.
3.Put the lid on the blender and blend on high speed until everything is all mixed together and very smooth.
4.Pour your Perfect Peachy Freeze into serving dishes and serve right away.
65 Calories, 2g protein, 0g fat,15g carbs, 1mg cholesterol, 25mg sodium, 53mg calcium, 0.3mg iron |
quanna
01/17/2008 |
the health is very good |
lizimr63
01/28/2008 |
the healthy body is need to exelent food and exercise for development of the child |
nadiutta
01/16/2010 |
When I was working in a daycare I was in the kitchen. And I tried my best to give more healthy food to the kids. For example instead of precooked chicken patties I start ordering fresh chicken breast. I sliced them and bake them in the oven.
Or instead of french fries (the frozen one) I start ordering fresh potatoes. Which I would have boiled or roasted with some herbs.
The owner was also very happy about the kitchen budget! ;) Fresh food cost less than processed food. |
ECLaura
01/18/2010 |
That's great! Sometimes it is easy to get stuck in the mindset that fresh always equals expensive. As you have pointed out, that is not always the case! The closer we can get to the natural state of the food item, the healthier it is for the children. It is a matter of doing some research and price-comparing. You might be pleasantly surprised to find out just how many fresh items you can fit into your budget! |
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| Science Center Activities |
1 |
11/15/2007 |
administrator
11/15/2007 |
Please refer to the relate course: CCEI440 – Sensational Science
For young children, developmentally appropriate science is the discovery of information through the exploration of real materials. Children learn by touching, tasting, feeling, seeing and hearing the world around them. Please share the Science Center Activities that have been successful in your classroom. |
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| Learning Centers in Your Classroom |
1 |
09/20/2007 |
administrator
09/20/2007 |
Please refer to related courses: CCEI450A Launching Learning Centers in Your Classroom, CCEI 450B Liven up Your Learning Centers
By including learning centers in the classroom, where materials are grouped together to encourage play and exploration, children’s activities become more meaningful to them.
Common Learning Centers Include: Art, Book, Listening, Music and Movement.
A favorite is the Block Center! Please share your experiences with adding new materials and enrichment activities in the Block Center. |
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| Positive Reinforcement |
11 |
08/02/2010 |
administrator
08/29/2007 |
Please refer to the related course CCEI 660- Supporting Appropriate Choices: The Preschool Teacher and Classroom Discipline.
Discipline is a word that means to teach. It is a positive means of setting limits that leads to a child developing self-control and responsibility.
Some Positive discipline strategies include: Distraction, Redirecting, Setting Limits and Positive Reinforcement.
Please share your experiences and helpful tips for guiding children towards appropriate choices in the preschool setting. |
MCT
09/20/2007 |
I recently had an experience where someone was using a stoplight and moving kids from green to yellow to red when they did not behave. I do not believe this is good positive discipline. The teacher has changed the system, gotten rid of the stoplight, and now the children earn points when they are seen exhibiting good behavior traits. |
MSC
09/20/2007 |
Author Ken Blanchard tells us that the best way to positively change behavior is to "Catch someone doing something right". Blanchard's premise is a perfect example of Positive Reinforcement. A direct and focused acknowledgment of good behavior helps children understand what is correct. In addition, the happy feelings associated with the good behavior leaves the child wanting more compliments and results in the negative behavior diminishing. |
teach4life
03/10/2009 |
Whenever I can, I try to develop a closer relationship with my children by talking, reading, hugs, encouragement, asking questions, etc., so that if a problem ever arises, I have already cemented a relationship. From there, I can get closer to what is really bugging the child that day....Is he/she tired, hungry, wants to be alone, bored, needs to play outside, needing a hug, etc.
When you invest time with a child in a positive way before there is ever a discipline problem, you can expect the outcome to be smoother and have better results.
Has anyone else found this kind of interaction to help? |
MrsP
09/26/2009 |
Re: Positive Reinforcement |
shahravihasnain
09/28/2009 |
I like the method of teach4life. Its a wonderful one to do with kids.Being a human we all need love and love makes everything work smooth and long lasting. I love my kids very much and they do what ever I want. I do what they want and play in a way with them where I teach them the rules and regulations as well as discipline them.If I give them a lecture they forget but teaching them in a play way method they remember and get practiced and finally it becomes a habit. |
ECLaura
09/28/2009 |
You have all made valid points and shared wonderful insights into the value of positive discipline for the development of young children. I agree that forming and maintaining strong relationships is a vital part of any meaningful teacher/student relationship, and that this relationship can promote positive discipline in the classroom.
In using positive discipline, we are attempting to guide the child toward appropriate choices and behaviors. It makes complete sense that we would guide them toward positive choices by focusing on positivity ourselves! I enjoyed the citation from Ken Blanchard about catching someone doing something right. We need to seek out and reward positive actions and outcomes in our classrooms.
One powerful tool is to review your classroom rules or limits. Are they stated in terms of the behavior that is expected? Are they stated positively? Or are they a "laundry list" of what not to do? Maybe your first step toward positive discipline can be to reword any negatively phrased rules in a positive manner. Instead of "No running", how about "We walk in the classroom"?
Does anyone else have any techniques, tips, or insights to share with the rest of the group? |
grammy
10/13/2009 |
This is the first year in a long time that we have had to use a behavioral chart in the classroom. The one that we use is similar to the "stop light" MSC mentioned above. We use the colors green, yellow, orange and red. Everyone starts off on green everyday, you get one warning then it's on to yellow, then orange and a time out, if it gets to red then it's a talk with parents. I work with 4&5 year olds, and this year they are a very young bunch of 4's. We have 3 children that have special needs that no one wants to "label" so it is hard to know how to address the behaviors. Are they just behavior issues? We don't know. We try to "let go" and let one do or not do as he chooses(we were advised to do this) but what about the other 19 that also want that choice. And by choices I mean walking around with as little clothing as he chooses. Music and movement time he just wants to crawl around between his friends legs. When he sees something he wants he takes or shoves or has even bitten for the item. We are trying to reward good behavior in hopes that he notices and will want to choose good behavior. "I like the way Johnny and Suzie are building with blocks together.." "Thank you Joey for cleaning up your snack things" The other two are, stated only by the parents, have aspergers and one ADHD which I believe there is more than just the ADHD.
Any suggestions? |
ECLaura
10/16/2009 |
Grammy, it sounds like you are trying to handle a difficult situation the best you know how. It's hard enough to balance everyone's wants and needs in the ECE classroom, but now you have some new members of the class that require additional accommodation.
I do have a website and some resources that can help you with the social and emotional development aspect of these behaviors. If you go to www.vanderbilt.edu/csefel/, you will find resources and links, including a section called Book Nook with a recommended book and handouts on Social Emotional Teaching Strategies from The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning. If you create activities throughout the day based on themes, it will lend a comforting continuity to each day while also teaching key social-emotional development concepts. It will most likely take time for any of these concepts to take hold, but creating a routine and a cohesiveness of concepts throughout the day could teach him the "survival skills" they need to get through each day.
Rewarding positive behavior, as you mentioned you do, is another good tool. I once heard "catch them doing good"-notice them doing something positive when they weren't prompted to do so, praise them out loud, and offer a reward. That way, the students know that not only are you watching, but that you're seeking out ways to acknowledge their good behavior. Also, try to befriend the child, getting close enough to start a dialogue if possible. Communicate to this child that he is a valued member of the class, that you are glad he is here, and that you want him to be happy and learn. On Monday When It Rained by Cherryl Kachenmeister is a great book for introducing and discussing feelings with the class. His behavior might be stemming from a feeling of lack of control: give him a "task" or two to do every day. His behavior might be stemming from lack of self-esteem: focus activities for a week or more on confidence and self-esteem. He might have tension and stress at home that manifests itself in the behaviors he presents at the center. Building trust and opening a dialogue will go a long way in getting to the root of his difficulties.
You'll just want to be careful not to slip into the role of "diagnostician"-you're not there to "figure it out"-you're there to work with the child, and if there are red flags, to report them to the administration and possibly the parents. You are this child's ally and friend, and as daunting a task as it may seem, I know you can do it! The simple fact that you're concerned enough to post here shows how much you care! |
CMHALL
08/02/2010 |
I have done many different things to control behavior in my classroom. I work in preschool and I had one child who, no matter what we told him to do, he would do exactly the opposite and we figured out that always correcting him was doing nothing. My center doesn't not allow us to use rewards for good behavior, so I asked me boss if I could use a reward chart for him , only I would ask the parents to provide the reward. We did that. His reward was he was only to bring home our classroom bunny for a weekend. Within 3 days, the behavior problems all but vanished and he is well on his way to bringing the bunny home.
I also catch children doing what they are supposed to do and compliment them and I very quickly have 16 children doing the same so they can get the compliment as well.
I have very loving relationships with all my children and that can help behavior issues as well as inhibit. I say this because some children will try and use that relationship to push their boundaries. I am not saying you shouldn't have close relationships with your children, but we weary because the little ones can be sneaky sometimes =) |
ECLaura
08/02/2010 |
These are excellent suggestions for people who find themselves in more restrictive environments like your center! Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful ideas, CMHALL! |
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| Curriculum Selection |
4 |
07/15/2010 |
administrator
07/06/2007 |
Please refer to the related course CCEI 700: Planning an Early Childhood Environment that Promotes Creativity.
As Early Childhood Professionals we provide an environment that supports creativity in young children. Themes are main topics or ideas which classroom activities are planned. They help provide creative opportunities for the development of learning skills.
Please share your favorite themes. We would love to hear your creative ideas and comments. |
Teresa
04/21/2009 |
My Favorite Theme was Dirt
The activities that we learn from that was what lives in dirt. Things we also learn what can grow in dirt. We also ate worms and watch the movie How To Eat Fried Worms.... The kids loved that love making mud pies growing plants etc.......... |
ECLaura
04/27/2009 |
Dirt is a wonderful theme Teresa! It opens up so many discussions for science, and gets children involved in a hands-on way in the world that surrounds them! Your activities sound great! Another fun one for children is to make edible "dirt":
Either as a class or on your own as prep time, prepare chocolate pudding and divide into enough individual portions for each member of the class.
Top the chocolate pudding with either chocolate wafer crumbs or crumbled chocolate cake, and then top each one with a few gummy worms.
Now each person in the class will have their own cup of dirt to enjoy, and the conversation about dirt can move further. You can expand it into dirt making mud, worms living in dirt and what they do for the soil, etc.
Great job and thank you for your insightful post! |
Landers
07/15/2010 |
I was wondering if any one know if we are to write a lesson plan for a week or just write about the process of writing a lesson plan in chapter 18? |
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