Preschool Network
Next meeting: Thursday,May 24, 2012
Location: Northern Lights Children's Daycare, Keene (see link)
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?address=130+Pinecrest+Avenue&city=Keene&state=ON&zipcode=K0L&country=CA
Time: 6:30 - 8:00
Topic: How can we support the quiet child in our programs? What do they look like and what do they need?
Notes from March meeting:
The lovely warm weather may have proven too tempting to resist. However, a very small group watched a video clip looking at introversion and had a lively discussion afterwards.
Notes from January meeting:
Participants from 5 centres gathered in the small but cozy site at Trent Immaculate Conception (serving preschoolers through to school age).
We began with a discussion of some dramatic centres. With the late arrival of winter, many centres now have activities dealing with such activities as ice fishing, snowshoeing, winter camping and igloos.
One teacher had a creative way to deal with a slippery and unsafe playground. Preparing her kindergarten aged group beforehand, she explained they would go outside only on their hands and knees. Building on their dramatic centre, they became polar bears who hunted the fish which the teacher had gathered in a bucket. She slid the fish off in all directions and the children/polar bears retrieved them. After 45 minutes, the polar bears were finally full!
We also talked about how popular tents and other enclosed areas can be. One important thing they can provide is a quiet space for children to take a break from always being in a large group.
We moved on to hear a bit about the Project Approach which some centres are trying out. One member of the group discussed how her site has begun to explore this, spending more time observing and discussing with the children and documenting more of their activities. The discussion also moved around to cover challenges with rest time, flexible approaches to group time and providing parents with suggestions for behaviour guidance.
Here is one website which has some examples of the Project Approach with a link to one of the projects: The Cheesy Pizza Project
http://ecrp.uiuc.edu/v11n2/gallick.html
Other links:
Sensory Sachets: http://playfullylearning.blogspot.com/2011/12/sensory-sachets.html
Just for fun !: http://www.drawastickman.com/
Notes from November meeting:
“Play is a means to early learning that capitalizes on children’s natural curiosity and exuberance.”
We started with a discussion about play based on the above principle from the ELECT document. Participants talked about their memories of play, some of the ways play has changed and what are some of the things we value in play.
The second half of the evening was spent sharing ideas for sensory experiences.
· polished stones on a tray with picture of stones on a beach displayed above
· using stones on a mirrored surface
· adding candles to playdough and the dramatic centre
· coffee grounds alone or with sugar cubes
· sugar cubes with winter props
· using real firewood on playground for a pretend campfire ( the children had access to about 20 pieces and worked hard carrying and problem-solving to find the right spot)
· mittens/tuques in a bin to try on
· mittens suspended by clothes pegs over snow in a bin
· oatmeal with magnets/metal bowls and lids
· cooked spaghetti
· cut-up oranges, lemons and limes in water
· coloured rice with small items hidden (include a photo of hidden items like a I Spy bottle)
· soil in sensory bin with grass seed/bean seeds
· fresh sod in sensory bin
· new foods to try (dragon fruit, seaweed, pomegranate, star fruit, etc.)
· hiding things in ice and letting children excavate them (using appropriate safety gear)
· things for sensory bin - rice, shredded wheat, Cheerios, mixed beans, flax seed, pea gravel, coarse salt, flour
Previous Meeting: Thursday, September 22, 2011
16 Early Childhood Educators attended the meeting.
The larger group broke into smaller groups to talk about areas they would like to focus on over the coming year. When the smaller groups returned, there was some discussion about the results of their conversations. Here is a list of discussion points:
Possible Guest Speaker Topics:
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
- Autism Spectrum
- Speech and Language
- Attachment Disorders
- Puppets
- Bringing the outdoors in, and the indoors out.
- Affects of Full Day Early Learning - Have an ECE working in the program come to a meeting.
- Compassion Fatigue
- Transitioning from theme-based programming to a more emergent style of programming
- What's up with the increasing number of children with physical or behavioural challenges
Ongoing group discussions:
E.L.E.C.T./ELF and how to implement it your program
Full day early learning and how it is affecting preschool programs
Learning stories and observations
Next Meeting: Thursday, November 24, 2011
Location: Strath MacLean Child Care Centre
Time: 6:30 to 8:00
Topic: Sensory experiences. Everyone (one per program is ok) is to bring a sensory experience to show the group. Pictures are also welcome if your sensory experience is too difficult to bring to a meeting.
ELECT Principle Discussion: A planned curriculum supports early learning.
- What does this mean to you?
- What is a planned curriculum?
- How does a planned curriculum support early learning?
Resources and links from past discussions
Do you have a resource or link to share? Contact Trish to get your information on the website. trishb@raisingthebarptbo.ca
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