Learning Experience Plans - The More Detailed the Better!

Most early childhood educators spend a good portion of their time writing the learning experience plans for their classroom. Some plans are extremely detailed (especially if it is an accredited or school readiness center) and some are very basic. Plans are a very important part of every early childhood classroom.

My personal belief is the more detailed the learning experience plan the better! They are a lot of work, but they help create the best classroom environments! Plans should be written out in a way that would allow a substitute to walk into the classroom and know exactly what to do.

Let me give you an example. When writing the plan for art on a particular day, a basic plan may simply state, "String Art." As the educator writing the plan, I know what I intend to do for that planned art experience, but what happens if I'm out sick that day? A substitute can interpret string art in several different ways. However, if the plan is detailed, it may read like this:

String Art - children will use different lengths and thicknesses of string as a tool to paint with on 12 x 12 white pieces of paper while listening to music by Enya. Teachers will facilitate the activity by providing the materials, playing the music softly, and asking open ended questions. Questions teachers can ask include, "How does this music make you feel?" "Can you describe the way the string feels in the paint?" Materials: 4 trays of paint (one color per tray), string pre-cut in various sizes, white paper cut into 12 x 12 squares, and smocks. Observe how children manipulate the materials and how they respond to the music. Reflect.

When a plan is detailed, it is much easier to follow!

Support Your Colleagues

Early childhood educators do not make a lot of money. That is just a plain, simple, albeit sad fact. We spend our day caring for little ones and educating them. But, how do we treat our colleagues?

In the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct, there is an entire section that focuses solely on our ethical responsibilities to our colleagues. The first principle reads:

P-3A.1—We shall recognize the contributions of colleagues to our program and not participate in practices that diminish their reputations or impair their effectiveness in working with children and families (NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct).

I have worked in centers where teachers are amazing with the children, but spend countless hours engaging in gossip and drama amongst their co-workers. To what end? To get them fired? Why? To take their position for the extra few cents it pays?

Instead, think of ways to empower one another! Take the energy spent on gossiping and use it to plan ways to support each other. Use your ability to care and nurture to do the same for your fellow teachers.

When children in our classrooms argue or fight, we work with them on conflict resolution. When a colleague does something to upset us or hurt us, what do we do? The second and third principles in the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct addresses this topic:

P-3A.2—When we have concerns about the professional behavior of a co-worker, we shall first let that person know of our concern in a way that shows respect for personal dignity and for the diversity to be found among staff members, and then attempt to resolve the matter collegially and in a confidential manner (NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct).

P-3A.3—We shall exercise care in expressing views regarding the personal attributes or professional conduct of co-workers. Statements should be based on firsthand knowledge, not hearsay, and relevant to the interests of children and programs (NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct).

Go directly to the source and respectfully discuss any issues or concerns. Don't start by telling everyone else in the center. Spreading gossip only brings hurt and harm. Talk openly and honestly with each other.

Finally, we spend our day making sure that all of the children in our classroom feel included, loved, and respected. Do the same with your co-workers. We are all different and unique. We all deserve respect and acceptance.

P-3A.4—We shall not participate in practices that dis- criminate against a co-worker because of sex, race, national origin, religious beliefs or other affiliations, age, marital status/family structure, disability, or sexual orientation (NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct).

Early childhood educators work so hard to create positive environments for young ones. We need to do the same for each other in our centers. Take a moment to brighten each other's day!

The Power of Color

This poem was too good not to share! It makes you think differently about the colors you use in your classroom. It also gives another dimension to color other than just what a child might see.

The Power of Color

By Shelley Hoster

Close your eyes and reach inside the heart of you. Look there and you will find colorful authentic power, it’s true. See the powerful rainbow of colors inside the depths of your soul. Each one represents a different power that will help you achieve your goal. ·       GREEN is the power of growth like the leaves on a tree.  Use it to explore and change who you want to be. ·       RED is the power of energy, attention, and zest.  Use it to spark your learning and to swirl up your best. ·       BLUE is the power of focus like the river’s constant flow.  Use it to express yourself, it will show you where to go. ·       YELLOW is the power of light and gives you cheer.  Use it to shine to others and make your message clear. ·       ORANGE is the power of communication that bonds like glue.  Use it to bring fusion with others who are dear to you. ·       PURPLE is the power of dreams and to search who and where you are.  Use it to reach way up high to touch the highest star. ·       BROWN is the power of comfort, like a house safe and warm.  Use it if you need to feel secure and safe from all harm. ·       BLACK is the power of mystery and intrigue like darkness of night.  Use it to make people wonder about you and to step out of the light. ·       WHITE is the power of courage and the alertness of light.  Use it to reflect upon life and to make your future bright. ·       PINK is the power that is calm and serene.  Use it to add peace and harmony to your scene This rainbow of colors within you is a reflection of character from red to blue. Use them wisely and they will bring a prism of authentic power to you! Shelley Hoster is a preschool teacher at Jack and Jill Early Learning Center in Norcross, GA. This poem was written at the Challenging Teachers Institute in Summer 2003 after investigating how colors affect the learning environment and how all teachers have authentic powers.

A Little Play Reminder!

Remember: The most important thing you can do as a teacher is to create a play-rich environment!

Teachers Need Self-Care!

Teachers are great of taking care of the kiddos in their classrooms, but not so great with self-care! Teachers need to find ways to stay positive and focused. There are many little ways to tend to self-care!

During the day, find small ways to stay grounded.

These are some items you can keep in your desk or cabinet for a quick pick-me-up:

• Tea (Green, White, Roobios, Herbal)
• Chocolate (Dark is best!)
• Protein boosts (nuts, granola, seeds)
• Floss
• Healthy snacks (fruit, veggies, yogurt)
• Thank you notes
• Stress balls

Do you have a few minutes on break?

Here are some two-minute strategies to take care of yourself:

• Do a few yoga poses or stretches to get your blood moving and release tension
• Get out of the buildling for some fresh air and a change of scenery
• Take a mindful moment and pay attention to your breathing to center yourself (practice meditation!)

When you get home, plan some "me" time!

Here some ideas for energizing or unwinding:

• Email
• Knit
• Quilt
• Draw
• Play air guitar
• Bake cookies
• Sing

Connect with others to fill your tank:

• Share projects with fellow teachers
• Spend time with loved ones
• Spend time with animals
• Give back to your community by volunteering

Look for the positive and hang on to it for a rainy day:

• Keep a folder of kind notes or feedback from students and families
• Keep a notebook of inspirational quotes
• Record something positive each day in your journal

Chill - here were some of favorite ways to just unwind:

• Watch a mindless TV show
• Take a hot bath
• Read
• Listen to music
• Meditate
• Take a scenic drive
• Eat chocolate

Get your body moving:

• Run
• Dance
• Yoga
• Crossfit
• Go for a walk

Everyone's self-care may look a little different. There's no single way to take good care of yourself. Try some different strategies until you have a full toolbox: something that energizes you, something that helps you unwind, something that helps you manage when you're having a hard time. Self-care helps us sustain as teachers and as learners.

Getting Ready for a New Preschool Year

Whether you are a new preschool teacher or a seasoned pro, there is excitement and wonder heading into the new "school" year.  Just like children, we learn from our experiences. I would like to share a few tips to make your year successful (or reminders if you're a pro!).

• Be prepared and organized. This means having materials ready for large and small group experiences as well as for centers. The quickest way to lose a preschooler's attention is having them wait while you gather supplies. Keep things clean and sanitized! Wash hands constantly; yours and theirs! Clean and sanitize tables for meals and before and after activities. Lock up medications and anything that says to keep out of reach of children.
• Establish a daily schedule that provides consistency, but allows for flexibility. Keep large group experiences short. Children have varied attention spans and learn through play and active engagement. Read, read, and read some more. Limit transitions. Follow the children's interests. If children aren’t interested or are acting up, change plans. Build a strong teaching team.  
• Be open to new ideas. See things as fresh and new. Children will pick up on your enthusiasm. Expand your interests. Ask open-ended questions (Bloom's Taxonomy). Respect children’s ideas, feelings and thoughts. Have fun! PLAY! You chose this profession for a reason. Enjoy each day! Don’t stress if something doesn't work out as planned. Reflect and learn from your experiences.
• Get to know every child. It is so important to build a relationship with each child and their family. Children need to feel valued and respected. Discover what their interests are and what motivates them to learn. Find out what their strengths and challenges are. 
• Observe consistently. Observation is a teacher's best friend. Through observation, you learn what children are capable of doing developmentally, how they approach solving problems, how they spend their time, how they interact with others, and what they are learning. For teachers, observation serves a number of vital purposes, including being able to keep track of all your children's growth and development, deciding whether to change or modify the environment, and determining if your learning experience plans need to be altered. The better observer you are, the more skilled you will become as a teacher. 
• Keep your sense of humor. Teaching is a serious job; there's probably nothing more important. But, it's also a fun job! Never lose sight of the joy of being with young children. Laughter is contagious! Focusing on what goes wrong brings stress. Learn from challenges that arise and focus on the positive. Be happy! Smile often! 
• Be yourself. Just as every child has his/her own personality, so do teachers. When you build relationships with the children, you get to know them and they get to know you. Building positive relationships will benefit children socially and emotionally. You are a role model for the behaviors and interactions that the children will soon reflect.
• Experiment and explore. As you follow the children's interest, you will discover new ways to incorporate learning experiences. Don't be afraid to fail! Choose the materials that are working and useable, related to the focus/big idea, and that can be implemented to help children reach goals and objectives.
• Reflect. Engaging in self-reflection always leads to improvement! Through self-reflection you will focus on ways to increase learning and provide deeper learning experiences based on the children's interests. You will also discover ways to improve as an educator.
• Be patient. Be patient with yourself! It takes time to build relationships with children and families. It takes work to build a strong teaching team.

Outdoors: Not Just for Recess!

I drove past a child care center the other day and shook my head at what I saw. It was clearly their designated "outdoor time." The children were moving about the tiny fenced in play area while the two "teachers" stood next to each other, leaning up against the fence, looking at their cell phones (insert cringe and shudder here!).

Later in the week, I was across the street from a different center where I saw several children roaming around on an outdoor deck. I could see that the children inside were watching a movie on a television screen, but the sliding doors were left open for those that did not want to watch the movie to go "outside." One teacher stood on the deck and, again, had her cell phone out. There were no toys or designated play areas on this deck either.

I could rant about the obvious lack of supervision and give several reasons why cell phones should not be used while you are supposed to be caring for children. I could discuss how important it is for teachers to step away from the fence and actually engage in play with the children. However, what I want to focus on is the importance of getting children outside for more than just recess.

Let me start by sharing a little bit about me personally. I prefer to be indoors. I prefer to be where the bugs aren't and where I can have air conditioning. Any one that knows me would never refer to me as an outdoor-loving, nature person. But, I do know how important it is for children to be outdoors and, as an early childhood educator, I had my class outside for as much of the day as possible (I also had the air conditioner set to "arctic" in my classroom!).

Harvard Medical School identified five benefits to being outdoors.

• Vitamin D levels will increase.
• Exercise will increase (and screen time is reduced!).
• You will be happier.
• Concentration will improve.
• Health will improve.

Get creative with your curriculum planning! All types of learning can happen outdoors. Art is one of the most popular activities to incorporate into the outdoors. Typically, teachers bring out sidewalk chalk or some coloring supplies. That is a great start! Plan for painting either on unusual canvas' or with unusual painting utensils. Create art sculptures using materials they find outdoors. Do bark rubbings or brick rubbings depending on the outdoor environment you have.

Plan literacy and math activities for outdoors. Start simple - take a book outside and read! Find "hidden" letters and shapes in the things you see outdoors. Count everything! Graph using rocks/pebbles, leaves, or twigs.

Bring music outdoors. The easiest way to begin is to sing and as loud as you want! Create music with instruments they find outdoors such as clicking two sticks together or running a stick up and down a fence. Listen for sounds outdoors and create a dance to the sounds they hear.

Science? Dig in the dirt. Find bugs and insects. Cloud watch. Identify trees by their leaves or their bark. Build levers, catapults, and pulleys. Explore different aspects of water play and motion.

Everything experience you plan for indoors can be done outdoors with some creative thinking and planning. Make sure families know that you will be spending a lot of time outdoors and to make sure that children have the appropriate clothing and footwear for various weather conditions. Yes, it's okay to take them out when it's raining or snowing! Just make sure the temperatures are safe, that the children are dressed appropriately, and that the teachers are prepared. Some children will wander from activities at first because they are used to outdoor time just being for recess. But, children can wander away from activities indoors too! The more you are outside and the more activities you do outside the more involved they will become.