winter wonderland

WonderlandBy: Michelle Desimone

April 29, 2009

Winter Topic Web

SafeProvide a safe environment to prevent and reduce injuries

• Classroom rules are posted using words and pictures

• Toy and manipulative storage is clearly marked

HealthyPromote good health and nutrition and provide an environment that contributes to the prevention of illness.

• Cook Hedgehog cookies

• Maintain a balanced schedule that has active and quiet activities

• Wash hands upon arrival, before communal play, before eating, after outdoor play, after sneeze, cough or blow nose

• Snack menu contains two food groups

Learning EnvironmentUse space, relationships, materials and routines as resources for constructing an interesting, secure, and enjoyable

environment that encourages play, exploration and learning.

• I use wall space wisely to display required materials and children’s art work

“Mrs. Desimone, we kept it from falling! The chairs hold it up! The chairs kept it from breaking!”

PhysicalProvide a variety of equipment, activities and opportunities to promote the physical development of children.

• Fine motor: “shirt” activity, finger knitting and sew mitten

• Gross motor:– obstacle course

– “Jump Jim Joe” partner dance

– find the missing mitten game

Cognitive

• Thermometer

• Ice Cream Taste Test

• Observe Winter Tree

• Microscope of wool,cotton, silk fibers

• Alphabet & # book

Creative

• Open-ended creative experiences: Symmetrical mitten Winter collages, water colors

• Music is an integral part of literacy development

• “All My Friends Live in the Woods” by Dan Zanes

CommunicationActively communicate with children and provide opportunities and support for children to understand, acquire, and use

verbal and nonverbal means of communicating thoughts and feelings.

• Children create Nature Center Class book• I immerse myself in classroom centers to model

language and facilitate peer interactions • I ask open ended questions to elicit a wide

variety of responses from the children (topic focus questions)

• I use a variety of songs, stories, literature rich books, movies and games that have rhymes, rhythms, repetition, conflict resolution and sequencing (e.g, The Mitten, retell with puppets)

SelfProvide physical and emotional security for each child and helps each child to know, accept, and take pride in himself

or herself and to develop a sense of independence.

• Children participate in running the classroom, e.g., job chart

• Children participate in independent activities such as self portraits, journals

• Art show to view collages

SocialHelp each child feel accepted in the group, help children learn to communicate and get along with others, and

encourage feelings of empathy and mutual respect among children and adults.

• One of themes for dramatic play is a skating rink. Children seen are acting out January poem from “Chicken Soup with Rice”

• Another theme for dramatic play was a laundry room since we were discussing fabrics of winter clothes: wool, cotton, fleece. Children washed, dried, ironed clothes and sorted socks.

GuidanceProvide a supportive environment in which children can begin to learn and practice appropriate and acceptable

behaviors as individuals and as a group.

• Involve children in problem solving strategies: – Some children were afraid of the games being played

outdoors. I asked children to name the games they were playing outside and the resulting behavior. I asked children to name outdoor activities that resulted in kind behavior and choose their favorite for outdoor play. This process resulted in clear expectations set by the children and a calmer outdoor experience for everyone.

FamiliesEstablish positive and productive relationships with families.

• January newsletter• Guest Reader Program• Parent-Teacher Conferences• Parents have my email address• Family photo album kept in library• Daily whiteboard

– I include “Ask your child how we….” statements to facilitate conversations between parents and children

Program ManagementManage and use all available resources to ensure an effective program operation. Competent organizer, planner,

record keeper, communicator, and a cooperative co-worker.

• January topic web

• Weekly curriculum plans

• Child Progress Reports

ProfessionalismMakes decisions based on knowledge of early childhood theories and practices, promote quality in child care services,

and take advantage of opportunities to improve competence, both for personal and professional growth and for the benefit of children and families.

• Taking final two courses to obtain my Child Development Associate (CDA)

• Apply what I learn to my preschool classroom

• Organize handouts according to areas of functional development to use as a resource