Friday, June 21, 2013

Key Developmental Indicators

I found this list of sub-topics to use during the focus on our main virtue/theme. I really like the breakdown, but want to rework it to fit under this Virtue concept.

From the HighScope Preschool Curriculum website. 


Key Developmental Indicators

A. Approaches to Learning
  1. Initiative: Children demonstrate initiative as they explore their world.
  2. Planning: Children make plans and follow through on their intentions.
  3. Engagement: Children focus on activities that interest them.
  4. Problem solving: Children solve problems encountered in play.
  5. Use of resources: Children gather information and formulate ideas about their world.
  6. Reflection: Children reflect on their experiences.
B. Social and Emotional Development
  1. Self-identity: Children have a positive self-identity.
  2. Sense of competence: Children feel they are competent.
  3. Emotions: Children recognize, label, and regulate their feelings.
  4. Empathy: Children demonstrate empathy toward others.
  5. Community: Children participate in the community of the classroom.
  6. Building relationships: Children build relationships with other children and adults.
  7. Cooperative play: Children engage in cooperative play.
  8. Moral development: Children develop an internal sense of right and wrong.
  9. Conflict resolution: Children resolve social conflicts.
C. Physical Development and Health
  1. Gross-motor skills: Children demonstrate strength, flexibility, balance, and timing in using their large muscles.
  2. Fine-motor skills: Children demonstrate dexterity and hand-eye coordination in using their small muscles.
  3. Body awareness: Children know about their bodies and how to navigate them in space.
  4. Personal care: Children carry out personal care routines on their own.
  5. Healthy behavior: Children engage in healthy practices.
D. Language, Literacy, and Communication1
  1. Comprehension: Children understand language.
  2. Speaking: Children express themselves using language.
  3. Vocabulary: Children understand and use a variety of words and phrases.
  4. Phonological awareness: Children identify distinct sounds in spoken language.
  5. Alphabetic knowledge: Children identify letter names and their sounds.
  6. Reading: Children read for pleasure and information.
  7. Concepts about print: Children demonstrate knowledge about environmental print.
  8. Book knowledge: Children demonstrate knowledge about books.
  9. Writing: Children write for many different purposes.
  10. English language learning: (If applicable) Children use English and their home language(s) (including sign language).
E. Mathematics
  1. Number words and symbols: Children recognize and use number words and symbols.
  2. Counting: Children count things.
  3. Part-whole relationships: Children combine and separate quantities of objects.
  4. Shapes: Children identify, name, and describe shapes.
  5. Spatial awareness: Children recognize spatial relationships among people and objects.
  6. Measuring: Children measure to describe, compare, and order things.
  7. Unit: Children understand and use the concept of unit.
  8. Patterns: Children identify, describe, copy, complete, and create patterns.
  9. Data analysis: Children use information about quantity to draw conclusions, make decisions, and solve problems.
F. Creative Arts
  1. Art: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through two- and three-dimensional art.
  2. Music: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through music.
  3. Movement: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through movement.
  4. Pretend play: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through pretend play.
  5. Appreciating the arts: Children appreciate the creative arts.
G. Science and Technology
  1. Observing: Children observe the materials and processes in their environment.
  2. Classifying: Children classify materials, actions, people, and events.
  3. Experimenting: Children experiment to test their ideas.
  4. Predicting: Children predict what they expect will happen.
  5. Drawing conclusions: Children draw conclusions based on their experiences and observations.
  6. Communicating ideas: Children communicate their ideas about the characteristics of things and how they work.
  7. Natural and physical world: Children gather knowledge about the natural and physical world.
  8. Tools and technology: Children explore and use tools and technology.
H. Social Studies
  1. Diversity: Children understand that people have diverse characteristics, interests, and abilities.
  2. Community roles: Children recognize that people have different roles and functions in the community.
  3. Decision making: Children participate in making classroom decisions.
  4. Geography: Children recognize and interpret features and locations in their environment.
  5. History: Children understand past, present, and future.
  6. Ecology: Children understand the importance of taking care of their environment.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Be Grateful: Birthdays and the "gift conveyor belt"

I just celebrated my boy's third birthday. It was fun, but it made me re-think about how I always feel bothered by the social pressure to give and receive presents. Why should this bother me? I summed it up:  ingratitude (though I am sure there are other words too).

Take this visual picture I will create and see if it doesn't sound familiar...

A person sits down and everyone gathers around.
Faceless hands emerge,
presents enter from all directions.
Little hands grab...
paper flies,
"Stuff" flashes before your eyes,
Cards lay unread on the floor.
Thing after thing like an endless train...noise, puff, smoke--
passing by.
Commotion.
Empty boxes.
Shreds of once cutely matching paper.

Thought and effort?
Love and joy?
...or random stuff merely to please the senses.


Things can be fun. There can be much joy and happiness and love shared in an experience with gifts and things given and received, but do we take time to create those moments. When my boy grabs a present and opens it, then moves on to the next, and the next, without saying thank you  (or saying it, but not being able to "be in the moment" to really say thank you and show gratitude and appreciation). And that is what typically happens when you "mass-produce" birthdays and do the social pressurized "present conveyor belt" approach. What does this experience create for and teach our children at that young impressionable age? Not exactly what I had in mind.... (I know...they are kids and I'm not trying to take that away from them, but I at least want to think about if it is possible for me to better create a purposeful teaching experience while my children experience the fun and pleasure. That is the key.)

So here are some thoughts about better helping kids show gratitude during their birthday....
1. put on the invites that presents are not needed, but would accept gently used toys or books
2. If they bring a present, open it when they come in, so the child can acknowledge each personally
3. Allow more time to open presents and do it quietly amid the other fun without making it the focus of all the kids (or tell people that you wont open presents at the party)
4. Ask people to bring something to share for the party, in place of a present. (bring balloons, bubbles or some popsicles (I think this is my favorite, because then they are helping to create the fun at the party and learning to share for the mutual benefit of everyone)
5. Have simple favors that your child gives to the child in return for a present. But what about those who don't bring one? They get one anyway as a simple thank you for coming)

Don't get me wrong. Presents aren't bad, but too many can bring the wrong focus. Especially as kids and new to the idea of a birthday, I think it's important to start them with the right thought: Birthdays are to celebrate that you are special. My boy loved his "Happy Birthday" crown and wore it a lot! He'll get a used item in good condition that he's never seen and be happy. But he doesn't need so many gifts from everyone that he thinks he's entitled to everything without a thought of sincerely appreciating the gift and the giver.

I've seen too many people who seem super sweet and nice and loving, but I see another side of them when I see their complete ingratitude for givers of a gift during that person's baby shower or Christmas or birthday. These are the mass-proceeded moments in which ingratitude appears most readily.

And then there are party favors. Good idea? Yes and no. I don't like having to spend money on things that kids don't need. But yes, in the sense that it can be a way for your child to learn to thank the receiver. I like that part, but need to think of how to incoporate it better, because I just skipped out on them this time--rebelling from the social norm, instead of creatively taking time to find a better substitution. (that's what happens when you run out of planning time, whoops)

Have I ranted enough? :)

Monday, June 17, 2013

Celebrate Cultures (full list of topics)

There are so many types of people...why not spend some learning experiences on understanding the varieties of people and cultures or the world. These can be done at any age, just tailor activities to appropriate age.

Topics
Languages--basic hello, thank you, please
Regions/Geography
Wildlife by Region
Cultures/customs--one each time
Music: dances, instruments, etc.
Occupations
Diversity

Activities
make food to eat and share
go to a local, cultural festival/event
try reading a familiar baby-type book in another language
listen to multi-cultural songs
learn a folk dance
play a geography game or puzzle--where's waldo/facts (picture facts for famous monuments, language facts, etc.)
Dress up?
International Puppets and/or flags?
have quick sheets for each country and show and tell something from each
check out some library books about cultures
share some rules/customs that help children see good principles practiced in varying ways

Friday, June 14, 2013

Celebrate Nature (list of topics)

Welcome to learning a nature...a forest school experience. Why not spend time outdoors studying the local ecosystem: wildlife and plants, etc. Have a Nature Kit and your journal with you to make the most of each session. Here are some ideas...

Topics
Trees
Plants (edible)
Rocks
Elements: water, wind, fire, earth
Camping
Survival
Birds
Other Wildlife
Water/Fish

Activities
Leaf Art
Rock collections
Bug pets/documenting
Scavenger hunt
craft using collections

Nature Kit
magnifying glass
notebook and pencil
sketchbook and crayons
net to catch critters
jar - for bugs to collect
bag - for rocks to collect
water bottle
bird/wildlife/plant identification book