Little Fisher’s Daycare, Setting the Stage for Success Edwina Degayo EDU 673

Parent Newsletter Dear Parents and Guardians, Welcome to Little Fishers! Our goal is to provide developmentally appropriate care in a loving, nurturing and safe environment. Our Creative curriculum focuses on meeting the needs of each individual child by focusing on their emotional, social, physical, language and cognitive development. We reflect on cultural diversity in our room by the planned use of both multi-racial and non-sexist materials. We celebrate holidays from diverse cultures, by cooking and serving ethnic foods, inviting parents to share arts, crafts, music or whatever special talents they might have. Children will need to bring an extra change of clothes each day or they may leave them in their cubbies. Also, each child will need to bring in a toothbrush and toothpaste that can be kept at the center. Children will brush their teeth after each meal. Attached is a copy of our daily schedule and daily activities. We have a Parent Information Board where you can also find our daily schedule, lesson plan, special activities and other information. We have an open door policy; parents are invited to drop in at any time. Parent’s are the most important influence in the child’s development. An essential part of our program is the involvement of parents in their child’s education and as volunteers in the program. In order to ensure health and safety of the children volunteers must obtain a clearance. Police clearance, health clearance, (Tuberculosis) drug testing clearance, oath of confidentiality, complete employee emergency information form. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to ask any teacher. Thank you, Little Fishers Staff

Demographics.... Student Enrolment by group: African American (6) Asian (11) Filipino (23) Hispanic or Latino (5) Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (12) Whites (43) Students with Disabilities 2 Number of Students... There are 72 students in the program. 5% of students are Second Language Learners Babies (3- 12 months) Ratio 4-1 Pre- toddler (1- 2 years old) Ratio 8-1 Toddler (2- 3 years old) Ratio 12-1 Preschool (3- 5 years old) Ratio 12-1 There are two rooms for each grade level.

Classroom setting... The classroom set-up will have different learning centers such as art center, sand and water table, gross motor center, quiet or library center, etc. In these centers, children are free to explore and choose their own centers. In the art center, the main idea behind this area is that children are free to create. Children will be able to express their creativity with the materials provided. Children are able to get their own materials and will learn to clean-up on their own. In the sand and water table, each child has an opportunity to explore the beginning of map-making. Children will learn to experiment with wet and dry materials, as well as with, volume, quantities and comparison. In the gross motor center, children will learn to develop & strengthen the muscle system. Develop coordination of their muscles thru the commands of the brain, which also includes eye-hand coordination. In the quiet or library center, the child becomes aware that books are special items that need special handling. A puppet can be a teaching tool that enhances and stimulates the creative and cognitive abilities of our children.

The classroom... Door Cots Toile t Area CubbiesCubbies Dining Area Sensory Area Water/ Sand table Easel CubbiesCubbies Listening Area with CD’s/ DVD’s A r t Area Manipulatives Quiet Area (Library Area) Dramatic Area Block Area Circle Time and Music

Lesson planning for birth to 6 months Lesson: Grasping Object Developmental Area: Physical Cognitive Development Name: Edwina Degayo Age: Birth to 6 months Child Development Goals: After given an object (teething ring) child will be able to grasp the object three out of four tries within two consecutive days. Materials: One or two (child interest) age appropriate toys. Mat Preparation: Select a quiet area free from distraction. Clear area and spread out mat. Toys are readily available. Nurturing Strategies/Steps: 1. Have child sit on your lap. 2. Gain child’s attention by showing the toy within child’s view. 3. Encourage child to grasp the toy. Say, “oh look” (point.) 4. If the child grasps the toy, provide positive reinforcement say, (Oh good!) 5. If the child does not grasp the toy, repeat steps two to four, until child grasps toy. Utilize full physical assistance, then decrease as child is able to grasp toy. Accommodations/Modifications: Provide a variety of age appropriate toys that the child can grasp comfortably. Use age appropriate snacks Extra Ideas: Encourage child to grasp toy in each hand. Caution: Be sure items are safe from choking.

Lesson planning for 12 to 18 months Lesson Plan: Naming Parts of the Body Developmental Area: Physical Cognitive Development Name: Edwina Degayo Age: 12 to 18 months Child Development Goals: Encourage child to name body parts. Provide a simple book with body parts for child to look at. Child will name a three body parts (eyes, nose, mouth) by pointing to his body parts or body parts seen in the book, two out of three tries. Materials: My Body Parts (book.) Preparation: Select picture book with body parts. Select a quiet area free from distraction. Clear area and spread out mat. Nurturing Strategies/Steps: 1. Adult will sit with child on mat. 2. Show picture book of body parts. 3. Encourage child to name body parts on each page. Say, “oh look pointing to picture and naming a body part.” 4. If the child picks up book and coos or says single words, provide positive reinforcement say: “That is the _____!” 5. If the child does not look at book, name parts on the child’s body or your body. Accommodations/Modifications: Provide a variety of books that pertain to the body. Extra Ideas: Sing songs about body parts.

Lesson planning for 1 to 2 years Lesson: Emotional Response Developmental Area: Social Emotional Development and Self Esteem Name: Edwina Degayo Age: 1 Year to 2 years Child Development Goals: While interacting with an adult child will exhibit an emotional response, two out of three times, across two people. Materials: CD player CD disc with fun children’s songs. Mat Soft plush toy Preparation: Select a quiet area free from distraction. Clear area and spread out mat. Select a song or two from CD for adult and baby to listen and sing to. Nurturing Strategies/Steps: Adult will sit with infants on mat. Gain infant’s attention by singing songs and doing hand motions for finger plays. If the infant coos or smiles when singing, provide positive reinforcement. (Take babies hands and pat them gently together.) If the infant does not respond to adult, decrease proximity between adult and child’s faces and sing the song again. Accommodations/Modifications: Change activity to a physical activity (i.e. tickle me, peek-a-boo…). Extra Ideas: Provide a variety of fun children’s CD music songs for infant to listen to. Be sure to supervise children when in close proximity of each other.

Lesson planning for 2 to 3 years Lesson: Language Developmental Area: Language Development Name: Edwina Degayo Age: 24 to 36 months Child Development Goals: Child will use single words repeating after adult while looking at animal picture book. Child will name 2 animals in the book 2 out of 3 times over two consecutive days. Materials: Adult to role model saying words and pointing out pictures in book. Animal picture book Mat and pillows Preparation: Prepare comfortable area to read book to child. Provide mat and pillows for child to get comfortable. Nurturing Strategies/Steps: 1. Adult will read book to child while child interacts naming animals in book. 2. Encourage child to name animals together with you. 3. If the child names animals, say “yes!” Provide positive reinforcement say, “lets name them together!” 4. If the child does not interact with you, or attempt to try, adult will continue to encourage the child to name animals or repeat after adult. If child still refuses, repeat steps 1 and 2. Accommodations/Modifications: Provide a felt story board. Extra Ideas: Provide a variety of other textured books.

Classroom activity... Since I live on an island, I thought doing an activity about turtles would be a fun and interesting topic. I would have to set-up my environment for the children to be able to observe and explore. For my sensory area, sand and water table, I would place small pebbles or rocks, toy turtles for the children to manipulate and explore. In my quiet or library area, I would get books and pictures on turtles and other sea life creatures, for the children to learn about. In my manipulative, I would place different sea life creatures such as turtles, octopus, sharks, etc. The children will be able to sort by color and sizes, count, etc. There are many things you can do with this activity; just need to plan ahead and make sure you have what you need for this to be a successful activity. I have also included a sample lesson plan for the age group I am hoping to work with.

Lesson plan: Green Sea Turtle Title of Lesson Plan: Green Sea Turtles Subject: Science Grade: Preschool Lesson Objectives: After reading book, Green Sea Turtle, children will be able to identify and orally name the parts of a turtle; head, tail, shell, etc. with 85% accuracy. Front Flipper Back Flipper Shell Head Tail

Lesson plan: Green Sea Turtle continued... Materials: Story/ picture book Color sheet/ picture of turtle Post checklist Poster/ Picture of turtle Procedure: Pretest- Teacher will ask each student to point out each turtle part from poster/ picture of the turtle. Teacher will read the story, “Green Sea Turtle.” Teacher will ask questions about the story as she is reading, focusing on the parts of the turtle as well as fun fact. Teacher will tell the student they will point out and name different parts of a turtle. Development: Teacher will have students look at a simple book on, Green Sea Turtle. Teacher will instruct the students to name the different parts of a turtle. Student will work in small groups (3 children) with one adult. Student and teacher will discuss parts of the turtle by utilizing checklist. Teacher will instruct each student to touch each part of the turtle; head, front flipper, back flipper, shell, etc. After each attempt, teacher and adults will input by placing a (+) if task is accomplished and a (-), if not accomplished.

Checking for knowledge... Parts of TurtleStudent AStudent BStudent CStudent D Head Front Flipper Back Flipper Tail Shell Score 5/5 Lesson plan: Green Sea Turtle continued...

Citation.... Destefanis, J., & Firchow, N. (1998). Developmental milestones: Ages 3 through 5. Retrieved from Learning centers - a real learning enviroment for children. (2010). Retrieved from preschool-teaching-themes.com/learning-centers.html preschool-teaching-themes.com/learning-centers.html Preschool Program. (2015). Retrieved November 4, 2015, from What is the Head Start Program. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2015, from