Unit Studies for Preschool

Unit Studies is a hot topic among "homeschoolers" and I just learned at a recent child care conference the the term in early childhood circles is "project curriculum". In the "old days" we called them "themes". The teacher introduces information and materials related to the subject and then child(ren) lead they way in how the topic will be explored. (The teacher selects the theme based on interests of the children that have been observed in the children's play or questions the children have asked. There are some great FREE online resources to help you get started with unit studies. I'm getting "spring fever" and I bet some kids are too... so wouldn't this be the perfect time for a unit study on Plants . I'm sure that you will be talking to the kids about the grass turning green and the tulips coming up and the trees starting to bud....now just expand those conversations into the whole specturm of your learning activities. (That's unit studies!)

Go deeper by documenting your unit studies with photos and drawings and stories by the kids (dictated) and make it into a class book....(Essentially a scrapbook made with a 3 ring binder and page protectors). The kids will love looking at and reading about things that they participated in. And what a great tool to share with parents and others who support your program!

I'd love to hear about your ideas for "unit studies".

A couple more links to help you with unit study resources:

http://www.squidoo.com/takehomebags#module5969132

http://www.easyfunschool.com/

My Considered Opinion

Thought I might start adding my "considered opinion" to the information that I share with you.

Many of you may know that I'm somewhat of an "educational renagade" and I'm sure some of my opinions will be controversial and hopefully make for stimulating conversations.

In my considered opinion early childhood education programs should be more like "home school" than like public school. However, if you meet a homeschooler who is trying to do "public school" at home (and there are many) know that they have missed the point!

Some Learning Resources that you can use.

Nature Education: http://kindernature.storycounty.com This is really cool.

http://www.highscope.org/ A developmentally appropriate curriculum

http://www.rie.org/ infant & toddler resources
http://www.zerotothree.org/ more infant toddler resources

Life Long Learners

Are you one? I'm so glad I am! It makes life so much more interesting. In the past week I've had 3 learning opportunities that have sparked my interests in a number of different areas.

The first was at a group I facilitate for Center Directors. I always learn new things when I gather with people who are doing important work like improving programs for young children. Second, I attended a training on NAEYC accreditation. This is a topic I haven't really spent a lot of time on but the training gave me a good picture of the documentation needed to show that a child care program is on a path that pursues the highest quality standards! A huge undertaking but necessary if we want to walk our talk about valuing the growth and development of young children. And finally I attended the Kaleidoscope Conference in Omaha. I enjoyed the keynote speaker, award winning illustrator and author, Brian Pinkney. I love how his art conveys physical movement and evokes emotions too. Check out his books and art at http://www.brianpinkney.net/. My favorite book was "Max Found Two Sticks". Kids would love it too! My breakout session at the conference was about Using Observations to meet the needs of children in our programs. This is something that I did naturally in my head when I was in the classroom. In my observations of teachers and caregivers I find that they don't pay enough attention to what each individual child is saying and doing. Only through observation (just plain paying attention) can we begin to understand a child's unique personality, way of thinking and viewing the world. We need to listen, laugh,sing,play and live with children not just do custodial care. It's about relationships and conversations so that we can guide and encourage children to feel confident and competent to be themselves in the world. I believe this is the foundation needed to be able to live life happily and successfully.

My final session at Kaleidoscope was on the revised Developmentally Appropriate Practice from NAEYC. I am a "developmentalist" 110%. It's the only way that true learning takes place. And in my opinion until we make the whole educational system developmentally appropriate from "birth to career" we're going to be losing many of the best minds and ideas that we need to get the world back on track.

March 20th "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" Day

To celebrate Fred Rogers birthday....wear your favorite sweater or organize some other neighborly activities. Check out the toolkit at http://www.fci.org/neighbor/ or

http://www.fci.org/neighbor/toolkit.pdf

and here are a couple more surprises for you:

http://www.ratzenberger.com/

http://www.nutsandboltsfoundation.org/

Take some time to tinker in March too!

Great Resource- "Great Preschools"

I've been getting a monthly e-newsletter from a group called : The Search Institute. I think I found it from a link from the Child Care Information Exchange's, "Daily Exchange" email. What first attracted me was some information called "The 40 Developmental Assets" . The Search Institute has identified these developmental building blocks that help children grow up healthy, caring and responsible. They have identified 40 assets for early childhood, middle childhood and adolesence. You can get these lists at http://www.search-institute.org/assets/forty.htm . Now there is a book called "Great Preschools". "Written by experts in early childhood education, this practical, easy-to-use guidebook provides preschool educators with information and a plan to promote healthy development in a body- and mind-nurturing environment. Explanations on what young children need from their families, teachers, and caregivers teach adults how to help preschoolers develop the social, mental, and emotional competencies they need to succeed and thrive." You can download some sample pages at

http://www.greatpreschools.org/images2/GPS_sample_pages.pdf

I think it is worth a look. Some of the latest research I've been reading says that the most successful people in the 21st century will be those that excel in the social & emotional areas.

Here are a couple of quotes that I really appreciated.

"Early childhood is a confusing time for children because
they are making huge leaps in all areas of development—
cognitive, physical, social, and emotional—but
not necessarily in equal degrees. Although it is important
to help a child progress through each of these developmental
areas, it is most vital to build the strong
social and emotional skills that directly affect healthy
cognitive and physical growth and are the foundation
for future success in school and in life."

" Undirected play is initiated among peers. Play
with peers is extremely effective and helps
children learn important lessons about self-regulation
and problem solving, and develop a
host of interpersonal skills. It typically takes
about 20 minutes for a preschooler to settle on
and engage in a particular activity. It is
when they are engaged that they learn
most effectively. As you plan your students’
day, be intentional about building
in adequate time for undirected play."

Of course we are always attracted to things we agree with and things that reinforce our long held beliefs. It feels good and powerful to know you are right! lol

I think teachers will find the resource pages and the home link activities very useful. You are probably already doing many things that promote the 40 assets in young children and this book will also allow you to feel good and powerful in the rightness of your cause! Play on!

Commit Yourself to Play Each and Every Day

Busy schedules, longer work hours, sports practice, homework, dance lessons -- does this sound familiar? Growing up, do you remember a simpler time, when every night was family night? A tradition that you cherished, like spending time together with no goal in mind other than pure enjoyment of playing a game, sharing good times and just having fun.
Play of any kind should always feel like time well spent. It ought to be engaging, entertaining, personally rewarding and enormously fun. Through play, we are reminded to relax, and spend special time with loved ones and friends. Play fosters essential lifelong skills like sharing, learning to win and lose gracefully, understanding risk and rewards, and much more. It enhances our well-being and lifts our spirits, whether you are 3 or 103.We invite you to start a family tradition and rediscover the simple joy of play with the people in your life. Make a commitment to set aside a regular time each week to share a game, put together a puzzle, or just play. The traditions you start today will create a lifelong legacy of memories for your family.
5 Steps To Your New Tradition:1. Make a firm commitment. For one month have everyone agree to play games once a week. Keep this play time and stick to it! You will thank yourself as the fun becomes an anticipated part of everyone's week.2. Set the date and time. Mark your calendar for your weekly game time. Spread the word and get everyone involved. 3. Find something for everyone. Each week have one person choose a game (or puzzle) that allows everyone in the group to participate, regardless of age.4. Turn off the noise. Make a joint agreement to ignore the phone, turn off the TV, and put aside other distractions during your special time. 5. Traveling? No problem. On the road or on vacation? Choose a game and take it with you. Don't forget your camera to capture your fun memories!

Joyce says: February would be a good month to start this. Even though it is the shortest month of the year, it often feels like it will never end because we are anxious for spring to come. So make a plan to play more in February.
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