Staff Development Week

DAY ONE:

Today we kicked off our 2018 Staff Development week with ITERS-R by Doris Obregon and CLASS by Teachstone!

The Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale-Revised Edition (ITERS-R) is a thorough revision of the original Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale (ITERS, 1990). It is one of a series of four scales that share the same format and scoring system but vary considerably in requirements, because each scale assesses a different age group and/or type of child development setting. The ITERS-R retains the original broad definition of environment including organization of space, interaction, activities, schedule, and provisions for parents and staff. 

CLASS helps child-care providers nurture children's early learning while responding to their needs. As children enter preschool, their sense of themselves is grounded in, and dependent on, relationships. CLASS helps preschool teachers foster a secure, supportive base for learning and exploration.


​DAY TWO:

Our Staff Development week, day two, continues with curriculum introductions from Kimochis & FONZ Nature Trunk!

KIMOCHIS (Emotions in Japanese) is a universal, school-based, social-emotional learning curriculum designed to give children the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to recognize and manage their emotions, demonstrate caring and concern for others, establish positive relationships, make responsible decisions, and handle challenging situations constructively. These skills have been identified by leading researchers in the field of social and emotional learning as necessary for school success, academic achievement, positive social relationships and the development of emotional competence. KIMOCHIS incorporates innovative and fun activities developed to teach children how to manage challenging social situations with skill, character, and confidence.

FONZ Nature Language Trunk Curriculum: Unit A introduces children to backyard animals using dramatic, narrative, and cooperative play strategies. This unit focuses on the importance of play in helping children approach and embrace new concepts about the natural world, animals, and our relationship to them. Unit B demonstrates how natural materials like soil, leaves, rocks, sticks, ect. can be used in classroom activities and even substituted for traditional classroom materials like building blocks, paintbrushes, paint, etc. This unit builds children's comfort levels engaging with natural materials that may typically be presented as off-limits or dirty, strengthens their relationship to their local environment, and exercises creative and critical thinking skills.


DAY THREE:


Massage for Babies – Masaje para Bebes by Rodrigo Morales, licensed instructor by the International Association of Infant Massage.

Early Childhood Dramatic Arts – Artes Dramaticas Infantiles by Karen Morales-Chacana.

Corporal Expression – Expresion Corporal by Paola Acuna, Physical Education, Sports, and Recreation Teacher.

Music and Movement – Musica y Movimiento by Lilo Gonzales, singer and songwriter.


DAY FOUR:


Unit C “You are a Scientist” features a variety of opportunities to exercise STEM skills and introduce the scientific early learners . This unit will demonstrate the broad range of activities that can be used to strengthen core STEM skills like prediction-making, experimentation, observation, critical thinking, and communication of results. This unit will also introduce to teachers to the library of biological artifacts, models, and more that will be left at the teaching site as part of the kits to encourage in-class exploration and observation. It will also feature activities designed to make scientific tools like magnifiers, microscopes, and measuring devise accessible and approachable for early learners.

Unit D “Animals are all around us” builds upon the observation skills and science tool use introduced in Unit C by taking these tools and skills outside and applying them to our local environment. This curriculum will feature a majority of activities to be done outdoors, as children learn about the rich variety of local animals, the communities that they form, and our roles as part of that community. This Unit will access point of local communities as an opportunity to strengthen children’s socio-emotional skills, senses of empathy, and perspective-taking abilities through STEM-based activities.

HighScope Language, Literacy, and Communication Key Developmental Indicators (KDIs)