GO OUTSIDE WHEN IT IS "COLD"

These past few days, some of the classrooms have been colder than the outside! Tell your providers and their families, when the sun is shining, put on a coat and take the children outside!
(ERS scores for this in several items.)
Here is some advice from Southern Early Childhood Association:

The coldest time of the year is upon us, which means it's time to think about cold weather safety. Since we don't often experience extremely cold temperatures here in the South, it's a good idea to review and update your cold weather safety policies each year. Below are some guidelines that will help you keep the children in your care safe when temperatures fall:

Before children head outdoors to play in cold weather, make sure they are dressed adequately. Layers are especially helpful in snowy conditions since the outermost layer can be 'peeled off' and replaced if it gets wet.

As a rule of thumb, dress older infants and young children in one more layer of clothing than would be worn by an adult in the same conditions.
Put babies to sleep in warm one-piece sleepers as opposed to covering them with blankets, which create the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. If a blanket must be used to keep the infant warm, it should reach no higher than the baby's chest and should be tucked securely around the crib mattress.

If you notice that a child in your care is suffering from frequent winter nosebleeds, recommend to the parents or guardians that a cold air humidifier be used in the child's room at night. Saline nose drops may also help keep the nose moist and prevent nosebleeds. If severe or persistent nosebleeds occur, the child's doctor should be contacted.

Keep skin moisturized. Many pediatricians recommend bathing infants only 2-3 times per week during their first year. More frequent baths can dry the skin, especially in the winter.

Help keep cold and flu cases to a minimum with frequent hand washing and by teaching children to sneeze or cough into the bend of his elbow if a tissue is not available. Children over 6 months should be immunized against the flu virus each year.

The sun's UV rays can cause a sunburn even in the winter, especially when they reflect off of snow.
Cover any exposed skin with sunscreen before allowing children to play outside.

Happy Holidays from BAEYC: Is your membership current?

Just a reminder, since many of you are members. Have you encouraged your providers to join? QRIS is a NAEYC priority. See you soon, Andrea (Membership Chair and President-Elect)

Kidvision

Can certificates obtained from Kidvison be used as part of the requirement for the 6 hour curriculum training?

Tip Sheets on a variety of subject.

http://www.wccip.org/tips.html

Thanks to Mary Jean Woika from NSU for sharing this link.

"Top Ten" Ideas for "How to Develop Lesson Plans"

From the brainstorming session, during our QRIS joint meeting today, the group came up with this list of what needs to be considered during the lesson planning process. Keep in mind, each facility/provider is welcome to develop their own lesson planning process to be included in the QRIS Portfolio. Since we are hopefully moving toward a statewide QRIS program, and since we are already working closely with the other southern counties, it would help if everyone was on a "similar page" when thinking about lesson plans.

Here is what we came up with so far: When developing lesson plans, consider:
1) FL State Standards/Objectives: "color" coded or "down the side"
2) An Activity Title w/ brief description
3) Writing plans for the "subsitute teacher"
4) Individualized to meet the needs of each child
5) Group Sizes (smaller the better)
6) Age groups
7) Time Frame for an activity (briefer the better)
8) Procedures / Materials
9) User Friendly Format
10) Around Themes
11) Adapt at least ONE Interest Center to match the Theme
12) Stay Flexible during the activity
13) Participation is VOLUNTARY

Feel free to add your own ideas if I missed anything!

Form to submit for Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum approval

Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum Review Guidelines with Request Process

Florida gives parents, schools, and providers the right to choose which appropriate, scientific-based, and researched early learning curricula approach they use to meet state early education performance standards. This document is designed to offer assistance in making that choice.

The Early Learning Coalition of Broward County has identified the following curriculum components as important factors in determining whether or not an early education curriculum is developmentally appropriate. Any curriculum approved by the Coalition incorporates these components.

Definition : Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum
Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum, for the purposes of a review and /or approval, is defined as a set of written materials that:
 Is replicable
 May address the use of materials, scheduling, arranging the environment, and interaction between children and adults separately or in combination
 Includes more than activity suggestions and more than theory and pedagogy
 Is aligned with the Florida Early Learning Standards Birth – Five
 Is aligned with scientifically-based research
Guidelines
1. The curriculum is developmentally appropriate. It has realistic and attainable expectations in line with the most recent research on early learning and child development.
2. The curriculum has a Character Development component.
3. The curriculum…A. Promotes interactive learning among staff and children.
B. Helps children achieve social, emotional, linguistic, physical and cognitive goals.
C. Permits flexibility for children and teachers.
D. Encourages active learning through play and frequently allows children to make meaningful choices.
E. Fosters children’s exploration and inquiry, rather than focusing on "right" answers or "right" ways to complete a task.
F. Facilitates concept learning and skills development in an integrated and natural way. (Integrated thematic instruction)
G. Shows evidence from research of being based on sound child development principles of how children grow and learn.
H. Shows respect for cultural and linguistic diversity and allows and appreciates individual differences.

4. The curriculum meets all of the State of Florida School Readiness Performance Standards, including the following Domains:

A. Physical Health
B. Approaches to Learning
C. Social and Emotional Development
D. Language Development and Communication
E. Cognitive Development and General Knowledge
F. Motor Development
G. Emergent Literacy

5. The program has age appropriate activities and materials that promote the following experiences:
A. Construction (wood blocks, waffle blocks, bristle blocks, Lincoln Logs, etc.)
B. Dramatic Play
C. Manipulatives
D. Creative Expression (Art)
E. Language (Talking, listening, reading and writing)
F. Discovery/Sensory
G. Fluid Play
H. Music and Movement
I. Outdoors/Gross Motor
J. Computers (optional)

6. Assessment evidence (from multiple sources) is used to understand and improve learning by improving curriculum implementation and teaching practices.

7. Parent Involvement:
A. Parents are recognized as the child’s first teacher.
B. Parents are given letters about thematic units of study and each of the interest areas available in the program detailing the benefit to the child.
C. Parents are welcomed visitors to the program or classroom and opportunities are available for parent participation.
D. Conferences are scheduled to discuss the parent’s expectations for their children and answer any questions they may have about the curriculum.
E. Parents are knowledgeable about goals and assessment.

Definitions and Approved Curricula
Ages Birth to 5
(not to be confused with Florida DOE VPK approved curriculum)
Standards:
Florida has adopted performance standards for all children birth to 5 years old. The PERFORMANCE STANDARDS can be accessed on line.
Birth to Three Year Olds
http//www.floridajobs.org/earlylearning/downloads/pdf/birth_to_3book.pdf

Three, Four and Five Year Olds
http//www.floridajobs.org/earlylearning/downloads/zip/3-5_perf_stands.zip

Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Standards http://www.firn.edu/doe/earlylearning/perform.htm

Approved Curricula
A framework is a philosophical structure which can be used to facilitate the alliance of practices with performance standards. The coalition recognizes adherence to an educational framework as an indicator of high-quality early education programming. The research-based developmentally appropriate curriculum frameworks currently recognized by this coalition are:
Creative Curriculum®;
Beyond Centers and Circle Time Series;
High/Scope®;
La Petite Academy – Journey
Montessori*
Approved curriculum (ELC reviewed Pre-K only)
High Reach® Passports for Pre-K
Houghton Mifflin Pre-K
InvestiGator Club®,
Let's Begin with the Letter People® for Pre-K
* The name Montessori is not legally protected, and can be used by anyone, for any purpose; it is vital that anyone searching for authentic Montessori practices be aware of this. Check www.montessori.edu for more information.

Materials and resources Curriculum:
Within an appropriate framework, there are materials and resources that can enhance and augment developmentally appropriate practices. The materials and resources currently recognized by this coalition are approved as curriculum:
Building Language for Literacy®, DLM Early Childhood Express®, Doors to Discovery®, Funshine Express™ Opening the World of Learning™ WEE Learn® 4

Curriculum Review Request Process :
If assistance is required in determining if a curriculum meets State recommended curriculum criteria to add that curricula to this list, the Coalition invites providers of school readiness services, and VPK and curriculum publishers to enter into the curriculum review process.
Process to Apply for a Curriculum Review:
If you feel a curriculum can effectively demonstrate that it meets the curriculum criteria, as described in the Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum Guidelines, please submit a response addressing specifically how each guideline (1-7e) is supported by your curriculum. Submit it to:
Early Learning Coalition of Broward County
6301 NW 5th Way, Suite 3400
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309
The Coalition’s Curriculum Review Team will convene annually to review curriculum review requests. They will notify the requesting party, in writing, of the status of their application and any additional steps required to complete the process.

Curriculum Review Team Members:
Early Learning Coalition of Broward County System Partners Committee members which may include representatives from Broward County Child Care Licensing, Broward Community College, Broward County Public Schools, Family Central, Inc., Children’s Services Council of Broward, community early care and education providers, Nova Southeastern University and the Agency for Workforce Innovation.