Cooking Matters at the Store!

 Cooking Matters at the Store is an hour long tour where families learn skills like buying fruits and vegetables on a budget, comparing food labels and identifying whole grains. Educators are encouraged to post/share the information below with families.
 

Cooking Matters at the Store!
Place:              Stop & Shop – Route 44 Raynham
Date:               Tuesday August 12, 2014
Time:               5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
 

After the tour, participants will get a FREE $10 gift card to purchase healthy groceries, a FREE book of tips and recipes and a reusable grocery bag.
 

 Registration is required. Please call Rita 508.822.5388 x 137  (Unfortunately, childcare is not available for this night)
 

Project Learning Tree Workshop at the Buttonwood Park Zoo

Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford is hosting a Project Learning Tree workshop for Early Childhood and Early Elementary Educators on Saturday, September 6, 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.. 

Project Learning Tree's curriculum builds on what's familiar and interesting to young children and engages them in experiencing and learning about the natural world.  Participants will receive two PLT Educator Guides:  Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood (includes eleven major themes with activities structured in a typical PreK format) and the PreK-8 Guide (includes ninety-six activities and supporting resources).   

These award-winning guides are only available by attending workshops.  The Early Childhood Experiences curriculum meets NAEYC criteria and the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework.  The PreK-8 Guide is correlated with current national standards.

Educators will participate in activities from the PLT curriculum and discuss their application individual teacher's situations, in a supportive, collegial atmosphere.  Weather permitting, we will incorporate zoo exhibits into the workshop.   

Limited enrollment, $35 per person includes zoo admission.  Questions or to pre-register (by August 30), please contact me at 413/584-6788 or Gini.Traub@state.ma.us.  To see more, please visit the Project Learning Tree website, www.plt.org, click on Educational Resources and click on the Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood and the PreK-8 Curriculum.

Just Playing

Commonwealth Family Childcare Inc. believes in the difference that Early Educators make in the lives of children. Thank you to all Teachers, Assistants, and especially CFC Family Child Care Educators! 

Just Playing

By Anita Wadley

When I’m building in the block room, please don’t say I’m “just playing”For you see, I’m learning as I play, about balance and shapes.
Who knows? I may be an architect someday. 

When I am getting dressed up, setting the table, caring for the babies.Don’t get the idea I’m “just playing”. For you see, I’m learning as I play.I may be a mother or a father someday. 

When you see me up to my elbows in paint or standing at an easel, or moldingand shaping clay, please don’t let me hear you say “He is just playing”For you see, I’m learning as I play, I’m expressing myself and being creative.I may be an artist or an inventor someday.

 When you see me sitting in a chair “reading” to an imaginary audience.Please do not laugh and think I’m “just playing”.For you see, I’m learning as I play.
I may be a teacher someday. 

When you see me combing the bushes for bugs, or packing my pockets with choicethings I find, don’t pass it off as “just playing”. For you see, I’m learning as I play.I may be a scientist someday. 

When you see me engrossed in a puzzle or some “plaything” at school.Please don’t feel the time is wasted in “play”.  For you see, I’m learning as I play.
I’m learning to solve problems and to concentrate.I may be in business someday. 

When you see me cooking or tasting foods, please don’t think that because I enjoy it, it is“just playing”. I’m learning to follow directions and see differences.I may be a chef someday.

 When you see me learning to skip, hop, run and move my body, please don’t say I’m “justplaying”. For you see, I’m learning as I play. I’m learning how my body works.I may be a doctor, nurse or athlete someday.

 When you ask me what I’ve done at school today, and I say, “I just played”
Please don’t misunderstand me. For you see, I’m learning as I play.
I’m learning to enjoy and be successful in my work. I’m preparing for tomorrow.
Today, I am a child and my work is play.

WORKSHOP OPPORTUNITIES & CPR/FIRST AID RENEWAL AT THE CFC OFFICE

The Importance of Documentation and Efficient Communication           

Attendance is strongly recommended for all FCC Educators, especially those who are caring for children in priority slots: teen parent or DCF families. 

We will be discussing various methods of documentation, keeping informative files on children, communicating   effectively with outside agencies and families, and the importance of covering all bases when caring for children. Templates and EEC required forms will be shared as well as regulation reminders pertaining to child files. The workshops are scheduled for May 6, 14, & 22 from 6:00pm-8:00pm If you are interested in attending please call or email me. THE 6th IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER PLEASE RSVP ASAP!!!! LET US KNOW IF YOU WILL ATTEND THIS TUESDAY BY EMAILING OR CALLING ME ON OR BEFORE MONDAY THE 5^TH.

CPR& First Aid Renewal 5/15

COST: CPR ~ $30.00 ~ 6pm

First Aid ~ $ 20.00 ~ 7pm

If registering for both ~ $40.00

YOU MUST REGISTER ON OR   BEFORE 5/12 .

WHAT’S INSIDE the BAG? Families and caregivers help mobile infants learn to think.

 Cognitive Development: Mobile Infants (8 to 18 months)

Mobile infants are explorers of space and objects. They need safe spaces and materials to explore on their own and to try new things. Mobile infants need toys that stack and nest to encourage them to solve problems. Mobile infants begin to pretend and imitate the activities of others as they play with toys such as dolls and telephones. Mobile infants learn concepts as they play. For example, they learn the opposites of “full” and “empty” by “filling” and “dumping.” By understanding a mobile infant’s development and needs, families and caregivers can better promote their cognitive development.
 As they learn to learn mobile infants engage in play, which is an important ingredient for cognitive development. They experiment, discover, and begin to learn concepts. They apply what they already know to new situations. They develop and create new strategies for problem solving. 

Activity

What you need: A brown paper sack, a small cloth bag or an adult sized tube sock

Before you begin: Gather up several familiar objects; a rattle, a soft toy, a set of plastic keys, blocks, ball, a big spoon, a toy car.

Allow your child to explore the toys and materials.

Now try this!

Begin by letting your child see you place a couple of the familiar objects into the bag.

Shake up the objects as your child watches. Say, “I wonder what’s in my bag?”

Let your child touch the bag. Then let him put his hand down in the bag without peeking and feel the toys. As your child touches the objects, say, “Oh my, let’s see what you’re touching?”

Let him take it out and show it to you. Encourage him with your enthusiasm. “Surprise, there’s your keys!”

Talk about the toys.

Continue to explore the contents of the bag.

Repeat the activity as long as your child is interested.

Try this variation of the activity!

Vary the objects from time to time. Use household and personal objects such as measuring spoons, a whisk, a small mirror or a brush.

Vary the texture and sounds of the objects.

From the Arkansas Dept. of Human Services www.state.ar.us/childcare

Weather Update

The Commonwealth Family Child Care Vans 

WILL NOT be running on January 22nd.

Enhance Language Development – Looking at Books & Turning Pages

Get those families READING! Support learning experiences at home:Loan a familiar book to an infant’s family. Copy and paste the following information into a document and send it home as well to encourage and facilitate reading at home.

Language Development

Young infants are born with many communication skills, abilities and responses.

They cry to communicate pain or distress. Soon they smile and coo, respond to voices and watch facial expressions. Within a few months they use all types of sounds, listen to conversations and begin to recognize the names of familiar people and things.

By knowing these special things about young infants, families and caregivers can better understand how to promote their language development.

When families and other caregivers help young infants learn to communicate the young infants use their inborn abilities to begin to express needs and wants without using words. Young infants respond to verbal and nonverbal social interactions with others. Young infants begin to imitate the sounds they hear when they are talked to and sung to.

Activity

Before you begin:

Turn off distractions such as the TV or CD player.

Hold your baby on your lap, holding the book so she can see it.

Remember to notice what your baby is looking at, listen to any sounds the baby makes and use clear descriptive words to describe what is on the pages. “Look, Listen, and Say!”

Try this nurturing ritual!

Observe the infant’s interest in the book. Offer to read the book by asking, for example,

“Laurie, would you like to read the book?” “We can read together.”

Read the book if she shows interest. If she doesn’t show interest, just watch and wait a little while.

Show her the pictures. Name and point to each object on the page.

Make comments about the pictures and make the animal sounds. Listen for a response. Respond to any babbling sounds or gestures. For example say, “Laurie, that’s a cat. A cat says ‘meow’.” Pause. “It’s a big yellow cat.”

Watch what your child does with the book. Let her handle and explore it. It’s okay for young infants to mouth books just as they do other toys and objects.

Encourage the infant to continue repeating the behavior. You might say, for example, “Laurie, you touched the cat. Daddy will touch the cat too.”

Continue the activity as long as both you and your child are interested. Even if the baby is not yet responding with sounds or gestures, if he is calm and relaxed and occasionally looking toward you or the book he is learning from the experience.

From the Arkansas Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education

READ! READ ! READ!

And the 2013 Caldecott Medal Winner is..........

This Is Not My Hat, written and illustrated by Jon KlassenIn this darkly humorous tale, a tiny fish knows it’s wrong to steal a hat. It fits him just right. But the big fish wants his hat back. Klassen’s controlled palette, opposing narratives and subtle cues compel readers to follow the fish and imagine the consequence. 

2013 Honor Books

Creepy Carrots!, illustrated by Peter Brown, written by Aaron Reynolds

Jasper the rabbit loves carrots until he notices they are everywhere. He is convinced they’re coming for him! Pronounced shadows, black borders and shaded edges enhance this ever so slightly sinister tale with a distinctly cinematic feel. This is one serving of carrots children will eagerly devour.

Extra Yarn, illustrated by Jon Klassen, written by Mac Barnett

A selfish archduke threatens to halt a little girl's transformation of a colorless town and steal her box of magical yarn.  Klassen's innovative digital technique results in shifts of color that signal character change and critical turns of plot -all done with just the right stitches of humor.

Green, illustrated and written by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

In this original concept book, Seeger engages all the senses with her fresh approach to the multiple meanings of “green.” Using thickly-layered acrylics, word pairings and cleverly placed die cuts, she invites readers to pause, pay attention and wonder.

One Cool Friend, illustrated by David Small, written by Toni Buzzeo

Energetic line and dizzying perspective combine for a rollicking tale of Father, Elliot and a highly improbable pet (or two). Buzzeo’s text, brimming with sly wordplay, earns its perfect counterpoint in Small’s ink, watercolor and pencil illustrations with chilly details and visual jokes that invite many repeated readings.

Sleep Like a Tiger, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski, written by Mary Logue

Surrounded with dreamlike images of crowns, ornate patterns and repeated visual motifs, her parents coax her into bed. Using mixed media artwork on wood enhanced with computer illustrations, this is a whimsical story with universal appeal.

CFC Family Childcare Educator Support Groups

YOU'RE INVITED!!!!
Commonwealth Family Child Care, Inc. is EXCITED to announce EDUCATOR SUPPORT GROUPS!!!!!

Many Educators have expressed the need to:

• Share Ideas
• Get input
• Ask questions
• Network
• Discuss curriculum and activities
• Share positive experiences
• Discuss difficult situations and gain feedback
• GET TOGETHER!!

We heard your request and we encourage you to become a part of our Support Groups!!!!!! 

 If you have not had time to view the December/January Newsletters here is the information below: 

“Two groups will be organized in which Brockton will have a network and Middleboro, Taunton, and New Bedford area programs will have a combined group. I anticipate that the groups will grow and require reorganizing but for now I am very pleased with the start-up. “ ~ Sarah

Raynham, Taunton, Middleboro, or New Bedford area Educators:

Raynham Public  Library 1/28/2014 

6-7:30 (RSVP by 1/24)

Brockton Educators:

Brockton Public Library, 304 Main St., 2/24/14 , 6-7:30 (RSVP by 2/21)

Don’t forget, if you know of an FCC Educator who would benefit from meeting our group bring them along! We do need you to RSVP so please send an email or call our  office! S.borges@comfamcc.com or call 508-880-3556 EXT 13