Learner Skyler McCormick
LearnerForum Replies Created
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I’ve had great success using a feeling chart. Sometimes as a part of circle time I will ask each child come up and point to the emotion they are feeling at that moment. I think the best way to teach regulation is to model it. It can also be helpful to give children an outlet to express big emotions. Like inviting them to throw a ball or do some sort of gross motor movement.
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It’s a sign that I need to take some extra time to do self care and maybe rely on my co-teacher a little bit more that week. If I was feeling compassion fatigue I’d pick a night to have some alone time and a bath. Or on the other end of that I might ask a friend if we can have a vent sesh over some sweet treats.
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In the instance of infants if they point to something you should name the object. With toddlers it could look like reading a book but asking them to turn the pages and point out things that you can observe. With a preschool age child it could look like taking time to explain to them how to best ask another child if they can use they toy the other student is currently playing with. And following through by watching the conversation play out and stepping in if the children need guidance communicating with each other.
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If I’m having a particularly rough day I have a playlist that helps me center myself. It’s called “decompress”. It’s just mostly ambient music to help me center myself and breathe deeply.
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It can be difficult but try to make time to have a solo moment with each child in your care. It doesn’t have to be a long conversation but just exchanging eye contact and sharing a laugh or something about how you appreciate them can help increase a connection rapidly.
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I think these policy’s are important to keep in the front of mind when you are caring for a child that is exhibiting challenging behaviors. I don’t think any of us as educators want to intentionally hurt a child but when you are tired or dealing with difficult things outside of work, trying to redirect a child can be especially challenging. So in these situations I take a step back, focus on my breathing, and then return to the child in a calm manner.
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Either a bassinet, single level crib, or play pen with a firm mattress and maybe a sleep sack. But no other items should be inside.
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I really like to have dance parties in my classroom. Sometimes we use scarves and other things to make our movements bigger but its fun for both my students and I. During fire season when we couldn’t go outside I used some sleeping matts and cushions to make an obstacle course for my students. It was also an opportunity for them to try a summersault. They loved it!
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I made up a song for hand washing! It talks about when we wash our hands and what steps we need to take to wash our hands properly.
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I would explain our sanitizing routine and if they have young children I would show them the tool we use to determine if an object is a choking hazard.
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I would want to discuss what I observed with a trusted member of leadership to make sure that my concern is something that they would also consider reportable. I might try to have a private conversation with the child after that and then call CPS. Its good to remember its not our job to investigate if abuse is happen but only to report observations that could be signs of abuse.
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My biggest worry about keeping children healthy and safe is how my own actions and behavior may effect their development. As humans we cannot be perfect 100% of the time and that goes for in the classroom. I hope this class addresses how we as educators can take accountability for mistakes with our students in an appropriate way.
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Be genuine and put effort into those relationships. You spend almost more time with their child than they do. Its comforting to parents to know your background as well as a little of theirs. It also aids in small talk during pick up and drop off which adds to the overall vibe of a classroom environment.
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The first thing would be patience because if I know anything is that no matter the temperament of a child they will always test the patience of the adult responsible for them. Secondly I would want my provider to share their unique view of the world. It’s probably at least slightly different from my own families and I would want my child to hear different ways of thinking. And lastly I hope my provider would provide engaging and enriching activities for my child.
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I think it’s important to prioritize discovery when planning activities. There maybe a specific way to do an activity but its important to emphasize to children that they can be creative and encourage them to experiment with the materials.
