Hello Arlene!
I agree with others in the group that going over the calendar may not be developmentally appropriate for toddlers. Even preschool and pre-K classrooms struggle with the calendar as a daily dose during circle. Here is the link to a NAEYC article that gives optional ways to support children's learning of this concept.
https://www.naeyc.org/sites/default/files/globally-shared/downloads/PDFs/resources/pubs/calendartime.pdfI would suggest sharing articles like the one above with your Supervisor, if you think (s)he may be open to dialogue. If she were to understand that even preschool and pre-K classrooms need to approach this concept differently, maybe she would agree to some suggestions you might have- like focusing on the daily schedule - as suggested by others on the group.
If you are forced to do the calendar with the toddlers, maybe you could do it differently. For example, "Today is day number 15 of September - lets jump 15 times/lets touch our chin 30 times, etc. Also, you could focus on the day of the month that an event is happening. For example, there are 17 days left for Jamal's birthday/firefighter visit, etc. Although these may be better options for older age groups, in the event that you are forced to do the calendar, you may want to make this time short, fun and relevant as far as possible, keeping in mind - that at the very least they are not forced to just sit and listen and repeat after you.
Ideally, sticking to the daily schedule would be best for this age group.
Good luck working with your Supervisor!
Puja
------------------------------
Puja Mathur
Training Coordinator
Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey
Princeton NJ
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 08-27-2019 04:59 AM
From: Arlene Wetmore
Subject: Toddler Circle time
I just recently started working for a childcare chain. The curriculum is ok but fir toddlers it recommends that they go over the calendar each day. I feel that it is too early for this but it is a requirement. Am I wrong in thinking that toddlers are not developmentally ready to learn the calendar?
------------------------------
amcdowell2
Jacksonville, FL
------------------------------