Hi everyone,
First of all, Natalie, thank you for posing a very good question. I am an owner operator of a preschool program with the toddler component in Arcadia, CA. I am currently planning and will be working closely with our toddler class teachers on reinforcing developmentally appropriate activities with the toddlers. This is especially important now, because one of our toddler class teachers is enthusiastic about practicing tracing with the toddlers using the dotted lines on paper/board with crayons/markers/pencils. When I asked her why, she responded that she really liked how children were learning a new skill in the previous programs, where she worked before us.
I have been learning leadership in early education for the last 7 years, and motivating teachers to be adult-learners, explore and experiment, and make important discoveries on their own terms, applying their personal teaching methods while aligning with the program goals, are all of the essence to me. So, while I voiced my opinion on what the research tells us about toddlers and their sensory-motor learning and how the type of tracing she was offering is more for children at the elementary school level, I also welcomed her to try the concepts she was curious about. At the same time, I offered her to review the California Infant/Toddler Curriculum Framework, and to draw parallels between what she observed with the children while teaching them tracing, and how it aligned with the curriculum framework. She has also signed up to take an online class on curriculum development and implementation at UCLA Extension.
With that being said, I must admit she is a spectacular teacher, who provides a very warm and loving environment in the classroom where children, at the age of 18 months quickly transition to her classroom after they start in our program, and she plans and sets up a lot of sensory-motor activities for her class. I understand that now she is curious to grow professionally and gain experiences beyond what she has been doing, which is a great plus for the program quality.
Ashley, thank you for sharing such a great idea on the "heavy work" concept. I have shared this thread with my coworkers, and I hope they'll be interested to use this method, because they will do great with setting up these activities.
Ron Shuali, thank you for generously offering your online video trainings. I just watched all of them from start to finish, and I heard myself laughing a few times, and even shed a tear when I saw "the number 0" run off excited about his ball in the basket. It is so unfortunate that I didn't get to see you in person while I was attending the NAEYC's Annual Conference in Washington DC last year. I was there, and looking at the Whova app, you were presenting on November 16 at 12 pm. I was in the room 202A at that time, learning about guiding Infant and Toddler Behavior to Support Social and Emotional Development. I think you are such a tremendously awesome speaker. I hope you will get to present again at the upcoming conference in Nashville. I will definitely attend to learn from you more.
I think of myself as an open-minded learner. Learning can come from anyone, anywhere, anytime, and for that reason, please feel free to share your thoughts, suggestions, as they would be of a great value to us in Arcadia.
Thank you!
Ranum Magellan
ArcadiaPlayschool.com
------------------------------
Ranum Magellan
Co-Founder
Arcadia Playschool Inc.
Arcadia CA
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 01-26-2023 10:25 AM
From: Ron V Shuali, M.Ed
Subject: How to help a teacher manage a highly active young toddler classroom
Hi! This link is to my entire Behavior Mastery system.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC5sxjsoD6-zJLd5uwfLxVU12qAX8cMY-
I presented it at NAEYC National in DC last year with spectacular feedback and I'm in communication with ECE educators from the conference using the system with powerful results. The first 2 parts are full of auditory, visual and kinesthetic cues that IMMEDIATELY refocus the classroom...if the teacher chooses to aim to create a Win-Win environment. Share the course with your staff and anyone else you like!
------------------------------
Ron Shuali, M.Ed.
ECE gardener
Ronspeak
Davie FL
Original Message:
Sent: 01-25-2023 03:02 PM
From: Natalie Lynn Collins
Subject: How to help a teacher manage a highly active young toddler classroom
Hi all!
I am looking for resources that I can use to help a teacher manage her toddler classroom, I am the Education Specialist and part of my role is to support the classrooms when they struggle. She is a very experienced teacher with a great environment and is knowledgeable about appropriate activities and common behaviors. She isn't needing information about the basics or any thing she needs extensive support beyond that.
She just so happens to have a group of 18-24 month old's who are brand new to the room, have special needs, seek a lot of stimulation, and have very little self help skills. She understands this is all very normal, it is just a lot to deal with all at once.
We have learned that our infant teachers should spend more time developing self help skills with the kids before they transition as well be more diligent with interventions but now we still need to support her with the group. For the mean time, I am simply trying to just be an extra set of hands for her, while the children adjust to the room and develop some skills, and while she brainstorms and tests out activities.
Are there any resources out there for this situation? If you have been in this situation what have you done? When I was the toddler teacher, I felt obligated to just endure the tough times and looked forward to when the days got easier, but that does not mean I wish the same struggles on another teacher.
------------------------------
Natalie Collins
Education Specialist
Full Heart Child Care
Rochester NY
------------------------------