Welcome Back!

2015-2016 School Year

 

East Region School of the Month: Open Arms Christian Child Development Center, Glenview

Topic: Enhancing Your Learning Centers

Here are a few questions to ask as your teachers create their learning centers:

-Do you change centers that are not frequently used?
-Do any of your centers need a "face-lift?"
-Does the classroom support technology?
-Do the centers support children with special needs?
-Do the centers in your classrooms support multiculturalism?
-What does your Jesus Center look like? Is it interactive?
-Do your primary classrooms have a sensory table?
Sensory table article: http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=227)

Check out this recent article about play!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/09/01/the-decline-of-play-in-preschoolers-and-the-rise-in-sensory-issues/

A few websites to order resources for your centers:
http://www.godlyplayresources.com/?view=featured-items
http://www.ccreplay.com/store/

Classroom Center Tips:

-Teacher and assistants should spend a few minutes playing with children in the centers, then providing them with the opportunity to interact with their classmates. Who says teachers can't have fun too?
-Be intentional with what materials you add to your centers.
-Teachers should be making connections with what you are teaching and what the children are playing with in their centers.
-Add battery operated tea lights to spice up the fun in your centers!

What are the Early Childhood Networks?
The NID Early Childhood Networks exist and meet to promote best practices in ministry to young children and their families through the collaboration of early childhood professionals and their schools in the Northern Illinois District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. For conveniences and variety, these networks meet in different locations in the west and east regions of the NID with a similar topic each month.

Target Participants:
Early Childhood Directors
Elementary School Principals
Early Childhood Teachers
Related Professionals  at EC Free Standing and  EC Centers in Elementary Schools

Meeting Format:
4:30p.m.-5:00p.m. Light meal provided by host school
5:00p.m.-6:10p.m. Sharing of ideas based on designated topic
6:10p.m.-6:30p.m. Tour of the host early childhood center

2015-2016 Schedule
Please add the following Early Childhood Network Meeting dates to your calendar:

 

East Region	West Region	Topic
Thurs. Sept 10, 2015 4:30 – 6:30 PM Immanuel, Glenview	Thurs. Sept 17, 2015 4:30 – 6:30 PM Zion, Marengo	Enhancing Your Classroom Learning Center
Thurs. Oct 8, 2015 4:30 – 6:30 PM Immanuel, Dundee	Thurs. Oct 22, 2015 4:30 – 6:30 PM Mt. Olive, Rockford	Erin’s Law/ Safe Centers
Thurs. Nov 12, 2015 4:30 – 6:30 PM St. Peter, Schaumburg	Thurs. Nov. 19, 2015 4:30 – 6:30 PM TBA	Assessments
Thurs. Jan 14, 2016 Zion-Concord, Bensenville	Thurs. Jan. 28, 2016 4:30 – 6:30 PM Alpine Academy, Rockford	Handwriting
Thurs. Feb 11, 2016 4:30 – 6:30 PM St. James, Chicago	Thurs. Feb 25, 2016 4:30 – 6:30 Immanuel, Belvidere	The Challenging Family
Thurs. Mar 10, 2016 4:30  - 6:30 PM Immanuel, Batavia	Thurs. Mar 17, 2016 4:30 – 6:30 Grace, Loves Park	Missional Outreach
Thurs. April 14, 2016 4:30 – 6:30 PM St John, Darien	Thurs. April 28, 2016 4:30 – 6:30 PM Christ the Rock, Rockford	Developmentally Appropriate Practice
Thurs. May 12 4:30 – 6:30 PM Concordia University, Chicago	Joint meeting with both the East & West Regions	Planning Session for 2016 - 2017