News Bulletin

October 2013 Aurora Early Learning Center A program of One Hope United 525 College Ave., Aurora, IL 60505 630. 256.7700

Monthly

Healthy Lifestyles Curriculum

OVERALL HEALTh EXERCISE NUTRITIon EnVIRonMEnTAL SUSTAInABILITY

The Flu: Stop the Spread
You yes, you! can help keep people from getting sick this flu season. How? Its not too hard. Just take these steps: Get the flu vaccine. Wash your hands frequently, especially before eating and after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. Keep your sneezes and coughs to yourself (use a tissue or your elbow instead of your hand). Keep your hands out of your eyes, mouth, and nose. You may have heard all this before probably from your mom but flu season is a great time to actually start doing them. By following these tips, you might be able to keep yourself from getting sick and prevent germs from spreading around and making other people sick. Do you notice something about three of the tips above? All of them involve your hands. Thats how a lot of germs get in our bodies in the first place whether its a cold, chickenpox, or the flu. Germs get on our hands and we put our hands in our eyes, noses, and, especially, our mouths. Check Your Hand-Washing Skills The best habit of all these good habits is hand washing. When you wash your hands, you rinse away germs that you might have picked up here or there. When you do this before you eat, for instance, you reduce the chance that those germs will end up in your body, where they can make you sick.

Four Components of the

Sure, you know how to wash your hands. But check your technique against these recommendations: 1. Use warm water (not cold or hot) when you wash your hands. 2. Use whatever soap you like. Some soaps come in cool shapes and colors or smell nice, but whatever kind that gets you scrubbing is the kind you should use. Antibacterial soaps are OK to use, but regular soap works fine. 3. Work up some lather on both sides of your hands, your wrists, and between your fingers. Dont forget to wash around your nails. This is one place germs like to hide. Wash for about 15 to 20 seconds about how long it takes to sing Happy Birthday two times. 4. Rinse and dry well with a clean towel. Lets add a final step 5 since its flu season: 5. Tell a friend to wash up, too!
Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD Date reviewed: September 2013

Source: http://kidshealth.org/kid/h1n1_center/flu_spread.html

YOUR TRUsTED PARTNER IN EARLy cARE ANd EDUcATION

Curriculum Night: Oct. 16 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

On Oct.16, we will open our doors after hours for families to walk in their childs shoes and learn about our curriculum and healthy lifestyle focus at the Center. Children are often very excited to show their families what they do each day. We realize it is often difficult to have extended conversations with teachers during busy arrivals and departuresthis is an opportunity to get to know our staff as well as provide your suggestions and ideas for programming. Each classroom will have activities planned and our teachers will explain how your child grows and develops by participating in these activities. Our Curriculum is the Teaching Strategies Creative Curriculum. This is a play-based approach that revolves around active learning and open ended exploration. Our goal is to help children become inde pendent, self-confident and inquisitive learners.

small and large group activities to help prepare children for Kindergarten. In implementing the Creative Curriculum approach, we cre ate a classroom that contains developmentally appropriate materials that are challenging for children. Emphasis is placed on creating a classroom community, problem solving, and developing positive relationships. The arrangement of furniture and materials are designed to give children multiple opportunities to explore, discover and grow. Teachers are trained in Teaching Strategies Gold Assessment System to observe, guide and assess childrens development. We support childrens learning using a variety of approaches that match unique learning styles and needs. Our philoso phy is to work in partnership with families to help children prepare for school success. We will be scheduling conferences to share your childs progress as well as plans for continued success. In addition to the Creative Curriculum approach that is used for all classrooms, we support the RIE (Respectful Infant Educares) in our infant rooms. We see each infant as a competent human being, worthy of our respect. We strive to involve infants in daily routines, learn about each childs unique way of communicating and maintain frequent and open communication with each parent. This philosophy is based upon the idea of a non-restrictive, non-propping environment, thereby allowing infants to develop their motor skills at their own rate. Consequently, children are not placed in positions or situations which they cannot get into or out of by themselves, nor will be placed into restrictive devices, such as highchairs or swings. Such devices pro hibit an infant from exploring his/her body both his/her capabilities and limitations.

Teachers establish a consistent schedule so the children know what to expect at different times of the day. This predictable daily routine gives children a sense of security and enables them to develop increasing independence. Classrooms are arranged into interest areas such as blocks, dramatic play, art, library, math and discovery and children explore these areas as they are guided by their teachers. There are also times that children meet as a large group and in small groups to participate in teacher led activities. Teachers plan these

The goal of our program is to stimulate infants along individual developmental lines. Each child follows their own program/schedule, desires, needs and preferences. We are very proud of the progress our infants have made and are happy to share information about this approach. Our Kindergarten Curriculum focuses on preparing children to meet and exceed the Illinois Learning Standards in all areas in a small classroom size. The programs of Jolly Phonics, Everyday Math and Handwriting Without Tears are used. All of these programs teach children in a hands-on and fun way by adding songs to remember letter sounds, as well as real world situations to apply math concepts. We are happy to supply additional information and Curriculum homework for children if they request it although it is not mandatory.

Outdoor Play
As the weather gets a little colder, please dress your child in appropriate attire as we continue to go outside (weather permitting) the entire year. This is also a good opportunity to check your childs extra clothes to ensure they are appropriate for the changing temperatures. Children of all ages benefit from going outside every day, even in winter. Going outside to run, jump, yell and wiggle allows children a chance to use their large muscles and work off extra energy. Moving out in the fresh air is healthier than keeping children inside a closed building where germs can easily spread. As a licensed facility we are required to take children outside each day (weather permitting). There are also many learning opportunities as children explore nature. Our temperature guidelines are as follows
Temperature-Appropriate Dress/Restrictions:

Healthy Lifestyles
In supporting our Healthy Lifestyles Curriculum, classrooms engage in food experiences each month. Even our youngest children participate in taste testing and exploring new foods! This is a good way for children to learn about the food they eat, as well as the importance of following a recipe. We hope to grow some inspiring chefs that value healthy eating!

0 15 15 25 25 40 40 60 60 70 70 90 90 100 100+

No outdoor play Limited outdoor play with appropriate dress Coats, hats, mittens required (boots, if snow) Coats/jackets (hat, depending upon wind chill) Light jacket No jacket Outdoor play depends on the heat index No outdoor play

National Accreditation for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

Over the past year, our Center has been preparing for NAEYC accreditation. This is a voluntary accreditation system that sets professional standards for early childhood education programs and is the highest achievement of quality in child development centers. We have been evaluating our policies and pro cedures to better serve our families and children. Thank you for your thoughtful input through completing surveysit has been invaluable! Based upon your responses, we will be incorporating more opportunities for families to get to know and support each other, as well as developing stronger parent partnerships by increasing opportunities for communication with classroom staff. We also would like to involve families in decisions about our program. Look for information about participating in a Parent Committee soon. Many of the changes in the past year have been in response to our preparation to ensure the safety of children, such as the elimination of diaper bags/backpacks, as well as the introduction of sleep sacks in our infant rooms. We also have purchased more materials for children to use while on the playground to provide learning opportunities both in the classroom and out. Thanks so much for your commitment to quality care for your children.

Calendar
November 2013
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11 Center 12 closes at 2 p.m. for Staff Training School Age Program from 6:30 a.m. 2 p.m. 18 19

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25 Full-day School Age District 131

26 Full-day School Age District 131

27 Full-day School Age District 131 and 129

28 Center closed Thanksgiving break

29 30 Center closed Thanksgiving break

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