Skillz 2 Grow (ABC Babys)

Those baby letters are just as important as the capitals!


A growing trend, according to many Kindergarten teachers and trickled down to us in the child care profession, is that many children are great at their ABC's but they do not know what those little ones are supposed to be.

So, we have been informally asked to make sure that we include those baby letters in our learning activities. Parents who are their childs primary teacher should also keep this in mind.

The following worksheet looks better and is available as a PDF file and a DOCX file if you are interested in printing it!

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I know my ABC’s
Baby Letters

*I can say* *I can sound out* *I can spot* *I can write*


a b c d e f g h i j k

l m n o p q r s t u

v w x y z







Notes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________







Child’s Name: __________________________



Date: _______________




INSTRUCTIONS
Set aside a few minutes where you can sit down with a child one on one.

*I can say*
Say a letter and have the child repeat it to you. Circle the letters that they can say.

*I can sound out*
Say or show the child a letter, have them make the letter sound. (A sounds like it’s name and like ah) Circle the letters they can sound out.

*I can spot*
Use flashcards (any kind with baby letters), and see if they can recognize them. Circle the letters that they know.

*I can write*
Use flashcards, blank paper, writing tablet, etc. Have the child write the letter. Circle the letters that they can do.

Use the Notes section to jot down praise, encouragements, and ways you can work on improving these skills at child care and what parents can work on at home.
Keep a copy for your records and send a copy home with parents.

"Q" (2/26/10)

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

~Theodore Roosevelt

Thoughts
Live in the moment, use your resources wisely, and achieve success to the best of your ability. Those are the thoughts that pop into my head when I hear or read this quote.

As a Child Care Provider, you need to keep costs as low as possible, come up with last minute activities, and keep those kids entertained. There are so many businesses out there who have tailored their services to target you. Lesson and activity plans for $5.00 (and that may be on the cheap end) per child, catalogs of every shape and color with thousands of indoor/outdoor/indestructible/multicultural/ bilingual/edible/nonedible THINGS. Do you need them? Probably not!

Use the skills you have gained from trainings and workshops, from activity books, and the internet to create project, learning experiences, and activity ideas. A little bit of this and a little bit of that and you have a masterpiece! Children are more than likely more enthused with the recycling box than choosing from boxes and boxes of toys.

Every moment in a child care setting can be turned into a learning activity. Stop worrying that you aren’t sending enough stuff home with the children. Who has room on their fridge for all of that anyway? What you are putting into their heads is more important and most parents will understand that. Your job is to fill them up with learning experiences that are fun and will stick.

As a member of society, we need to realize that there has to be an end to all this consumerism. We need to start using our resources wisely. If you can’t use it, give it to someone who can. If you aren’t going to need it in the next month, don’t purchase it. If it can be recycled, reused, or regifted, then do it!

As a parent, you are responsible for helping your child make positive choices when they are an adult. If they see you being innovative, they will strive for that also! And don’t get upset when your child comes home empty handed from child care. They probably learned how to be a great friend through sharing and not hitting, made a yummy snack or other edible artwork, or played a super fun game. Your provider has been trained for other things besides what we can put on our fridges. Remember to thank them for all of their hard work!


Quote Source
Theodore Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States. You can learn more about him at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt.

Newsletter IdeaBox (2/25/10)

Celebrate A Birthday



Wether you do weekly, biweekly, or monthly newsletters, you can include upcoming birthdays in your newsletter! I know around here, sometimes we have no birthdays one month, and the next we are celebrating three or more! So, if you are struggling to come up with ideas for your newsletters, this is a great topic to start with.




The Basics


Happy Birthday “Child’s Name”!


They love to see their name in print!


Date and Age


When is their birthday and how old will they be?


Photos
Include a recent photo, or a series of photos from years past. They can see how much they’ve grown since their first day at your child care!

Extras
Do a “birthday interview” for the newsletter. Ask questions like: What’s your favorite color?, What’s the best food to eat at a party?, What is your favorite game to play? These will be special in the future, when their birthday pops up again next year!

Do a follow up for the next newsletter. Take photos if you are having cupcakes, if they will be opening a present, or if the children play a special game to celebrate.