Journey to NAEYC Accreditation

I am writing this post exactly one week after our NAEYC Accreditation site visit.  I have come down off my adrenaline rush enough to make sense and I wanted to document our journey toward NAEYC Accreditation.

This journey began on June 14, 2009 when we received the letter confirming that we had officially enrolled in the Self-Study process with the NAEYC Academy.  Soon Kari (the lead preschool teacher) and I received our self study kit, a box of 11 workbooks.  We began reading through the criteria and evaluating where our program stacked up or fell short, where we excelled, and where we felt comfortable being right on target.  Kari and I met frequently and poured through the workbooks deciding what might need to be adjusted within our program.  This took a good deal of time because we had many jobs to focus on at the same time.  We successfully completed the self-study materials and was ready for the next phase.

Our next phase was to apply for candidacy.  The first task was to select a due date for our candidacy materials which would set the timeline for the whole process.  Our application was accepted on September 23, 2010 which set our candidacy due date as September 30, 2011.  During this year long time frame we compiled the evidence necessary to prove to NAEYC that our program was worthy of accreditation.  We organized this evidence in a program portfolio and a classroom portfolio...both housed in four inch three ring binders...brimming full.  Prior to our candidacy deadline we would receive access to our packet of candidacy materials to complete and submit.  Basically this step proves to the academy that we are compiling the portfolios and that all our ducks are in a row.  These activities were time consuming but it helped us see the good, the bad, and the ugly that still needed modification.  Our candidacy materials were mailed on September 21, 2011 and by October 17 we received word that our program was accepted as a candidate for accreditation.  This notification also opened our site visit window of October 1, 2011 to March 30, 2012.  Wow!  Winter break eats up a lot of that time frame.  We were pretty certain that our visit wouldn't happen during the NAEYC conference week because everyone would most likely be in Orlando.  So after conference passed we waited for the phone call that would announce our 15 day site visit window.

On a December afternoon I received a phone call from our chosen NAEYC assessor who set our 15 day site visit window--January 30-February 17, 2012.  Great...second week of preschool after the break and a perfect time period for a snow or ice storm.  We relaxed a little, it was nice to know it wasn't necessary to panic...yet.  We made final adjustments to the portfolios and anxiously awaited the call signaling our visit would occur the next business day.  We figured the earliest they would call would be Thursday, January 26 and when that day came and went without a phone call we knew we could enjoy that weekend without fretting over an impending visit. 

Then came Monday, January 30.  At approximately 8:00am while I was at the grocery store before heading to work the call came.  I am not sure what I must have looked like but I know I froze in place worried that I had nothing to write on.  It was an exciting moment knowing that the our site visit would occur the next day.  Instead of texting or calling Kari, knowing I was less than 5 minutes from arriving, I drove to work with that queasy feeling you get before delivering exciting news.  Without stopping by my office to put down my bags I opened Kari's door and simply stated, "Tomorrow."  I think she gave me the same look I must have made in the grocery store when the assessor called.  Wow, it is becoming a reality.

We spread the news to those who needed to know, ordered a parking pass, and reserved the conference room.  I emailed my Tuesday class to cancel and threatened Tuesday's lab students not to "call in" with illness or flat tires.  Portfolios and supplemental materials were in place on the conference room table before I left for the afternoon.  I ordered a good night's sleep and was ready to get this part over and out.

I arrived to preschool on Tuesday by 7:25am, that is an hour early for me (I drive 30 minutes to work).  Kari had been there since 5:00am, fearing that the custodian wouldn't show she cleaned and super prepped the room.  It looked awesome!  Bring it on!

Our assessor arrived early at 7:45am and quickly got to work with our pre-visit conference and checklists.  She was not scary at all and put us at ease.  Since we are a small program it was easy for her to stay ahead of her scheduled agenda.  Our closing meeting was originally scheduled for 2:15pm that time was changed to 12:30pm because our organized portfolios sped up the process.  Plus we only received one of the dreaded "MERFs"  (Missing Evidence Request Form)...the missing piece of evidence was in place within 10 minutes (an hour is given)--it felt like a beat the clock game show. 

Our closing visit was pleasant.  We went over many forms and procedures, watched her seal up the materials that would be sent to the Academy and by 1:00pm our assessor was pulling away from the preschool...it is at that moment that Kari and I took our first breath of the day.

Our construction theme border has a
hidden gem...it appears to be the
Village People...and yup...they are
doing the YMCA.

After the visit, Kari and I ran through many things:  We thought of things we wished the assessor has witnessed or asked about.  Did she like our materials?  What did she think about being outside to begin the session?  Was the bulletin board with the kid's drawings and predictions cool?  Did our storage room make us look like an episode of pre-K hoarders?  What did she think about seeing the Village People in our wallpaper border?

Now we wait...for up to 90 days...for the decision.  I hold my breath every time I open my email...no word yet...maybe tomorrow.

You Know it is a Good Day in Preschool when...

Our preschool program reopens for the spring semester next week.  We all have high hopes for another wonderful semester...which causes me to reflect back on those days when I was in the classroom...you know those days when at the end of the day you took a breath and realized what a good day it had been.  This post is simply a random mess of the moments that made for a good day in preschool. 

• fresh box of crayons...or finding a like new crayon at the bottom of the tub
• bouquet of dandelions from your favorite little stinker
• the invention of velcro made for many happy days
• a "note" from a child presented in a sealed envelope
• birthday cupcakes...bonus is sneaking an extra one at naptime
• busy days where you never look at the clock...wow...fun filled days zip by!
• no runny noses
• HUGE block structures that no one knocks down
• butterflies and ladybugs on the playground
• chocolate milk
• peanut butter balls for snack...with orange juice
• Scholastic book deliveries
• Valentine's Day exchange
• finding enough money for a candy bar from the vending machine...then the vending machine dispensing two for the price of one!
• taco salad for lunch
• finding the right size of extra pants for someone in need
• discovering a "fossil" rock on the playground
• a nature walk that includes a surprise...snake, golf ball, construction equipment, dead bird
• a nature walk that doesn't include a surprise rainshower
• listening to the "Three Bears" and "Goldilocks" in the dramatic play center
• a no-bandaid-day
• stickers!  (Still makes my day...my college students still get stickers!)

• donated cardboard appliance boxes
• a visit from a new baby brother or sister
• hearing, "Please stop, I don't like it when you take my blocks" instead of hearing the thud of a unit block hitting a head followed by crying
• paint that washes out
• watching the first snow fall...the hushed wonder...the excitement...and my sore back from lifting kiddos to see out the window...what really made a happy day was the set of stairs my hubby made for my classroom!
• baby birds hatching in their nest tucked into the playground equipment
• a no jacket kind of day
• hugs from my little friends

Yes...Kids Really do Learn Through Play!

We are just around the corner from another new semester...for both my college kiddos and the preschool kiddos.  The courses I teach change each semester with the exception of my early childhood curriculum course...which I know I shouldn't have favorites...but it is my favorite class to teach.  In this class we look and learn about all the developmental domains and create activities for preschool children to fit within a play based developmentally appropriate curriculum.  See...it sounds like fun doesn't it?  And to add to the fun factor...the students have to enroll in a practicum experience in our preschool lab.

My students get the idea of developmentally appropriateness...because I drill it in then in every single class that I teach!  Play based curriculum is another issue.  My students "get" that kids need to play and that they can learn through play...but when it comes time to plan activities the playfulness sometimes goes away.  Sometimes I think it is because they don't feel that a lesson plan should focus on play because a lesson plan sounds more like a  formal document that surely must not include play.  Another idea that crosses my mind is my students may have not had the opportunity to learn through play in their educational experiences...that push for more academics that lead to more worksheets and less dramatic play and block centers in the kindergarten classroom.  Then there is the final option that I do not want to even think about...that it might be that they just do not "get" it.

There are times when my practicum students mention that there needs to be a more focused academic curriculum in the preschool.  "The kids should be doing more learning activities."  What?  Learning activities?  What exactly do you think we do all day?  This is where I feel my preaching and numerous examples have failed.  In a prerequisite course I have my students defend play to imaginary colleagues, parents, and administrators...they can do it...but when begin planning they tend to focus more on product based activities.  I continue to point out examples of how children learn through simply playing...it is so much easier to learn something when you don't realize you are supposed to be learning something.  I was a master of physics as a child in the bathtub...just let me experiment with an empty cup and the water.  What do children learn by exploring fingerpaints...without a preconceived idea from their teacher of what their masterpiece should look like...they learn about textures, color mixing, properties of the paper, force of the push of their finger, how to move their arm, elbow...maybe even their nose?

I will start my semester on my soapbox defending learning through play...I will even "make" my students play to experience it on their own.  I want them to be able to stand up and explain all the benefits of the block area (or dramatic play, writing center, puppet stage, painting easel, sand table, tire swing, the list goes on) to a parent who asks, "Why do they play all day?"

Hello...I'm Still Here!

Life gets busy and the blog takes a back seat.  I am working on a new post to publish today...getting back into the swing of things after an almost 2 month break.  Stay tuned...

I Swear the Paint is Washable...I Think!



Bubble Paper Mitten Print

 Famous last words of the early childhood teacher...it's washable paint.  You usually say this in response to a parent's statement of, "She's wearing a new Gymboree outfit...don't let her get messy today."  When I hear those things from a parent I want to run straight to that child's cubby and immediately put them in their extra set of clothes so as not to soil the "good" clothes.  Yeah, yeah...we have aprons and smocks to protect the kids from paint and other messes...but truthfully we forget to pass them out until the kids are elbow deep in fingerpaint.  And the aprons...well kids tend to get messes under them for some reason and the apron kind of seals in the mess.  I have added liquid soap to my tempera paint in an effort to make it more washable but let's face it...there are certain colors of tempera that stick more than others...red and purple are the worst.  I remember being in a classroom where a teacher was using wet wipes trying to remove the color from a little blonde boys buzz cut...he decided to explore the paint as if it were shampoo...probably felt pretty cool.

Today in my curriculum class we had our "Art Exploration Day".  For the entire session they were able to take their time exploring different art materials.  They were reminded that it was all about the process and that there was not a set "picture" to produce...I must say it was a relaxing and enjoyable hour...we even streamed in children's music while we "worked". 

As I would with little kids I gave a few instructions that helped keep them safe...from burns and cross contamination of germs (you'll understand this later).  They were told that they could use as much of the materials as they needed or wanted...I even had to make a run to our preschool classroom to get more butcher paper.  I had supplies in place in case of a mess...which is what scares some people about working with young children...and paint...and glue...and that dreaded STD of the art world...glitter!

Here are the stations that were set up:





Pop Art in Action


1. Pop Art--for this you need cups of soapy water with different liquid watercolor (or any thinned paint--food coloring stains and should be avoided)...a package of straws...white construction paper...and a trash can.  The object of this is to blow through your own clean straw (germ cross contamination alert) into the soapy colored water mixture until your bubbles come up over the rim of the cup.  At this point you remove the straw and place your paper over the bubbles...popping the bubbles which leave splattered bubble prints on the paper...pretty nifty!  Some cool science concepts here--force of air, color mixing, bubble chemistry, and so on.  If you have a child like my little Elizabeth who confused sucking with blowing...you can poke a few pin holes in the straw near the blowing end to prevent sucking it up and drinking soapy colored water.




Hard at work sculpting!


2. Model Magic Sculpting--this isn't overly messy but super fun.  I used to make all kinds of doughs and clays for my kiddos to sculpt things out of...but when Model Magic came out it just added a new dimension to preschool sculptures.  And no I am not a paid spokesperson for Crayola's Model Magic.  Today the girls were given real sculpting tools and allowed to create any 3 dimensional piece that struck their mind...the pieces are now drying in my office.  If you are not familiar with Model Magic it hardens to the consistency of a dried marshmallow.
 



Working on warming tray.


3. Crayons on the Warming Tray--What a cool way to see the effects of heat on wax!  For this I use a warming tray, paper, hot pads, and a remnant box of crayons--preferably naked crayons...you know with the paper peeled off.  When I do this with kids adult supervision is necessary the whole time...but with my big girls they were on their own.  It is such a cool feeling to draw and feel the wax melt into the paper.  This is usually the most popular station during Art Exploration Day.  Glitter and metallic crayons are the best...cheap crayons melt really good...you will get a slight burning smell but nothing too horrible.  These can be hung in windows because they almost become transparent.




Ice cube painting


4. Ice Cube Painting--Another favorite...simply freeze colored water (again, thinned paint or watercolor is less scary than food coloring) in an ice cube tray with popsicle sticks...like a popsicle...just don't eat them!  The kids simply choose a "pop" and paint on their paper with it.  Absorbent paper works the best for this...we used newsprint and the water pooled a little today.  Great science concepts with the properties of water here!




Bubble Paper Mitten finished paper.


5. Bubble Paper Mitten Painting--For this one you have to get some bubble paper and make mittens...just a rectangle piece folded over big enough to slide your hand in...tape it shut so that there is only one opening and turn it so the "bubbles" are on the outside.  Plates with tempera paint are provided and the artists simply choose a color, dip their mitt, and basically pat large sheets of butcher paper.  The color combinations are always interesting especially when the colors start blending and are layered.  The finished sheets can be cut into different shapes kind of in the style of Eric Carle's creations.




Working on Tissue Paper Suncatchers.


6. Tissue Paper Suncatchers--this is the easiest and less messy of all the activities.  Cut contact paper in a workable size and provide a variety of tissue paper, sequins, or any other collage "junk".  This is great practice for kids in tearing or cutting when they choose their different colors of tissue.  The kids just add their colored tissue and items to the sticky side of the contact paper...these can be stuck directly to a window when they are finished or another piece of contact paper or colored paper can be added to seal off the piece of art. 



Finished warming tray product



The activities were shared with my class because they are a little different but not too scary messy.  These activities can be done by an individual or small groups of kids.  The materials needed are not hard to come by...the warming tray is the trickiest...I borrow my sister's each time I plan this activity.  I hope that my students see the possibilities that await in these different activities.  I hope it sparks them to try something a little messy...I remembered to bring up wipes, paper towels, and we had newspapers under the drippy items to model the teacher's role.



There is a time to dawdle...

  fraz·zle/ˈfrazəl/

Verb:	Cause to feel completely exhausted; wear out.
Noun:	The state of being completely exhausted or worn out: "I'm tired, worn to a frazzle".
Synonyms:	verb.  fray noun.  exhaustion - weariness

It has been a fast paced few weeks with lots of pockets full of stress that unfortunately brought me to an ugly place...an adult tantrum.  Now I didn't kick and scream and throw myself on the floor but I did sulk and blow through some kleenex.  This week has been much better in many areas...better in part through reflection of my life.  Before you quit reading because you think I am simply venting I will change to my topic of dawdling.

I often tell my students that we, Americans, tend to try to hurry children up...we cannot wait for them to walk, to talk, to potty on the potty, to recite their ABCs, the list goes on.  Listen to parents or teachers talk to children...we often hear "don't dawdle", "hurry up", "come on", "we're late", and so on.  What is the rush?  Are we in a race?  Maybe I, or we, can learn a few things from children's lolly gagging.

If we think like kids and stop to pet a caterpillar every now and then I think our sanity would be better preserved.  Here are some things that we might "see" if we took the time to slow down and smell the dandelions:

1. We might notice the holes that the very hungry caterpillar ate in a leaf on a tree.
2. We might be able to find enough change in little hidey holes to buy a grande vanilla frappa mochachino.
3. If we unlace and relace our tennis shoes we may find that they actually fit better using every other lace hole.
4. What if while digging a hole in the sandbox I did end up in China... discover a dinosaur...or realize how relaxing sensory play is?
5. If I slow down I can walk with my shadow.
6. I can talk into my office fan in my coolest Darth Vader voice.
7. I can out build catapults with a 4 year old.
8. I can beat a 5 year old at Pokemon memory.
9. When I don't scurry through life I notice patterns...in the tile floor, in a fence, in the grooves on my pen.
10. When I slow down and take a breath I can sort out what is bothering me and decide if it is really worth all the stress...and chances are we have created the stress and the short breather helps us work past the stress.

I am not ashamed to say that I have decided to follow through on my declaration of stating there is a time to dawdle...I have already cancelled my class for Friday and turned in my absence report.  It was tempting to write in my reason as, "personal dawdling day" but I may want to do it again and I'll need a fresh new reason for that day.

NAEYC Conference Update!

I hate to brag...but part of my job does include going to the NAEYC Annual Conference with the preschool teacher and students from our Early Childhood Student Organization.  Conferences serve many purposes--to stay in touch with new information in the field, network with other like minded people, and to inspire or re-inspire. 

This year we took 5 students and one graduate to Orlando, Florida.  When people asked where we were going I usually told them under my breath because when you mention the city of the big mouse everyone tends to think you are going on a vacation rather than a professional trip.

I spent a lot of time in workshops but all I learned did not happen while in sessions.  Many things can be learned simply from the environment.  Here are some things that I learned:

1. Early childhood teachers love Vera Bradley bags...I have never seen so many patterns in all my life!
2. Early childhood teachers will sit anywhere at anytime.  I bet if you attended a banking conference you wouldn't find bank presidents sitting in the concourses eating lunch on the floor.
3. The freebies in the exhibit hall are like gold...much like the swag bags given away at the award shows for presenters.

4. Preschool teachers will throw elbows for a free pen, piece of chocolate, or post it note pad.
5. A bar full of preschool teachers is an interesting sight.
6. Give a child care provider a free frisbee and she will try to get 9 more to give to her kiddos or make a cool game.
7. Early childhood people are not afraid to stand up and sing and dance in a session or again to get more free stuff.
8. Although we tell our children not to talk to strangers, early childhood teachers make new friends quite quickly.
9. Early childhood people will talk about poop, pee, and boogers to anyone.
10. Only preschool teachers would be concerned about people with peanut allergies when the nuts are passed out on the airplane.
11. Early childhood people are still amazed at Mentos and Diet Coke...thank you Steve Spangler!
12. It is possible to obtain over 10 pounds of freebies in the exhibit hall...and preschool teachers know how to do the math to insure that their bag still doesn't weigh over 50 pounds for the return flight home.