Teaching and Relationships with Children

Framework

In childcare, teaching and relationships are the cornerstones of a child's early development. Teaching fosters intellectual growth, language abilities, and essential life skills, providing children with the tools they need to explore the world and build a strong educational foundation.

Equally important are the relationships formed with caregivers and peers, as they shape a child's emotional well-being, social skills, and sense of security. These bonds lay the groundwork for trust, empathy, and a lifelong love for learning.

Together, teaching and relationships create an environment where children can thrive, fostering their development and setting them on a path towards a bright and promising future.

Schedule and Curriculum

Choosing the right preschool curriculum is crucial for a child's early development, and I love the one I've selected for my childcare program. This particular curriculum not only emphasizes academic readiness but also promotes social and emotional growth. It's filled with engaging activities and age-appropriate materials, sparking curiosity and creativity. It aligns perfectly with the goals I have for the children in my program. See our Lesson Plan here.

Play and Interactions

Information Found on
www.ResponsiveClassroom.org

I practice the Responsive Classroom strategies to help manage children's behavior. These strategies proactively teach positive behaviors and create a strong community. The information below is from the responsive classroom website.  

Core Belief
Children need to learn a set of social and emotional competencies—cooperation, assertiveness, responsibility, empathy, and self control, and a set of academic competencies—academic mindset, perseverance, learning strategies, and academic behaviors.

Learning and Belonging

Circle Time

  • Greetings
    ​​Every child is greeted by name from me and the other children.

  • Story Time
    We read stories about friendship, sharing, taking turns, rhyming, ABCs, holidays, social stories (going to the dentist, doctor, etc). Of course we read the classics too! 

  • Academics

    • ABC Chart- We sing the ABCs and practice each letter sound

    • Letter Tubs- Items discussed that all start with the letter we are practicing that week
      (A-apple, alligator, ant, anchor, acorn, arrow). 

    • Rhyming games, animal cards, and movement activities

  • Singing

    • Head, Shoulders, etc, Wheels on the Bus, I’m a Little Teapot, Old McDonald Had a Farm, Ring Around the Rosy, Five Little Speckled Frogs, Row, Row, Row Your Boat, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, and more!

Letter of the Week

  • Poem Chart
    We dance to a Letter of the Week song. The children help identify words that begin with that letter

  • ABC Binder
    Children make two art projects a week to put in their binders

  • Salt Trays
    Each child has a salt tray for tracing and writing the letter

  • Letter Tubs
    Children take out two letter tubs and sort the items by letter sound. For example, they have the letter tubs A & B. They would take all of the items out of the tubs, mix them up, and then sort them by beginning letter sound.
    (Similar to our circle time but with the added component of sorting). 

  • Workbooks
    All children three and older have a letter workbook- Handwriting Without Tears.

Beginner Reading/Writing Skills

  • Leveled Reading Books
    I use beginner reader books. These books offer repetition and practice high frequency words. We reread the same book several times and then send it home to read and practice with family. 

  • High Frequency Words
    We practice reading and writing high frequency words. I follow a list that starts with the easiest words to learn and build from there.

  • Word Family Practice
    ​​I make word cards that have rhyming words to help build confidence and success with rhyming words. 

  • Blending Segmenting
    I use CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant) picture cards. We practice segmenting the words into separate sounds, then blend the word back together. We practice this by sounding out words on our arms or with picture boxes. 

  • Writing Letters & Words
    Once children can write letters independently, we practice spelling words taught with the various activities listed above.

  • Writing Names
    The children learn to write their names in a few steps

    • Practice spelling their names aloud

    • Trace with paint, crayons and markers

    • Form the letters on the salt tray

    • Write the letters with crayons on paper 

Art Projects and Science

  • Body Sytems Project

    • Teach children about the circulatory, muscular, skeletal, nervous, respiratory systems

    • Step by Step Instructions and objectives available: CLICK HERE

  • Cutting & Glueing Workbooks

  • Painting

    • Painting with various items: cars, dinosaurs. etc

    • Drawing on tables with pudding, flour, cool whip

  • Baking and Creating Treats
    The children help find ingredients and follow steps to make yummy treats.

  • Playdough

Our Parent-Aware Provider Documentation are downloadable materials that have been thoughtfully created to empower caregivers. These documents will give you the knowledge and tools that you need to meet each indicator within the Teaching and Relationships with Children standard and provide you the 4-star Parent-Aware rating you deserve.
Click here to access the Free
Teaching and Relationships with Children Parent-Aware Provider Package.