The Child Development Cooperative

Our First Fruit

How appropriate and just down right nice of them to work with our curriculum this month! Our very FIRST organic garden produce has, well…produced! Since we are talking about fruits and veggies/kitchen capers this month, we have been checking our little garden oh so diligently. We have finally been able to test out the fruits (eh, get it?) of our labor. We have two varieties of tomatoes that have sprouted, roma and cherry. I prefer the little ones. But I am tiny, so it makes sense. We have several more growing and turning lovely shades of red and our peppers are coming in nicely as well. Our kale did something crazy and sprouted some tall flower thingie, so if anyone knows about that…

On a similar and even cuter note, our tiny Co-op sprouts have started to attend. Our newest family members are finally sharing their sweet babies with us. Anna Brown, our latest staff addition and teacher in the infant room, (otherwise known as the Caterpillars), is having a ball with our new cutie pie. We are looking forward to the rest of our babies, so we can all have a chance to cuddle. (Anna can be a bit selfish with the snuggles.)

Our First Caterpillar

Reindeer hats made with hand prints

This month we are talking about Winter Holidays, the season of winter (we got snow this year, sooo much easier to discuss SNOW and winter=cold), and all things December.

The Chameleon class has been busy in their Santa’s workshop building toys and learning about winter clothing. The Grasshoppers, Caterpillars, and Butterflies have been talking about ice, snow, cold, and the colors of the season. One of the coolest art projects in conjunction with the theme has been frozen paint painting…yep, you can easily freeze any sort of paint-finger, watercolor, or tempera in ice-cube trays and insert a craft stick or popsicle stick. Once they freeze, pop them out and simply paint with the cube. As it melts, the color gets more vibrant. Thanks Ms. Jennifer for this cool winter art idea!!

Sometimes you have to get REAL close in circle time.

The last two components of our curriculum are so important and work hand in hand:

1)Adults show respect for children and interact with them in caring ways
2)All staff have specialized training in child development and appropriate programming

It is very important to us to remember with each interaction that our children deserve our respect. We set up boundaries that are developmentally appropriate and safe while listening to their needs and wants. Of course children shouldn’t be able to have everything they want, but active listening provides for a wonderful opportunity for learning. I overheard a great example today: Ms. Trish in the Chameleon Room was discussing the transition to outside play and then lunch. One of her kids asked the question about where they were going to be eating lunch and wondered if by going outside, they were going to eat outside. She asked if that was something they would like to do, and they voted. Each child gets a voice in our school and is heard. Now, an impromptu lunch, al fresco in Louisiana is probably not exactly what Ms. Trish had in mind today on a Monday of all days. But they discussed it and are enjoying themselves!

The only way that all of the aforementioned curriculum theories and ideas I have been discussing this month come  together is if you have quality trained adults working within the ideals. Without proper, up-to-date training and research, no matter how great your intentions, you just cannot provide a program that will provide what children need to learn and grow. Our teachers receive clock hours each year, are pursuing continuing education, are supported by Pathways Louisiana, and are evaluated regularly. We also have periodic staff meetings to discuss upcoming events, etc. We encourage our teachers to seek out any and all professional development opportunities as possible. You’ll be hearing from them soon as this blog concludes my long-winded albeit super informative and enlightening overview of what curriculum means to us at the Co-op. Next blogs and topics will include some from our staff, parents, friends and families of the Co-op.

Our environment is safe, healthy, and contains a variety of toys and materials that are both stimulating and familiar. The children select activities and materials that interest them, and they learn by being actively involved. Last night we held our first parent meeting and discussed in detail the power of play. Our children play in centers designated as science and nature, art, dramatic play, math, literacy, and blocks. Each of these areas hold unique and important lessons, but are never compartmentalized. This simply means that if one of the children needs to build a workbench with blocks to go along with her tools from dramatic play, not only is this allowed, but encouraged! We do not believe that each center is static and in a vacuum, but is fluid and flows together. In order to allow for creative learning through play, we ensure that the toys and materials are developmentally appropriate yet challenging. An example of this is seen in our frequent “changing of the centers”. Each classroom will look completely different at the end of the year from when you may have started. This provides stimulation that only a new environment can offer.

Sometimes art needs an audience!

Our toys and resources are safe, non-toxic, and are moving towards being more environmentally friendly. We believe that safety is the key to high-quality care. We do follow all class A, state licensing requirements as designated by the state of Louisiana and research other nationwide best practice guidelines to provide all of our children and families with the best first school experience. We hope to go above and beyond what our families may have expected from a preschool and strive each day to provide an opportunity for learning through play. (Besides, it is cute to see them play, you should stop by and see them in action!)

The third curriculum criteria that makes our program so successful is that we are respectful of each family’s culture and family members are encouraged to participate in the program.

Our core ideology that it takes a village to raise a child is the inspiration and the driving force behind why we decided to operate in a cooperative spirit. We want to expose our children to as many different family cultures, belief systems, ideas, thoughts, and ways of life as possible. We remind our friends to be respectful of difference and each other and to not tolerate, but to embrace our individuality!

We encourage all of our families to bring pictures from home or to come and cook for us, for example. We can always use some new menu ideas! The more we become familiar with how our families’ live, the closer we will be as a family. The Co-op family is an extensive one made up of many, unique people, not just staff members and parents, but friends, extended family, community members, volunteers, and anyone else who wants to accept our mission as something special to be a part of!

We are all one big family here at the Co-op. (Pictured-staff and family)