Weekday Program Web site: www.fumcplanoweekday.org

Weekday Update

April 2008

Director's Report

Dear Parents-

Each year the Collin County Association for the Education of Young Children (CCAEYC) hosts the Week of the Young Child Banquet and Awards Ceremony. This is a wonderful event that really celebrates young children and the people who work with them. At the ceremony, awards are presented for Collin County Teacher of the Year, Director of the Year, Family Day Home of the Year, Trainer of the Year, or Child Advocate of the Year.

We are honored that one of our own teachers, Ms. Vonda Irwin-Calhoun has been voted CCAEYC Teacher of the Year for 2008. Vonda is an amazing pre-kindergarten teacher and we have been lucky to have her on our staff for the last 3 years. Vonda just completed her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education and has three children of her own.  Here are some of the comments that people made when voting for Vonda to receive this award:

"My child loves her and she makes learning fun. They don't even know they are learning. She cares a lot about her kids and knows how to make each child special. She keeps parents informed on what their children are doing and recommends activities to do with kids to help your child in early learning.”

“…because she knows how to make the kids excited about school and they have so much fun learning. It is great that my four year old looks forward to school in the morning and gets upset when she misses school.”

“She truly loves the children. She makes each of them (as well as the parents) feel special. Activities that she provides are age appropriate and geared toward individual needs of the children.”

“She has been so patient, caring, and educationally sound and sets an example for all her students. She is there every day without fail and that consistency carries over in the children in a positive manner. We are so thankful for her, blessed to have had her touch my sons life, and saddened to see him 'graduate' to Kindergarten next year knowing she will not be his teacher. In just a short year, she has made all the difference in  thought(s) about school and he has learned so very much."

“Vonda has been great with my son, helping him overcome his anxiety with school. I really appreciate all she has done for him and all the kids. She really passionate about her job and she really excels at it.”

“ …because the tools she provided for my daughter during pre-k prepared her for kindergarten and beyond. She is a wonderful teacher and we were lucky to have had her.”

The most exciting thing for us is not only that Vonda is receiving this award but that many of the traits that people mentioned when voting for her describe many of our staff members. We have an excellent group of teachers who know and love the children they work with, strive to maintain the best practices in their classrooms and work hard to make sure that each child is respected, loved and given the best start to school that is available. And this is not just our opinion, many of you said the same things in the Weekday Program survey that we sent out last week.

Please join us in congratulating Vonda on her accomplishment and in celebrating all of our wonderful staff!

Congratulations Ms. Vonda!

Collin County Association for the Education of Young Children

Teacher of the Year 2008

The Power of New

Novelty and the Brain

The brain pays closer attention to things that don’t fit an established pattern, things that are new and different. What we are accustomed to becomes routine and, over time, the brain reacts to routine stimulus by lowering levels of stimulation. Anything new causes the body to release adrenaline, and adrenaline acts as a memory fixative. According to Arnold Scheibel, Director of the Brain Research Institute at UCLA, “Unfamiliar activities are the brain’s best friend.” Brain researchers studying the impact of novelty on the brain have drawn three significant conclusions.

1. Rats in enriched environments grow brains with higher numbers of dendritic connections. Researchers believe that the same thing happens when children are placed in enriched environments. This is tied to one of the key finding of recent research that states that early experiences contribute to brain structure and capacities.

2. Frequently changed environments (every two or four weeks) are needed to maintain increased dendrite connections. Again, researchers believe this is also true for humans.

3. Real world experience provides one of the best environments for brain growth.

Ideas for Using Novelty to Build Brain Power

• Rearrange children’s toys and equipment every so often (about six weeks). Also rotate books on the library shelf. Note: Be sure children are ready for this; too much change can be upsetting.

• Rotate toys. Put some things away for a couple of months, then bring them out again.

• Rearrange the furniture. Let children help

• Color on paper taped under a table oron a window.

• Cut easel paper into creative shapes.

• Try working backwards one day. Children really get a kick out of this, especially if you tie it to the book Wacky Wednesday by Theodore LeSieg.

• Create new verses to songs, and sing old ones to different tunes. Try singing “Itsy Bitsy Spider” to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and vice versa.

• Work puzzles upside down. String beads on strings that hang from the ceiling. Try riding tricycles or bicycles backwards.

• Place unusual items together. Try putting the dishes with the blocks or Legos with art supplies. Stand back and watch what happens.

• Try reading a book backwards. Sometimes it still makes sense. Try Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Try one that won’t make sense.

• Have hot dogs for breakfast and pancakes for dinner.

• Eat snack or a meal outside on in another room. Make it a picnic.

• Switch roles. Let the children read to you, decide what to eat, or answer the phone all day.

• Encourage children to sleep at the opposite end of the beds.

• Take a walk in the neighborhood. Try walking backwards.

From “Start Smart” by Pam Schiller  

Don't miss the

Book Fair

April 21-25

9:00-9:45 and 1:45-2:30 each day

 in the Grand Hall

 Mark your calendars for  our Year End Party on May 23rd!

Food, fun, music and games for the whole family!

Home/School Connection

High/ Scope Key Developmental Indicators in Language, Literacy, and Communication

From “Essentials of Active Learning” by Ann Epstein

Mark your Calendars

Items in bold have been added or changed.

April:

10-APPLES playgroup at Willowbend Mall 10:00am

13-19-Week of the Young Child

14-APPLES playgroup at Breckenridge Park 10:00am

15-APPLES "Getting Organized for Spring" 7:00-9:00pm

16-APPLES playgroup at Breckenridge Park 10:00am

21-APPLES playgroup at Bob Woodruff  Park 10:00am

21-Scholastic Book Fair

22-APPLES Mom's Night Out 7:00pm
22-Scholastic Book Fair
23-Scholastic Book Fair

24-APPLES playgroup at Blue Ridge Park 10:00am
24-Scholastic Book Fair
25-Scholastic Book Fair

28-APPLES playgroup at Blue Ridge Park 10:00am
 

May:

1-APPLES playgroup at Bob Wodruff Park 10:00am
2-Early Release 11:30 **
23-Last Day of Preschool

23-Year End Party!
26-Memorial Day Holiday

**Little Friends' Place (before- and after-school care open as usual)

For more information on APPLES events, please contact Becky Smith at rapsmith@verizon.net or 469-467-9790.

First United Methodist Church Weekday Program * 3160 E. Spring Creek Parkway Plano, TX 75074

phone 972.423.4910 * fax 972.633.9126