Teaching Young Children About Bugs

"I loved being outside. We'd hold lightning bugs in our fingers and pretend they were diamond rings."

~Loretta Lynn

It's that time of year again. All kinds of bugs and insects are sure to be stuffed in children's pockets and endlessly poked at. I have complied some tips that not only the bugs would appreciate, but the parents as well.

Tips for Teaching Young Children About Bugs

"Okay kids, guess who this is?"

Small Group Learning: I like to gather the children into small groups and help them make a list of all the bugs they can think of on the white board. I'll draw very simple pictures for them as they discuss what insects they have seen and describe what they look like. In order to help children recognize the insects, I collect photographs I have downloaded from the computer.

Tell Bug Stories: Yes, there are wonderful books out there but nothing beats our own stories and experiences when it comes to sharing about bugs. The kids love to hear how I was never afraid of spiders and how one once got stuck in my hair. It also encourages stories from the children so you may want to have a tape recorder or pen and paper handy.

Keeping Learning Simple: we discuss what the bugs do, how they look and perhaps why they are made the way they are. We always go back to relating to ourselves, and why we are made the way we are, too!

"Iron Cross Blister Beetles are mommies, too!"

Creating Bug Compassion: Sounds kind of silly, but it is necessary in studying bugs with young children. Often our prized study subjects will get smashed by will meaning preschoolers thinking they are nasty little intruders. I use friendly bug puppets and have conversations about the similarities between us and nature. Bugs have mommies, daddies, babies. Bug have favorite foods, live in bug houses and make friends....
Sounds pretty simplistic, but it works. I have often heard the children saying, "This bug is somebody's mommy, don't squish her!"

The Teacher's Child Like Heart

I have often wondered what it is that keeps teachers going through the tough times. The sacrifices we make for the greater good are so light compared to the hope of a child's enthusiasm and excitement toward learning.
I have never really asked anyone but I assumed its the child like qualities we have kept within  ourselves.
The ability to see through the eyes of children still comes from the heart.
Here are just a few attributes I have found teachers have toward the ability to keep giving with a smile.

Attributes of a Teachers Child Like Heart:

Child Like Gullibility: The ability to read a book for the twenty seventh time and still be able to express surprise at the ending.

Child Like Imagination: The ability to lose yourself in imagination with others while delighting in what could be possible.

Child Like Wonder: The ability to withhold all the answers you know and understand while encouraging wonder and conversation toward what seems magical.

Child Like Demeanor: Maintaining a child like heart without being childish. Always being inclined to see 'fun' in every opportunity.

Child Like in Friendship: Quick to forgive and slow to remember faults.

Child Like Thinking: Everything is possible and impossible is nothing! Especially after gram crackers, milk, and a nice long nap.

Share with us the attributes you know about....

What a Toddler Believes

 

 
A toddler believes that if you love a person, you stay with that person 100 percent of the time."

~Lawrence Balter

Toddlers happen to be one of my favorite age groups to work with. I although I don't have the opportunity to work with them as much I just thought I would say what a wonderful little band they are.

Their love is like my kitchen blender that I have never managed to get rid of. 

It has no top.....

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking, Teacher

When you thought I wasn’t looking, you displayed my first report, and I wanted to do another.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, you fed a stray cat, and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, you gave me a sticker, and I knew that little things were special things.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, you put your arm around me, and I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn’t looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt--but that it’s all right to cry.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, you smiled, and it made me want to look that pretty too.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, you cared, and I wanted to be everything I could be.

When you thought I wasn’t looking--I looked...and wanted to say thanks for all those things you did when you thought I wasn’t looking. 

By Mary Rita Schilke Korzan,"WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN’T LOOKING"

where the love is

"Kids go where there is excitement.
They stay where there is love."

~Zig Ziglar

I am always excited for the children when summer begins. The new season means new activites and trips. We also do a lot of water play activites. If we can incorporate water into an everyday activity...we will! I really enjoy the fun and excitement we all have. Winding down at the end of the day is one of my favorite parts as well. I connect with parents as the little ones are sure to draw pictures for family members or make thank you notes of love and appreciation. Just before nap time I will ask the children what their favorite part of the day was,
"I liked playing in the pool!"

"I liked playing at the water table."
"I liked eating pizza!"
"I know, I know," one preschooler said, "I like it when my mom comes and I can tell her all about my day!"
We all clapped and cheered for our day but I couldn't help but remember what the one child said about his mom. The children looked just as excited at pick up time than any other part of the day. Excitement and fun are great and I know we all love school and learning, but home is where their heart is.

Tips For Connecting With Parents

 Everyone is the age of their heart. 

~Guatemalan Proverb

I really appreciate the support from families and parents in the classroom. Often I have been told by parents that they are not sure how to be helpful in the classroom. I really make an effort to set up a comfortable inviting environment for families to be welcome and participate as soon as possible.
It really is no different than setting up a comfy learning environment for kids, I suppose a bit of a gear shift in thinking.

We would love to hear what you do, and feel free to send a back link to your site.


Setting The Stage With Parents:
*Get bulk packets of Thank you cards and and colorful blank cards to have on hand.
*Memorize the names of every parent at the beginning of the year. I posted a cheat sheet in my teachers cabinet. There is nothing sweeter than a persons name.
*Getting to know parents and finding out what types of skills they have can really work to your benefit. Sewing, typing, computer, these are skills parents and extended families may be willing to share.

Positive Connections With Parents:
*Make sure you give families a call every now and then to give good news. I call usually every month to month and a half if I don't get much contact with them.
*If a child is out sick more than 2 days definitely give them a call.
*I have always been big on cards. Personal Thank You cards when a parent does something is a really big deal, not only to the child but for me as well.
I will also send a child's milestone achievement in a card as well.

Anything I can do to add a special touch, I will. Balancing can time is difficult with so many little ones and families. Being organized really helps!
It's never too late or too early to get started on great relationships...

5 Star Preschool Tantrum

“Do not teach your children never to be angry; 

teach them how to be angry.”

~Lyman Abbott

Just when all the planets are aligned and twirling in their orbits…a blood curdling scream is heard in the corner of the room.
Jeffery is throwing a tantrum. A juicy, delicious five star tantrum meant to rock everyone’s spinal cords. Okay….all the children know the drill.

1.This is not an emergency…no blood, no foul.
2.Go back to what you were doing…smiles everyone-smiles.
3.Like a sneeze-we don’t need stare, point, or discuss it…
The teacher will handle it if it’s messy.
When we all work together I noticed the tantruming behavior becomes less and less….till it eventually stops within the classroom.
At circle times, children will often ask certain kids why they “kick on the floor” or make comments about that ‘type of behavior’. I find it very interesting. In a round about way they are letting them know that this is not the norm. Peer pressure can be good….
in some ways…

Teaching Honesty to Your Preschoolers!

"Level With your child by being honest. Nobody spots a phony quicker than a child."

-Mary MacCracken

Teaching honesty to your preschooler starts with you first being honest with them and developing a relationship with them that they can trust.

Gossip In the Workplace in Early Childhood Education

 What you don't see with your eyes, don't witness with your mouth.

-Jewish Proverb

Definition: Gossip

Communicating and listening to negative information at the inappropriate time to the inappropriate person(s) to intentionally harm another persons reputation or feelings.

Gossip is an ugly word. It's name seems to hiss when you say it. It is very easy for children to pick up on as well. Grievance Policies and Codes of Ethical Conduct address issues such as gossip in the workplace and must be strictly enforced. In all my years of teaching there is nothing that can bring morale down faster than gossip allowed to flourish in the workplace. Preschool teachers look to the directors to maintain a standard in the workplace, directors look to head supervisors and so on....The focus must always remain on the children-and keeping the preschool environment positive. I have worked in preschool and daycare environments where the "no gossiping" rule was strictly enforced and observed by all staff. It makes for such a pleasant atmosphere. I also noticed that the children are more likely to put a stop to gossiping because they recognize it as not being normal or proper conversation.Many young children are natural trouble shooters. We can teach them to properly and politely tell someone it is not polite to talk about others when they are not around. Once children are instructed in a better way to do this socially, it will not be looked upon as "taddling" or snitching.

Effective communication and positive relationships are key in early childhood development. When we truly value what be teach, we become what we teach.

What have your experiences been? How do you practice effective communication and positive relationships?