Posted: September 16th, 2023

Benchmark – Connecting the Community Through Technology

Benchmark – Connecting the Community Through Technology
Number of sources: 3
Paper instructions:
When seeking a child care facility to which to entrust their children, families do extensive research to find a location that works best for them. Parents can use the handbook of a child care facility to learn about the procedures and expectations of the facility to assist them in selecting the best placement for their children.

For this assignment, you will create a handbook for a child care facility you plan to open. The purpose of the handbook is to provide prospective families with information about the center.

You will use information from any of your previous assignments in this course to assist you in building the content of your handbook (incorporating any constructive feedback you may have received from your instructor). Please make sure this assignment aligns and contains and relates with the information from all of the previous assignments that were submitted through this web site. It needs to flow together. Thank you

Include information for each of the following:

School Philosophy, Mission, and Vision

Readiness for Learning

Based on the digital handouts created in Topic 1, write an explanation of how you will evaluate each child’s readiness for learning (cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and/or physical).
Instructional Planning

A sample lesson plan on the topic of your choice as an example of instruction you would provide to the children in a specific age range. Be sure the lesson plan addresses young children’s characteristics and needs, including strengths, interests, and needs that enable each student to advance and accelerate his or her learning.
Using the “Safety Considerations Table and Checklist,” determine safety policies on the following:

Daily schedule – pick-up and drop off processes, monitoring attendance, lunch/snacks, and naps
Safe use of technology
Fire safety and evacuation
Nutrition

Based on what you learned about nutritional practices in Topic 4, create a guideline for meals/snacks for one age group (0-6 months, 7-11 months, 1 year-olds, 2-year-olds, or 3- and 4-year-olds) that you could present to families.
Health policies on the following:

Illness
Screenings
Immunization information
Allergies
Medication
Community

Communication and collaboration with families/volunteers that allow others to participate in the children’s development and learning.
Support your handbook with 3-5 scholarly references.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite Technical Support Articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

Benchmark Information

This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies:

Master of Education in Early Childhood Education

1.1: Create developmentally appropriate instruction that addresses young children’s characteristics and needs, including strengths, interests, and needs that enable each student to advance and accelerate his or her learning. [NAEYC 1a; InTASC 1(a), 1(b), 1(e), 1(d), 1(i), 1(j) 2(a), 2(b), 2(f), 2(g), 2(h), 2(l), 3(i); ISTE-T 1a]

1.3: Identify readiness for learning while taking into account the multiple influences (cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and/or physical) on early development and learning. [NAEYC 1b; InTASC 1(e), 1(f), 1(h), 2(m)]

1.6: Plan for children’s development and learning as a collaborative activity with the input of students, colleagues, families, and the larger community. [NAEYC 2c; InTASC 1(c), 1(k), 3(c); ISTE-T 3b, ISTE-T 3c; MC2, MC4]

Benchmark – Connecting the Community Through Technology
School Philosophy, Mission, and Vision
The philosophy of Little Learners Child Care Center is to provide a nurturing, stimulating environment where children can explore, discover, and learn through play. Our mission is to support the healthy development of the whole child – cognitive, physical, social, and emotional – through age-appropriate curriculum and caring relationships. Our vision is to establish a community where children, families, and educators work together to foster each child’s innate curiosity and love of learning.
Readiness for Learning
I will evaluate each child’s readiness for learning through ongoing observation and documentation. This process will consider the child’s development across cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical domains (Copple & Bredekamp, 2009).1 For example, cognitive skills will be assessed through play-based activities that encourage problem-solving, creativity, and logical thinking. Receptive and expressive language abilities will be monitored during conversations, storytime, and interactive games. Socio-emotional development indicators include ability to share, take turns, and regulate emotions. Fine and gross motor milestones provide insight into physical wellness. Parent/teacher conferences will review assessment data and customize learning goals for each child.
Instructional Planning
For a sample preschool lesson plan (ages 3-5), I have designed a science activity exploring properties of water. The lesson aligns with state early learning standards for scientific inquiry and aligns with the children’s interests in sensory exploration (NAEYC, 2020).2 During the introduction, students will discuss the states of water (liquid, solid, gas) through pictures and examples from daily life. Then, students will experiment with ice cubes to observe how they change form over time. Students will document observations and ask questions through drawings and discussions. To extend learning, a water table will be set up during centers with measuring cups and funnels to encourage investigation of volume, density, and flow. This lesson fosters curiosity, critical thinking skills, and cooperation among peers.
Using the “Safety Considerations Table and Checklist,” I have established the following policies:
Daily Schedule: Children will be dropped off between 7-9am and picked up by 5pm. Sign in/out sheets will track attendance. Morning circle time and story time will be from 9-10am, followed by outdoor/indoor centers until 11:30am. Lunch will be at noon, with handwashing before and after. Quiet activities like puzzles or books will be from 12:30-1pm before rest time from 1-3pm. Afternoon centers and outdoor play will run from 3-4:30pm, with snack at 4pm.
Safe Technology Use: Tablets loaded with educational apps may be used during centers with teacher supervision. No screens are permitted during meals or rest time. Internet access will be filtered and monitored.
Fire Safety: A fire evacuation plan and monthly drills ensure all staff and children know emergency exits and meeting spots outside. Fire alarms and extinguishers meet code. No smoking is allowed on premises.
Nutrition: For 1-year-olds, snacks will include pieces of banana, crackers, cheese cubes, and milk or water. Meals will focus on self-feeding finger foods cut into bite-sized pieces like scrambled eggs, diced chicken, soft veggies, and whole grain toast (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2020).3 This guideline supports healthy growth and development at this stage.
Health Policies:
Illness: Sick children will be sent home as soon as possible if showing symptoms like fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. They may return once symptom-free for 24 hours.
Screenings: Annual vision and hearing tests will be recommended. Developmental screenings will be conducted at ages 1, 2, and 3.
Immunizations: State requirements for vaccination records must be met prior to enrollment. Unvaccinated children due to medical or religious exemptions may be excluded during outbreaks.
Allergies: Parents must disclose any known allergies or medical conditions. Individualized care plans will be created and posted discretely in classrooms. Staff will receive training in recognizing symptoms.
Medication: Only prescription drugs in original containers with physician’s instructions can be administered by trained staff. Over-the-counter items require written parental consent.
Community: Frequent family events, an open-door visitation policy, and monthly newsletters encourage collaboration. Community volunteers will be vetted and supervised for classroom support.
In conclusion, this handbook aims to provide transparency about Little Learners Child Care Center policies and philosophy of care. My goal is to establish a nurturing learning environment where children, families, and educators feel connected and empowered. Please let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions.
References:
Copple, C., & Bredekamp, S. (Eds.). (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. National Association for the Education of Young Children. ace my homework.
National Association for the Education of Young Children. (2020). Developmentally appropriate practice position statement. https://www.naeyc.org/sites/default/files/globally-shared/downloads/PDFs/resources/position-statements/dap-statement_0.pdf
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2020). Nutrition. In Caring for your baby and young child: Birth to age 5 (6th ed.). https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/nutrition/Pages/default.aspx

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