Advance Your Planning

At our reflective practice group this, Kasturi led us in a great activity she created that takes activity planning to the next level.

 

Each person was provided with a “plate” divided into 3 sections, and an activity to plan.  They were given magazines and early childhood catalogs to select materials for the activity and glue on1/3 of the plate. 

This part of planning is pretty typical.  We plan activities daily for the children.

Then,  the planning went to the next level.  In addition to planning the activity, Kasturi asked the group to also plan ways to extend the activity (writing them in another 1/3 of the plate).

Then, Kasturi asked the group to pre-plan conversations and open ended questions.  This is such a great idea since being skilled at asking open ended questions takes practice, and pre-planning can make it much easier.

Take your planning from Planning 101 to Planning 201 by planning how to extend the activity and planning your interactions!

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Three is the Magic Number

Three is the Magic Number

In the ERS (Environment Rating Scale), there are many items that have minimum quantities for the highest rating.  In most cases, that quantity is 3-5. 

Aim to have at least three of the following accessible most of the day to the children:

Preschoolers

Books

·         Fantasy

·         Nature/science

·         People

·         Factual

·         Ability diversity

·         Race/culture

·         Animals

Fine Motor

·         Small building materials

·         Art materials

·         Manipulatives

·         Puzzles

Art

·         Drawing items

·         Paints

·         3D materials

·         Collage items

·         Tools

Music/Movement

·         Types of recorded music

·         Dance props

Dramatic Play

·         Male dress ups

·         Female dress ups

·         Cultural diversity

Nature/Science

·         Collections of natural objects

·         Living things

·         Books, toys, games

·         Activities

Math/Number

·         Counting

·         Written numbers

·         Measuring

·         Comparing quantities

·         Shapes

Diversity (found in books, pictures and materials)

·         Race

·         Culture

·         Ages

·         Abilities

·         Gender

Some items require more than 3-5:  music instruments, soft toys and kinds of skills outside

 

Toddlers

Books

·         Race

·         Age

·         Abilities

·         Animals

·         Familiar experiences

·         Familiar objects

Fine Motor

·         Grasping

·         Shaking

·         Turning

·         Pushing/pulling

·         Poking

·         Putting together

Music

·         Music instruments/toys

·         Types of recorded music

Dramatic Play

·         Dolls

·         Soft animals

·         Pots and pans

·         Telephones

·         Dress ups (toddlers)

·         Dishes and utensils (toddlers)

·         Play foods (toddlers)

·         Doll furnishings (toddlers)

·         Play buildings with accessories

Diversity (found in books, pictures and materials)

·         Race/Culture

·         Ages

·         Abilities

·         Gender

 Some items require more than 3-5:   soft toys and kinds of skills outside