Sheltering Arms Early Child Care and Education Center

      The last two weeks have been very interesting. I have enjoyed learning from the staff at the Sheltering Arms Early Child Care and Education Center here in Union City, Ga. The center has sixteen classrooms and is licensed through Bright From The Start and NAEYC accredited. There are two Infant classrooms that have eight infants in each classroom from six weeks to fifteen months, one of them is an Early Head Start. There are four Toddler classrooms, two are Head Start and there are only eight children in each room, the other two classrooms have thirteen children in them a piece. The ratio for the infants and one year old is 1:4, the ratio for the two year old is 1:6, and the ratio for the three year old is 1:9 There are 5 Preschool and 5 Pre-K classrooms, and two of the Preschool classrooms are Head Start. The ratio for the Preschool classrooms is 1:9 and the Pre-K classrooms is 1:10. The curriculum is the Creative Curriculum that focuses on the whole child and learning through play. The Infant and Toddler teachers work as continuity caregivers, they stay with the same set of children as they rotate from the Infant classrooms to the Toddler classrooms. On average the teachers are the children's care givers in some cases from six weeks to age three before they transition to a preschool classroom. The Pre-K program is licensed and functioned by Bright from the Start.    
      The classrooms are very spacious and equipped with a variety of learning equipment and material. Each group of children have their own separate playground with the age appropriate equipment for each group. The playgrounds are easily accessible through the back doors of each classroom. The classrooms are separated by areas that include a water play and sensory area, science and discovery, block area, manipulative area, writing and art areas for toddlers, preschoolers and pre-k, book nooks, quiet or cozy areas(a place filled with books, stuffed animals that is also used for children to go who do not want to be bothered or may need to calm down), and a computer center for preschool and pre-k. The toddler, preschool and pre-k classrooms have child size restrooms, sinks, along with table and chairs. The center wide rule for entering the classrooms is "Wash Your Hands When You Enter the Classrooms," the children are encouraged to wash their hands regularly and brush their teeth at least once a day while at school. The teachers work collaboratively to make sure the ratio is acknowledge and that all children needs are met. The center also have a very notable inclusion program. I was able to speak with parents that had special needs children in the Head Start classrooms, they were very pleased with the services they received. The teachers were all very friendly and warm as I observed their classrooms.
     I had the pleasure of speaking with the Director, Mr. Mcnair and two of the Curriculum Specialist Mrs. Watson and Mrs. Powers. They all were easy to talk to and gave me more ideas to use for my paper. Generally the main concern for the center in the Wellness and Health area is encouraging more parents to participate in their Lunch and learn session, which happens once every month, the topics vary from how to cook a healthy meal to bonding with our child. The center have different speakers and guest that come out and teach the classes. The director's issue is that they never get enough parent participation, so outreach is a problem. The Curriculum Specialist explained to me that some of the things that they would like to give a voice to the children who parents refuse services for when their are expected special needs. They expressed that they would like to figure out a better way to reach the parents who refuse.
    Throughout my interviews and observations throughout the last two weeks I gained an insight on the need for teachers and administrative staff that work to help parents help their children. I realized that my original topic is to broad and needs to be broken down. I think I will talk about the need for parent education; how do we reach them and keep them involved and engaged? As I went through these last two week I was faced with so many children that could not speak for themselves, so I leave you all with this quote for the week, "Children may forget what you say to them, but they never forget how you made them feel." and " "Teachers are the ones who have the biggest influence on the lives of our future, what type of influence are you?"