Skills for Preschool Teachers

by Beaty, Janice J.

• ISBN13: 9780130962683
• ISBN10: 0130962686
• Edition: 6th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

This text presents a discussion of the basic classroom skills that are essential to teachers in preschool, center-based child care, Head Start, and pre-kindergarten settings. The content is built around the 13 functional areas of the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, which also makes it useful for those who are updating their skills or preparing for the national CDA credential. Each skill topic is presented with both theoretical background and ideas for practical applications in working with young children and their families.

Author Biography

Janice J. Beaty is professor emerita at Elmira College in Elmira, New York.

Table of Contents

Maintaining a Safe Classroom	1	(26)
Safety Checklist	2	(1)
Promotes Toy and Materials Safety Within Each Learning Center	2	(10)
Art Center	2	(3)
Block-Building Center	5	(1)
Book Center	6	(1)
Computer Center	6	(1)
Cooking Center	6	(1)
Dramatic Play Center	7	(1)
Large Motor Center	7	(1)
Manipulative/Math Center	8	(1)
Music Center	8	(1)
Sand/Water Center	8	(1)
Science Center	8	(1)
Woodworking Center	9	(1)
General Room Conditions	10	(1)
Bathroom	10	(1)
Stairs/Exits	10	(1)
Outdoor Playground	11	(1)
Plans and Implements Necessary Emergency Procedures	12	(3)
Emergency Illnesses or Injuries	12	(1)
Preparing for Accidents	13	(1)
Weather Emergencies	14	(1)
Emergency Exiting	15	(1)
Provides Appropriate Supervision and Models Safe Behavior	15	(6)
Supervising Classroom Areas	15	(1)
Anticipating Unsafe Behavior	16	(1)
Redirecting Unsafe Behavior	16	(1)
Modeling Safe Behavior	16	(1)
Involving Children in Safety Rules	17	(1)
Teaching Car Safety Through Dramatic Play	17	(1)
Teaching Traffic Safety with Signs and Games	17	(1)
Using Books as Follow-Up Safety Reinforcers	18	(1)
Preparing for Field Trips	19	(1)
Preparing Children for Personal Safety	19	(2)
Summary	21	(5)
Maintaining a Healthy Classroom	26	(22)
Encourages Children to Follow Common Health and Nutrition Practices	27	(9)
Exercising	27	(2)
Resting	29	(1)
Washing	30	(1)
Nutrition	31	(2)
Family Involvement in Classroom Food Activities	33	(1)
Medical Tests and Examinations	34	(1)
Other Health Practices	35	(1)
Provides and Uses Materials to Ensure Children's Health and Cleanliness	36	(1)
Toothbrushing	37	(1)
Recognizes Unusual Behavior or Symptoms of Children Who May Be III, and Provides for the Children	37	(6)
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)	38	(1)
Allergies and Asthma	38	(1)
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)	39	(1)
Child Abuse	40	(1)
Ear Infections	41	(1)
Physical and Mental Disabilities	41	(2)
Summary	43	(5)
Establishing a Learning Environment	48	(36)
Separates and Places Learning Centers in Appropriate Spaces	50	(6)
Determining Learning Centers	50	(1)
Room Layout	50	(1)
Separating Activities	51	(1)
Floor Planning	52	(2)
Self-Regulating Methods	54	(1)
Follow-up Planning	54	(2)
Provides Appropriate Materials for Children's Self-Directed Play and Learning	56	(20)
Play as Learning	56	(1)
Equipping Learning Centers	57	(1)
Block-Building Center	57	(5)
Book Center	62	(2)
Dramatic Play Center	64	(1)
Manipulative/Math Center	65	(1)
Art Center	66	(1)
Large Motor Center	66	(2)
Music Center	68	(1)
Science Center	68	(2)
Writing Center	70	(1)
Computer Center	71	(2)
Sand/Water Play Center	73	(1)
Woodworking Center	74	(1)
Cooking Center	75	(1)
Child's Private Area	75	(1)
Accommodations for Children with Special Needs	76	(1)
Changes Materials Periodically to Meet Children's Developmental Needs	76	(3)
Developmentally Appropriate Materials	76	(1)
Developmental Levels	77	(1)
Changing Materials	78	(1)
Evaluating Room Arrangement	79	(1)
Summary	79	(5)
Advancing Physical Skills	84	(26)
Assesses Children's Large Motor Skills and Provides Appropriate Activities	86	(9)
Walking	86	(2)
Balancing	88	(1)
Hopping/Jumping/Leaping	88	(2)
Running/Galloping/Skipping	90	(1)
Climbing	91	(1)
Crawling/Creeping/Scooting	92	(1)
Picking Up/Carrying	93	(1)
Throwing/Catching	93	(1)
Riding Wheeled Equipment	94	(1)
Making Plans for Individuals	94	(1)
Assesses Children's Small Motor Skills and Provides Appropriate Materials and Activities	95	(7)
Small Motor Assessment	95	(1)
Inserting	96	(2)
Zipping	98	(1)
Twisting/Turning	98	(1)
Pouring	99	(1)
Stringing Beads	99	(1)
Cutting with Scissors	99	(1)
Cutting with a Knife	100	(1)
Holding and Hammering	101	(1)
Holding and Printing/Tracing	101	(1)
Planning for Individuals	102	(1)
Children with Disabilities	102	(1)
Provides Opportunities for Children to Engage in Creative Movement	102	(2)
Role of the Teacher	102	(1)
Imitating Animals	103	(1)
Other Motions	104	(1)
Summary	104	(6)
Advancing Cognitive Skills	110	(30)
Helps Children Develop Curiosity about Their World Through Sensory Exploration	112	(9)
Assessing Children's Curiosity	112	(2)
Sensory Questions	114	(2)
Scientific Inquiry: The Guessing-Game Method	116	(2)
Equipment and Materials in the Classroom	118	(2)
Field Trips Around the Building	120	(1)
Helps Children Develop Basic Concepts about their World by Classifying, Comparing, and Counting Objects in It	121	(9)
Sorting and Classifying Objects That Are Alike	121	(2)
Comparing Objects By Size, Shape, Color, and Number	123	(7)
Helps Children Develop Basic Concepts about Their World Through Hands-On Experiences with Living Things	130	(4)
Following a Broad but Simple Concept	131	(3)
Summary	134	(6)
Advancing Communication Skills	140	(32)
New Brain Research	141	(1)
Talks with Individual Children to Encourage Listening and Speaking	142	(8)
Becoming an Active Listener	142	(1)
Helping Children Become Active Listeners	143	(2)
Helping Children Become Speakers	145	(4)
Bilingual Children	149	(1)
Uses Books and Stories to Motivate Listening, Speaking, and Emergent Reading	150	(11)
Books to Motivate Listening	151	(3)
Reading Books to Children	154	(2)
Books to Motivate Speaking	156	(3)
Books to Motivate Emergent Reading	159	(2)
Provides Materials and Activities to Support Emergent Writing	161	(4)
Writing Opportunities	161	(1)
Alphabet Letters	162	(1)
Computer Programs	163	(2)
Summary	165	(7)
Advancing Creative Skills	172	(24)
Acceptance and Encouragement	174	(1)
Freedom	174	(1)
Gives Children the Time, Opportunity, and Freedom to Do Pretend and Fantasy Role Play	174	(4)
Picture Books as Motivators	175	(2)
Guided Fantasy	177	(1)
Provides a Variety of Art Materials and Activities for Children to Explore on Their Own	178	(7)
Process Versus Product	179	(1)
Easel Activities	179	(1)
Art Supplies	179	(2)
Acceptance of Art Products	181	(1)
Stages of Art Development	182	(1)
Computer Art Programs	183	(2)
Encourages Children to Create and Have Fun with Music	185	(7)
New Brain Research Regarding Music	186	(1)
Singing	186	(2)
Using Recorded Music	188	(1)
Books to Motivate Music	189	(1)
Manipulating the Music Medium	189	(1)
Rhythm Instruments	190	(1)
Other Creative Activities	191	(1)
Summary	192	(4)
Building a Positive Self-Concept	196	(22)
Accepts Self and Every Child as Worthy and Uses Nonverbal Cues to Let Children Know They Are Accepted	198	(8)
Adult Self-Acceptance	198	(1)
Adult-Child Acceptance	199	(2)
Nonverbal Cues	201	(2)
Child Self-Acceptance	203	(1)
Mirrors, Photos, and Tapes	203	(2)
Self-Concept Name Games	205	(1)
Self-Concept Art	205	(1)
Self-Concept Picture Books	205	(1)
Accepts Diversity in Children and Helps Children to Accept One Another	206	(4)
Stress Similarities but Honor Differences	206	(2)
Build on Each Child's Strengths	208	(1)
Have High Expectations for Everyone	209	(1)
Helps Every Child to Experience Success in the Classroom	210	(4)
Strengthening a Child's Independence	210	(1)
Control over the Classroom Environment	211	(2)
Children's Activity Choices	213	(1)
Teacher's Role	214	(1)
Summary	214	(4)
Promoting Social Skills	218	(22)
Helps Children Learn to Work and Play Cooperatively Through Sharing and Turn-taking	219	(4)
Sharing and Turn-taking	220	(1)
Modeling and Demonstrating Turn-Taking Behavior	221	(1)
Puppets	222	(1)
Books with Sharing and Turn-Taking Themes	222	(1)
Computer Turn-Taking	223	(1)
Helps Children Learn to Enter Ongoing Play Without Disruptions	223	(10)
Group-Access Strategies	224	(2)
Dramatic Play	226	(1)
Dramatic Play Areas	227	(1)
Teacher's Role	228	(2)
Block Building	230	(1)
Handling Interpersonal Conflicts	230	(2)
The Shy Child	232	(1)
Helps Children Learn to Make Friends	233	(2)
Picture Books with a Friendship Theme	234	(1)
Summary	235	(5)
Providing Guidance	240	(20)
Uses Positive Prevention Measures to Help Eliminate Inappropriate Behavior in the Classroom	242	(5)
Learning Environment	242	(1)
New Materials	242	(2)
Orderly Sequence of Events	244	(1)
A Minimum of Waiting	244	(1)
A Maximum of Time	244	(1)
Child Involvement in Rules	245	(1)
Setting Limits	246	(1)
Force Unacceptable	247	(1)
Uses Positive Intervention Methods to Help Children Control Their Inappropriate Behavior	247	(5)
Accepting Negative Feelings	247	(1)
Helping Children Verbalize Negative Feelings	248	(1)
Redirecting Inappropriate Behavior	249	(1)
No ``Time-Out'' Chair	249	(2)
Intervening in Interpersonal Conflicts	251	(1)
Uses Positive Reinforcement Techniques to Help Children Learn Appropriate Behavior	252	(3)
Positive Reinforcement	252	(1)
Focus on Victim Not Aggressor	253	(1)
Model Appropriate Behavior	253	(2)
Summary	255	(5)
Promoting Family Involvement	260	(26)
Involves Parents in Participating in Children's Program	262	(12)
Focus on the Child	262	(2)
Building Trust in Parents and Parental Trust in the Program	264	(3)
Beginning School	267	(1)
Two-Way Communication	268	(1)
Parents' Night in the Classroom	269	(1)
Home Visits	269	(2)
Family Members' Classroom Visits	271	(1)
Books and Materials as Connectors	271	(1)
Parents as Classroom Volunteers	272	(1)
Parent Conferences	273	(1)
Recognizes and Supports Families of Different Makeup	274	(4)
Single-Parent Families	274	(1)
Blended Families	275	(1)
Culturally Diverse Families	275	(1)
Working Parents	276	(1)
Family Support of Programs	277	(1)
Supports Families and Children Under Stress	278	(2)
Moving	278	(1)
Adoption	279	(1)
New Baby	279	(1)
Death of a Family Member	280	(1)
Summary	280	(6)
Providing Program Management	286	(32)
Uses a Team Approach to Plan a Flexible Curriculum	288	(12)
Team Planning Sessions	288	(1)
Team Roles and Responsibilities	289	(1)
Overcoming Team Problems	290	(1)
Planning a Flexible Daily Schedule	291	(1)
Goals	291	(1)
Time Blocks	292	(1)
Arrival	293	(1)
Free Choice (a.m.)	294	(2)
Snack Time (a.m./p.m.)	296	(1)
Playground	296	(1)
Rest Time (a.m.)	296	(1)
Lunchtime	297	(1)
Nap Time	297	(1)
Free Choice (p.m.)	298	(1)
Circle Time	298	(1)
Departure	298	(1)
Recording the Daily Schedule	299	(1)
Plans and Implements an Emergent Curriculum to Assure a Quality Program	300	(6)
Emergent Curriculum Themes	300	(1)
Using Curriculum Webs in Planning	300	(6)
Evaluates Curriculum Outcomes Through Child Observation and Team Conferences	306	(6)
Summary	312	(6)
Promoting Professionalism	318	(25)
Makes a Commitment to the Early Childhood Profession	321	(7)
Knowledge Base in the Field of Early Childhood	321	(2)
Training Opportunities in the Field of Early Childhood	323	(1)
Becoming a CDA: Child Development Associate	324	(1)
Professional Resource File	324	(3)
Using Skills for Preschool Teachers in CDA Training	327	(1)
Why Become a CDA?	327	(1)
Licensing and Credentialing	328	(1)
Service Requirements in the Field of Early Childhood Education	328	(1)
Behaves Ethically Toward Children and Their Families	328	(5)
Shows Respect for All	328	(2)
Demonstrates Caring Toward All Children	330	(1)
Respects Privacy of Children, Families, and Coworkers	331	(1)
NAEYC's Code of Ethical Conduct	332	(1)
Takes Every Opportunity to Improve Professional Growth	333	(3)
Ongoing Training	333	(1)
CDA Credential Renewal	334	(1)
Join a Professional Organization, Read its Publications, Network with Colleagues in the Field	334	(1)
Personal Contribution	335	(1)
Summary	336	(7)
Index	343