During the Best Practices course the students had to create staff trainings. I chose to do my training on the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards. The first domain is Health and Physical Development. The Health Fair shows:
Knowledge of curriculum standards and early learning standards
In order to get parents to attend the Health Fair I had to let them know about it (through signs and verbal communication). Also knowing my families, I turned it into a game and offered a prize at the end of the fair. I attended the Wisconsin Early Childhood Conference in the Wisconsin Dells in October. On Saturday of the conference, during the networking lunch, a BINGO game was going on. You had to go around and complete different activities in order to get your BINGO card stamped. Once you received all of your stamps, you put your full name on it and placed it in a box for a drawing. Back at the center the previous director left behind a prize basket. She was meaning to have a contest of sorts that never took off. I knew about this and had a good enough relationship with her to ask if I could use the basket for the Health Fair. She gave me her blessing and I created BINGO cards for the event. (Please see ‘BINGO Card’ and ‘Completed BINGO Card’ under ‘”Documents” tab). Each parent had to take their child(ren) into each room, have their child do an activity, get the card stamped by all the teachers, put their child’s name on the card, and turn it in for the drawing on the next day. Every child had their own BINGO card; it wasn’t just one per family, because I wanted all of the children to be involved. Doing this showed:
Knowledge of how to establish and maintain good communication and partnerships with families, and to promote strong and meaningful family involvement in the program
Overall, 28 enrolled children and their families participated in the Health Fair. The prize basket went to a family of six that faces financial hardships and I was very pleased with the outcome. The teachers worked very nicely together and I felt great collaboration and teamwork with them on our first parent engagement activity. It seemed I earned more of their trust by asking them for their ideas and suggestions. Even though 28 families participated, I was disappointed that some families said, “No” to staying. Ironically though, I am positive that the turnout for this event is better than it will be for future gatherings.
Knowledge of curriculum standards and early learning standards
In order to get parents to attend the Health Fair I had to let them know about it (through signs and verbal communication). Also knowing my families, I turned it into a game and offered a prize at the end of the fair. I attended the Wisconsin Early Childhood Conference in the Wisconsin Dells in October. On Saturday of the conference, during the networking lunch, a BINGO game was going on. You had to go around and complete different activities in order to get your BINGO card stamped. Once you received all of your stamps, you put your full name on it and placed it in a box for a drawing. Back at the center the previous director left behind a prize basket. She was meaning to have a contest of sorts that never took off. I knew about this and had a good enough relationship with her to ask if I could use the basket for the Health Fair. She gave me her blessing and I created BINGO cards for the event. (Please see ‘BINGO Card’ and ‘Completed BINGO Card’ under ‘”Documents” tab). Each parent had to take their child(ren) into each room, have their child do an activity, get the card stamped by all the teachers, put their child’s name on the card, and turn it in for the drawing on the next day. Every child had their own BINGO card; it wasn’t just one per family, because I wanted all of the children to be involved. Doing this showed:
Knowledge of how to establish and maintain good communication and partnerships with families, and to promote strong and meaningful family involvement in the program
Overall, 28 enrolled children and their families participated in the Health Fair. The prize basket went to a family of six that faces financial hardships and I was very pleased with the outcome. The teachers worked very nicely together and I felt great collaboration and teamwork with them on our first parent engagement activity. It seemed I earned more of their trust by asking them for their ideas and suggestions. Even though 28 families participated, I was disappointed that some families said, “No” to staying. Ironically though, I am positive that the turnout for this event is better than it will be for future gatherings.