In-House Newsletter
June 2017
EDUCATION SPECIALIST
Classroom Observations
The Education Specialist should do periodic observations in classrooms, whether there is a new teacher or experienced teachers. To help you with your observations, you should use the following observation tools found on SharePoint. These observations should focus on teacher child interactions, curriculum and the overall learning environment. Education Specialist should then discuss the observations with the Program Director to come up with goals for the classrooms. The information should then be shared the with classroom teacher by the Education Specialist and Program Director.
Observation forms can be found at:
SharePoint > Education > NECPA Accreditation > Observation Tools
SharePoint > Education > Classroom Observation Tool > Classroom Observations
RAINBOW REP.
June brings SUMMER sunshine! With the start of warm weather, we encourage staff, students, and families to enjoy time outside! Remember to stay safe, stay hydrated, and wear sunscreen! Summer months bring about tons of new activities for children! Children can spend time playing at the beach, running through the sprinklers, having picnics, and spending more time outside.
Staff Connection Ideas- “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows. It’s what the sunflowers do.” Helen Keller. Create a bulletin board in the staff lounge with this quote on it. Create flowers, and when you see or hear of a staff member who is being positive or helping someone, write their name on a flower and attach it to the bulletin board. Towards the end of the month, buy a dozen flowers (or more depending on the number of staff members your center has) and give one to each teacher as a thank you.
Family Connection Ideas- June 18th is Father’s Day. Encourage each class to make a card or craft to send home with the students to be given to their dad! It will surely be met with a smile!
With warm weather upon us, there is no better time to get outside! Plan a family and staff Beach BBQ! Encourage students, families, and staff members to get together at a local beach or park for some BBQ food, and free play! An added bonus will be the children getting to see each other and have family time outside of school.
Each month we will continue to provide ideas as well as general tips for connecting with staff and families. We would also love to hear your ideas and see your hard work! Please send ideas and pictures of completed activities to education@rainbowccc.com.
HEALTH, SAFETY, AND LICENSING COORDINATOR
Ergonomics is a term often used in professional settings. For most, it has a very specific meaning. For the others, it can be anything. Given this, you are probably beginning to wonder, “What is Ergonomics?”
Definition of Ergonomics
Ergonomics- (ərɡəˈnämiks) (derives from the Greek word ergon meaning work, and nomoi meaning natural laws), is the science of refining the design of products to optimize them for human use. Human characteristics, such as height, weight, and proportions are considered, as well as information about human hearing, sight, temperature preferences, and so on. Ergonomics is sometimes known as human factors engineering.
What is Ergonomics?
To simplify things a bit, Ergonomics literally means the science of work. So, individuals like Ergonomists, i.e. the practitioners of ergonomics, study work, how work is done and how to work better/smarter. Given the environment you work in, frequent lifting and carrying of children can increase the risk of long-term discomfort to your back/body. Listed below we’ve come up with a few tips, that if properly preformed can prevent possible injury.
Using Ergonomics to Avoid Injury
· Be careful when lifting – Don’t bend from your hips, use your legs and keep your child close to you, injuries will occur if you pick your child up with your arms outreached.
· How to reduce back injuries when caring for children- When you’re holding infants or toddlers avoid placing them on one hip.
- Use chairs or furniture with upper back support when you’re holding or rocking children.
- If you are carrying children, keep them centered on your body and use both arms to hold them.
- Teach children to help you lift by holding onto your body rather than leaning away from you.
- Reduce bending and lifting by storing frequently used or heavy toys, strollers, and other items at waist height and in an easily accessible area.
- Avoid bending down at the waist to interact with children. Use a squatting or kneeling position instead.
- When sitting on the floor, support your back against a wall or some furniture.
- Minimize repetitive bending and stooping when cleaning up. Make a game of tidying the play area and get children involved.
- Lower the sides of the crib before lifting a child out.