Mr. Hunter – April Blog
April 6th, 2023Learning looks a lot like play!
May 3rd, 2017LifeSpan Child Care shared Richard Cohen’s “Zen and the Art of Early Childhood Education”
Published by Nicole Fetherman · · April 29 at 2:53pm ·
Learning looks a lot like play!
SCADaddle 2016
August 4th, 2016Dear LifeSpan families,
One of the strengths of our center is that we are filled with a community of wonderfully loving families who not only support their child and their child’s teachers, but also your fellow families. This is one of the things that we love most about our families! We would like to share some information with you and ask for your support and participation in a upcoming event
One of our families experienced a recent loss; one that most of us cannot imagine, but one that has made us feel that we need to educate our community, our families, and to help fund research. Meagan D.’s recent death was due to spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). Meagan was the loving mother of two of the children in our center. She was kind and warm, funny and sweet, and always so helpful and understanding.
Ninety percent of SCAD victims are women who have recently given birth or who are pregnant. Half of all cases can be fatal even before patients arrive at the hospital. “Unlike traditional cardiovascular disease, SCAD has nothing to do with arterial plaque buildup and so healthy eating and exercising aren’t effective preventive measures. With SCAD, a patient’s artery, which might have been otherwise pristine, splits. An internal layer tears away from the wall, creating the potential for blood flow blockage.” More research is needed for doctors to fully understand and see the symptoms for early warning detection. In most cases postpartum discomfort can mask symptoms. Research suggests a link between the rapidly fluctuating hormone levels that come with pregnancy and birth.
In lieu of donations to the family, we would like to participate in the 2016 Lehigh Valley 5K SCADaddle for Research on September 17th in Meagan’s honor. We will be setting up a LifeSpan team online. You will be able to either join our team and walk with us, run or donate directly. To make a donation or join our team, please follow the link, http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/LifeSpan/2016-pennsylvania-5k-scadaddle-for-research!
Next week we will hold a contest to pick the team name. Each classroom will pick a name to represent our center’s love for our family. We will put the names on buckets near the front desk. For every vote of yes, you will put a donation in the bucket.
Social Media and Searching for Employment
June 29th, 2016At LifeSpan we are always looking for highly qualified professional employees. From time to time when a candidate applies we search for their existence on social media outlets. Sometimes are findings have been less than stellar. Having a poor online presence can assure that a follow up call for an interview will not occur. Please see below some helpful hints on how to remain relevant and professional on the world wide web!
1. Post statements you’d feel comfortable sharing with your boss in person. Before you make any comment or post, consider how you’d feel if your boss read what you’ve authored.
2. Never comment about work online. Whining or complaining about work on social media is akin to announcing that you’re not a professional. On the other hand, if you brag about an accomplishment or brashly talk about landing certain clients you’ll appear arrogant and there is a risk that your bravado will distress coworkers who think you’re stealing all the glory or annoy clients who want things to stay low key. The only cases where talking about work online is acceptable is to perhaps congratulate a colleague or client for an accomplishment, or to express how much you enjoy your work without a specific deal or win being mentioned.
3. Be grammatically unimpeachable. Double check your statements for typos. Before you post, edit your comments. If you want to be taken seriously, make sure everything you write is grammatically correct and void of typos.
4. Post photos of yourself that you consider to be professional. Photos of you showing your abs, cleavage, drunken evenings with friends or making obscene gestures to the camera should not be posted. Ever.
5. Share links or other friend’s information that may be considered to be universally acceptable. Remain neutral or uncontroversial by not posting links or liking pages that might be considered to be questionable or inappropriate. Be aware that you are as liable as the original poster for liking or passing on defamatory or other legally dubious statements, photos or content.
6. Hide friend’s comments or information that is deemed to be inappropriate. Remaining professional online means that you don’t want to associate with people who post inappropriate comments on your page.
7. Only link, follow or friend people you know and trust. Only associate yourself on social media with people with whom you have a relationship and are aligned with your goal of keeping a professional presence on social media.
Website: http://www.wikihow.com/Behave-Professionally-on-Social-Media
Let’s Bring Learning to Life at Home and in the Classroom: 12 Great Resources!
December 14th, 2015
Hello fellow educator!
Can’t believe I’m saying this already, but Happy Holidays! (Where has the time gone?!)
I’ve been a cheerleader for math (and, really, education as a whole) for as long as I can remember (in fact – that’s ultimately why I started my own site!). Over the last several years, I’ve tutored 100s of students to make math more attainable and fun.
Teaching becomes increasingly difficult during the holiday season when thoughts of sugar-plums are dancing in our students’ heads! 🙂 That’s why I decided to put together a list of resources to help educators keep a classroom full of excited children focused and (hopefully!) ensure that learning still happens during this somewhat chaotic time! 🙂
Please enjoy! And feel free to share with others (on your site: https://lifespanchildcare.org/for-our-parents/links-for-more-information/, and any other medium you prefer)!
Different Learning Styles in Education
Eight Key Strategies for Deepening Your Effectiveness in the Classroom
A Guide to Classroom Technologies that Increase Learning: An Educator’s Resource
12 Easy Ways to Use Technology in the Classroom, Even for Technophobic Teachers
Embracing Technology in Education and Government (Video)
Lesson Plan Library from DiscoveryEducation.com
Lesson Plans on Finances & Real Estate
Science & Technology Lesson Plans
Engineering the Future: The Educator’s Guide to Building and Construction
Lesson Plans for Teachers from the Humane Society
Serve Up Classroom Nutrition Activities
I hope these resources ease this somewhat chaotic time for learning!
Keep Calm and Teach On! 🙂 Stacy
EMail me at mathcamps123@gmail.com (or snail mail: 500 Westover Dr #9372 Sanford, NC 27330) if you have suggestions for my site or if you’d rather I not email you in the future.
November is Early Childhood Mental Health Awareness Month!
October 26th, 2015The term “mental health” for young children can seem questionable to some, as it is associated closely to mental illness. However, the two are quite different from one another as mental illness refers to a problem (illness) and mental health focuses on something positive (health). When referring to early childhood mental health we are focusing our attention to the positive results of early intervention for children who are experiencing challenges socially and emotionally so that they can be successful learners in the future before problems become more serious. Healthy social and emotional development for children includes learning to express and regulate their emotions, forming close and secure relationships and learning to explore their environment. We would like to raise awareness of the importance of Early Childhood Mental Health this month by providing resources and articles relating to the topic. Each week we will send home an article for parents and also include helpful websites as resources for your family.
Below is the first article that we will be sharing with parents that simply explains what mental health is for young children and lists tips on healthy social and emotional development.
What is Early Childhood Mental Health?
We are always here as your first resource. Please do not hesitate to share with us any questions or concerns about your child’s social and emotional development. We will be happy to help answer those questions and provide you with the services needed for your child and family.
Benefits to singing with your infant
June 8th, 2015It is an absolute joy to be back among my LifeSpan friends and family. We are such a wonderful community of teachers and advocates for early childhood education. It’s such a comforting feeling to know the difference we make and the lives that we impact.
As many of you know, as the music teacher for our daycare components, I’m the one who sings, dances, acts with little inhibition, and leads the children in truly rewarding and instructional music activities.
As wonderful as it is to hear the voices of children singing, and to see them dancing without inhibition, we sometimes forget how influential and important music is in regards to the development of infants.
Below you’ll find an article published by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The article touches on the importance of singing with our infant children, and what they learn from vocalization. Although we already know that singing encourages language, rhyme, and rhythm; we don’t always realize the social-emotional impact it has on young children.
Also, please see the article below written by a Pre-School music teacher. Although the beginning of the article address benefits of singing to children, it’s the ending of the article that is a little more interesting for parents. Although not all of us are the best singers, that should not stop us from enjoying music with our children.
http://www.preschool-music.com/singing-to-baby.html
kidshealth.org, is quoted in saying:
“Children who grow up hearing music, singing songs, and moving to the beat are enjoying what experts call “a rich sensory environment.” That’s just a fancy way of saying a child is exposed to a wide variety of tastes, smells, textures, colors, and sounds. And kids who enjoy such a rich environment do more than have fun. Researchers believe they forge more pathways between the cells in their brains.”
It’s important for us as educators to realize that a “wide variety” does not mean complex. You don’t have to have the greatest singing voice, and you do not need to sing complex songs to encourage and advocate for music education. Keeping it simple is the best way to use music as a bonding tool for you and your child.
Are you looking for some fun indoor activities during the winter months?
February 5th, 2015The cold, winter months are here! This time of year is always a great time to enjoy indoor activities with your children. There are lots of fun activities to do on a cold, winter day. These activities can cover a wide variety of topics. Arts and crafts are fun indoor projects. This includes fun activities such as painting pictures or ceramics together. Introducing an art activity such as painting may create a new hobby or interest for your child. Cooking or baking together is another great indoor activity. Making snacks and cooking together helps your child learn about the different food groups. This is a good chance to discuss the different food groups and healthy eating. Math also ties into baking and cooking. Simple math skills such as measuring, time, and counting can be incorporated as well. Cooking and baking also involve gross motor skills by mixing or pouring. Another great way to use gross motor skills is through music and movement. Some children love to have fun dancing to music or playing a game of freeze dance! Creating a maze for younger children to crawl around is another gross motor idea during the winter months. Then, there is always fun in reading together. I always feel that you can never read too much. If your child is older, then they can have fun reading to you! Some of these activities along with others can be found at:
http://www.parents.com/baby/development/social/when-winter-weather-traps-you-indoors/#page=2
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month!
February 5th, 2015
Dental health is an important concept to encourage children to develop. It must start at an early age. Maintaining good dental care early in life helps ensure continued tooth and gum health in the future. When it comes to dental hygiene for kids, you can never start too soon. The most basic elements of dental care are regular brushing and flossing, but it’s important that your children know effective dental hygiene techniques and have access to quality dental products. You should also try to make your children comfortable with visits to the dentist and routine dental cleanings. The earlier you start exposing them to good dental care, the more likely they will be to keep their beautiful smiles for life.
http://www.dentalcareclearwater.com
Infant Dental Visits will help to…
Establish a dental “home” for your child, which is important when you have new concerns or emergencies.
Avoid anxiety. Children who begin regular dental visits at age 1 are less likely to have anxiety with future visits when compared to children who have their first visit at age 3 or older. Early dental visits can also reduce anxiety that parents may have related to their child’s oral care.
Lower oral health costs. Studies show that the dental costs for children who have their first dental visit be-fore age one are 40% lower in the first five years of life than for those who do not see a dentist before their first birth-day.
Reduce your child’s risk for cavities and improve oral health throughout childhood.
Here are some tips to keep kids’ teeth healthy and strong
0–2 years
- Wipe gums with a washcloth after feeding. This will help get rid of the sticky coating called plaque that can cause tooth decay.
- Brush teeth twice a day with water and a soft-bristle toothbrush.
- Schedule first dental appointment before first birthday.
3-5 Years
- Start using fluoride toothpaste at age 3
- Use only a pea-sized amount. Make sure your child spits it out after brushing.
- Try to break thumb-sucking and pacifier habits by age 4.
6–9 years
- Begin flossing as soon as teeth touch.
- Let your child know that it’s normal for baby teeth to fall out. That’s how “grown-up” teeth come in.
- Until children are able to practice proper oral health habits alone, parents should help their child brush and floss twice a day. Always pay special attention to the back teeth, which may have more plaque.
10–12 years
- Require children who play sports to wear a mouth guard to protect their smile.
13+ years
- Parents can make the most of their teen’s interest in how they look by reminding them that a healthy smile and fresh breath will help them look and feel their best.
http://www.dentalcare.com/en-US/dental-education/patient-education/children-english.aspx
Respiratory Syncytial Virus
January 13th, 2015Did you know that RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is very common during Fall, Winter and Spring? It may look like just a common cold, but for infants and older adults it can be very serious.
Help Prevent the Spread of RSV by following some of these tips:
- Wash your hands often Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, and help young children do the same. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Washing your hands will help protect you from germs.
- Keep your hands off your face Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Germs spread this way.
- Avoid close contact with sick people Avoid close contact, such as kissing, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who have cold-like symptoms.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Throw the tissue in the trash afterward.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that people frequently touch, such as toys and doorknobs. When people infected with RSV touch surfaces and objects, they can leave behind germs. Also, when they cough or sneeze, droplets containing germs can land on surfaces and objects.
- Stay home when you are sick If possible, stay home from work, school, and public areas when you are sick. This will help protect others from catching your illness.
For more information check out:
