Head Start Leaders Guide to Positive Child Outcomes
Language Development
The needed framework for positive child outcomes is the use of indicators that show that the children are learners of English language. What is required in the head start learning environment for learners is the embodiment of multicultural principles. Educators must acknowledge the fact that a classroom environment has children whose first language is not English. The Head Start program Performance Standard (2002), requires the use of multicultural principles which could be supported in children’s culture and home language that could help them learn English. This creates a sense of continuity. A good environment for Ells is that which has the domains of phonological awareness, book appreciation and knowledge, print concept and awareness, early writing and knowledge of the alphabet (Department of Health and Human Services, 2002, pp 99).
Literacy Development
Literacy is the children’s abilities add skills that enable them write and read. Literacy is a process which stars from birth to around the age of five which requires various experiences. One of the experiences is purposeful conversation of a child with other children or adults who support other language development. For them to acquire literacy, children’s environment should help them access writing and reading materials. The children should be given the opportunity to engage and explore literacy activities like learning sounds, learning letters, and reading.
Mathematics
Children find the meaning of their environment from mathematics. They learn to think logically, reason and connect ideas. Mathematics relates to disciplines like music, art, social studies and science. For children to succeed in school they should have the skills and knowledge in mathematics. The domain elements in an environment for children to learn mathematics is the use of operations and numbers where children can be aware of numbers as well as helping them gain interest in mathematics. The environment should also have the domain of spatial and geometry sense with various shapes and sizes. A final domain the environment should have is that which shows measurements and patterns(Department of Health and Human Services, 2002, pp 130).
Science
By nature, children are always young scientists because they are more inclined to exploring, curiosity, asking question, and creating their own theories. Therefore, science acts as an excellent discipline for children to be ready for school learning. Science helps children to develop observation skills problem solving skills, exploration and applying scientific methods. Science contents are the basics concepts about the physical and the living worlds. Therefore, an environment which enhances children’s learning of science is that which helps children to question, experiment, report, reflect, and observe various environmental aspects. The learning curriculum should be made in a way which provides a scientific experience which encourages sciences domain learning experience (Department of Health and Human Services, 2002, pp 188).
Creative arts
The domain of creative arts includes aspects like dramatic play, movement, music and art. Each of this elements supports self expression and the imaginative thinking of the children such include the creation of new colors, counting the beats of music, an in drama, the children can create dialogue with one another. In so doing, children learn to use their social, creativity and cognitive process. When children’s senses and minds are engaged in creative arts, they are able to listen, solve problems, observe, and imagine by the use of self expression and thinking. Through creative imagination in arts a child learn to stimulate their minds. So, a good environmenet where children can learn creative arts should have the domain of art music , movement, and dramatic play (Curtis, Deb, & Carter, Margie 2003,pp 45).
Emotional and social Development
Since the conception of Head start in 1965, its goal has been to help children achieve social competence. This is because social competence is for a child’s well being and even in health for them to succeed in their future life as well as in school. It is important for a child to emotionally and socially develop because it provides the base for a positive long term learning. Emotional self regulation and social skills are related to a children future success in school. Learning positive social and emotional skills prevents behavioral and social difficulties in future life of the children. An environment which supports the social and emotional development of a child is that which has the domain of self concept, self control, creation of social relationship, cooperation, knowledge of communities and families. Self control gives the children the ability to regulate and recognize their behaviors and emotions Department of Health and Human Services, 2002, pp 220).
Physical development
For health and physical development of a child , it is important a to create indoor and outdoor environment which enables children to explore their environment, move their bodies and practice gross and fine motor skills. This environment should have the right equipments for the practices of motor skills and for the children to learn new ones. Appropriate teaching strategies should be used for children to learn physical skills (Department of Health and Human Services, 2002, pp 245).
Age group 4
Appropriate outdoors and indoors learning environment
Indoor space
Children should be given sufficient space that is well lit. There should also be comfortable temperature for them to play and learn. In terms of furniture, children should be given the right furniture for their daily routines. Such include tables, chairs, and cots which enable them to properly support their bodies , play , focus on learning with comfort. A soft furnishing enables children to have the comfort and relaxation they need. The room arrangement should be that which provides children with self image thinking that is positive and encourages them to perform a wide range of activities. Children should also be provided with some paces for privacy for them to reduce the stress of frequent interaction and activities. The right equipments for play as well as appropriate stationary should be provided to children. The equipments should be safe, sturdy, sound and accessible to the young ones for their daily use.
Designing a classroom for early childhood learners requires taking into consideration guidelines for maintaining and creating literacy learning surrounding. This includes the provision of literacy supplies and materials and organizing the room which is spacious and can contain all the needed literacy materials (Morrow, 2002,pp 537-554).
Out door environment
The outdoor playing ground should include elements like water side walk paintings, letters and alphabetical writings on the fence and walls. The playing ground should be safe grounds with all the equipments that children require for their physical, social, emotional, language and literacy development. The outdoor spaces should be grass or saw dusts with safe equipments like swings slides. The activities have to be changed constantly to avoid boredom. Careful manipulation of the learning environment enables children learn in areas of mathematics, creativity, behavior and socially (Morrow, 2002, pp 545).
Reference
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