Parents are welcome in their children’s classroom at Encompass! Volunteer sign-up sheets are outside of each classroom. You can join us to be a mystery reader or stay for the day as an extra pair of helping hands. To ensure you feel comfortable during your time with us, we want to share these guidelines for adults to participate in our Early Learning Community.

Self-reliance is our focus for the children. Let the children do things for themselves and enjoy how proud they are as a result. Preschoolers are a capable people!

TYPICAL SCHEDULE

Circle/Class meeting:

• Sit on the floor with the children.
• Be involved with the group.
• Use non-verbal cues to assist children to attend to the group activity (i.e. a touch on the shoulder, a finger to the lips, a smile, eye contact, etc.).

 Small groups/Process time:

• Sit at a table.
• Describe what you see children doing, i.e. positive actions, this gives words for their actions. Examples: “I see you are mixing yellow and blue paint.” “You drew a smiling face.”
• Put names on children’s work; ask first if they want to write their own name, then where do they want you to write their name on the page.
• Remember, the child’s work is their own; they do not have to follow a model, and make it the way we think it should look.

 Work Time:

• Teeth brushing, snack and personal choice activities take place.
• Art supplies are set out and refilled during this time.
• Sensory tub is uncovered.
• Storyboards (clipboards) are around the room and individual stories can be dictated to adults.
• Loft rules for climbing up and down: Use two hands, come down backwards (like a ladder), no long dresses or dress up shoes when climbing.

 Snack:

• An adult must clean table with sanitizer before kids arrive.
• Wash hands before sitting at the table, adults and children.
• Food is self-served.
• Food is placed on the table and the children get their own plate, cup, napkin and silverware.
• The adult is to monitor quantities of food.
• Crackers, kids count 5 at a time (good math activity).
• Fruit, 2-3 pieces per serving.
• Children pour their own drinks using the small pitchers.
• Child clears his own drinks using the small pitchers.
• Child clears his own spot and wipes the table with a paper towel.
• Adult records who ate snack on the attendance chart.

 Teeth brushing:

• Use a paper plate and put 14-18 dabs of toothpaste around the edge.
• The adult removes and returns the toothbrush to the holder.
• There can be one child at each sink.
• Demo good brushing skills with the BIG teeth and the BIG brush as the kids are brushing their teeth.
• When all the kids have brush, spray the sink and wipe with a paper towel.

 Other:

Conflicts between children:

• We coach and guide the children to solve their own problems (Second Step skills). If you are unsure of what to do ask a teacher to assist in the situation and you can observe and learn the skills.

Adult conversations should be minimal — this is the kids’ time for work and play. We, the adults, are here to support and encourage their discoveries, creations and learning. Please save “adult” conversations for after class or excuse yourself to the hallway.

Thank you for your help!