Quality Corner

A good lesson plan starts with a solid focus. Themes are often used to plan lessons and activities for children of all ages. Selecting engaging themes for lesson plans is very important. Themes not only give us a starting point, but they help capture children’s interest and encourage learning across all domains. Because children learn at their own pace and reach developmental milestones at different times, it’s important to focus on creating lesson plans that best fit the children’s abilities and your program’s values.

When choosing themes for a lesson plan:

Select themes based on children’s interests and experience. Start with the children in your program. What is exciting and relevant to them?

Identify the specific skills you would like to concentrate on. Learning objectives outline what the children will learn and be able to do by the end of the lesson. Themes are great, but it’s important to remember to incorporate learning objectives. They help guide your teaching while also helping you keep track of children’s progress to support their growth and development.

Spring themes are a great way to keep children motivated and happy as we head into a season of new growth and life! The warmer weather inspires us to head outside and notice what is happening out there! It is the perfect opportunity to introduce new vocabulary and concepts. Some themes that help us do that are:

Animals
Bugs and Insects
Flowers
Garden
Pond Life

Rain/Rainbows
Seeds
Flowers and Trees
Nature
Weather

Ultimately, the goal of any lesson plan is to outline how children will develop the skills they need to be successful learners today and in the future. As you continue to build and adapt your lesson plans, you’ll ensure your children receive a well-rounded education that supports each developmental stage.

For of ideas on these themes and more, visit:

Regulation Reminder

Spring is here! For many families, this means spring cleaning, completing developmental screeners, inviting new children into the program, and taking another look at your documents to make sure everything is in order. One thing commonly pushed to the side are our Emergency Drills. Make sure you are completing your Monthly and Quarterly Drills at the proper times by setting a reminder on your phone or paper calendar!

Emergency Drills are a great time to talk to children about safety and why we practice these drills. Have an alarm or create a noise that indicates whether it is a Fire, Tornado, or Earthquake, and talk to the children about the protocols to follow if one were to happen.

Professional Development Training

View the WKU FCCN Training Calendar for more information and to register.

Personalized training based on YOUR needs!

The WKU FCCN offers customized and affordable training on a variety of topics.

Training Request Form

FREE TRAINING

The Family Child Care Network will be offering a 4-part training series focusing on strengthening business practices. The purpose of this training is to strengthen childcare providers’ foundational knowledge of fiscal terms, concepts, and practices. It encourages providers to realize the importance of financial planning to the sustainability of their business. It provides tips and best practices to help break down fiscal processes into manageable steps.

This training is intended to be one part of the learning process to build providers’ understanding of good business practices.

Whenever possible, it is recommended that this training be supplemented with technical assistance and ongoing peer-to-peer sharing opportunities such as communities of practice. During this training, you will be introduced to financial reports that can help you better manage your center’s finances. We will also be helping you understand the concept of internal controls and how they can strengthen your program's fiscal health.

Each month the WKU FCCN provides independent studies. Independent studies are online and work at your own pace. They are available for registration until the 15th of each month. Independent studies must be completed within two weeks.

Topics include:

Being Prepared for Emergencies
Caring For Infants In a Mixed-age Setting
Curriculum-based Assessment
Developmental Screening
Evaluating Your Services
Family Engagement
Family Engagement: Literacy Bags
Health, Safety, and Nutrition
Infant and Toddler Development
Early Childhood Environments: Learning through Routines and Rituals
Language and Communication for Infant and Toddlers
Let’s Get Appy
Parent Handbooks
Preventing Burnout
Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse Neglect and Safe Sleep
Science in an Early Learning Classroom
Social Studies in an Early Learning Classroom
The Stressed Child
The Value of Play

Training Calendar

A publication of the WKU Family Child Care Network

Funded through Family Childcare Support Award SC 7362100001482

www.wku.edu/fccn