Now that the weather is finally acting like fall we can FALL into our classroom routines. It doesn’t matter if it’s in our adult workshops with parents and providers or in programs with our youngest students – it’s hard to focus on classwork when the warm weather invites you to play outside. Since the warm weather was a gift in our Northern Michigan area we accepted the invitation and took many outside breaks or turned the outdoors into our classroom.
Sometimes we brought the outdoors inside, adding leaves and other fall observations to our sensory tables or activities. We talked about how to stay healthy and safe as the weather gets colder and discussed appropriate clothing to wear during different seasons. Using clothing as a theme we were able work on basic skills and practice motor development. Using clothing we were able to assess where students were on the developmental continuum.
Mother Goose Time is one of the curriculums we use with our young students, which includes a developmental continuum for reference, as well as various assessment tools. Some programs like to do initial assessments at the beginning of enrollment, but with our early education and elementary tutoring programs we wait on assessing and developing goals until after getting to know the student and being able to authentically observe them.
Observation includes getting to know the students interests, strengths, struggles, learning styles … Authentic observations are not standardized tests, which often do not accurately showcase a student’s abilities or needs. Observations are not only noted at specific time periods, but are continuously updated. We do offer initial developmental screenings for participants who would like such information, as well as recommendations and referrals.
If you’re looking for child developmental information contact Christi@MiFamilies.com for parent/provider workshops or infant through teen programs. Mi Families (“my families”) LLC facilities programs for families and those who work with families across Michigan. We have a couple part time spaces available in our early education and tutoring program, located in Kingsley, if you know a tot to pre teen who’d like to join in learning adventures at Adventure Academy!
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