March2014
SAIL Into Quality
Essential Early Literacy Teaching Strategies
Inside This
Issue
Page 2
 Recipe:
Rainbow
Cookie Pops
 Homemade
Prism Project
 Upcoming
Trainings/
Events
Page 3
 Poem: March
Poetry
 Provider
Incentive
Information
As young children’s first teacher, we all play 5. Support for early reading– provide
an important role in developing and
access to lots of books, repeat
encouraging early forms of reading and
readings of favorite books, use books
writing. These basics can be broken down
with larger print, and have functional
into eight specific strategies which research
print for the children to look at such
shows strengthens early literacy skills. In an
as daily schedules, helper charts or
article written by experts within the National
labels on toy shelves.
Association for the Education of Young
6. Support for early writing–
Children (NAEYC), we discuss how basing
encourage scribble writing, random
our strategies around play makes literacy
letters and inventive spelling.
activities meaningful and enjoyable for
Provide lots of writing materials and
young children.
1. Rich teacher talk– engage children
demonstrate writing by asking a
in conversations. Use rare words,
question and writing down what
listen to children’s comments and
each child says.
discuss a variety of topics. Really
7. Shared book experience– read Big
listen to what the children are saying.
Books and other enlarged texts to
2. Storybook reading– read aloud to
children. Point to the words as you
your children once or twice a day.
read them. Help them understand
Read stories, poems and information
we read from left-to-right, top-tobooks. Repeat readings of favorite
bottom. Show them the cover page
books to build familiarity and love of
and read aloud the author/
a specific story.
illustrator’s name.
3. Phonologic Activities– Provide
8. Language activities– provide
activities that increase children's
opportunities for the kids to
awareness to the sounds of
investigate a topic that interests
language. Use rhymes, alliteration
them and promote the use oral
(words that begin with the same
language to grow their vocabulary.
sound e.g. Peter Piper picked), and
sound matching (what animal
This summary came
starts with the “da” sound? A dog).
from the NAEYC
4. Alphabet Activities– Use materials
journal article The
that promote identification of the
Essentials of Early
letters of the alphabet, including
Literacy Instruction by
ABC books, magnetic letters, ABC
Kathleen Roskos,
James Christie, and
blocks and puzzles, and alphabet
Donald Richgels.
charts.
Page 2
Kitchen Fun!
Rainbow Cookie Pops
You will need1 roll (16.5 oz) refrigerated sugar
cookie dough
24 Dum Dum Pops, unwrapped
Directions
Heat oven to 350. Line cookie sheet
with parchment paper. Cut cookie
dough roll into 24 slices. On
parchment-lined cookie sheet,
place cookie slices about 2 1/2 in.
apart. Press a pop in the center of
each cookie slice. Bake for 9-12
minutes or until the edges are light
golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes,
remove from cookie sheet and
enjoy!
Colors in Light: Homemade Prism
Most of the time light looks white, but it is actually made
up of colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and
violet. Those seven colors are the same ones you see in a
rainbow! A prism is usually made of glass and is used to separate light into its
colors. In this project, you can make your own prism to show the colors of light.
“Try to be a rainbow in
someone’s cloud.”
-Maya Angelou
What you will need:
A clear glass
water
2 sheets of white paper
Flashlight (one with a small beam works
best)
sill, chair or coffee table, so half of
the glass sits on the surface and the
other half overlaps the edge of the
surface. Be careful!
3. Put the paper on the floor under
where the glass sits on the elevated
surface.
4. Turn on your flashlight and shine the
What to do:
light through the glass, angling down
1. Fill a clear glass with water, about
to the paper on the floor. If you don’t
halfway.
see a rainbow, adjust the angle of the
2. Place the half-filled water glass on an
flashlight.
elevated surface, such as a window
Upcoming Trainings/Events!
SAIL
Into Quality
March 25, 2014
Literacy Training
Hosted by the SAIL program
6-7:30
Free Books for attending!
If you would like to take First Aid or
CPR training, please call your SAIL
coordinator and we will schedule
you with our trainer!
Check your CCC Calendar for
available trainings
For more info on trainings call a SAIL
coordinator at 685-8064
Use SAIL to your advantage!
Page 3
Don’t forget about many of the terrific opportunities that the
SAIL program has to offer you!
 Free First Aid & CPR Certification
 Assistance with the Licensing Process
 Free trainings that count towards pre-service hours for DCFS!
 Quality Counts Grant Application assistance
 Quality Rating System Registration & Application assistance
 Friendly Home Visits with lots of personal attention
 Free books every month
 Resource Library with cots, pack-n-plays, toys, books and
much more
Call Maryssa or Karen to take advantage of anyone of these
opportunities!
Poem of the Month
(309) 685-8064
March Poems by Unknown Authors
March Wind
March wind is a jolly fellow;
He likes to joke and play.
He turns umbrellas inside out
And blows men’s hats away.
He calls the pussy willows
And whispers in each ear,
“Wake up you lazy
little seeds,
Don’t you know that
spring is here!”
Kites
The March wind is calling,
“Come fly your kite!”
The wind is blowing
With all of its might.
The kites are tossing
In the sky.
The wind is calling,
“Come fly up high!”
Check out our Website!
www.skip-a-long.org/
SAIL
Free Gifts!
Do you have friends that provide care in their homes for family
and friends? Are they also paid by Child Care Connection? Do
you think they would like to participate in the same great
program you do and earn free books and toys? If your answer is
YES, then please refer them to SAIL. We will explain how to join
and they can start earning their own free gifts! As a special
thanks to you, our valued provider, for any referrals you make to
the SAIL program that result in a new provider joining, we will
give you an extra special gift valued at $50.00!
SAIL
Into Quality
Page 4
Skip-a-Long
Child Development Services
Mission Statement
“The Home Child Care Network is
dedicated to improving families’
access to quality home child care. We
strive to raise the quality standard for
in-home child care by seeking out
qualified providers and by offering
professional support and training to
providers in our network.”
Vision Statement
Skip-a-Long’s leadership, strategic
perspectives and innovation that
focus on meeting family and
community needs will attract
resources and shape public policy
toward early care and education.
Value Statement
We value the trust and confidence
that others place in us to nurture,
celebrate and prepare children for
success.
Skip-a-Long Child Development
Services
Home Child Care Network
Karen Barrow
Maryssa Litherland
License Exempt Coordinators
Malia Owens
SAIL Into Quality Director
Skip-a-Long
Home Child Care Network
3425 N. Dries Lane
Peoria, IL 61604
Phone: 309-685-8064
Fax: 309-685-8095
E-mail:
[email protected]
[email protected]