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A Scrapbook of Children's Environments

Positive Practice in Family Child Care Video

Staff Highlight - Barb Evensen

A Scrapbook of Children's Environments

Introducing:

A Scrapbook of Children's Environments
Introduction and Points for Discussion

When you watch this DVD you will see hundreds of places where children play, learn, and grow. This collection of photographs illustrates many concepts that can help you "fine tune" your classroom environments.

We hope you will watch this with other people who share your interest in developing materials and spaces for children. Our goal is to encourage you to think about your space and how children use it. While viewing these photographs we want you to start conversations with your friends and co-workers about what can work for you in you own classrooms. We hope you will be inspired by what you see and that it will motivate you to make some positive changes in your classrooms.

A well-designed environment can manage children's behavior. Bottom line, a well-designed environment makes your job easier! Through the room arrangement and the organization of the materials in your classroom, you can give children information about what you expect from them. In order to understand how children use space, you need to take time to sit back and observe them. If there are areas of your classroom where children often have conflicts, chances are the environment is responsible. Watch to learn from the children what messages they get from the environment. Consider your classroom and respond to these questions:

Is it cluttered with materials? Is there enough space for the kind of play intended (dramatic play and blocks take a lot of room)? Are there enough materials for the number of children using the area? Are materials disorganized or in disrepair? Is the space too open and undefined? Does everything have a place where it belongs? Are materials stored at their point of use? Are shelves labeled and logically organized? Do materials spark interest and conversation? Do materials and displays invite participation? Would you enjoy being a child in this classroom?

Available on DVD for $29

To order call WCCIP at 1-800-366-3556 or click here for on-line ordering

Positive Practice in Family Child Care Video

WCCIP is excited to announce our new video, Positive Practice in Family Child Care:

Join three highly experienced, nationally accredited, family child care providers as they share their thoughts and ideas on various aspects of high quality programming.

Learn about business practices that contribute to their success.

View quality environments first hand.

Watch multi aged groups of children engaged in building positive relationships with one another and with their caregivers.

Understand the importance of networking with other child care professionals.

Recognize your role in helping family child care providers improve their programs.

Gain renewed joy in the importance of your work as a child care professional.

To purchase a copy of the video, click here to download a copy of our order form,

Adobe Reader required.
Click icon for free download.

For more information please call WCCIP at 1-800-366-3556.

Staff Highlight - Barb Evensen

Barb Evensen

Barb has an early childhood education degree from UW-Stout, and has done graduate work at Wheelock College and the Merrill-Palmer Institute. She has been with WCCIP for 15 years. She was the Executive Director of a child care program in Ripon for 10 years. She also worked for the Work Place Child Care Clearing House in the Lt. Governor’s office. She has taught various courses at the Technical College and continues to update and improve the training that she has developed. Her areas of expertise include employer-sponsored child care planning and development, infant and toddler programming and environments, the process of art for children and helping teachers focus on literacy.

“But my passion is curriculum,” says Barb, “helping people understand how to define their curriculum and making a commitment to using it effectively is a powerful move toward quality improvement.” She also believes in helping teachers learn to advocate for themselves as professionals “because they know best what they need. ”Barb recently became the Training and Consulting Coordinator for WCCIP. She is committed to making training events for early care and education programs “special events” customized to meet their unique needs.

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