YW3CA Early Education Center – Classroom Improvements
YWCA Tri-County Area’s (YW3CA) Early Education Center in Pottstown offers children the opportunity to learn and grow in a creative and nurturing environment. Our team of passionate educators is constantly focusing on improving our center so that every child may equitably learn and thrive.
One recent addition to each classroom is the use of a job chart. The job chart is a structural system that manages the jobs each child in the classroom performs. Each job provides every child with the opportunity to be significant contributors to others through meaningful classroom responsibilities.
In each classroom and each school family, jobs cease to be badges of specialness awarded to only a handful of children. Instead, these jobs become a foundation for good citizenship experienced by every child.
These jobs include The SafeKeeper, The Greeter, The Goodbye Wisher, The Encourager, The S.T.A.R. Helper, and more!
The Safekeeper is always the teacher’s job. It is the teachers job to keep the classroom safe for all children to learn and grow. The Greeter greets students as they come into the classroom in the morning and also greets visitors who enter. The Goodbye Wisher selects a goodbye ritual and sends students off at the end of the day in positive, encouraging manor.
The Encourageer has specific sayings, both verbal and written, to offer to those who need encouragement. An example of these sayings include, “You can do it. Keep breathing. You can handle this.” The encourage is also in charge of the We Care Bag. This bag contains hand lotion, a teddy bear, a squeeze star and a small blanket. When a young child is upset the encourager can give him/her the bag and say, “I want you to know we care. Will anything in this bag help?”
The S.T.A.R. Helper reminds children to Smile, Take a deep breath, And Relax. Using a tool such as a star wand, star light, or star cape may help with the job.
These are only a few examples of jobs that each classroom has for the teachers and children. With the passionate leadership of our Early Education Director, Kathleen Seeley, YW3CA is focused on creating safe, nurturing environment for each one of our students.
Contact Kathleen Seeley, Early Education Director, at firstname.lastname@example.org or 610-323-1888 ext. 209.