While searching the National Head Start Association website I came
across the newsletter about Early Head Start and Head Start switching to a
full-day classroom setting. Currently,
the majority of the classes are half-day (3.5 hours/day). This affects my
current professional development because I this is my first year doing a
full-day classroom at Head Start and I am having to learn new ways of teaching.
Our full-day classrooms tend to enroll the children with higher priority
scores, which equates to children with social-emotional concerns or behavior
problems. I have learned new ways to de-escalate situations and have learned
how to talk in a soother tone of voice.
This newsletter about
the proposed changes to Head Start programs has caused issues within the
program – with the increase of full-day classes the programs are having to
decrease the number of children and families they can serve but are now able to
provide more in-depth learning. My program has slowly started to switch to
full-day classrooms and had to decrease the number of children in our
enrollment – last year we served 406 children and families, this year we are
serving 366. It is unfortunate that we have to drop our enrollment numbers
because I feel like we are failing those select children now. Head Start
standards believes full-days are 6 hours (8:00-3:00) and my program does
8:00-5:00 so we are having to find funding for those extra two hours to make up
the difference.
Head Start in
general is able to operate and continue serving children and families because
of politicians who understand and support it’s vision and mission. If we did
not have certain political support the children of low-income families would
not have the opportunity to attend school and gain the extra support.
I did
not come across any new insights about issues and trends but I found an awesome
partnership that could help my program with supplies. While exploring the NHSA
website I found that Head Start and Crayon Collections has become partners to
supply classrooms with crayons for the children.
Chrissy,
ReplyDeleteThat's great that you found a new resource for materials for your classroom. I wish that your program would continue half days and allow more families to have access. That is a large number of children that will be left behind. I hope there are other programs that these families can use to give their children extra support. Thanks for sharing this information.
Mary
Chrissy,
ReplyDeleteThat's great that you found a new resource for materials for your classroom. I wish that your program would continue half days and allow more families to have access. That is a large number of children that will be left behind. I hope there are other programs that these families can use to give their children extra support. Thanks for sharing this information.
Mary
Hi Chrissy,
ReplyDeleteThe school/program I work for has always had extended hours from 6a-6p although my kindergarten class is from 9a-4:30p. Our enrollment dropped drastically due to the new wage assignment imposed by the governor of my state Illinois. A family cannot make more than $650.00 per month and receive childcare initiative. Who can live off $650 per month? The entire childcare initiative needs to be revamped. Great Blog!
Yvonne