Art Area -- From Stephanie

After the High Scope training last year, we really made an effort to have art materials open and available at all times. We had always had the easel available, but nothing else unless we specifically put it out that day. Now almost all of the art materials are open all the time!

Since we got the paint pumps, we were really able to make art an open area completely centered around the choices of the kids. The smocks are on a hook next to the easel. There is a marker on top of the easel for name writing. The paint pumps are in a bin that can be lifted off the shelf and brought over to the table by those kids that want it. The bin also has “1 2” numbers on it to remind the kids to push the pump two times to get optimal paint. On the same shelf we also have containers to get paint. Next to the shelf is the drying rack. On top of the drying rack there is a container with all kinds of paper.

Next to that is a shelf with all of the art tools in bins. They are able to choose what they want to use including: paint brushes, paint tools (rollers/stampers), ink pads, bingo dotters, stamps, etc. Sometimes the bins get a little (a lot ) covered in paint because kids choose to go in there in the middle of a activity, but it washes off!

When they are done using the art area, they know to put the containers and paint brushes in the sink. Some kids choose to rinse them out themselves and some we are just thrilled that they make it in (or near!) the sink! There is a little sign above the sink to remind the kids that dirty paint brushes go there.

Although it has been set up this way since the beginning of the year, a lot of times the kids don’t come up with their own ideas to try out new materials. We will still pull out some tools and paint and put them on the table at times to help them come up with ideas. During October we had some leaf shaped paper cut out and laying in the bin of paper that was a choice to use. The kids LOVE getting their own paint. But watch out! The paint pumps like to spit VERY far if they haven’t been used for a few days and a little gets dried inside.

COR Collection -- from Erin

I thought I'd share my COR collection system.  So far, it seems to be working fairly well for us.  Here's a photo of our our main COR collection area.

On the clipboard on the left are my observation logs for the week, and next to that is a laminated sheet where I write down specific COR items that we are observing for that week.  The observation logs all match up with our COR items for the week.  This makes it easy to keep track of who I still need to get observations on, and the COR items of the week help me plan activities.

On the right side of the photo are laminated sheets where we stick up additional observations that the team makes during the week.  This makes it easy for any team member to write down an anecdote, and they are all in the same place for me!

Finally, this is my COR collection checklist.  It has all of the benchmarks for both Infant/Toddler and the Preschool COR.  When I collect something, I check it off, and I highlight it when it's entered into the COR.  This is a much faster reference for me than running reports to see what I still need to collect.

I hope some of these ideas will be useful for some of you!