Greetings!
WE'RE THANKFUL FOR...
We’re thankful for the basics:
food, clothing and comfortable shelter;
the rest is a bountiful bonus.
We’re thankful for work, play,
and the treasured people
who make these experiences
richer and more meaningful.
We’re most thankful
for family and friends,
especially the families that attend EFC!
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PARENT / TEACHER CONFERENCES
It’s fall conference time! We hope you’ll take advantage of this chance to sit down and talk to your child’s teacher one- to-one. We are excited to explain our curriculum and talk about the goals and objectives for your child.
Conferences will be held from 3pm-6pm throughout the month of November. Sign-up sheets will be posted outside each classroom for parents to choose their conference appointment.
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UPCOMING HOLIDAY CLOSINGS
EFC will be closed on
Thursday, November 28, and Friday, November 29
, for Thanksgiving. We hope your family enjoys the time together to relax and celebrate.
EFC will also be
closing at 3:00pm on Tuesday, December 24
, and will be closed on
Wednesday, December 25
, for the Christmas holiday.
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STAR WELLNESS MOVEMENT
Are you looking for some fun ways to keep those little bodies moving? The Turkey Hokey Pokey is a fun movement activity this time of year!
TURKEY HOKEY POKEY
You put your right wing in.
You put your right wing out.
You put your right wing in,
And you gobble all about.
You do the turkey pokey
And you gobble all around.
That's what it's all about.
Additional verses: Left wing, Drumsticks, Stuffing, Wattle (Head), Tail Feathers (Bottom), Turkey body.
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ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN’S PEER COACHING PROGRAM
by DeeAnn Besch and Alli Zomer
Every so often we like to share a bit about what’s happening “behind the scenes” at Especially for Children. In 2018, we launched a peer coaching program that teaching staff participate in upon hire. Newly hired teachers are paired with a coach, often from a different EFC school, to support them as they get started in their roles.
Mentees are matched with coaches who work with the same age group so that coaches are able to share relevant teaching strategies, classroom management practices, daily routines, etc. Coaches and mentees observe one another in their classrooms and have time for in-person and phone conversations. They spend 6 months paired together, with the amount of coaching time dependent on the mentee’s background and experience.
One goal of the coaching program is to make teachers new to Especially for Children feel welcome in the greater organization. It is also valuable to provide teachers new to EFC a chance to see different spaces and learning environments.
We are excited that the program has been a positive experience for those who have participated in it, both coaches and mentees. Once a quarter, coaches from all EFC centers gather for a training and a chance to share and connect. At our meeting in October, some of our coaches had this to say about the program:
“It gives me a chance to share what I have learned with other people and help them get a good start on their career with EFC. And it also lets me see what other teachers are doing well so that I can take those ideas back to my classroom.”
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Lynn Livingston, EFC Eden Prairie
“It makes me so happy that I can use my experience to have a positive impact on a new teacher and help their transition into EFC be that much easier. And I can continue to be a resource, because we have an ongoing relationship.”
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Robin Klippenstein, EFC Edina/W 70
th
Street
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Peer Coaches at a recent training. From left: Lynn L., Christina W., Stefanie B., Kari S., Robin K., Dan A., Gail S.
(Not pictured: Colleen D., Emily G., and Jessica N.)
We are grateful for all of our Peer Coaches!
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TWIN CITIES
FAMILY EVENTS
11/3-1/5
Cinderella
, Children's Theatre, Minneapolis
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Especially for Children
6125 Cahill Ave.
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
(651) 450-1994
Center Directors:
Fle Jensen and Kristine Berg
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