OCTOBER 2021
Greetings!

OCTOBER HAPPENINGS
We have a very busy month planned for the children in October. It is hard to believe it is autumn already! As the leaves start falling and the temperatures are dropping, it is important that your child has warmer clothing for outdoor play. Remember that it is often significantly colder in the morning hours when we go outside to play. Please make sure to label all clothing items as many children have the same type/brand/color of clothes.
CENTER HAPPENINGS
SPECIAL DAY IN OCTOBER
Monday, October 4 - MN Wild day
Wednesday, October 6 - PICTURE DAY
Thursday October 7 - Bike Day
Monday October 11 - Purple Day
Tuesday October 12 - Blue Day
Wednesday, October 13 - Red Day
Thursday October 14 - Yellow Day
Wednesday, October 20 - Rainbow Day
Friday October, 22 - Pajama Day
Tuesday, October 26 - Favorite Sports Team
Friday, October 29 - Costume day and Classroom Halloween parties
CLASSROOM HALLOWEEN PARTIES
The classrooms will be having a little Spooky fun on Friday October 29.
Bring your child in their costumes and an extra change of clothes for them to change into after their fun morning! Please do not bring in treats the children will be making their own spooky snack.
PARENT REMINDERS
WHERE HAS THE YEAR GONE?
With the holidays right around the corner here is a reminder of the days EFC will be closed:

Thursday, November 25: Thanksgiving
Friday, November 26: Thanksgiving
Thursday, December 23: Floating Holiday
Friday, December 24: Christmas
Friday, December 31: New Years
PARENT RESOURCES
JACK ‘O LANTERN QUESADILLAS
                            
INGREDIENTS
Cooking spray, for pan
2 c. cooked and shredded chicken
Juice of 1/2 lime
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
8 medium tortillas
3/4 c. shredded cheddar
3/4 c. shredded monterey jack
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Hot sauce, for serving

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 425° and grease a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, add chicken and toss with lime juice, chili powder, and garlic powder.
Assemble quesadillas: Using a paring knife, cut a Jack-o-Lantern pattern into 4 tortillas.
Sprinkle chicken and cheese onto remaining 4 tortillas, and top with Jack-o-Lanterns. Place quesadillas onto baking sheet, brush with oil, and bake until cheese is melty, and tortillas are golden, 15 minutes. Serve with hot sauce.
NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Did you know that September 15-October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month?
 
If you would like to celebrate the history and culture of Hispanic, Latino/a, Latinx people in your family, here are a few resources for you to explore:
 
ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS
SEE-SHOW-SAY STRATEGY FOR BUILDING LITERACY SKILLS
By Angie Williams
One of the ways in which caregivers and families can enrich literacy experiences for young children is through the see-show-say method of reading. This method involves a back-and-forth conversation (both verbal or nonverbal) between the child and the reader.
 
See: The reader can point to objects or parts of the book, run his finger across the word, and talk about illustrations. The child shows her understanding by following those cues and looking at the things being emphasized.
 
Show: The reader asks the child to point to and identify characters or illustrations. The reader can make it fun by asking the child to “show” in interesting ways (e.g. tickle the monkey’s toes or show with your body how a kangaroo moves). 
Conversational Reading
Melbourne Graduate School of Education
Conversational Reading
Melbourne Graduate School of Education

Say: Finally, the child is asked to answer verbally. The reader might ask simple questions such as, “What color is the flower?” or open-ended questions such as, “What do you think is going to happen to the caterpillar next?”
 
Using the see-show-say strategy deepens both the reader’s and the child’s experience with the story, helps caregivers gauge a child’s comprehension, and supports a child’s growing vocabulary.
 
For more on see-show-say
Teaching Strategies, the author of The Creative Curriculum® offers a short video on the see-show-say strategy here:
You may also be interested in the examples provided in this presentation by the Melbourne Graduate School of Education:
We wish you and your child happy reading!
Angie Williams
EFC Marketing Director
TWIN CITIES
FAMILY EVENTS

10/1-11/7 Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, MN Zoo, Apple Valley
10/9 Pumpkins on the Plaza, 50th & France, Edina
10/9-10/10 Harvest Fest, Stillwater
10/10 Open Streets, Lyndale, Mpls
10/16-10/17 Farmer Ken & Jan’s Pumpkin Patch Trolley Ride, Lake Harriet Trolley, Mpls
10/23 Pumpkin Night in the Park, Springbrook Nature Center, Coon Rapids
10/23 Half-Haunted Halloween, Woodlake Nature Center, Richfield
10/23-10/30 Family Halloween Events, Anoka
10/30 Haunted Harriet 5k/10k/KIDSK Family Run, Lake Harriet, Mpls

Apple Orchards & Pumpkin Patches
Aamodt's, Stillwater
Deer Lake, Buffalo
Emma Krumbee's, Belle Plain
Minnetonka, Minnetrista
 
Center Director
Lisa Ward
8885 Evergreen Blvd.
Coon Rapids, MN 55433
(763) 784-0901
SHARE YOUR PASSION
We’d love for you to Share Your Passion with us as we celebrate our 45th Anniversary! See current submissions here:

You can email your entry to angiew@especiallyforchildren.com
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