OCTOBER 2021
Greetings!

ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL/HAPPY 45th ANNIVERSARY EFC!
We are EXCITED to announce that we will be hosting our Annual Fall Festival again this year…but it will look a little different! Due to Covid restrictions and Minnesota weather, we will be hosting the Annual Fall Festival early October outside. We will also combine it with a special celebration for Especially for Children’s 45th Anniversary!
 
The event will be on Wednesday, October 6 from 5:30-7:00 at Quarry Park. We will be having pizza and cookies prepared by Pizza Party (Home of the 4 foot pizzas!).
 
We ask children and their families to wear a costume- though this is not required! We hope you all can join us!
CENTER HAPPENINGS
PRESCHOOL BOOK CLUB
"Because"
Score by Mo Willems; Performance by Amber Ren
PICTURE DAY
Lifetouch Picture Day is on Wednesday, October 27. Lifetouch will be following all of our social distancing procedures and will be doing “no touch” styling. Bri and Kate and your child’s teacher will be helping the children look their best! Keep a look out for more information!
PARENT REMINDERS
FILE UPDATES
Each quarter we audit our children’s files to ensure we have the correct information needed per Minnesota Licensing. If your child’s file is missing anything, we will contact you. Thank you for your assistance!
FALL CLOTHING
As the weather continues to cool down please be sure your child has appropriate outdoor clothing at EFC. We go outside every day, morning and afternoon, and want to be sure children are comfortable to be playing outdoors. Also, please check your child’s cubby to be sure there is extra clothing that fits and is appropriate for the current season.
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 in 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
 
Especially for Children
3370 Coachman Rd. 
Eagan, MN 55121 
(651) 452-0043 

Center Directors:
Bri Dieffenbach and Kate Beck
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
CONNECT WITH US