Westcoast Post http://www.wstcoast.org/blog Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre Blog Mon, 29 Aug 2011 21:55:56 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Welcome to the playground! http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=89 http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=89#comments Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:55:57 +0000 admin http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=89 Continue reading →]]> Westcoast is pleased to continue our partnership with Marpole Preschool by hosting this exhibit of their recent exploration of Little Blue, Little Yellow.
Children built playground model

Welcome to the Playground

 
If you know the story of Little Blue, Little Yellow, you will know how simple a story it is, and yet far reaching in its concepts. These simple stories are perfect jumping off points, giving the children the opportunity to develop the concepts and skills that resonate most for them. Marpole children started with the idea of colours and mixing colours. From there, they tried acting out the story, and retelling the story using props such as play dough.  The sizes of the characters were explored – small, medium and large. From there they moved to tearing paper to make symbols for use in their storytelling.
When you look through the documentation book, you will see the journey the children and their teachers were on during this exploration.  The teachers began to recognize the children were ready for different concepts related to the original story. They introduced felting (one of the Westcoast workshops this year!) and continued in the story telling mode.  How did they get to the idea of building a playground? Well the little felted fellows needed a place to live and play of course!
felt balls in the sand box

Here is little yellow in the sand box

Building the playground was another path the children began to follow. In the documentation you will see how the role of the teacher as a guide was developed at this point. In those pages you can see the language and discussion that emerged and you will see how little blue and little yellow were still a part of this changing story.
 We would like to thank the teachers at Marpole Preschool, Linda Murdoch and Shawna Rothman, for letting this precious resource sit in our space for the next few weeks – and of course a very big thanks to the children and families of Marpole Preschool for sharing this exploration with us!
]]> http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=89 0 Natural – simple land art through the seasons http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=72 http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=72#comments Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:31:38 +0000 admin http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=72 Continue reading →]]>
Natural-simple land art through the seasons
Natural – simple land art through the seasons, by March Pouyet

Ana came across this wonderful little book on Amazon.ca while she was planning the upcoming “Designing with Nature” workshops at Westcoast. Creative designs using natural material, arranged in patterns that are pleasing to the eye and soul, but never lasting. If you enjoy the Andy Goldsworthy work, you will enjoy Marc Pouyet as well.

]]> http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=72 0 Provocations to learning workshop – Feb 2011 http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=60 http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=60#comments Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:08:45 +0000 admin http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=60 Continue reading →]]>
Provocations to learning

Exploring wire and natural materials.

Provocations to Learning Workshop
Workshop participant exploring the natural materials offered.

Participants had the opportunity to play with the natural materials and set the stage for further explorations by the next group.

Provocations to Learning Workshop Provocations to Learning Provocations to learning ]]> http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=60 0 Pink Shirt Day – February 23 http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=56 http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=56#comments Tue, 22 Feb 2011 21:14:31 +0000 admin http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=56 Continue reading →]]> David Shepherd and Travis Price

“David Shepherd, Travis Price and their teenage friends organized a high-school protest to wear pink in sympathy with a Grade 9 boy who was being bullied…[They] took a stand against bullying when they protested against the harassment of a new Grade 9 student by distributing pink T-shirts to all the boys in their school.

‘I learned that two people can come up with an idea, run with it, and it can do wonders,’ says Mr. Price, 17, who organized the pink protest. ‘Finally, someone stood up for a weaker kid.’

So Mr. Shepherd and some other headed off to a discount store and bought 50 pink tank tops. They sent out message to schoolmates that night, and the next morning they hauled the shirts to school in a plastic bag.

As they stood in the foyer handing out the shirts, the bullied boy walked in. His face spoke volumes. ‘It looked like a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders,’ Mr. Price recalled.”

Will you join in by wearing pink on February 23rd?

Also, join the Facebook Group by clicking HERE.  Last year over 160,000 people committed on Facebook to wear pink and help stop bullying.

Please join in!

http://www.pinkshirtday.ca/

]]> http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=56 0 New Resources in the Library! http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=47 http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=47#comments Mon, 31 Jan 2011 20:34:23 +0000 admin http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=47 Continue reading →]]> We have some nifty new books, DVDs, and CDs  in the library from Portland Children’s Museum and Exchange Press (some are listed below) and many others.

The complete Parenting Exchange library [CD]: practical advice for parents on the joys and challenges of contemporary families / Karen Stephens                                                            

Creativity at the heart of learning: a resource for educators / Susan Harris MacKay, Judy Graves, Tara Papandrew                                                              

The day we met the artists in the woods: moments of wondrous happenstance between children and adults                                                          

Early childhood workshops that work! : The essential guide to successful training and workshops / Nancy P. Alexander                                                       

Environments to support playful inquiry [DVD]                                                

Expect male involvement [DVD]: recruiting and retaining men in early childhood education                                                        

Exploring music as language / Nicole Simpson                                                   

Inquiry into wild animals [DVD]: windows into the experience of children, ages four and five years, and their teachers

Learning with nature [DVD]                                                       

Not just small change: fund development for early childhood programs / Roberta L. Bergman                                                  

Targeted leadership: building a team that hits the mark [book + cd] / Tracey Ballas, Christopher Novak                                               

What about play? [Book + DVD: The value of investing in children's play / Susan Harris MacKay                                                               

What is a daily journal? / Nicole Simpson                                                            

The wonder of intelligent materials [DVD]

]]> http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=47 0 Light, Shadow and Space http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=36 http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=36#comments Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:13:11 +0000 admin http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=36 Continue reading →]]> “Light is a thing that cannot be reproduced, but must be represented by something else – by color.” (Paul Cezanne)

Starting mid February, Curriculum Room will be exploring new topic “Light, Shadow and Space”. Through hands on experience with children and participants of the workshop on this topic we will try to uncover different perspectives Light, as a language, can offer and how it correlates with the early learning environment. We will also look at the concepts of shadows and how to use them as a learning tool in a curriculum.  

Contact Westcoast for information on workshops or to make arrangements to visit the Curriculum Room and speak with the facilitator. www.wstcoast.org

]]> http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=36 0 Reindeer Games http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=20 http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=20#comments Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:41:52 +0000 admin http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=20 Continue reading →]]> Reindeer Spoon Puppets

Just in time for the holidays! Reindeer spoon puppets are here.

December is ticking away and we are in our final week of the Library hours before we close for the holiday. Westcoast itself will remain open until 1 pm on December 24. Meanwhile we still have Reindeer Spoon Puppets for sale! Each one has its own personality, so choose carefully. Drop in and pick one up before it is too late. Saturday December 18th is the last day open for the Library in 2010. Watch this blog for updates on other interesting items for sale in the Westcoast Store. Most are one of a kind, hand made items that are not available anywhere else.

]]> http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=20 0 Vancouver CCRR Marks 20 years. http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=14 http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=14#comments Mon, 06 Dec 2010 23:16:32 +0000 admin http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=14 Continue reading →]]> Friday December 3rd Westcoast VCCRR hosted a gathering of co-workers and friends who were there at the very beginning. In 1990 Westcoast was successful in receiving the contract to provide services in 2 designated neighbourhoods in Vancouver. The goal was to provide support for those starting a in home family child care business. The model that was proposed was a decentralized approach with Caregiver Outreach workers located in local neighbourhoods. The model required a lot of local collaboration and with the support of a network of hosts, VCCRR was eventually able to provide services in 10 neighbourhoods in Vancouver. Now 20 years and many staff later, VCCRR is still a well recognized and respected program serving the child care community. Thank you to everyone who came out for us on Friday and those who showed support from afar. We couldn’t do it with out you.

]]> http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=14 0 Westcoast Store! http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=12 http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=12#comments Thu, 11 Nov 2010 07:28:27 +0000 admin http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=12 Continue reading →]]> Yes, it is true. Westcoast is launching a mini-store at the Inspiring Excellence Conference on November 20, 2010. We have many hand made items for sale and also kits you can make yourself. Fairy trees, felting kits, mobiles, felt board stories and wooden spoon puppets too! Visit our store in the marketplace at the Mini-conference if you have a chance. We will be looking forward to seeing everyone there.

]]> http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=12 1 ECEBC Journal arrives today! http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=3 http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=3#comments Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:33:33 +0000 admin http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?p=3 Continue reading →]]> I was excited to see the Fall 2010 issue of the Journal in my mailbox today. This issue is focused on Infant and Toddler Care and Learning and looks to be absolutely packed with great articles. The photos are great too! Be sure to check out Westcoast advertisements on the back page – Safe Spaces, Professional Development services, and Job Postings. I can’t wait to sit down and read it from cover to cover.

]]> http://www.wstcoast.org/blog/?feed=rss2&p=3 0