Auntie Do Bee's Place!

     My learning center focuses on an anti- bias curriculum.  Here, we welcome all children ages 12 months to 4 years old.  This cozy environment assimilates the home setting so that the child may feel comfortable and explore the many learning centers. Adrianna’s center provided a cozy area for families to separate. In one of the centers, there will be pictures of every student holding their arms open. This expresses that all is invited into Auntie Do Bee’s Place.  The centers are multi-cultural not duplicating any ethnic origin. We have a home center, a mechanic’s shop, an art expo, a mini gym, barber/beauty shop, a puppet theatre and a library.   Adrianna’s centers were varied. Our large gated outside yard has both natural and manufactured play areas.  We even have a small vegetable garden on the property.   All areas of our environments are handicap accessible.  We welcome diversity; our staff is comprised of degreed professionals from Africa, India, Japan and the United States.  Each teacher’s picture, diploma, and family portrait are displayed near their teaching area.  Adrianna posted her credentials. Our teacher student ratio is one to five.  Additionally, our staff has a three cafeteria workers lead by “Ma Maw.” Ma Maw is a spunky sixty-eight year old lady who has dedicated forty-five years of service to the children of our community through food service. 

     The pictures on the walls of the center represent many nationalities.  The books in our library are recommended by NAECY.  The books and pictures represent variety of family structures, ethnicities, racial identities, economic circumstances, physical and/or mental abilities. This week’s media presentation encouraged me to make sure many nationalities were represented because Adrianna’s skin type pillows replicated natural skin tones. 

     Children learn the value of communities by learning at tables where supplies are shared.  No individual desks are used.  Children are taught to compliment their classmates.  Each day a child is chosen to be a “Star” of the day.  At circle time, the other classmates say something positive about the star.   Adrianna used circle time to welcome children and initiate the learning environment.  Children are randomly praised by any staff member for exhibiting good citizenship characteristics. 

Reference

Laureate Multimedia Presentation. 2011. Welcome to an Anti-Bias Learning Community. https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_3396868_1%26url%3D