Training Guides for the Head Start Learning Community:
Individualizing: A Plan for Success
Module 3
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| Contents | Preface
| Introduction
| Module 1
| Module 2
| Module 3
| Module 4 | | Professional Development | Resources | Training Guides | |
Individualizing Every Day--An Ongoing Dynamic Process
Handout 20: Is This Individualizing?
Instructions: Read this vignette. Make a list of the practices used by these teachers that are not individualized.
A Slice of Life in the Infant Room
It's 11 a.m. in a well-equipped room where three adults and nine young and mobile infants are spending their day. Ms. L. looks at the schedule on the bulletin board beside the child-sized sink and sees that it's time for three of the children to do a planned activity. She goes to look for Charlotte, Brian, and Juanita.Charlotte is having her diaper changed. Walk her over to me as soon as you're finished. It's time for her creative activity, says Ms. L. to Mrs. B., the designated diaper-changer for this week.
Brian is climbing on the couch. Ms. L. takes his hand and walks him to the activity area. She puts him in a low chair and attaches a tray. Brian cries and bangs on the tray. Ms. L. ignores his cries and goes in search of Juanita.
Ms. L. finds Juanita sitting on the floor, turning the pages in a cardboard book. Moo, moo, says Juanita. Ms. L. takes the book from Juanita, returns it to the shelf and walks her to the activity area. Like Brian, Juanita is placed in a low chair with an attached tray.
Meanwhile, Mrs. B. has put Charlotte in her chair, so now all three children are ready for their creative activity. Ms. L. wets three paper towels at the sink, puts a drop of soap on each, and gives one to each child.
Brian and Charlotte chew on their towels. Juanita wipes her hands, her face, and the tray. Brian and Charlotte follow Juanita's lead and wipe their trays, too. All three children fuss when Ms. L. takes their towels from them.
Next, Ms. L. opens a container of Play-Doh and places a small amount on each tray. The children pat and poke the Play-Doh while Ms. L. chats with Mrs. R., who is on the other side of the room feeding Richard, a young infant. They continue their conversation while Brian, Juanita, and Charlotte nibble on the Play-Doh and Richard drinks his bottle.
When Richard has finished with his bottle, Mrs. R. says, Talk to you later. He needs to be changed now. She turns him over to Mrs. B., saying, Here's another customer. Ms. L. looks at her watch and says to the children, Creative activity time is over. The children look confused as she takes their Play-Doh and returns it to the container.
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