Common Ground Vaccination Update
We are so happy to announce that at this moment 100% of our staff had had their first dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine!
We feel beyond privileged that childcare providers were included in both the priority group 1b and the vaccine roll out through INOVA, which has their process down to a T!
With this update, here are the impacts to the center:
OWLS - Feb 4th, no impact: Liz, LJ, and Victoria are going to get their second shots before the center opens on the 4th, we don’t expect any impact on the Owls classroom that day, as vaccine side effects are reported to begin 8-10 hours after the second dose.
OWLS - Feb 5th, CLOSED: The Owls classroom will be closed on Friday to give Miss Victoria and Miss Liz a day to recover from any possible side effects from their second dose of the vaccine.
HONEYBEES - Feb 12, CLOSED: Miss Mimi, Miss Adella, and Mr. Josh will all be out getting their second dose of the vaccine this day. The honeybees classroom will be closed because the appointments interfere with the schedule of the day.
STARS, MONKEYS, PANDAS, and BABIES - (hopefully) Feb 18 early pick up, Feb 19, CLOSED: We are hoping to get the second dose in the afternoon on February 18th. We will do our best to try to have the smallest impact on the center that we can, but we just don’t know what appointment times will be available.
If you are curious about the process that we went through for our first doses, you can see our post here about it.
If you are interested in learning more about the vaccine and how to know if you qualify and where to sign up, visit the Fairfax County Health Department site here.
Teacher Tips: Ms. Janette talks Potty Training!
FAQ’s about potty training with Miss Janette:
What age should we start potty training?
Potty training typically starts at age 2, some children might show interest before or after age 2. The best way to go about it is to calmly and slowly introduce the potty and bathroom as a positive experience. You can also wait until the child shows interest in the toilet themselves before you dive into the process.
My child shows interest in the potty before age 2, should we start early?
You can slowly introduce the use of the toilet for your child, but it is best to go at their pace for the time being, no need to rush. Rushing or forcing the potty training process can actually hinder their interest in the toilet and delay further progress.
We also do not want to disrupt the child’s school routine by potty training too early, we need them to gradually learn how to be in tune with their body and understand why we sit on the toilet.
Lastly, having a child push too much or too hard can result in bladder issues. Their bodies are still growing! Potty training readiness also involves physical milestones.
My child is not showing any interest in the toilet and they’re almost 2 years old, how can we encourage them to begin potty training?
Keep in mind that this is normal. Some children might have other interests that are more appealing to them than using the potty. Most children do not want to run to the bathroom while they are in the middle of playing when they use a diaper or pull-up.
There are many ways we can encourage our children into using the toilet; books about using the toilet and even reading these books while on the toilet, songs or shows about using the toilet,
Creating a potty chart might spark interest with stickers or markers that they can add themselves
Letting them get used to the items in a bathroom like how to flush once, how much toilet paper to use or how to wash hands properly.
In the end, always keep the bathroom experience positive and reinforce proper bathroom etiquette.
What will we need to have for potty training?
It is best to have everything on hand in one place during the potty training process. Here is a list of items you would need for potty training;
Full set of extra clothes (I have experienced full on blow outs with children and it is best to have a whole outfit complete with socks and shoes; shirt, underwear, pants, socks, shoes)
Diapers (as a back-up)
Pull-ups (for children at school, pull-ups with thee velcro/detachable sides work best for the teachers and do not require removing pants or shoes)
Wipes (there will be accidents and it will get messy!)
Gloves (optional, teachers use gloves to protect themselves and the children from spreading germs that could cause infections)
Bottom Cream (A new regimen will add irritation to their sensitive areas. Creams like aquaphor or vaseline might soothe the irritation)
Potty: your potty needs to be easily accessible to your child! If you have a regular toilet make sure there is a stool they can use to climb on and put their feet against. A potty training lid makes this toilet even more accessible and helps ease anxieties. You could also get them a portable potty that you sit on the floor.
Potty training books, both for you and them.
Some type of reward system like stickers
What does the routine and schedule look like for potty training?
There are two routines for you to keep your child and yourself aware of during potty training; the school’s routine and your own personal routine. An important part of potty training is communication between home and school. Parents and teachers need to discuss all details of the potty training process to ensure a smooth transition.
At School:
Potty checks at arrival
Potty checks before and after every meal
Potty checks before and after nap time
Potty checks before and after outdoor play
Potty checks every 20-30 minutes
Careful observation between checks to see if the child might need the bathroom without realizing it.
Suggest the bathroom before transitions/new activities.
At Home:
Potty checks at after wake up and before bed time
Potty checks before and after meals
Potty checks before and after nap time
Potty checks before and after outdoor play
Potty checks before and after car rides
Potty checks every 20-30 minutes
Careful observation between checks to see if the child might need the bathroom without realizing it.
Suggest the bathroom before transitions/new activities.You can do weekends where the child goes without underwear or pull-ups! (it's a messy risk but can be very effective!)
How should I have them sit?
For girls: Sit them down further back on the toilet. A trick I teach for dresses: take the bottom of the dress, pull it all to the front, then twist and tuck under the hem above the belly. This helps keep the clothing from falling into the toilet and helps the children wipe/see what they are doing.
For boys: They should start by sitting down further back on the toilet with their legs spread out on the sides. This helps them see what they are doing and “tuck in” (pointer finger pointing penis down into toilet bowl).
**Potty words** We want a positive experience in the bathroom so we will use the proper terminology. We encourage everyone to say penis or vagina to help children develop a comfortable awareness of their bodies.
What can I expect during this process?
Expect many accidents and have patience throughout it all. Some children may learn quickly while others may take much longer. It is always best to have the child feel comfortable during the process and to never rush into it. Reward progress, avoid comparisons to other children.
What if my child regresses after seeming to get the hang of it?
Regression: Having more accidents than usual or not seeming interested in potty training.
Maybe you took a break. Maybe the child was sick for a few days. For whatever reason they’re showing signs of regression. The best thing to do is get yourselves back on your schedule and continue your training. Provide encouragement and resources to help. Remind them during transition and provide potty breaks every 20-30 minutes.
How do I know when my child is ready for underwear?
With potty training, you can introduce the underwear as reinforcement and encouragement. If your child is wearing pull-ups but has been keeping them dry and using the toilet more often, then you can put underwear over the pull-up and have them practice pulling that up and down along with the pull-up.
Once you both feel comfortable using the potty and going without the pull-ups, you can move onto the underwear (maybe pull-ups during nap and over night). This is where the extra clothes are very important to have on hand or at school! You can bring in multiple sets of clothing into school (just please label every article of clothing for the teachers!).
How long does it take to potty train a child?
With consistency from the teachers and the parents together, the potty training process usually takes 2-3 weeks. However, this really depends on the child as well as the persistence of the teachers and parents. Communicate between one another!
Best of luck to you all on this journey!
-Miss Janette
Kindergarten Readiness: A Discussion Series
Common Ground has been around 49 years.
In that time, we have made some incredible discoveries about how children learn and thrive.
Having a curriculum dedicated to kindergarten-readiness for our 3 yr and 4 yr class rooms has proven to be essential to a child’s comfort, confidence, and comprehension in their kindergarten classroom.
Disclaimer: This does not mean we want your three year old sitting at a desk all the time!
We actually want the opposite of that! We have talked about how essential big body activities and play-based learning are to a child’s holistic development. We have discussed the need for peers to really create a learning space rife with new ideas and curiosity.
As a parent AND a teacher, I covered my initial concerns for children not in kindergarten readiness programs HERE. I especially touched on children who were not in any kind of program during the Covid-19 social distancing effort.
Having a daily schedule in a classroom completely dedicated to their exploration with peers who provide endless inspiration is key to a learning spirit. We want to share our experiences, our research, and our findings with you by taking a deeper dive into how a two year kindergarten readiness program benefits:
Natural number sense — an awareness that mathematics is present in all things
Scientific process — independent search for answers to their questions
Emotional regulation and social confidence
Physical fitness and general endurance
Attention, comprehension, and participation
Learning as a PROCESS over a destination
Prewriting and Imaginative Independence — We discussed at length how Emergent Writing is nurtured from ages 3-5 HERE, but will touch on it as we discuss other aspects of a child’s growth and development
We will be discussing Rising Kindergarteners and our Private Kindergarten on February 9th, but we encourage anyone with a child who will be 3 by September 30th, 2021 to enroll them in a readiness program. Follow our journey, ask questions, and do your research! We will also provide further reading on the subjects at the end of each post and discussion.
We are constantly learning and growing as well! As teachers, we love learning almost as much as we love your kids, and want to nurture them with you. Let’s do this together!
Warmest Regards,
Ms. LJ
Show your Support for Early Learning in Virginia!
Legislators are considering many competing budget priorities right now. Can you send your legislator a quick email asking for their support of Governor Northam’s early education budget package? This funding is critical to fully restoring the $85m package from last year.
Click here to contact your legislator.
How can you help?
Check out VKRP locality data and tell your legislator the readiness gaps in their district
Share the Early Learning NOW campaign materials on your social media.
COVID-19 Impact on Early Learners & Programs in 2020:
More children started kindergarten without key readiness skills in literacy, math, social skills and self-regulation (VKRP, 2020).
Literacy skills and reading gaps have increased in kindergartners.
More black and brown children entered kindergarten without the readiness skills they need to be successful academically and socially.
Social skills and self-regulation skills (cooperation, expressing emotions, conflict resolution, attention and controlling behaviors) are kindergarten teachers biggest concerns.
Early educators are on the frontlines and need support.
Early learning programs are a support system for working families(faith-based, Head Start, private and the Virginia Preschool Initiative(VPI). They need financial support NOW.
We are monitoring other legislation that will impact children and early learning programs. Be on the lookout for an update on all bills soon!
Our children, families, teachers and programs need YOU to speak up for them NOW! Thank you for being a champion for our children!
This post is brought to you by E3VA
Covid-19 Vaccine: First Two Days
Hurray! It’s Vaccine Day!
What to Expect — Vaccine Reactions
That’s what we (Ms. Liz and Ms. LJ) have been cheering all day!
When we saw that Preschool Teachers would be eligible for the vaccine starting this week, we decided we wanted to be leading the pack and documenting our journey all the way. We talk a lot about this in our live video right after our first vaccination, but here is a quick overview.
We hope that by getting the vaccine as soon as we could, being open and honest about our experiences, providing peer reviewed research, and encouraging everyone to talk to their PERSONAL physician, we can help alleviate any fears and dispel any misinformation relating to the Covid-19 vaccine.
When we arrived at INOVA Fairfax at 8:38 AM there was a long, appropriately spaced line! It wound all the way to the parking-lot. But the weather was good and spirits were high!
One of the things LJ was anxious about was not the vaccine at all, but the fact that we had to go to a hospital. We were concerned about being contacts of all of those people, masks or no. But the line moved at an even clip and, in no time at all, we were waiting with our little registration clip boards for a nurse.
Some quick thoughts before THE BIG MOMENT:
Everyone on the staff was excited we were there. They were encouraging and helpful. We had our IDs, proof that we worked at a school and weren’t “jumping the line,” and our appointment confirmation sheets, but they took us at our word. We honestly think that they are just trying to make sure everyone gets it as easily and painlessly as possible, which was encouraging. This is something that should be available to as many people as possible as quickly as possible, and Fairfax County is a medical powerhouse.
There were at least fifty stations with health professionals standing by. Our nurses were friendly, warm, ready to answer any questions.
WE BOTH GOT THE PFIZER VACCINE. Fact Sheet for Pfizer Vaccine
The stick was surprisingly not painful! Giving blood, the TDAP, Flu shots, PNEUMAVAX, there have been far worse shots in our experience. They gave us a card so that we could schedule our second vaccination in within 21 days. We were moved into an area stationed with health professionals where we could sit between 15-30 minutes to see if we had any immediate reactions, either from the vaccine or, more likely, a Vasovagle Syncope reaction from being stuck with a needle.
(What is Vasovagle Syncope? READ MORE HERE)
In the afternoon, Ms. Victoria, our fantastic OWLS teacher, also got her vaccine! Hurray! We felt empowered, like we could finally, FINALLY do something about this pandemic. This was a concrete step in the right direction, a small action to say “we are here to support our health, our families, and our community!” We finished up the day with a Kindergarten Interest Meeting all about our beliefs in play-based curriculums and what our Common Ground Kindergarten would look like this coming September!
Whether it was the excitement, the long day, or the vaccine, all of us went to bed early, feeling quite tired and a little warm.
Ms. LJ felt a bit itchy around the site, and an immediate tightness in the shoulder that lasted until Saturday. It was never any worse than what you would experience with the TDAP shot. She also went to bed early both Thursday and Friday night.
Ms. Liz was dizzy at first, a regular reaction for her to most vaccines, and her shoulder also felt tight as the day went on.
Ms. Victoria had pain in her shoulder, and for the first three days she had fatigue, flu-like symptoms, and occasional hot flashes.
Mr. Josh had the shoulder pain and flu like symptoms the next day, but two days out already feels better.
We are excited to announce that Ms. Adella, Ms. Mimi, Ms. Simi, Ms. Pinky, Ms. Vanessa, Ms. Petty, Ms. Janette, and Ms. Kisha will all be getting their first doses over the next two weeks as well!
Summer Camp: Registration is Live!
Winter may have us in its grip… but in our hearts? IT IS SUMMER, AND WE ARE INVITING YOU TO JOIN US!
Need AMAZING Labels for your kiddos’ school and camp gear? Check out our Mabel’s Label’s Page!
Mabel's Labels: Valentine's Day is Coming!
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and Spring not long after that!
Pick up something that can transform their every day all year!
Customizable Household Labels — These will help you with Spring Cleaning, beautifying your kitchen, or just adding your own lovely aesthetic to your home. We promise they are MUCH more thoughtful than a box of chocolates.
Heart Labels — The perfect gift for any Valentine. Your kiddo can label their gear, your love can label their hobby boxes and desk drawers, they get to be reminded how much you love them all year long.
Multi-use Labels — Show your love and appreciation for your friends, coworkers, and family by helping them organize and their home office with brightly colored, water-proof labels that are uniquely theirs!
GIVE TIME: Teacher Volunteers Needed!
We are calling on our fantastic parent community for a very unique volunteer opportunity!
We are looking for five parent volunteers a month to be on-call substitute teachers. These volunteers would be willing to go through a background check process and be willing to watch over a classroom should the need arise.
Please Note — This rarely happens. In the past we have only had the need for parent volunteers to help with watching classrooms while we allow our teachers to vote on election days. However, if the need did arise to have someone watch a classroom, we want to put our children in the hands of someone in our community we trust with a verified background check.
If you are interested, please contact either Ms. Liz or Ms. LJ for more details!