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Early Childhood Special Education
ESU #8 operates center based preschool programs in 3 communites in
Northeast Nebraska. They are located in: 
More information regarding these sites: Preschool Sites and Schedules
Philosophy
The
Educational Service Unit # 8 Early Childhood Special Education Programs
are designed to provide opportunities for children 3-5 years of age to
learn and grow in a supportive, language-rich environment through the
use of developmentally appropriate materials and activities. Children
learn though play, experimentation, and active participation in many
activities.
Before entering the program, children are
evaluated to determine their individual skill levels and unique
learning needs. The early childhood special educators use this
information when they are planning the activities for the day.
Activities are adapted to encourage participation by all of the
children, including those who have physical, sensory, or cognitive
impairments. Children work on their individual goals, which have been
determined by their IEP teams, during center time and opening
activities.
Play-oriented Environment
The children participate in a play-oriented environment that includes:
Promotion of Self-Concept
* Adults respond to the children in a positive, encouraging way.
* Children participate in activities at a level in which they can be
successful.
* Children build on their current skills.
* Praise and verbal reinforcement is given throughout the day. *
Children build self-reliance through taking care of their own needs,
i.e. putting on their coats, choosing activities, cleaning up the play
areas, getting their own bookbags, etc.
* The children*s names are used in many songs and activities.
* Family names and pets are included in conversations and activities.
Development of Social Skills
* Children participate in small group activities.
* The children practice turn taking.
* The children play together during center time.
* Manners are practiced during snack time.
* Speaking and listening skills are practiced during opening and recall time.
Thinking, Reasoning, Questioning, and Experimentation
* Children plan, do, and review (recall) the activities they choose
during center time.
* There are opportunities to experiment with many objects in the
environment.
* During circle time and opening children ask and answer questions.
* Adults encourage the children to be problem solvers. Example: How can
we make the seeds stick to the picture? It*s raining. Can we still go
out for our walk?
* Children experiment with many materials during art activities.
* The adults engage the children in many conversations and role-playing
activities throughout the day.
Receptive and Expressive Language Development and Early Literacy Experiences
* A speech/language pathologist co-teaches each of the preschool classes.
* Children listen to books and stories.
* Children sing songs and recite rhymes.
* Pictures and print are paired in the environment.
* Many items are labeled with the children*s names. They locate their chairs, cubbies, and coat hooks by finding their names.
* Children match colors, shapes, and letters.
* Children make predictions about books.
* The children have many opportunities to describe objects and events and to express their feelings.
* Children dictate sentences and stories.
Family Literacy Experiences
* The Early Childhood Special Educators communicate weekly with parents
through newsletters, notebooks, calendars, or conversations.
* Families receive monthly calendars on which the weekly themes and
some of the activities are identified.
* The calendars or newsletters contain ideas for extending the concepts
at home.
An Understanding of Quantities of Things, Time, and Space
* Adults model and encourage counting in many activities.
* There is a visual schedule.
* Children follow a daily routine.
* During calendar time, the children are introduced to the month, date,
and day of the week. They practice the concept of time.
* The weather and seasonal changes are discussed each day.
* Children respond to start and stop signals.
* Adults help children to identify objects by their sizes and shapes.
* The environment is arranged so that children can identify the space
in which activities take place.
* Children practice responding to directions and describing the
location of objects with prepositions (in, on, under, beside, etc.).
* Children practice one to one correspondence.
* Children explore spatial relationships by completing puzzles and
building with blocks.
Enhancement of Physical Development and Skills
* Children participate in gross motor activities.
* Children develop physical skills through play.
* The children participate in music and movement activities.
Sound Safety, Health, and Nutritional Practices
* Safety rules are practiced in the classroom, in the kitchen during cooking experiences, and during field trips.
* Children practice personal hygiene skills each day, i.e. washing hands and using Kleenex.
* A variety of nutritious snacks are served.
Creative Expression and Appreciation of the Arts
* Children participate in many art activities. ( painting, coloring, drawing, making crafts)
* Music is included in each day*s lessons.
* Children participate in movement and dance activities.
* Children engage in dramatic play through the use of "dress up clothes" and costumes.
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