City College Child Development Center The City College

The City University of New York

LaTrella ThorntonDirector

Children In School While Parents In School

Child Development Center

Child Development Center

Child Development Center

History• Established in 1977• One of the first childcare centers in CUNY• Geraldine Price, Founding Director, LaTrella Thornton, Second Director

Facility• Center located in what was once the home of one of the

College’s Presidents• Built in 1912• Maintains most of the original details of an older home

• Sunken rooms• Fireplace (not in use)

• The sense of the home remains as one enters, which makes children’s transitions from home to school less abrupt than entering a more institutional type facility

• Center views itself as village, comprised of affiliated persons

• Children• Parents• Teachers• Staff• Fieldwork students• Work Study students• Custodian

Enrollment• 45 children • Ages 2 – 6 years• Children of City College students

Hours• Day Program : Monday – Friday; 7:45 a.m. – 5:30

p.m.• Evening Program: 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Staff• Four Group Teachers• Four Assistant Teachers• One Housekeeper• One Administrative Assistant• One Director• Fieldwork Students

• Psychology• Sociology

Fees• $55.00 per week

Budget• In-Kind Services• Parent Fees• Student Activity Fees• New York State Higher Education Funds• Child Care Development Fund• Child and Adult Food Grant• Universal Pre Kindergarten Grant

• School of Architecture• School of Education• Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education

• Federal Work Study Students• Mott Hall School Service Learning Program• Volunteers

Fieldwork Student

Curriculum• Mixed age groupings• Classrooms (4) are defined by concept rather than age

• Creative Arts• Family• Math and Science• Woodworking and Blockbuilding

Philosophy• Committed to the educability of all children• Children prior and out of school experiences valued and

built upon• Early Childhood Education is the development of the whole

child based upon his/her needs, not merely preparation for public school

• Role of the adult is to be supportive of what children are doing and provide direction without intrusion, so that children trust their immediate experiences

• Project Work2011/12: Living Things

• Fall: Plants and Trees• Spring: Animals and Humans

• Flowing of children from classroom to classroom; teachers stable• All teachers responsible for all children• Children’s assessment collaboration of all teachers• Curriculums Areas

Math, Science, Language Arts, Blockbuilding, Woodworking, Social Studies, Sand and Water, Music and Movement, Dramatic Play,

Creative Arts, Cooking, Nature Experiences, Outdoor Activities• Trips

Demarest Farms, Queens Meadows Farm, Bronx Zoo, Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Museum of Natural History, Statue of Liberty, Aaron Davis Hall International Series, Post Office, Fire House, Library, etc.

Creative Arts

Family Room

Blockbuilding

Blockbuilding

Trip

Veterans Visit Center

Facility Curriculum Components• 3 Water Tables• 1 Sand Table• 1 Sand Box• 1 Loft• 1 Platform• Outdoor Area

• Climbing Apparatus• Talk Tubes • Grassy Hill• Outdoor Easels• Outdoor Water Table

Water Table

Sand Box

Loft

Platform

Playground

Playground

Parent Involvement Activities• Orientation • Monthly Parent Meetings • Parents Conferences• Parents Read to Children Week • Parents Cook with Children Week • Culture Week • Family Outing • Strengths of Families’ Day • Harvest Day• Trip Attendance• Classroom Volunteers• Parents Workshops i.e. Young Children’s

Sexuality, Developing the Whole Child. Stress Release, etc.

Parent Reads To Children

Outing

Strength of Families’ Day

Strength of Families’ Day

Newsletter

Children’s Art Sale

President Lisa Reads to Children

Advocacy Efforts

Goals• Create an Early Childhood Math and Science Learning

Center for pre-service and in-service teachers – 2011/12• National Accreditation- National Association for the

Education of Young Children 2013

Director’s Accomplishments• Chair- Child Care Council at CUNY• President – National Coalition for Campus Children’s

Centers• Cover – Exchange Magazine

Student Parent

Alumnus

THE END

City College Child Development Center