Module D1 Expressing Warmth to Children

    Once upon a time, in a childcare center known as the Family Tree House, there was a group of teachers and their director that decided they needed to improve the quality of care given to the children. The director and teachers agreed that one way of improving the quality of care is to learn how to connect in a more positive way with the children.
    The director introduced a class to the teachers called, "Connecting to Children." They all decided to embark on a journey together to learn how to express warmth to children. On their journey they learned how to place values not judgments. They learned about positive non-verbal language. They also learned about descriptions.
    The teachers learned about placing values instead of judgments. The children learned to do things for value instead of doing things to please adults. The children learned to do things for themselves, not just because they were asked, or to seek approval from the teachers.
    The teachers learned that using positive non-verbal language to express themselves had a huge impact. The teachers saw it as a private celebration between child and adult.
    Learning to use description without praise was the hardest for the teachers to learn. They tried it and found positive effects. The children seemed to have better self-confidence and better self-esteem. The teachers learned to make the descriptions fun by adding a "wow!" or "woo-hoo!" or a non-verbal such as clapping, smiling, or thumbs up.
    The teachers came to the end of their class having learned many positive ways of connecting to children. They learned new ways of expressing warmth to children. They have seen positive changes in the children and each other. They are one step closer to their goal of improving the quality of care to children, but I cannot say the end, because their journey continues as they strive to offer the best care they can give.

D1	Expressing Warmth to Children
	By beginning by taking a careful look at children they work with and noting what they like to see children do, participants create their own categories of desirable actions. Then they define how they want to respond to children and explore new ways to convey their positive regard. Once new positive responses to children are in place, they discover how to communicate that warmth to all the children, not just the ones they normally see. Finally, in a Project of Understanding they demonstrate new, enhanced effectiveness in teaching young children.
	Investigations A page where you can see what people have done in the steps of their work in this module.
	Projects of Understanding A page with examples of the changes participants have made in children's lives by expressing warmth in the ways they have come to use.
	Expressions of Understanding A page showing examples of how participants express what they have come to understand in a variety of personal languages.
	Here is an example of a group completing the first module.

	The Family Tree House This group, guided by Michele Snider in Fuita,Colorado, has just completed the first module, Expressing Warmth to Children.
Once upon a time, in a childcare center known as the Family Tree House, there was a group of teachers and their director that decided they needed to improve the quality of care given to the children. The director and teachers agreed that one way of improving the quality of care is to learn how to connect in a more positive way with the children. The director introduced a class to the teachers called, "Connecting to Children." They all decided to embark on a journey together to learn how to express warmth to children. On their journey they learned how to place values not judgments. They learned about positive non-verbal language. They also learned about descriptions. The teachers learned about placing values instead of judgments. The children learned to do things for value instead of doing things to please adults. The children learned to do things for themselves, not just because they were asked, or to seek approval from the teachers. The teachers learned that using positive non-verbal language to express themselves had a huge impact. The teachers saw it as a private celebration between child and adult. Learning to use description without praise was the hardest for the teachers to learn. They tried it and found positive effects. The children seemed to have better self-confidence and better self-esteem. The teachers learned to make the descriptions fun by adding a "wow!" or "woo-hoo!" or a non-verbal such as clapping, smiling, or thumbs up. The teachers came to the end of their class having learned many positive ways of connecting to children. They learned new ways of expressing warmth to children. They have seen positive changes in the children and each other. They are one step closer to their goal of improving the quality of care to children, but I cannot say the end, because their journey continues as they strive to offer the best care they can give.
	Jami explains her project. She chose a toddler in her class who had aggressive behaviors. Through constant positive expressions of warmth she was able to encourage care giving behaviors...not only in "Jon" but in the rest of the class as well.
	Jami's Expression of Understanding in word art
	Annie's Collage The grass and soil represent experiences and the "foundation" that we "grow" children in. The stem of the flower represents friends, positive "rain", self-esteem, and experience...all the things that support the "blossom." The petals in the blossom represent different faucets of good teachers (not necessarily all in one person): The wisdom of Lessons Learned from life; Friends; Professionals; Parents; Community; and Students. As the flower grows, matures, and blossoms, it develops seeds which fall into the rich foundation to nurture a whole new generation.