Three Cups of Tea & ECE



Three Cups of Tea & ECE

Cup One: In Afghanistan & Pakistan a guest is invited in for a cup of tea as a cultural formality. As an early childhood educator:

• What are your first steps to welcome children and families into your program?

• How do you get to know “guests” even before they come in for the “first cup of tea”?

• How can we conduct initial encounters in a way that invites our “guests” to want to come back for a second cup of tea?

• How do you begin to build trust from your first encounters with staff, families and children?

• What would be important elements in creating a welcoming physical and social environment?

The following are ideas generated from small group discussion in CDES 122:

Focus on Early Childhood Programs for this exercise, not Elementary/

Secondary Programs. Also, focus on developmentally appropriate practice.

• educate ourselves with different cultures, shows all kinds of cultural images, different foods, clothing.

• know parents and children’s names, try to get a little background, plan for time, be well prepared.

• include them in what’s happening, games for kids, gives time for adult conversations, make sure to listen well, more scheduled events.

• be organized with thoughts, know exactly what to do, don’t lie if you don’t know an answer, try to remember names for the goodbyes.

• clean, safe, friendly, trusting, colorful, toys, staff to be there to greet all parents, have things for the kids to do, well prepared.

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• welcome letter from teacher to student and parents letting them know how excited we are they are coming.

• create a special welcoming environment for each child that makes them feel they are special and have their own special space.

• Send out a letter with questions to get to know the child and family better. Ask the best way to get a hold of them.

• have a questionnaire the first day of school about the child’s learning styles, feelings about school, etc…. (concerns and expectations).

• when the parents come to pick up kids, have the classroom cleaned up, projects out on the table, children sitting on rug for a story so parents can see the sense of order and purpose.

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• entertain children: crafts, movie (educational), reading

• name tags

• send a welcome letter to families

• outline of events

• “get to know” game (charades)

• different areas of entertainment

• greeters

• zoo animals (petting zoo outside)

• safety certificates/clean environment

• organization

• mission statement

• punctuality of employees/staff

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• giving them a tour, greeting them, introduce them to the classroom and activities and staff

• offer observation time to parents

• keep good communication with parents

• ask parents what their concerns and expectations are

• having pictures, work samples, displays. Things that parents can see what will be happening in the class.

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• Introducing parents to the school, informing them, allow them to ask questions, give a tour of the program, be genuine and truthful.

• communication, establishing a relationship

• parents see that you can be trusted with their child

• clean

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• welcoming with cupcakes and juice for a warm welcome

• address the parent with a smiling face. Introduce yourself and ask the parents to sit and complete the personal information form.

• provide a nice and clear decorative reception

• have open houses ( provide freebee’s during the first visit.

• crack a joke or give good compliments. make them feel warm and friendly

• ask them their individual schedule for work and what work place they work at?

• ask some questions with the kids about their mothers as to what their favorite food or does mummy take you for shopping, etc.

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• A way to make a child feel welcome is having their name displayed through the classroom.

• Giving the parents time to communicate with them as far as their child’s day and success.

• Acknowledge when a family comes in.

• A way to greet “guest” being presentable and willing to introduce (yourself) and get to know them as individuals and groups.

• Building trust with guest is allowing them to contact you through e-mail, phone, etc.

• Providing your individual background and education.

• Greeting each individual child with a hug or something that is appropriate for the environment.

• Encourage/inviting (them) to come back and see them again.

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• organize an open house to show the different classrooms, to meet different teachers

• the director should set up a time to talk with the parents face-to-face or on the phone.

• flyers to show the different programs due to time schedules

• home decorations to invite the parents into the school and classrooms

• cater to the people in that area by taking the time to search the community

• to bring parents back, we can have a fair or a special event to draw in the children. the children can win prizes. During the even the teacher should get involved with the children.

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• having them come to the school and seeing what the facility has to give. Meeting with them one-on-one instead of having them in a group setting.

• writing a formal letter and asking for a response in return, hours to call.

• doing welcoming (ice breaker) activities. being really upbeat and positive as well as a good attitude

• asking inviting questions and making eye contact. showing you care and getting background information.

• being positive and being involved. make sure that there are no biases going into it.

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• introducing yourself( sending out letter/phone call about the programs

• go into community and get involved.

• be open to questions

• benefits of program

• game/activity requires interaction and comfortable with everyone (i.e. ice breakers)

• for staff: believe in what you practice

• follow through with promises ( everyone

• create syllabus/outline so everyone knows ( families/staff -- what’s expected -- what the programs entail

• creating specific areas to build their interests (i.e. reading area) “learning stations”.

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• introduce yourself and ask parents and children things you may need to know

• attentive listening

• be very welcoming and positive

• send a letter saying your excited to meet them

• get them excited for the program and future

• make introduction not formal and more home-based

• have a family activity center prepared

• be very friendly and caring

• make it fun

• build trust and make yourself available for parents to talk to

• answer parents questions in an appropriate manner.

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