Extension Program Providing New Resources for Area Head Start Programs

(Above:  Elaine Dansby, Henry County Extension professional, shares lesson ideas on handwashing with Wiregrass area Head Start Teachers.)

            Auburn, August 8, 2003 -- Ida Murphy, a teacher with the Head Start Program in Florala, is already planning how she will use the new lesson plans on hand washing in her classroom.  Professionals from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s Henry County office trained Murphy and more than 45 other Head Start colleagues on how to use a number of resources from Alabama Cooperative Extension Nutrition Education Program (ACENEP).

            “I can see already how we’ll use Mr. Germ to teach hand washing,” said Murphy.  “All the activities and the lesson plans will make it a lot easier to teach the importance of hand washing to my students.” 

Florala Head Start reaches 32 limited resource children in its two classes.

            Henry County Extension coordinator Patsy White said she and her colleagues saw an exciting opportunity to help young children in the Wiregrass area.

            “ACENEP is in place in all Alabama’s counties,” said White.  “But we saw a chance to do a train-the-trainer session as part of Head Start’s regular teacher in-services.”

            The Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission oversees the Head Start initiative in Barbour, Covington, Geneva and Henry counties.

            “We have just gone to a standardized curriculum in our programs,” said Ron Holliman, the Commission’s executive director.  “The lesson plans and resources Extension is providing will mesh well with our curriculum, and I think the children will find them a lot of fun.”

            Jackie Daniels, education manger for the Commission, said the Extension training is enhancing Head Start teachers’ abilities to add nutrition information to their lessons.

            “What we’re trying to do is give teachers some strategies to integrate nutrition into their curriculum.  A healthy body leads to a healthy mind.  It’s well documented that poor nutrition decreases learning abilities,” she said.

            Elaine Dansby, who coordinates ACENEP in Henry County, presented several lesson plans with ideas on how to use the extensive array of coloring sheets, posters, stickers and activity sheets.

            “You’ll find the kids are reciting the poem with you before you are half way through,” said Dansby as she reviewed a poem titled “An Old Farmer”.  The poem is used to teach children where foods come from.

            Dansby emphasized to teachers that children respond well to fun, creative lessons such as Chef Combo and Mr. Germ.

            “Not only do they enjoy the lessons, we have done post lesson evaluations that confirm the children are learning and retaining the information,” said Dansby.   
            Minnie Vickers, who directs the Headland Head Start program, agreed with Dansby.

            “The great thing about these lessons is that they are creative and hands on,” she said.  “It’s fun, and they tell their parents about what they learned.  So we see children teaching mom or dad about nutrition, and the whole family benefits.”

 Article in MS Word

 Article in Text