About Us
AUCPisms
At AUCP, staff, teachers, and parents emphasize positive statements in all of our interactions with children. We believe that reminding children what they should do, instead of always scolding them for what they shouldn’t do, is more effective. Here are some common phrases you will often here in the classrooms and hallways and on the playground at AUCP.
Safe choice
When a child is not making a safe choice, such as climbing up the slide, remind him about safe choices. You might say, "Please make a safer choice!"
Gentle hands
Use as a reminder to friends not to hit. You might say, "Use gentle hands."
Walking feet instead of "don't run." Often voiced as "Use your walking feet!"
Inside voices instead of "please be quiet!" or "shhhh!"
Chairs are for sitting instead of "don't stand on the chairs."
Use your words when a child is taking something from another child or is frustrated with another child, encourage your friend to talk about it.
It hurts your friend used to explain the effect of a hurtful action on other children.
Friends used to refer to a group of children to remind everyone that we are all friends together.
Our children work here. We refer to the child's activities as work rather than play.
Your choice. You can either wash your hands by yourself or I can help you wash them—it is your choice.
Respect. We respect everyone.
Take turns. Instead of sharing, encourage the child with a toy to give it to the child who wants the toy when he or she is finished playing with the toy.
Clean up / Pack away song. We often use a song to remind our friends to clean up.
Tell me about it used when asking a child about his or her artwork.
Science eyes used when you want your friends to not touch something or if you go for a nature walk and you want them to really concentrate on looking around
Listening ears instead of "be quiet." Often voiced as "Use your listening ears."
Hands are for helping instead of "don't push or hit."
Gentle bodies instead of "don't body slam your friends."
–AUCP parent
Cooperative Approach
Among area preschools that use a cooperative approach, AUCP is one of the most committed to parent participation. This concept facilitates the extension into the home of the methods and principles operating in the classroom. It allows parents to observe the class, to see their child in a classroom situation, and to see how their child gets along with his/her classmates. This cooperative approach between parents and teachers allows parents to learn from each other and the teaching staff, to gain experience, and to develop a strong parenting network.
Our concept of a participating parent is broader than most cooperative preschools. In addition to responsibility for many custodial duties, cooperating parents are teachers' aides who are trained to function not as housekeepers but as dynamic, positive leaders in the classroom. The parent is the child's most important teacher, and the cooperative experience has proven invaluable in improving parents' relationships with their children.
From the child's viewpoint, the parents' participation reinforces the importance of the child's preschool experience. Finally, by enabling parents to participate in the child's education from the earliest years, the separation between school and home tends to be mitigated. We hope children will experience learning as a flowing process, not as a compartmentalized one. We also hope that parents will continue to remain active in the school systems their children attend in the future.
AUCP Address
4444 Arlington Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22204
703-892-3878
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