🌎 Passport to DCFS
What is the staff-to-child ratio for toddlers ages 15–23 months?
1: 5
What are the four ExceleRate Illinois Circles of Quality?
Licensed, Bronze, Silver, and Gold.
What does STEAM stand for?
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.
What is “process art”?
Art focused on exploring materials and creating, rather than copying a specific finished product.
A teacher finishes changing one child’s diaper. What must happen to the changing surface before the next child?
It must be cleaned and sanitized between every diaper change.
A new child will use a cot previously assigned to another child. What must happen first?
Washed and Sanitized
Which assessment tools are used to evaluate infant/toddler and preschool classroom environments?
ITERS-3 for infant/toddler classrooms and ECERS-3 for preschool classrooms.
Two children want the same toy. Name two ways a teacher can help them solve the problem.
Acknowledge their feelings, help them communicate, and support a solution such as taking turns or finding another toy.
A parent asks, “Did my child just play today?” Name three things you could explain that children learn through play
Examples: language, math concepts, problem-solving, self-regulation, and social skills.
Where are children’s EpiPens and inhalers kept, and what happens when the children move to another location?
In the red backpack, which travels with the children.
Can children watch TV, videos, or DVDs during meals or snacks?
No.
Instead of asking, “Is your tower tall?” what could you ask to encourage a longer response?
“Tell me about your tower,” or “How did you get it to stay standing?”
During a painting activity, every child’s finished picture looks different. Name three things the teacher can document besides the final product.
The child’s language, choices, problem-solving, fine-motor skills, persistence, or interactions.
Which Creative Curriculum resource uses quick songs, rhymes, and games to turn short moments into learning opportunities?
Mighty Minutes.
Can a broom be used to sweep crumbs off classroom tables?
No
Where should an adult be during children’s mealtime?
Seated at the table with the children, supervising and modeling good mealtime practices.
A child calls every animal a “dog.” How can you introduce new vocabulary positively?
“That’s a goat! Look at its horns. A goat is different from a dog.”
A child struggles with cleanup every day. Name three supports you could try before expecting independent success.
Examples: a transition warning, picture cues, smaller steps, clearly labeled bins, choices, and teacher modeling
Name three actions that demonstrate active supervision.
Examples: scanning, positioning to see and hear children, circulating, anticipating problems, and completing name-to-face checks.
What kind of shoes are mandatory for staff at Peppermint Stick?
shoes with backs—no open-back shoes
Crocs have to be in sport mode.
What must teachers review before releasing a child to someone picking them up?
The approved pickup information in Brightwheel., ID check, Director approval.
A toddler classroom has plenty of toys, but younger children cannot reach them or use them without adult help. Why might this still be a concern in ITERS-3?
Materials must be accessible and appropriate for children’s ages and abilities. Having toys in the room is not enough—children need meaningful opportunities to use them, with suitable teacher support.
How do children’s wait times during transitions—such as lining up, handwashing, meals, or toileting—affect our ExceleRate assessment, and what strategies can we use to reduce waiting?
Children’s waiting should be brief, with teachers prepared and children engaged during transitions. Long delays—such as sitting at the lunch table while teachers prepare everything—can affect classroom assessment scores. ECERS-3 specifically evaluates “Transitions and waiting times,” including delays caused by staff being unprepared and how teachers interact with children. ersi.info
To reduce waiting:
What year was Peppermint founded?
1960's
Can you name three of Peppermint Stick’s four core values?
Answer: Any three of these four: