To the youngsters who spend the weekdays playing, learning and singing in her home-based child care program, Tallahassee caregiver Corvella Rosier is their much-loved Nana.

To the producers of the Peabody Award-winning PBS series "A Place of Our Own," Rosier is the latest "Caregiver of the Week." A segment focusing on Rosier's Aunt Grand Nana's child care operation airs early Friday morning on WFSU-TV.

A film crew from the California-based series spent a day in March shadowing Rosier and filming her creative approach to early learning and child care. Her husband, Philemon, who cooks for the kids and picks up after-school children, also appears in the footage.

Rosier was chosen from five area child care providers nominated by the Early Learning Coalition of the Big Bend to be considered for "Caregiver of the Week." Rosier and other caregivers featured so far on "A Place of Our Own" will be honored Wednesday at a reception in Washington, D.C.

It'll be Rosier's first visit to the nation's capitol, and her first flight on an airplane.

"To have Corvella recognized in this way (on 'A Place of Our Own') and flown up to D.C. as well is extra-special," said Kim Kelling Engstrom, director of educational services at WFSU. "Through this exposure, she becomes a role model for the rest of the community, and we're hoping this (segment) becomes a hook for us to reach those home care providers who are under the radar out there."

A preview of the clip featuring Rosier reveals a warm, innovative and completely involved caregiver surrounded by focused, adoring children. She's clearly and joyously in her element.

"Even when I was little, I was always keeping someone else's child," Rosier said. "When my mom took me to the store, I was always trying to get something for somebody's baby rather than for myself."

Rosier eased into the child care business gradually when carpal tunnel syndrome sidelined her from office work.

"My niece needed someone to watch her baby," Rosier said. "I started taking care of the baby, and then my niece's co-worker heard what I was doing (issuing a mock report card for the 3-month-old child). She thought it was cute and wanted me to start watching her stepdaughter. Word kept on spreading, and I told my husband we needed to get certified."

Rosier is particularly focused on prepping preschool children for kindergarten and has researched the requirements to incorporate them into her lesson plans.

"I want to make sure we do whatever we can to prepare those kids for kindergarten," Rosier said. "I study each child and find out what they're into, and I used that to do individual lesson plans. What works for one child might not work for another."

Rosier makes the lessons interesting by using puppets and other creative teaching methods.

"I write little plays and I make up songs," she said.

The songs are spontaneous, easy-to-remember ditties that Rosier often makes up on the spot.

"I have one little girl who really likes to do cheerleading, so I got some little pom-poms and made up a cheerleading song about how to remember your phone number," she said. "One little boy is crazy about cars, so I thought that would be a great (way) to teach him about colors and music with a song."

Rosier also gives the children in her care "homework prescriptions" to be "taken" over the weekend, simple repetitious lessons on how to remember their birthdays, count to 100 or remember the days of the week.

"One of my little girls actually told her mother to cut the TV off because she had to do her homework," Rosier chuckled.

Rosier's daughter Jelveyon Ceasor is a shining example of success. The 16-year-old is an honor roll student at Rickards who wants to be a pediatrician.

Rosier currently has nine children enrolled in her program, ranging in age from infants to 12 years old. She still has some spots open for older children. To find out more, call 656-2440.

What: "A Place of Our Own" segment featuring Corvella Rosier of Tallahassee child care program Aunt Grand Nana's

When: 6 a.m. Friday

Where: WFSU-TV, Channel 11, cable 5

Contact: Visit www.wfsu .orgn See a video clip from the "A Place of Our Own" segment featuring Corvella RosierTALLAHASSEE.COM: See a video clip from the "A Place of Our Own" segment featuring Corvella Rosier.