Curriculum
ACADEMICS
The children will be given the opportunity
to begin to work on
recognizing capital and lower case letters, numbers through twenty, and
to begin to
associate beginning sounds with consonants, (phonics), sight reading
some basic words
and names, and to associate a group of objects with a specific number
(sets). We will be
working with counting, matching, estimating and predicting in our bi-weekly “math
tub
times”, recognizing simple patterns, similarities and differences
between things we see,
understanding the concepts of prepositions, (in, on, under) and descriptive
words,
(smooth, round, rough).
Our prekindergarten classes for four-five year olds
will emphasize these beginning
academic skills more than the three year old classes, but it will be
a minor part of our
curriculum, for those who are ready and have shown an interest.
All classes will be discussing what colors, shapes,
sizes we are working with as we do
projects or activities, rather than having a set "academic or concept
time" as such.
Academic skills, while important, will not be our main focus. Instead,
I will be offering
beginning exposure to a wide variety of learning. The goal is to keep
the learning
exciting and positive, so that the child remains eager to learn more
as s/he goes on to
kindergarten.
APPLE GROUPS
Apple Groups are scheduled once a month, on Wednesdays,
for Pre-K classes.
Two parent volunteers work with small groups of children on craft projects
and
individual workbooks. We have a sign-up sheet, if you would like to volunteer
to help
with this. The materials are all prepared for you ahead of time, so you
do not need to put
together the projects. Younger siblings are welcome to accompany you
when you come
to volunteer, as long as you are able to adequately supervise while you
are assisting the
preschoolers with their project.
ART WORK AND CRAFT PROJECTS
We will be doing a wide
variety of art and
craft activities this year. I like to expose the children to many kinds
of painting
techniques, including finger painting, hand prints, water colors, tempera
paints on an
easel, sponge printing, dripping and blotting paint, stamping paint with
a cut out
stamper, vegetable prints, foot painting, and template and stencil painting.
In addition, we will be doing many projects using various
art media; papier-mache, tissue
paper art, torn paper projects, clay and dough projects, and many three
dimensional
projects-flowers, stitch and stuff animals, cardboard tube binoculars,
bunny ears. Our
classes will be doing one or two art or craft projects each week. Your
child may choose
to take part in these projects, or s/he may choose to use this time for
other "center"
activities. On occasion, there will be craft projects in which everyone
will participate.
In offering crafts, I hope to encourage the children
to try new things, to experiment with
a variety of types of art materials, to feel a sense of accomplishment
in what they create,
and to think of doing projects as a constructive way to use their leisure
time. The main
goal is encouraging creativity and self-expression, not producing an
end product.
We will be learning to use crayons, markers, scissors,
glue sticks and white glue, and the
children will have open use of these supplies for making pictures during
center time.
There will be group and individual collage projects, stamp pads, and
scrap paper for use
on our art shelf. Some of the children's projects will be sent home immediately,
and some
will be put up in our classroom for display for a few days.
We will be using lots of recyclables for our projects,
so please take a look at your "save
list", so that you can help supply us! We can also use parents to
help with putting
together the supplies for class craft projects. If you are interested,
please watch the box
by the front door and take an envelope home.
BOOK BORROWING
Your child will have the opportunity to borrow picture
books from our preschool "library box", to enjoy at home. This
gives the children a
chance to reread some of the stories we’ve read in class and also
to enjoy the books
we haven't read yet.
Books will be checked in and out by me during choice
time on Mondays and
Tuesdays only.
I feel that even the youngest child benefits so much
from the time spent with a
parent reading stories, or just looking at the pictures and talking together!
I also
encourage you to offer time for your child to enjoy a book on his own.
Books can be
wonderful "doors" to new things. Families who choose to participate
in our book
borrowing program might want to store the books in a specific place and
will need
to return them in good shape. You will help us all save money by being
sure to return
the ziplock bag along with the book.
I also offer a shelf of books for parents to check out.
There are resource books with
project ideas, parenting books, and books which deal with difficult topics,
like
divorce, moving, toilet training, having a new baby and persons with
disabilities. Feel
free to look through these titles in our entryway, and check one out!
You might try keeping your child’s book with you in the car to
fill those few spare
minutes waiting for sister's piano lesson, or in-between errands, etc.
Books are checked
out for about a week, but if your child would like to keep them longer,
that's fine.
Happy reading!
BOOK CLUBS
Each month, your child will have the opportunity to
order books from
the Scholastic Book Club. If you choose to order, please indicate on
the form which
book(s) you want, enclose payment, and return your order to preschool
by the date
indicated. Checks are preferable, and should be made out for the correct
amount and
written to “Scholastic Book Club.” We cannot accept any orders
after the date shown
on the form. For each dollar spent, our school receives one bonus point
toward free
books and CDs for all the children to enjoy!
COOKING DAYS
Cooking days will be scheduled about once a month
for morning Pre-K class.
Watch your calendar for these. My goals in teaching the children to fix
their own snacks
include exposing them to some new foods, learning about cleanliness and
kitchen safety,
and enjoying the goodies! Along with our cooking days, we’ll be
making cookbooks to
bring home, so families can also try out our recipes.
CLASS PICTURES
Class pictures will be taken at preschool this
Fall, (see your monthly calendar
for the dates.) On picture day, you may order individual and class photos
of your child.
This is entirely optional.
CLASS MASCOTS
Each class has a stuffed animal friend
who goes home for an
overnight visit with the children in that class. The mascots come with
a class book,
which you may write or draw in to record your child’s thoughts
or experiences. Please
help your child to keep our class mascots in a safe place and to return
them to preschool
on your next class day, so that another family may have a turn.
FIELD TRIPS
Field trips will be scheduled several times during
the year for Pre-K classes only.
Please watch for permission slips coming home, and sign the bottom of
the form, if you
would like to go along. We’ll be looking for a parent volunteer
from the Raccoon Class
and Beaver Class to coordinate these for us.
SAFETY RULES
Walking is the way we move inside, and running is for
outside.
We sit down on our chairs so that we don't tip over.
We use a "talking voice" for inside. Loud
voices are for outside play.
Toys are for playing, not for throwing or hitting or
pointing at people.
We leave pointed sticks on the ground, and leave toy
guns and swords at home.
We go down the slide instead of climbing up the slide.
We also sit down and face forward on the slide and wait
until everyone is clear before we slide down.
We pick up toys off the floor, so that no one falls
over them.
We watch where we are going, and watch for others playing
around us.
We use scissors and other school tools carefully.
Pushing, shoving and wrestling are all too rough for
schooltime.
GET-ALONG RULES
Even very young children can benefit
from learning to make
good choices in how they interact with others, so I’m sure you’ll
be hearing about our
get-along rules this year.
Our basic rule is that we treat every person the way
we want to be treated.
We leave other peoples' things alone.
We try to solve problems by using our words to talk
things over, instead of becoming
angry or pushing or hitting.
We wait for our turn to wash our hands or go out the
door.
We try not to interrupt when someone else is talking.
We try to think of other peoples' feelings and try to
be a friend to each of our classmates.
We each take care of ourselves and let the teacher talk
with children who might be
misbehaving, rather than reporting on them ourselves.
We say, "please" and "thank you."
At the snack table or lunch table, we wait until everyone
is sitting down and served
before we eat.
We share toys, and if we want something that someone
else is using, we wait until they
are finished before we can have a turn with it. We don't take things
away from others.
If we need something that we can’t reach, we can ask someone to
please pass it to us,
instead of reaching in front of them.
If the teacher is busy and we need some help, we can
also ask our school friends for
help.
We keep our hands and our feet to ourselves.
We sit down and listen for stories or show and tell time.
We try to include others and ask them to join us in
play.
If we have a problem with someone else, and we have
tried to talk with them, we ask the
teacher for help in finding a fair way to solve the problem, or we move
to another part of
the classroom to play with something else.
GROSS MOTOR (PHYSICAL) ACTIVITIES
I’ll be teaching
the children several
organized, group games this year. We’ll also be utilising a variety
of homemade,
inexpensive outside play equipment, including hoops, bean bags, milk
jug "catchers",
balloon boppers, nerf croquet and other active equipment.
My goals in taking the children outdoors are: to get
some fresh air, have a break from
our inside routine, get some exercise, and to supplement what parents
may already be
providing when they take their child to play on a large play structure.
So we will be
playing "Follow the Leader", “Elbow Tag”, “Baracuda”, “Raccoon
Tag” or "Duck
Duck Goose", which families are less likely to do on their own.
Group games, in addition
to providing lots of large muscle activity and fun, teach important lessons
in taking
turns, including everyone, cooperating and listening for directions.
As with our indoor safety rules, I hope to assist the
children in understanding the need
for care and safety while playing actively. The children will be walking
in and out as a
group and will be expected to stay on the grass while at play. The great
thing about our
space is that, even on wet or chilly days, the children can use our
indoor play
structures to climb, slide, crawl and play actively. We will also be
using hop and step
mats, action songs, and other indoor movement activities, when it is
too damp or cool to
go outside.
Sturdy running shoes are essential for secure footing
during active games, so please send
your child to preschool in tennis shoes.
NO SANDALS OR SLIP-ONS AT SCHOOL,
PLEASE. WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH STUBBED TOES AND BARKDUST
GETTING CAUGHT IN THEM. When the weather is nice, we will be outdoors
taking
advantage of it, so be sure to send a jacket or sweatshirt.
HOLIDAY PARTIES AND SPECIAL EVENTS
Holiday parties and special events will be scheduled
for all classes,
beginning with a costume party for Halloween. Parent volunteers will
be needed to help
with games and serving, and to provide some of the paper products and
treats. All
families are welcome to drop in to share class parties with us. In addition,
MWF classes
will be inviting their families to a Winter Musical Program, a Spring
Program or Class
Play, Father’s Field Day and Mother’s Tea. In January, we’ll
be scheduling two evening
Winterfest events, with treats, crafts and fun for the whole family.
Watch your calendar
for these dates.
HOME PROJECTS
Three or four optional craft projects
will be sent home during
the year for you and your preschooler to work on together. After they
are decorated,
we’ll display them all at school for everyone to enjoy. These types
of projects make a
nice connection between home and preschool.
ILLNESS
Of course, I will plan on having every
child here in class every day, for his
or her best adjustment to preschool. However, if a child is ill, s/he
should be at home. This
gives the sick child the rest s/he needs to recover so s/he can return
to school and
prevents all the other children in class from also getting sick. My experience
shows that
the three year olds miss more days due to illness than the four year
olds.
There are several reasons for this. For many little
ones, this is their first experience with a
close group of other children, and they have not yet built up any immunity
to the spread
of germs. In addition, no matter how much we wash the toys and work with
the children
on the importance of washing their hands, covering their coughs and sneezes,
keeping
germy shoes on the floor, keeping toys and fingers out of their mouths,
and not sharing
cups, they do catch coughs and colds.
If your child shows any of the following symptoms, please
keep him or her home. If you
have time to give me a call to let me know, that is helpful too, so that
I can let the other
children know where s/he is and we can all watch for similar symptoms
in others.
These are all signs of an infection, which can be contagious
to others: rashes, fever,
vomiting, diarrhea, heavy, consistent cough which is productive, runny
nose which is
not clear, is thick or mucousy, red, crusted or mucousy eyes, (conjunctivitis
or “pink
eye”). If your child shows any of these symptoms at preschool,
I will call you to come
and pick him up.
MAGAZINE
This year, our classes will be receiving “Let’s
Find Out”, which is
published eight times a year by the Scholastic Book Company, which also
sends us our
monthly Book Orders.
We’ve received this magazine the past several years and we’ve
really enjoyed it each
month. I have reserved one subscription for each of our preschoolers,
and about once a
month, we will "read" through the magazine together at school,
and then your child will
be bringing it home. Each issue includes something about the child's
world-school
happenings, experiences s/he might be going through, holidays, feelings,
something
about nature and animals. Some issues have puzzles, mazes, or projects
for you to try
together at home. I'm hoping that this will provide the children with
a learning
experience, a first exposure to receiving a printed magazine, and a fun
connection
between home and preschool.
MATH TUBS
Math tubs are scheduled on Fridays, once or twice
a month for Pre-K classes. The
children will be working on a variety of math skills-sorting, counting,
estimating,
comparing, classifying, grouping, making sets, and graphing.
NATIONAL BOOK WEEK
National Book Week is in April and I will be introducing
the children to the
joys of reading, with some special activities. We will focus specifically
on four individual
childrens' "Featured Authors" during the year. As we learn
about each author, we will
have some of his or her books out for the children to enjoy, will be
reading them that
month in class, and they will be available in our "Library Box",
if you want to borrow
them to read together at home. As a follow up to this, you might want
to check out some
of the books written by these authors from the public library.
Daily reading with your child is the single most important
thing a parent can do to
prepare a young child for learning and success in school, and to share
the love of
books. It's also a way to limit the TV time, and to provide some real
quality time together! Studies show that children who were read to at
an early age do significantly better in
school, handle homework better, and become better recreational readers
themselves!
In our daily "booktimes" at preschool, we will
be looking at picture books, learning
about authors, illustrations, how to be careful with books, sharing stories
with others,
re-telling a story an adult has read to us, and learning to appreciate
what a wonderful
resource books can be to fill our leisure time. I want the children to
learn that looking at
books is something they can do on their own.
Our Pre-K classes will be writing original stories and
doing the illustrations themselves.
We hope to write enough class books this year so that each child in the
class will be able
to choose one to keep at the end of the year. During Book Week, each
child will be
choosing a new book to keep as my gift to them from preschool.
Young children often come to preschool with the idea
that a book can only be enjoyed
by sitting with an adult who reads the words to the child, but my experience
shows that
most preschoolers love to have the opportunity to choose a favorite story,
sit and look
at the pictures, "re-tell" or paraphrase the plot of the story,
and talk about the story and
the pictures with his or her friends. I would encourage you to keep some
favorite picture
books in your car to fill those spare minutes we all have while running
errands, waiting
to pick someone up, etc. I think you'll find your child really gets a
lot from the time spent
looking at books and "telling" you the story.
The "Where's Waldo?" and "I Spy" books are especially
good for a child to enjoy
independently. While learning to use his time well, your child will also
be learning
another important lesson about being careful and responsible with books.
In additon to reading on a regular basis with your child,
you might also want to take
advantage of the many resources of the Public Library. Once your child
can write his or
her name, s/he can get a library card and check out books to enjoy at
home. The
Wilsonville Library also offers preschool story times on a weekly basis
during the
morning, and sometimes offers an evening session during the Winter months. "Check
it
out"! Their Summer reading program also includes non-readers, who
may earn points
toward a reward for any books read to them by others.
During Book Week in April, you might want to keep a
list of the books you read
together, and your child may bring it to school to share with the class.
Many households
make a special goal to turn off the TV during Book Week, and replace
that time with
books instead of television.
PARENT VOLUNTEERS
Parent volunteers will be needed to help with various
jobs this year. If you
are interested, please take a tag and sign up on the easel just inside
the front door.
In-class volunteers are utilised in our Pre-K classes only, as the children
handle this better
after age 4 and it leads well into kindergarten. I would like to schedule
a very brief “training” this fall to familiarize our inclass
volunteers with what they will be doing
when they come.
SCIENCE AND NATURE ACTIVITIES
We will work on a
variety of activities this
year, so that the children begin to enjoy and respect the complexities
and
interrelationships of plants and animals in our world.
I hope to instill in them an eagerness to look carefully
at their surroundings, so that they
may become aware and observant. The main goal in presenting science and
nature
projects and activities to young children is that they may develop a
lifelong interest in,
and appreciation of the environment and their place within it.
Studies are showing that a large percentage of school
age children, especially girls,
report that they do not enjoy science activities, and that they are not
interested in efforts
to clean up the environment. My hope is that this trend can be reversed,
by helping
preschoolers to follow up on their already eager curiousity in observing
and talking
about nature as an exciting study.
We will be watching the birds and insects that visit
our garden, learning about wildlife,
and learning about how each is specialized, and how each is similar and
different. You
can get involved by observing and discussing nature with your child at
home, or
bringing in interesting items for our "look at" table. This
might be anything at all: sunflowers,
birdnests, leaves, etc. We once had a family bring in a honeycomb!
Please try to encourage your child’s natural curiousity, and, if
critters and crawlies are
not your thing, try saying “Interesting!” rather than “Gross!” If
you have access to
interesting nature, (baby lambs in the Spring, places we might visit,
etc.) please let me
know.
SCIENCE TABLE
Science Table is scheduled once a month, on Mondays,
when Pre-K parent
volunteers work with small groups of children to explore monthly themes,
(magnets,
worms, trees, etc.).
SHOW & TELL
Each Thursday and Friday, your child may find
something from
home to fit our weekly theme and share it with the Class. Please watch
your calendar, so
that your child will not miss out. (If there is a special event scheduled
on a Thursday or
Friday, there will be no Show & Tell that week.) In addition to helping
the children
begin to feel comfortable in front of their peers, Show & Tell gives
them a special chance
to be "center stage," improves expressive language skills,
and helps the other children to
develop their listening skills. Rather than bringing in stuffed animals
and the same toys
over and over, the specific weekly items help them to vary their choices.
Please limit
Show & Tell to one item only, and keep other toys at home, so they
won’t get lost.
Special items of interest to the class may be brought in anytime to leave
on our “Look
At Table” for a few days (birdnests, neat rocks, etc.).
SPECIAL VIP DAYS
Special VIP days will be scheduled twice during
the year, when MWF children
may invite one adult guest to come to school and do a project one-on-one
together. Fall
VIP projects will be working with wood.
STAR OF THE WEEK
The Star of the Week packet will be coming home with
one of the children in Pre-K classes each week. When it is your child's
turn to be our "Star", please
send a few
photos, drawings, magazine pictures, or other "mementos" to
show the class what some
of your child's favorite things are, pets, experiences, and what s/he
likes to do with the
family. I will put them on our Star of the Week bulletin board for a
week before
returning them to you. This is a fun way for the children to get to know
each other
better, and for each child to have a week to feel really special! I appreciate
your
cooperation with this!
WRITING WITH YOUR CHILD
Offer writing as an option,
not a requirement.
Scribbling, cutting and drawing are all excellent ways to provide a sense
of creativity,
strengthen small muscles in preparation for writing, and will also increase
muscle control
for writing. Allow for much free hand movement and don't worry about
neatness. Don't
push or insist, if your child shows little interest. The main reason
for beginning writing is
self-esteem. When developmentally ready and physically mature enough,
your child will
want to learn.
Use the D'Nealian examples included in the Handbook
and teach only the first letter
as a capital and the rest lower case letters. Otherwise, the child will
need to
completely relearn in kindergarten!
The West Linn-Wilsonville School District uses the D'Nealian
manuscript method, which
is more flowing than the old "stick" method that many of us
were taught. The letters
have more curves; many have "tails" at the bottom, and they
lead very well into cursive
writing later. You might want to familiarize yourself with the way the
letters and numbers
are formed, so that you can help at home. Try to provide a child-sized
table on which to
write, or use a booster seat at an adult-sized table.
Make sure that your child holds the pencil, marker or
crayon correctly: Pinch the pencil between the thumb and forefinger,
just above where the point begins, and tuck the
middle finger against the side.
The first step is to have the child trace over a large
letter. Guide his or her hand
whenever necessary. Use large letters and ample space so that your child
is using large
muscles. The formation of letters takes much concentration as well as
small muscle
control, which many preschool age children have not yet developed. Teach
one letter at
a time and let the child practice until s/he asks for more.
The next step, after your child has mastered tracing
letters, is to make some “dot letters”
for the child to connect, like a “dot-to-dot”. Next, write
some sample letters for him or
her to try copying. You may do this randomly all over the page, or use
some large lines
to write on. Verbalize what the child should do with their pencil: "Set
your pencil point
on the top line, then pull straight down past the dotted line, to the
bottom line and stop" .
Allow for variation in the way your child forms the
letters. Reversing the direction the
letters face, (and even upside down), is normal, happens all the time,
and usually corrects
itself by the time the child goes to kindergarten. You may become concerned
or
frustrated to find that your child begins to reverse a letter that s/he
previously formed
correctly. This is also very common, and does not signal anything to
worry about.
Rather than pressuring your child, just make the letter correctly yourself,
telling him or
her to remember to start at the left, or at the top, or whatever.
While preschool children need to be exposed to both
capital and lower case letters, and
be helped to understand that they are used for the same sounds, they
need to be taught
to write lower case letters. Looking at this page of text, and noting
the number of
capitals versus lower case letters, you'll see why. Most of the letters
we read are not
capitals!
The final step is to move on to having the child form
the letters on her own, without a
sample to copy. Again, allow for many mistakes as s/he learns and improves.
As your
child progresses, and you teach more letters, numbers, names, etc., remember
to use
positive encouragement!
|
