The Little Learners' Preschool: March 2008

Children learn best in an environment which has a balance of structure and free choice activities. I will provide a wide range of hands-on activities that encourage children to experiment with science, math, language, reading, music, and art. Blocks, books, toys, dress-up, puzzles, manipulatives, games, kitchen, and puppet theatre are available to the children during class time. During the course of each class, the children will have the opportunity to participate in free choice activities, small group encounters, and whole group teacher-directed experiences. Free choice activities encourage personal interests and self-expression. Small group encounters are designed to enhance social skills and to provide reinforcement and extensions to concepts. Whole group experiences are intended to develop listening skills and the ability to follow directions, as well as to allow practice in being part of a group. I will provide many experiences that will allow the student to be successful and to practice the necessary writing, pre-reading and pre-math skills needed for kindergarten, while interacting with others in a social setting.

CATERPILLARS & BUTTERFLIES:

youngers (3's turning 4 this year)

At this age, my primary goal is to introduce the children to a school setting that allows them to feel both secure and stimulated. I understand that this may be your child's first experience away from parents and a great deal of sensitivity is used regarding separation. Keeping the developmental stage of each child in mind, learning centers are set up in the classroom that incorporate colors, shapes, letters and numbers. To enhance eye-hand coordination and develop problem-solving skills, manipulatives and puzzles are readily available each day. Pretending allows for creativity, social interaction and language development while practicing life skills.

Circle Time: This is a time when the children will gather on the rug to sing a welcome song, talk about immediate plans and either a book or felt story will be offered. As the children begin to mature, more will be added to this time. The concept of "Who came to Preschool?" will be introduced as will the calendar. These activities will emphasize letters, numbers, and name recognition. The purpose of Circle Time is to stimulate thinking, enrich social skills and expand the child's attention span.

Music and Movement: This is a significant part of the children's day, while exploring sound, volume, tempo and rhythm, the children will enhance listening skills, creative expression and social skills.

Art: In order to provide opportunities for creative expression and to reinforce fine motor skills and concept development in the areas of color, shape and size relationships, many types of art are available to the children.

Gross Motor Activities: Gross motor skills (large muscles) are continually being developed through indoor and outdoor games and play as well as during music and movement.

Fine Motor Activities: Throughout our curriculum, there are activities that will allow the children to develop and refine their small muscle (hand and wrist) movements. While cutting, tearing, drawing, and writing, they are developing the fine motor control they will need to actually begin to form letters.

CATERPILLARS & BUTTERFLIES:
olders-(4s turning 5 this year)

It is my philosophy that kindergarten readiness consists of more than writing and recognizing letters and numbers. It is a love for learning, an increasing attention span, a feeling of comfort in who you are, a confidence in what you do and say and a sense of security in standing up in front of the class to show what you can (or cannot) do. These, along with letters and numbers, are the kindergarten readiness skills I give the children in The Little Learners' Preschool program. As the children grow and develop, so will their capabilities in music and movement and fine and gross motor activities.

Circle Time: As the attention span of the children increases, minutes and activities may be added to circle time. At this stage, the children are listening to a story, talking about the day's activities, the calendar and the "Letter of the Week". "Who came to Preschool?" will include recognizing and spelling names as well as counting who is here and who is not. Included in circle time are letter and number recognition games, as well as positional (over/under, next to/behind, etc.) games.

Art: In addition to the benefits gained by the children while in the Beginners Program, our Pre-K students will observe cause and effect as they mix colors, enhance creativity as they choose different materials and textures for their collage and develop their ability to label shapes and objects (painting a yellow circle and calling it a "sun"). They will continue to develop small muscle skills and refine their eye-hand coordination.

Language: Children are encouraged to use their words. Through daily story telling, reading, songs and "just" talking and listening, the children develop self-expression, the ability to question and increase their vocabulary. Dramatic play will not only encourage creativity and social interaction but it will also set the stage for the development of language.

Math: In addition to counting and number recognition, estimation, positional and sequencing games will be played. By using daily activities, learning centers and small and large groups, the children are given opportunities for problem solving and collaboration. Block play is an important part of the early childhood experience. The children will have the opportunity to learn about size, shape, length and weight and, of course, balance and spatial relationships as they construct cities, towers and roads with unit blocks.

The Little Learners' Preschool

The Caterpillar Class - learning the ABC's through art!

SUMMER Preschool 2011

Making new friends

Learning to be a good friend in our communtiy

Our preschool is our community... the kids learn to work together and help one another!

Sharing our toys

Scientific Discoveries

Learning new things

Creating

Nursery Rhymes

Goldilocks and The Three Bears

Story time

Rhyme & Repetition

Calendar

Counting Numbers, "1-2-3"

There it is!

We found it!

Demonstrates understanding of postional terms

Who Came to Preschool?

What's the WEATHER like today?

What kind of clothes should our frog wear on a rainy day!

Reading our Color Chart

Letter Identification and phonemic awareness

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

3-4 yr old CLASS - outside fun!

Learning about COMMUNITY WORKERS

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

4 yr old class - play time!

2011-2012 New Fall Preschool Classes

PRESCHOOL year 2010-2011

CLASS BLOGS and other Favorite Links:

Blog Archive

Working on writing and early reading skills!