Dear Parents,

Welcome to Pre-Kindergarten! This is such a wonderful and exciting time for you and your child and we here at the Children’s School are hoping to make this year’s learning experience the solid foundation for your child’s future education. We look forward to getting to know your children and being a part of this significant year in their lives where they will expand and build on key skills like reading, writing, and math, just to name a few. In order to attain your child’s educational goals, and working in collaboration with subjects such as art, science and social studies, we will be following the Letter People Curriculum and implementing the program “Hand Writing Without Tears.”

In the following pages, using the Daily Schedule as a guide, you will find the information that will help you learn more about the Pre-K program and get to know our day-to-day activities.

Daily Schedule

7:00 - 9:20 Drop off, name writing, and free play

9:20–9:30 Clean Up

9:30– 9:45 Circle Time

9:45 – 10:15 Bathroom/wash hands/snack

10:15 – 11:00 Group Activities (Letter People, Handwriting, Math, Art, Social Studies, cooking

and Science)

11:00 – 11:30 Specials

  • Monday – Music (11:30-12:00)
  • Tuesday – Spanish
  • Wednesday –Yoga
  • Thursday – Tumble Tots
  • Friday –Science/Literacy

11:30 – 12:00 Outside Play

12:00 – 1:00 Bathroom/ wash hands/ lunch /story

1:00 – 2:30 Rest time

2:30 - 3:00 Afternoon activity

3:00 – 3:30 Free Play

3:30 – 3:45 Afternoon circle

3:45 – 4:00 Bathroom/ wash hands/snack

4:00 – 6:00 Free play/Outside play

Drop Off

We understand that being in a new classroom with new teachers may be an adjustment for the children, especially in the first few days. Upon arrival, parents will be greeted by a teacher. That teacher will then help transition the child from their parent into the classroom by reading a book with them, working on a brief activity, or helping them wave goodbye at the window. Getting into a drop off routine with your child right away tends to make a child’s transition into the classroom much easier, and saves you time as well. We also ask that, if possible, your child be at school no later than 9:00. To make the most out of your child’s Pre-Kindergarten experience we want them to be involved in all of the activities including circle and activity time.

Hand Washing

Hand washing is the best way to prevent the spread of infection. It is strongly recommended with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Keystones Stars that Hand Washing starts the moment “mommy, daddy, teacher and child” enter a classroom. Each morning, as you enter the classroom, the teachers will encourage you and your child to go over to the sink and to wash your hands. When you come to pick up your child, we ask you again, to please wash your hands before you start to pick up child’s materials for the day. Throughout the day, the teachers will continue to practice Hand Washing with the children.

Circle Time

Circle time is a great way to start our day, together, as a group. Circle time will always open with our good morning song and we will review the calendar – date and days of the week, including any special holidays or birthdays for that day, the weather, job assignments, letter people and all of the day’s activities that we will be partaking in whether it be handwriting, art, or music, etc. Circle time is also a time to highlight our theme for the week and build on it through reading a book, playing a game, or singing a song that has to do with that theme.

Daily Activities

  • Letter People – “Land of the Letter People lays a firm foundation in the skills necessary for successful reading and writing. The Letter People guide children through literacy development and offer them all the necessary skills to unlock oral and written language, as well as providing the emotional engagement that empowers learning” (Abrams and Company, 2002). In order to coordinate with our Handwriting Without Tears curriculum, we will be introducing the Letter People in the following order:

Letter People

Mr. N / Ms. Y
Ms. W / Mr. G
Ms. P / Ms. T
Mr. H / Ms. S
Mr. M / Mr. R
Ms. A / Mr. Z
Mr. B / Mr. I
Ms. K / Ms. V
Mr. D / Ms. L
Ms. F / Ms. U
Mr. O / Mr. Q
Mr. C / Ms. J
Ms. E / Mr. X
  • Handwriting Without Tears – “The Handwriting Without Tears” curriculum is designed to encompass foundation skills for successful learning. How well children succeed in school and life depends on the people in their lives and their early environment” (Olsen, J, 2005). This program is intended to help build an optimal learning experience in the areas of fine and gross motor, cognition and language development, social and emotional growth, and visual perceptual development.
  • DIG Math – The DIG Math Curriculum focuses on a different math concept with each four-week unit throughout the school year. These concepts include Patterns, One-To-One Correspondence, Measurable Attributes, Counting 1-10, Solid Shapes, Addition Concepts, 2-D Shapes and Subtraction Concepts. “Through repeated exposure to important skills, predictable review routines, and active learning, DIG Math prepares Pre-K students for kindergarten with a carefully constructed sequence of math skills…” (Abrams Learning Trends, 2017)
  • Art – Art projects will consist of painting (finger, free, sponge), making collages, designing necklaces, crafting puppets, drawing with markers and crayons, etc. Like every activity our theme will be incorporated and accented within our art projects. We will also be incorporating an “Artist of the Month”(artist, musician or varying creators of art)where we hope for the children to gain an appreciation for all forms of art. We will focus on a different artist each month and learn about the artist’s technique and/or style. For each varying artist we will create our own work inspired by what we have just learned.
  • Social Studies– This year we will be teaching the following simplified areas in a developmentally appropriate way: Civics and Government, Economics, Geography and History. We will learn about our classroom community and our individual roles within that community. We will learn about ourselves and what makes each of us unique as well as our families and how they are alike and different. The children will learn about their community; the people and places in their community and how they can help in their community. We will also be learning about different places around the world and different world cultures.
  • Science – Through science experiments and hands on experiences we will explore and discover basic science concepts such as freezing and melting, floating and sinking, weather, etc. Like every activity our theme will be incorporated and accented within most of our science experiences.
  • Spanish – In addition to our weekly Spanish lessons, we are lucky enough to have Miss Wendy who is a fluent Spanish speaker. She will be immersing our class in Spanish through formal and informal interactions with the children throughout the year.
  • Character Building–Throughout the year, we will be working on building Character Development in our classroom. We will be using the “Bucket Filling” program. “Actions and words that show that you care about someone. Using names with respect. Helping without being asked. Giving sincere compliments. Showing respect to others. There are hundreds of wonderful ways to fill buckets. The language of bucket filling has become synonymous with being kind and thoughtful. Your bucket will be filled when, at the close of each day, you reflect on the ways in which you have filled buckets.” Each day, the children will be encouraged to “fill their bucket by helping others fill theirs.” Each child will have their own bucket that they will try to fill each day with pompoms. At the end of the day, we will dump all of the pompoms into a “Classroom Bucket.”

Words of the Week

Throughout each week, we will have a piece of butcher paper posted for words that begin with the letter of the week. Each day we will try to add words that start with that letter to the list in order to create a large list of words. We ask that you help us with this list by writing down words with your child on this list. This will help your child with their pre-reading skills. During circle time we go over our word list and think of more to add to it.

Everyday Words

As our curriculum gets underway, each week the children will learn a new “everyday word” or sight word. Sight words are commonly used words that, when memorized, a child can automatically recognize without having to use any strategies to decode. For early readers, memorizing sight words is imperative for literacy. Learning sight words can also help build confidence in young students.

Specials

  • Music – On Monday mornings the children will have the opportunity to relax and enjoy learning and singing along to different types of music with our good friend Mr. David.
  • Spanish – Every Tuesday the children will have Spanish with Ms. Cynthia, where they will learn basic Spanish vocabulary like colors, days of the week, weather, and shapes. We will inform parents of the words reviewed that week and after a few classes parents will receive a list of words that they can review with their child at home.
  • Tumble Tots – The children will enjoy playing sports and various games by participating in Tumble Tots. Tumble Tots is a well-coordinated sports and exercise program that is designed for young children. This program helps children with gross motor skills and coordination through playing sports and games like soccer, yoga, and relay races.
  • Science – The children will have a bi-weekly visit from Nature Jack for an interactive science lesson. The children will have the opportunity to work hands-on with different topics such as sounds, animals and space.
  • Yoga – Each Wednesday, Ms. Katie will be helping the children to unite their mind, body and soul through a weekly yoga class.
  • Literacy – The children will take part in a bi-weekly literacy program that will incorporate the lessons and skills learned in the classroom.

Morning/Afternoon Snack

The Children’s School will provide morning snack, which is usually fruit, cereal or yogurt, as well as an afternoon snack that typically consists of crackers, cookies, or jello. If your child needs something of their own, due to food allergies, etc. and you would like to bring in a snack from home, feel free to do so, but please inform the teachers. However, an alternate snack can still be provided, so do not feel that you must bring a snack from home

Lunch

A recent change to one of the quality improvement agencies we are part of recommends banning the use of microwave ovens to head food for children in child care centers. The reason for this is due to the number of injuries reported because children have been burned from food unevenly heated. Effective September 8, 2015, microwaves will no longer be present in the classrooms and teachers will NOT heat lunches. Please feel free to send in warmed foods in a thermos or other type of container.

Teeth Brushing

Each day, the children will have the opportunity to practice brushing their teeth with water after lunch. Each child will have their own, labeled, toothbrush. Every (6) months, we will give the children a new toothbrush. This is a great way to practice oral hygiene.

Naptime/Quiet Time

Each child will have a cot labeled with their name. To help the children rest and relax during naptime, we ask that you send in a blanket or a sleeping bag for their cot. If your child has a favorite soft sleep buddy, please feel free to send that in, in addition to other naptime supplies. Any naptime materials will be sent home for cleaning every two weeks.

Student of the Month

This year we would like to make your child feel more like the star he/she already is. That is why we will be doing a Student of the Month activity. Each month, 2 (sometimes 3) children will be our Students of that Month. We ask that you please fill out the questionnaire that we will send home at the end of the month prior to your child’s month. Some of the questions asked are: When I am not at School, I like to…, A Book I love…, My favorites…food, sport, color, toy and animal. There is also a spot for a picture of your child. We also invite you to come in to present your child’s Student of the Month questionnaire along with your student, sometime throughout your child’s month. You may also bring in the book that your child loves and read it to the class. The schedule is as follows:

October: Malaya and Ryan

November: Grant and Aisling

December: Bridget and Edward

January: Naomi and Quinnlan

February: Talula and Will B.

March: Will J. and Zachary

April: Ivan and Satchel

May: Izzy and Payton

Show and Tell

Every Friday afternoon the children will have the opportunity to participate in show and tell. During this time, each student will be allowed to bring in one item from home that is related to that week’s theme. For example, a favorite story, stuffed animal, or game. *Please refrain from bringing in toys that encourage violence or include weapons.*

Communication

All of the teachers feel it is highly important to keep the lines of communication open with the parents. Therefore there are a few ways within the classroom to make communication effective. Mailboxes with the children’s names are located next to the classroom cubbies. The mailboxes will hold any of the children’s projects and any important letters or school business. There is also a white board that is located by classroom cubbies that will have a brief review of the day’s happenings.There is also a parent information bulletin board and resource shelves located on the first floor. The purpose of the board and shelves is providing valuable resources on childdevelopment and milestones, community events, and upcoming events.

Volunteering

Throughout the year, parents have often mentioned that they would like to volunteer sometime in the classroom. If you are interested in volunteering in the classroom, please ask one of the teachers about when is a good time to come and spend some time in the classroom. Some ideas for volunteering include, but are not limited to: cooking with the children, creating an art project, story time, singing, or just playing with the children. Each month, the teachers will include information about the interest of volunteering in the school newsletter.

Getting to Know You Meeting

New this year, we will be offering a 45 day “Getting to Know You Meeting.” At or close to the 45 day mark of Pre-K, we will ask you if you would like to take some time to sit down and chat about how your child is doing in our classroom thus far. This is an informal and optional meeting. As it gets closer to the this time, we will be sending out reminder letters.

Parent Information

We, here at The Children’s School, are here to guide children and to help prepare them for Pre-Kindergarten. We believe the children need to be actively involved in learning through play and have opportunities to explore and succeed through the principles of growth and development. As educators, we are here to educate the children and to work with the parents to further assist the children with their development. When we are not sure if we are doing everything we can to assist a child’s development, with a parent’s approval, we will look to the community or other educators who can help the child and the teachers in the classroom. A couple of resources that we rely on are:

  1. Dr. Lisa Dissinger, A Consulting Psychologist who works for the Lower Merion School District and the Bala House. Lisa is a licensed psychologist who specializes in preschool children. Her consulting practice includes psychological assessment of children and adolescents, consultation to parents, and educators.
  2. Montgomery Intermediate Unit, Early Intervention is available to help a child’s educational development in cognitive skills, and/or gross and fine motor skills.

GET TO KNOW THE

PRE-KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS

Miss Toby (Lead):Hi, my name is Toby Ranck and I am thrilled to be working with your children this year! I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science from Florida State University and a K-6 Teaching Certification from Cabrini College. This will be my fourth year working in Pre-K at The Children’s School. My teaching experience includes working with children in the Philadelphia Public School System, at a Montessori Preschool and coaching soccer (which is my favorite sport!). I also have a daughter, Talula, who will be in pre-K this year at The Children’s School.