Kings Valley Preschool

Merry Christmas from me to my preschool families! About 4 years ago, a parent mentioned they weren’t able to go out as a couple since their move here and not having met any childcare providers. I’d been blessed with local family and friends which provided many opportunities for us to have ‘couple’ time. That’s when the idea developed to offer free childcare: it is a low-cost way for me to give something that can meet a need of your family. Because it’s important to provide adequate supervision, I’ve invited my church family to participate with me and use the Philomath Middle School facilities where we hold our worship services each Sunday.

The Gift Day will be Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009 from 10:00AM-2:00PM at Philomath Middle School, using the west side hallway entrance. Bring a sack lunch, we will provide a snack.  We have planned a variety of activities: creative art, outdoor play, table games, Christmas music and the Christmas Bible Story. I will be in the preschool group with helpers and the older children will have wonderful adults and helpers to care for them. 

We want to let the children share the excitement of Christmas through music by allowing them to share their songs in a performance on Sunday morning at 10:30.

I am so excited about having a Christmas party with your children! Please sign up now to reserve your space. A registration note is being sent home, just fill it out and return it to me next week.

Merry Christmas!

Thanks, Lois

The weather has been terrific for providing lots of outdoor play. We love the spacious area and chance to explore so many ways to move our bodies.

I can remember as a child (yes, long, long ago, Ha!) the deep need to explain a situation to my parents and be heard, whether it was a mistake or willful rebellion and it was so important to me that they understood the circumstances. As we experience situations with preschoolers, they also deserve to be heard. As adults, we’re more knowledgeable but not perfect. There could be facts that we don’t know and a child must be allowed to share what they know and feel. We can’t let ourselves assume what happened, but truly investigate the situation to build a trusting relationship.

It’s important that they calm down, take a deep breath and be allowed time to get the words out without interruption. What better way to teach children how to listen! True listening means not thinking of what you’re going to say next – it means repeating what you’ve heard in your own words, “I hear you say that…”. It’s healthy and relieves stress to share our feelings – it’s ok to be angry if we keep ourselves in control.

Listening also means explaining what true and false is. It may be too soon for it to be understood but we must help our kids be aware that we want to believe them but their false words ruin that trust. I’ve used circle time opportunities to share that, for example, ”Is it true that I have purple hair?”, then we list other ideas and decide if they are true or not.

Our children need to know that when we’re disappointed, frustrated or upset that we still love them – it’s their choice that’s the problem, not them personally. They are still forming their self-esteem… it’s like jello: it’s not stable yet. Our negative comments (what’d ya do that for, that was dumb!) harm their self-image. They need phrases that address their actions: “What would’ve been the right choice?” to DISCIPLINE (it means teach) them your expectations. It takes many positive comments to heal the damage of one negative (if it’s ever truly healed). There are many times that parents also need to put forth effort to stay calm.

In our hurried schedules we will benefit in the long run by taking a few minutes here and there – it will prevent bigger problems in the future. Our children need to have a reason to respect us and they should be treated like we want them to treat us and others. Check into the Rural Parenting Iniative classes offered at our school – they have many benefits for all families.

It is an option available for you to bring a story of your choice to share with our preschool at circle time on your parent helper day. You can choose to read it or I would enjoy reading it if that’s easier for you. It is a chance for your child to involve their friends with a story they like and also observe their adult reading to their friends.

If you have a story in mind, let me know so I can integrate it into our lesson for that day. We can arrange our activities around the subject, prepare for puppets, acting it out, find props and make it an exciting story time.

I look forward to more ways for families to be involved in the classroom. It has been a special year with so many of you giving more than your required ‘once-a-month’ day. If you have a skill or experience of interest that you can share, it’s possible to fit that into our schedule, also. Contact me and we’ll set up a date.

January is the month we study careers, transportation, machines, tools, community helpers, dramatic play/acting, health and safety. Let me know if you have an interest or skill that could be shared on your volunteer helper day.

If you know someone that would be willing to visit and be a guest to demonstrate their trade or talent, please have them contact me now… 541-929-5438 or by email… lulu_4_laughs@yahoo.com. Thanks!

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways! Well, that would take up too much computer memory, hmmm… The school day flies by and my gratitude isn’t expressed to you like you deserve. It is essential in the student’s learning experience to have adequate supervision, instruction, encouragement, support, oops, there I go again… the list is unending.

As the year is progressing, we can think of improvements or want to try something new. As we work to meet the needs of each individual student, it has become apparent that it would be useful to update the parent helper each day before class begins. If you can arrange your schedule, it would be helpful if you could arrive about 10 or 15 minutes before class time…about 11:45.

It’s difficult for me to ask more from you when you give so generously already. The arrival time of students is important for me to greet and start their day off right, but if I’m sharing information with the helper, I can’t focus on the student’s needs. If a parent needs to discuss something with me, I also want to be available for them and not be busy with the helper.

There’s a great benefit in having the helper prepared for the activities and, in addition to that, the new helpers getting an overview of everything on the schedule.

As we work together to guide the preschoolers, be sensitive about confidentiality issues – what happens in class, stays in class. I may discuss a personal issue about a child but it is not to be mentioned to others. It is only information that is needed so we can have a greater ability to be successful together.

This has been the greatest number of parent helpers in the history of this preschool. I feel spoiled but still am not reaching all the goals that I have. Please feel welcome in sharing your positive ideas and suggestions. The preschool children are the focus for why we do what we do.

Many times, preschool has a change or new information that needs to get to each family immediately. It will improve efficiency if your email is available to me. Please send me a quick email message so I can enter your address into my preschool contact folder. Your address will not be given out to others.

It’s easier to prevent disappointments and confusion. It could be a field trip has to change, a parent helper is sick and needs a replacement, etc. It will also allow me to acquire a substitute teacher if I am ill.

This would be an appropriate time to share (if you don’t know already) that my dad is dying of pancreatic cancer. He is very weak at this time and the struggle will be over soon. We are preparing parents to work and have lesson plans in place for the children should I have to be absent. Please let me know if you can find partners to work together as my substitutes (we’ll need several sets in case some aren’t available or needed multiple days). I’m putting together some lesson ‘kits’ for you to study now and feel comfortable with.

In the past, we have been successful in arranging it as a volunteer day in lieu of your monthly helper day. Here’s my email for you to click and contact me with your address: lulu_4_laughs@yahoo.com

Thank you so much!  Teacher Lois

This is an estimated order of activities in our daily routine. I will have accurate times available as we experience the first week to confirm the needs of the students.

3 Year Class – Tue./Thur. 12:00-3:15

4 Year Class – Mon./Wed./Fri. 12:00-3:15

Arrival: Put away personal items in cubby, wash hands, sit @ circle. (4’s will go to lunch)

12:40 Circle Time – Story, songs, sharing, calendar

12:50-1:40 – Centers, Free choice activities.

1:35-2:05 – Recess (Emphasis on apparel – be prepared for all weather conditions… we play OUTSIDE for 30-45 minutes, it’s a long time to be too cold/hot.)

2:05-2:10 Circle Time – Songs, Story, Snack game activity

2:15 – Snack – includes restroom, hand-washing. After snack we provide puzzles/books.

2:50-3:15 – Games: Play table/board/card games until departure.

The schedule changes for the 3’s w/o lunchtime. There are exceptions when we have field trips, special guests, 4’s library day, Reading Buddies, Skills Day helpers, etc.

Throughout the year, many events come up requiring us to be flexible in the lesson plans. This list is a guide and can be adjusted whenever it’s in the best interest of the education of our preschoolers. It’s printed here to give ideas of where you can contribute items, ideas and be connected to your child’s learning activities. Please know that I am open to your suggestions and will gladly give parents freedom to be involved in a variety of ways. Children need structure along with flexibility, so I ask that you see me to plan for a special occasion.

SEPTEMBER

School Days…get acquainted, comfortable and have fun!

I’m Me! Fantastic!… 5 senses, emotions

Get Up and Move… Physical movement, muscles, strength, growing

Leaves are Falling… Apples, leaves, squirrels, caterpillars

OCTOBER

Rootin’ Tootin’ Wild West… Cowboys

Old MacDonald Had a Farm… Animals, Farms

Mixed Up Crazy Wacky Week… Silly stories and songs

Things That go Bump in the Night… Bats, Moon, Nighttime, Pumpkins

NOVEMBER

Shapes and Sizes… yep, shapes and sizes

Nutrition and Manners… Foods, manners

What’s Cooking?… more food, cooking

Thankful Week… Thanksgiving, turkeys, being thankful

DECEMBER

Brrr… It’s Cold… Winter, snow, hibernation

Teddy Bear Bonanza… Teddy Bears, bears

Cultural Christmas… Evergreen trees, gingerbread

Merry Christmas… Gifts, sharing, giving, loving (week 3&4 combined for holidays)

JANUARY

Transportation… Careers, machines

Community Helpers… Health, safety

The World’s a Stage… Pretending, dramatic play

In a People House… Construction, homelife

FEBRUARY

Folk Tales… Traditional fairy tales and stories

Valentines Day… Friends, showing love

Rainbow of Colors… Stories about colors

Doctor Seuss… and more… feet, teeth, food, self

MARCH

At the Zoo… Animals

Birds of a Feather… Eggs, nests, birds

Under the Sea… Ocean life

Reptiles… Snakes, alligators, etc. (week 3&4 combined for Spring break)

APRIL

Creepy Crawlers… Worms, insects

In All Kinds of Weather… Rain, storms, snow

Spring… Mud, gardens, kites

Easter… New life, eggs, bunnies

MAY

Island Aloha… Hawaii, tropics

In the Jungle… Nature and creatures

Dinosaur Week… Archeology, fossils

An Adventure in Space… Stars, planets, astronauts

JUNE

Let’s Go Camping… Outdoors, nature, safety

Beach Week… Water play, sand, vacations

SUBSTITUTE HELPER CHOICES

Mother Goose, Eric Carle, Tales, Circus, Castles and more

Give yourself a challenge to save the word “No/Stop” for emergencies and safety issues. Practice finding alternatives for every situation, which can be difficult when you’re in the middle of a conflict, so use your ’spare’ time to brainstorm – in a waiting room, in line at the store, getting fuel, etc. Imagine your day from start to finish and picture a common issue that you correct your child with a negative instruction. “Stop running in the house. Leave that vase alone. Don’t be so rowdy.” Turn it into a direction that tells the child what you want them TO DO. “Walk in the house. That vase stays on the shelf, go choose a toy. Now is a good time to choose a book and we’ll read it together.”

It would be miserable to work in an environment where the supervisor was constantly making negative comments but imagine the productivity and cooperation where encouragement and appreciation are given. Children are learning to make good choices – they will make poor choices as they develop. It doesn’t make them a bad child, it makes them just like us… human. They should be aware of the effect of their wrong choice and complimented when they make a good choice. As a child, I can remember wanting to know why and how decisions were made… it helped me be able to make my own as I grew older. Some parents look at it as disrespect or arguing. Use your children’s questions as an opening for discussion. If it becomes an argument, explain that they’re allowed to make some choices: pretending, books to read, clothes to wear, but some choices are for the parent and this is one that the parent will make. It will help them feel understood and less frustrated if their feelings are acknowledged. “Yes, I know you want to stay up late, but your body can’t grow healthy if you do. It won’t feel good when it’s time to get up in the morning. You can choose a story and climb into bed.”

I share a goal with the preschoolers and it’s surprising how well they are able to accomplish it… “Please do (a task) the first time you are asked.” Then, I become a ‘detective’ and ’spy’ until I see it happen – then we recognize it and encourage it to happen again.

Whatever your methods, be consistent. How confusing would it be to drive in a town where the police could give a ticket for no reason or not give it when it’s deserved. I would not respect that law enforcement and it would make obedience meaningless. (Except I want to have safe roads to drive on!)

Find something positive to say everyday (actually, many times during the day). “You worked hard on that block structure. It’s very tall and didn’t fall down. Let’s take a picture of it.” “It’s exciting that you can pretend you’re a sheep – that takes imagination. What would a sheep walk like?”

As you work in the classroom once a month, let’s take advantage of learning from each other and be better people -  I’ll never know it all and see lots of room for improvement in myself. So, don’t be hard on yourself when you make a mistake but strive to change - children are resilient and if you model how to apologize, they will learn a valuable skill. If you need to explain to me a mistake that I made, please use kind words as you discuss it with me. It’s important for me to know about it but ask that we are professional and not discuss between parents – it only breaks down our relationships. I’m an approachable person and will listen carefully to your concerns. Your child is the priority in my classroom… but I’m human and depend on you to teach me about your child. Our children deserve the best!