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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.
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.
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
