|
Mrs. Jayne Rosenberg
Pre-Kindergarten (3) and Grade 4 Teacher
Current PK3 Families
Weekly Newsletters & Upcoming Events
This week begins a very fun unit on Things That Fly. We made and flew paper kites today, with great success. Our 'real' kite never did make it off the ground; does that just go to show that the best things in life are those that are free (or very very cheap)?
We will also take a look at other flying things, including insects, birds, airplanes, helicopters, and a few unexpected flying things. We will practice our developing classifying skills to decide if our flying things are alive or not alive, if they fly by moving, using a motor, or by using the wind, and if they were made by God or made by people.
Reminders
Spirit week has arrived! All sorts of fun activites and some free dress days are listed on the latest Bell. Check it out if your child would like to participate in the free dress!
PK3 Curriculum
A. Language and Literacy
1. Primarily whole-language instruction, with shared and individual reading and writing and book-making, as well as other meaningful literacy experiences
2. Much of the learning focused on student names
3. Literature (both fiction and non-fiction) based themes for learning
B. Math
1. Spiraled approach to ensure that each skill is touched on many times throughout the year
2. Color and shape recognition, attribute sorting, both rote and 1:1 counting skills
C. Science
1. Always hands-on, inquiry-based
2. Physical properties of things in our world, animals and animal babies, weather, cause and effect relationships
3. Science is incorporated into nearly every activity we do, by virtue of the ever curious preschool mind
D. Religion
1. Focuses on learning about the character of God, who God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are, how God cares for and helps us, and observing all religious holidays, as well as the preparation periods of Advent and Lent.
2. Character/virtue education will align with religion curriculum
E. Motor Skill development
1. Large motor and fine motor skill development will be encouraged through planned, age-appropriate activities built into every area of the curriculum.
F. Music
1. Children will be exposed to a variety of musical genres in an age-appropriate and fun way, including Sacred, Classical, Choral, Reggae, Country, African, Rock and Roll Oldies, Reggae, Celtic, Motown, Rhythm and Blues, Beach, Alternative, Swing and Big Band, Polka, Broadway, Marches, Jazz, and Latin. All music used in the classroom is carefully selected for child-friendly lyrics and appealing melodies and rhythms.
2. Music is both a cross curricular learning experience as well as just a fun way to enjoy singing, movement, and community-building within our classroom.
G. Art
1. Includes a variety of exposures to classical and modern works of art
2. Exposure to many art techniques and mediums will be incorporated across the curriculum.
Future PK3 Families
Preschool Readiness Indicators
Children grow and develop on a timeline that, although very similar in sequence to other children, is unique to each child. We can give a loose timeline on when skills may be seen, but it is difficult to project any individual child’s timeline to certain dates with accuracy.
Preschool is a new experience for your child, as well as the other children that will be in his or her class. Keeping your child, as well as your child’s classmates safe is our top priority. In order to insure the safety and well-being of every child in our program, we have developed the following indicators of preschool readiness.
Children who are ready for preschool can…
- Separate from a parent without having to be physically restrained from following that parent.
- Communicate with a familiar adult (who is not the child’s parent or grandparent) in a way that can be understood.
- Accept direction from a familiar adult (who is not the child’s parent or grandparent)
- Verbalize the need to use the bathroom in an age-appropriate way.
- Independently use the bathroom, including pulling his or her own pants and underwear down and up, wiping, and washing hands.
- Experience or express negative emotion without biting.
We also know that children can be unpredictable when faced with a new situation. We are willing to help your child transition into our classroom and our routine gently and respectfully. If your child, however, is not consistently able to demonstrate the above skills, he or she may not quite be ready for a preschool experience.
It is helpful to remember that a child’s abilities, growth, and development does not always correspond with a chronological age, and that some children do some things earlier or later than their peers. This is normal and expected, and does not indicate that your child has a problem. It simply means that your child is not ready to demonstrate a skill at this point in time.
Change in preschoolers can happen in a matter of days, weeks, or months. We will do our best to be flexible and patient if these skills are not immediately present in the classroom. If they are not present over a longer period of time, it may be best for your child to have the gift of time, and delay his or her preschool experience.
A Teacher's Creed
I believe I have been called by God to teach.
I believe in children...young and old, black and white, rich and poor, each in need of learning.
I believe in glue sticks, art projects, story books, and toys, for each has a part in imparting knowledge.
I believe the love I give to my students will someday be reflected in their lives.
I believe the gift of teaching is not measured simply by marks, enrollment, or the end of the school year.
It is in the witness I give and the fullness of the life lived by those I teach.
I believe I have the power to lead those in need of learning to the threshold of their own minds.
I believe in my giftedness to use each of the tools available no matter how new or old..for the light of knowledge in the eyes of another is my goal.
I believe teaching is more than tests, diplomas, paperwork, and fundraising.
It is the values I breathe daily into another, slowly.
It is in the faith I share in Jesus; ever changing and growing, never ending.
I believe my success today goes unnoticed, until those I
teach and touch can stand alone and say, "In my life I have learned..."
I believe if I have taught and touched one person, in God's name, I have used his gift to me justly, and can humbly say,
"I believe in teaching....
I AM A TEACHER!!"
Adapted from a poem by Julie McClellan
|
