Week #1

Dear parents and caregivers,

I would appreciate it if all of you would please read and answer the questions below.  You can answer them on the blog, e-mail them, call me, or stop by to chat at any time.  I am always interested in hearing your thoughts!  - Ashley

1.       What information would you like to see in the newsletters?

2.       What is the best method and time to contact you?

3.       Would you be interested in participating in/volunteering for school activities that work with your interests and schedule?

4.       Would you be interested in participating in a school committee, or a regular parents' meeting?

      5.   Is there any additional information about your family that you would like to share?

Classroom News - Week #1: All About Me

Our first week of school is done, and I wanted to let you know what we've been working on!  On Monday, our class spent the first part of our day getting to know each other and talking about what we'd like to do this year.  The children were full of ideas and are very eager to learn!  We toured the classroom and looked at the different play centers, our art area, and our library.  Each student has his or her picture taken and posted on the student board with their name, and everyone took turns telling the class their favorite food, color, and toy.

 
Next week, we will be working on the letter "A" and an introduction to the alphabet.  "A" will be incorporated into our activities throughout the week, and I encourage parents and caregivers to continue these fun activities at home!  Links to activity websites are posted under “Activities and Songs” on the blog if you would like to do some of these activities at home. 

Please take a look at the "items needed"  list on the website as they would be very helpful in the classroom.  If you have any of these items that you aren't using, beginning with "A" or any other letter, please pass them on to the classroom!  I would like to thank all of the parents and caregivers for reading this, and I hope to get to know all of you better!

Featured Books of the Week (also on the book list to the right):

·         “Just My Friend and Me” by Mercer Mayer

·         “Giraffes Can’t Dance” by Giles Andreae

·         “Olivia” by Ian Falconer

·         “Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes” by Eric Litwin

Featured Songs:

1, 2, 3 Good Friends
Sung to "10 little Indians"
1, 2, 3 good friends,
4, 5, 6 good friends,
7, 8, 9 good friends,
10 good friends are we!

You can also sing it in Spanish
Uno, dos, tres amigos,
Cuatro, cinco, seis amigos
Siete, ocho, nueve amigos
Diez amigos son!

Meeting New Friends

Sung to “We’ve Got Spirit”

Meeting new friends
Is fun to do
My name is _____
How about you? (child points to another child)

Parent Questionnaire

Parents and caregivers are a child's first and most important teachers in life.  As such, I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas regarding different aspects of the classroom.  I would appreciate all of you reading and answering the questions below.  You can comment on them on this blog, e-mail them, call me, or stop by to chat at any time.  I am always interested in hearing your thoughts!

1.  What kinds of information would you like to see in the classroom newsletters?
2. What is the best way to contact you?
3. Is there anything you would like to see in the classroom, with regards to activities, field trips, parent visits, etc?
4. Would you be interested in participating in a school committee, or a parents' meeting?
5. Do you have any information about your child that you would like me to know?

As always, please feel free to contact me at any time.
Thanks for your input!

Physical Activity and Development in Preschoolers

You may find that your preschooler is changing rapidly, emotionally, socially, and physically.  Here is some information about their physical growth, and the importance of physical activity for young children.

Children's physical growth during this time period can be rapid, and of course, they are constantly on the move!  This is one of the reasons our class spends so much time in movement activities and outdoor games.  This helps them improve their gross motor skills, which are those connected to movements such as kicking, throwing, and running.  Their coordination is improving as the years go by, though they are still a little clumsy!  Exercise is important for reasons aside from gross motor skills.  It helps to build their muscles, and keeps them at a healthy weight.

However, preschoolers are not yet physically ready for a youth sports program, nor are they emotionally ready to understand competition.  They should be encouraged to move, just to move!

Children can grow several inches between the ages of two and five, though all children are different.  One consequence of this rapid growth is that a child has to adjust to their new body quickly.  They may still insist that they can fit into a certain space, or still wear their old clothes. 

All of their baby teeth have grown in by around the age of three.  Their eyesight is developing as well, so they enjoy arts and crafts, as well as puzzles, though they still need large print.

Caregivers and teachers can also provide many opportunities for children to develop their fine motor skills, which are associated with activities such as writing and drawing.  These opportunities can include activities such as sorting small objects, painting, and stringing (large) beads onto string.

I hope you find this information helpful.  If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!

Reference:

Tomlinson, H., & Hyson, M. (2008). Developmentally Appropriate Practice in the Preschool Years - Ages 3-5: An Overview. In C. Copple, & S. Bredekamp, Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs (pp. 111-148). Washington, DC: NAEYC.