Posts Tagged ‘age appropriate’

Educational, Experiential Preschool

Comments Off

Children learn by using as many of their senses as possible. It is through “doing” that concepts are learned. We want our children to have a very good feeling about who they are and how special they are. Every teacher looks for the best in each of the children. We take time with them and never ask them to perform tasks beyond their abilities. We might give them a little push when we sense they are ready for the next challenge, but it is always up to them.

If you insisted your child would never scoot or crawl, but would only walk, both of you would have a very long wait. The child’s body isn’t ready to walk until it is ready to walk. There are processes which need to come first in the child’s development. A child cannot read because you decide it is time, yet your child will learn to read on his/her own timetable. A child cannot read because he/she can identify the alphabet. That has little to do with the process. Singing the ABC’s is performed perfectly by some of our 2s. That makes us smile. The process does include left to right tracking, speaking in sentences, thinking in sentences, conversing logically with other children and adults, and crossing the mid-line. A child also needs to be able to listen in a group setting, be able to sit for a good 15 minutes and concentrate, and be able to sit in a group without bothering a neighbor. Also, finding colors and items from a field of items and colors is important. These things are being practiced all the time.

A child cannot grasp math concepts just because he/she recognizes numerals. First, a child must understand the idea of quantity, sorting by numbers, sizes, colors and shapes, measuring, pouring, and mixing. From 2s through 5s these things are part of our curriculum.

All of the above is done right here. That makes us an educational, experiential preschool. Before any child goes to Kindergarten, he/she needs to be able to handle dressing and caring for his/her own body without adult help. We always encourage them to do so. Parents need to do the same. Pencil grasp is important and worked on to help the child get comfortable and ready to write. Upper and lower case letters should be used when writing your child’s name and helping them write it. Eye-hand coordination is so important, and your child should be able to carry out a series of jobs based on your giving them three command sentences. We want your children to be doing the best they can for the ages they are.

So, that is who we are and what we believe. Any child should be given a solid foundation in a loving and growing environment. We operate on child time here.

Putting Our Children First

Comments Off

Parents often ask teachers what they can do at home to help their child prepare for the big step into Kindergarten. The important thing to remember is that each child will be ready in his/her own time and nobody can change that inborn readiness. There are things to do and those, we hope, have been occurring throughout your child’s life. Read to your child every chance you get. Ask your child to repeat stories you have told. Does your child relay the story in the proper sequence? Can your child count out ten items and sort items by color and shape? Is your child able to draw pictures past the scribbling stage? Can he/she write his/her own name and tell you the last name? Does your child enjoy playing with peers and can your child share in that environment? Is your child’s speech understandable? Can your child use scissors to cut out shapes? Can your child get dressed without your help and take care of all bathroom needs?

Children entering Kindergarten should be able to succeed in each of these areas. In addition, probably one of the best ways for children to succeed is to be 5 years old when starting school and not one of the youngest children in class with children who will be turning six in the fall. Early entry to Kindergarten is not a good thing and we wish all schools would just say “no”.

Let’s put the children first every step of the way.

Terrific Twos!

Comments Off

You bet we take two-year-olds at Shadow Rock! We LOVE the twos!Culturally common phrases such as The Terrible Twos are old hat. What is it about theselittle people that elicits such a reaction?A wise Parent Study teacher once told me that twos absolutely MUST push limits—it’s howthey begin to learn that they are independent creatures with a will of their own.

Sometimes it seems like there could be an easier way, but all of this saying NO and pushing isnecessary so that these little ones are not still living at home when they are thirty. Do they have to be potty trained? No, not until our classes for threes.

What can two-year-olds DO in preschool? On a typical morning you’ll find them digging a hole in the sand box and running our grassyhill. You’ll see them making bubbles and playing with a parachute. You’ll find them painting at the easel with big strokes and putting tiny little wooden puzzles together. You’ll see them building with blocks beside one another. You’ll hear their delight as they twirl and danceand pretend. You’ll be amazed that they can sit and listen to a short story book.You’ll see them cooking and finding their own jacket and cubbie, walking backwards to theirroom and holding a friend’s hand, singing the “Good Morning” song and tapping rhythm sticks. They will pour their own juice and drink it from a paper cup, pour water through a funnel, and swish their hands in a tub of beans. They even can use their words asking for help and are beginning to occasionally “take turns” (commonly known as sharing).

One way to appreciate twos is to really concentrate on all that they are learning. Yes, it’s important for them to begin to put on their own jacket. Yes, it’s OK that they spit out a new food, at least they tried it! They are training their brain to control and coordinate their eyeswith their arms. They are seeking new textures and trying different tastes. And they are learning language! The average two-year-old enters this age with around 100 expressive words and turns three saying more than 1,000. If you learned this rapidly you’d have your PhD in a year! They are learning how to say words and how to use them to get what they want. They are learning how to train you so that you help them get what they want. And they are learning which words and phrases get you to pay attention to them!

Bring us those awe-inspiring, terrific, working-on-independence two-year-olds! We’re ready!
Marilyn and Sharon,
Shadow Rock Preschool Co-Directors

WHEN WILL MY CHILD LEARN TO READ?

Comments Off

Do you teach children to read? What a familiar question that is at Shadow Rock Preschool. Our response is that no one can teach a child to read. Children read when they are ready to read. Do we give the children lots of pre-reading experiences? You bet we do. We read to them all the time. We take dictation from them as they make their own stories together or alone. We do puzzles and calendars. These are both good for left to right tracking and spatial relationships. We count the beat of syllables in names and other words. We sing songs and repeat finger plays. We always have a soft book area to curl up in and look at a favorite book. We send letters to grandparents and pen pals. We tell stories together. We look up topics together and read to learn. We send e-mails to friends around the world.

You can do the same things at home that are mentioned above. Always make time during the day to read with your child. Re-read favorite books and have your child “read” the book to you. Sometimes ask questions after stories to see if your child is listening. Let your child check out library books with their very own library card. Have a little reading area in your home with several children’s books. Vary the books from time to time. Let your child give gifts of books to others and give your own child books as gifts. Let your children see that you read for pleasure. Cook together and explain the use of a recipe. Listen to music and show your child how you can look up a location of a favorite song on the CD. Have magazines and newspapers around and occasionally read articles to your child. Read names of stores and read billboards together as you drive.

If you make reading appealing in a variety of ways, your child will be eager to learn. Remember that no two children learn in quite the same way when it comes to reading or anything else.

Play and Play Some More

Comments Off

Shadow Rock Preschool knows the value of play. No person can achieve his full potential if his creativity is stunted in childhood. We give children all the play they need to become emotionally and socially secure. In play, children get to set the rules, assume various positions in the assignment of roles and dream of impossible circumstances.

To learn that more and more Kindergartens are cutting out recess so more time is available to drill the children for testing is heartbreaking. Very few children before the age of 6 or 7 are able to read yet the pressure is on in Kindergarten to drill sounds and letters into their little minds.

What are parents to do when they are pushed to sign their children up for as many activities as there are in the rest of the school day. The pressure on parents is intense and for many of today’s parents, they were raised in this same era of “more is better” in doing so many activities. Today’s parents did not get that much time to play either.

It is time to turn the tide and remember the importance of play whether it be outside running around, building forts and castles, enjoying make believe, dreaming new dreams or learning to interact with other children without adult interference. Remember that a child’s play is their work. They are willing to spend time doing it because it is age appropriate and they will have lots of success.

Our preschool is committed to play and we know it is what is right for the children. If they can have time to enjoy all the wonders of play, they will be able to go into the “big” school experience with lots of confidence. Children who enter Kindergarten early, for whatever reason, are truly at a disadvantage if suddenly faced with academics in a mind and body not ready yet.

Enjoy every minute of early childhood with your own child and let your child remind you of the glories of play.

Marilyn & Sharon