Director's Message
Hello everyone.
I want to begin with a big congratulations to our remarkable teachers for getting the school year off to a great start! Thank you for supporting the children, parents and transforming the classrooms into wonderful learning and fun places to explore for the new school year.
During the month of September our focus will be getting to know each other, our classrooms, and our classroom routines. Routines, or the establishment of routines, is crucial for preschoolers for several reasons:
Sense of Security: Routines provide a predictable structure that helps children feel secure. Knowing what to expect next can reduce anxiety and help them feel more comfortable in their environment.
Consistency: Consistent routines help children understand what is expected of them and reinforce positive behaviors. This consistency supports their development of self-discipline and time management skills.
Independence: As children become familiar with routines, they often start to take on more responsibilities and perform tasks independently. For example, they might learn to wash their hands before meals or tidy up after themselves.
Skill Development: Routines can help develop various skills. For instance, regular meal and nap times can improve a child's eating and sleeping habits, while structured playtime can enhance social and cognitive skills.
Emotional Regulation: A predictable routine can help children manage their emotions better. For instance, knowing that there is a quiet time or a calming activity after a busy period can help them transition smoothly between different activities.
Learning Opportunities: Routines can incorporate learning moments, such as storytelling before nap time or practicing counting during mealtime. This integration of learning into daily routines can make education more engaging and less intimidating.
Social Skills: Routines often involve interacting with others, which can help preschoolers develop social skills. Group activities and shared responsibilities teach them how to cooperate and communicate effectively.
Overall, well-established routines support a preschooler's emotional well-being, cognitive development, and social skills, creating a foundation for their overall growth and learning.
One very important part of the preschool classroom is the family board. If you have not already provided a family photo please provide one by Friday September 6th.
Having a family photo in a preschool classroom is important for several reasons:
Emotional Comfort: Young children often feel more secure and comfortable when they can see familiar faces. A family photo can provide a sense of stability and reassurance in a new environment.
Connection to Home: A family photo helps bridge the gap between home and school, making the preschool setting feel more connected to their daily lives.
Facilitates Communication: Teachers can use the photo to encourage conversations about the child's family, helping to build relationships and improve communication between the child, their family, and the teacher.
Promotes Identity and Belonging: Seeing their family picture helps children feel valued and recognized as individuals with unique backgrounds and stories, fostering a sense of belonging.
Encourages Sharing and Interaction: It can serve as a conversation starter, allowing children to share stories about their families with classmates and learn about each other’s lives.
Overall, family photos are a simple yet effective way to support a child’s emotional well-being and strengthen their connection to their preschool community.
Program Highlights
Mark your calendars for these exciting events happening in September:
1.Friday, September 13, 2024 early dismissal
2.Back to School Night - Google Meet - September 13, 2024 / Time: Varies by classroom. Times will be between 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm.
A link will be sent out for this.
3.Picture Day!!! Thursday September 26, 2024. Pictures begin at 8:30 am sharp.
4. Park Day, Saturday , September 21, 2024 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Google Form: go.happyhall.com/SI-parkday-rsvp
Flyer: go.happyhall.com/SI-parkday
Mark your calendars for these exciting events happening in October:
1. Pumpkin Patch Wednesday, Oct 30, 2023 / Child only event 3:30pm to 4:30pm.
Each classroom will read “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown”
2. Happy Hall-o-Ween BLOCK Trick or Treat: Friday, October 25 / Time: 3:30-4:30 PM / Outdoor family event.
For this event we are requesting parent donations to give out to the children as they trick or treat around the block. PLEASE no candy (fruit snacks are ok). Just small Halloween play / party type favors.
3. Halloween in Class Celebration - Thursday, October 31, 2024 Please be on the lookout for information from your child’s lead teacher.
Classroom Snippets:
Maple:
In the month of September Maple class will start introducing the alphabet and associated words that start with each letter during circle time as well as projects surrounding that letter. This month we will begin exposing the students to projects using paint, crayons, glue, etc to continue developing their fine motor skills allowing them to use their imagination with their creations. During this time we will also introduce them to activities that expose them to new sensory items such as monkey foam, play dough, kinetic sand and dirt during our inside and outside activities.Sensory activities are crucial in a toddler classroom for several reasons. These activities involve the use of the five senses—sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell—which are integral to a child's development. Here are some key reasons why sensory activities are important:
1. Enhances Cognitive Development
Exploration and Discovery: Toddlers learn by exploring their environment. Sensory activities stimulate curiosity and encourage children to discover new textures, sounds, and visuals, promoting cognitive development.
Problem-Solving Skills: Engaging in sensory play helps toddlers develop problem-solving skills as they manipulate materials and explore different outcomes.
2. Supports Fine Motor Skills
Hand-Eye Coordination: Activities like playing with sand, water, or small objects improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, which are essential for later tasks like writing and using utensils.
Pincer Grasp Development: Picking up small items or manipulating clay helps strengthen the pincer grasp, crucial for tasks like holding a pencil.
3. Language Development
Descriptive Language: Sensory play introduces new vocabulary as children describe textures, smells, and sounds, which enhances their language skills.
Communication: Engaging in these activities often involves social interaction, encouraging toddlers to communicate with peers and teachers.
4. Emotional Regulation
Calming Effects: Certain sensory activities, like playing with soft materials or water, have a calming effect on children, helping them regulate their emotions and reduce anxiety.
Expression of Emotions: Sensory play provides a safe outlet for expressing emotions, whether through messy play, which can be freeing, or through repetitive, soothing actions.
5. Social Interaction
Cooperation and Sharing: Many sensory activities require toddlers to share materials and space, fostering cooperation and social skills.
Observation and Imitation: Toddlers learn by observing and imitating their peers, which is facilitated through group sensory activities.
6. Encourages Creativity and Imagination
Open-Ended Play: Sensory activities are often open-ended, allowing toddlers to use their imagination and creativity without predefined outcomes.
Innovation: Children experiment with different ways to use materials, which fosters innovative thinking and creative problem-solving.
7. Supports Sensory Processing Development
Sensory Integration: Regular exposure to various sensory experiences helps children develop the ability to process and respond to sensory information effectively.
Tolerance of Sensory Input: Sensory activities can help children who are sensitive to certain stimuli gradually build tolerance, making it easier for them to cope with different environments.
8. Foundation for Academic Learning
Early Math and Science Concepts: Sensory play introduces basic concepts like counting, measuring, and cause-and-effect, which lay the groundwork for future academic learning.
Focus and Attention: Engaging in sensory activities helps toddlers develop concentration and attention to detail, skills that are essential for learning.
Incorporating sensory activities in our Maple classroom not only enriches the learning experience but also supports overall development, making it a fundamental component of early childhood education.
Thank you
Birch:
In Birch Class this September, we'll be focusing on helping the children settle into their new classroom routines. We'll guide them through safe interactions with their peers and introduce the beginning of our yearly curriculum. Our learning journey will start with the letters A, B, and C, setting the foundation for the months ahead. Safe interaction and learning letters are both fundamental aspects of a toddler classroom, contributing significantly to the overall development of young children. Here's why they are important:
Safe Interaction
Ensuring safe interactions in a toddler classroom is vital for creating a nurturing and supportive learning environment.
1. Emotional Security
Trust Building: Safe interactions help toddlers build trust with their teachers and peers, which is crucial for their emotional development. When children feel secure, they are more likely to explore and engage in learning activities.
Confidence Development: A safe environment encourages toddlers to express themselves without fear, boosting their self-confidence and self-esteem.
2. Social Skills Development
Learning Boundaries: Safe interactions teach toddlers about personal boundaries and respect for others. Understanding concepts like sharing, taking turns, and gentle touch helps them develop positive social skills.
Conflict Resolution: In a safe environment, toddlers are guided on how to resolve conflicts with their peers, which is an essential life skill.
3. Physical Safety
Preventing Accidents: Ensuring that interactions are safe reduces the risk of accidents and injuries, which is especially important in a classroom with young children who are still developing motor skills.
Safe Exploration: A physically safe environment allows toddlers to explore their surroundings and engage in activities without the risk of harm, fostering their curiosity and learning.
Learning Letters
Introducing letters to toddlers is a key part of early literacy development, laying the foundation for future reading and writing skills.
1. Early Literacy Skills
Phonemic Awareness: Learning letters helps toddlers develop phonemic awareness, the ability to hear and identify individual sounds in words. This is a critical step in learning to read.
Vocabulary Building: As toddlers learn the names and sounds of letters, they begin to associate these with words, expanding their vocabulary.
2. Cognitive Development
Memory and Recognition: Recognizing and recalling letters enhances toddlers’ memory and recognition skills, which are crucial for academic learning.
Pattern Recognition: Learning letters helps toddlers recognize patterns, such as letter shapes and sounds, which is a fundamental cognitive skill that supports problem-solving and logical thinking.
3. Pre-Reading Skills
Word Formation Understanding: By learning letters, toddlers start to understand that letters form words, which is the basis of reading. This early understanding prepares them for more complex literacy tasks as they grow.
Interest in Reading: Exposure to letters and words in a playful, engaging way can spark an early interest in reading, motivating toddlers to explore books and written language.
4. Fine Motor Skill Development
Writing Preparation: Activities that involve tracing or writing letters help toddlers develop fine motor skills, particularly the pincer grasp, which is necessary for writing.
Hand-Eye Coordination: Engaging with letters through hands-on activities, such as manipulating letter blocks or tracing, enhances hand-eye coordination.
5. Language Development
Speech and Pronunciation: Learning letters, especially through phonics, improves speech and pronunciation as toddlers practice the sounds associated with each letter.
Communication Skills: As toddlers learn letters and begin to form words, their ability to communicate verbally is enhanced, making it easier for them to express their needs and ideas.
Integrating Both in the Classroom
Safe Learning Environment: Combining safe interaction with letter learning ensures that toddlers feel secure while engaging in literacy activities. This combination fosters a love for learning in a supportive setting.
Collaborative Learning: Encouraging safe peer interactions during letter-learning activities, such as group games or shared reading, promotes social skills alongside cognitive development.
Safe interactions and letter learning are integral to the holistic development of toddlers, ensuring they grow emotionally, socially, and cognitively in a well-rounded and supportive environment.
Have a great month.
Cedar:
Cedar class will be working on name tracing and recognition. We will also begin a letter of the week activity, where we go over what starts with that letter and work on letter recognition. We will continue to go over green and red choices of Cedar Class, to keep ourselves and friends safe. Letter recognition and safety are both crucial elements in the preschool classroom, each playing a distinct but complementary role in the development and well-being of young children. Here’s why each is important:
Letter Recognition
Foundation for Literacy: Letter recognition is the first step toward reading and writing. Recognizing letters helps children understand that letters represent sounds, which is essential for developing reading skills.
Language Development: Understanding letters and their sounds aids in vocabulary building and phonemic awareness, which are fundamental for language development and literacy.
Cognitive Skills: Recognizing letters and their corresponding sounds enhances cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, and problem-solving skills.
Early Writing Skills: Letter recognition supports early writing skills by helping children understand how to form letters and eventually write words and sentences.
Confidence Building: Mastering letter recognition can boost a child’s confidence and motivation to learn more about reading and writing.
Keeping Ourselves Safe
Physical Safety: Ensuring the classroom environment is safe helps prevent accidents and injuries. This includes childproofing the space, securing furniture, and teaching children about safe behavior.
Emergency Preparedness: Teaching children basic safety procedures, such as what to do in case of an emergency (fire drills, lockdowns), helps them feel more secure and prepared.
Health Awareness: Promoting hygiene practices, like hand washing and using tissues, helps prevent the spread of illnesses and keeps children healthy.
Social Safety: Creating a safe and supportive social environment helps prevent bullying and fosters positive social interactions. It teaches children about respect, empathy, and appropriate behavior.
Emotional Security: Ensuring that children feel emotionally safe by providing a nurturing and supportive environment helps them develop self-esteem and a sense of security.
Understanding Boundaries: Teaching children about personal space and boundaries helps them understand and respect others' physical and emotional space.
Integrating Both in the Classroom
Routine and Structure: Consistent routines and clear expectations help children feel secure and more focused on learning activities, including letter recognition.
Safe Learning Environment: A well-organized and safe classroom environment supports effective learning. Children can concentrate on educational activities, like learning letters, when they feel physically and emotionally safe.
Interactive Learning: Using safe, engaging materials and activities for teaching letter recognition can make learning fun while ensuring children understand and follow safety guidelines.
Modeling Behavior: Teachers can model safe behaviors and letter recognition in their interactions, providing a practical example for children to follow.
By integrating letter recognition into a safe and supportive environment, Cedar can create a balanced and effective learning experience that promotes both literacy and overall well-being.
Thank you.
Willow:
For the month of September Willow class is discovering the 5 senses. Hearing, sight, taste, touch, and smell. The students will also discuss the change in season and will count down from summer to Fall. One main focus will be on Fall trees and changes in weather. Lastly Willow class will explore the beginning of Fall harvest. The children will be taste testing and exploring foods that are traditionally prepared for the Fall. Taste testing fall foods in a preschool setting offers several benefits that can enhance a child's learning and development:
Sensory Exploration: Taste testing provides children with an opportunity to engage their senses—taste, smell, sight, and touch. This multisensory experience can help them develop a better understanding of different textures, flavors, and smells.
Healthy Eating Habits: Introducing fall foods like apples, pumpkins, and squash encourages children to explore a variety of fruits and vegetables. It can help them develop an appreciation for healthy eating and try new foods that they might otherwise avoid.
Seasonal Awareness: Taste testing seasonal foods helps children connect with the changing seasons and understand where their food comes from. This can foster a greater awareness of the natural world and seasonal changes.
Language Development: Describing the taste, texture, and appearance of different foods can enhance children's vocabulary and communication skills. It also encourages them to express their preferences and opinions.
Social Skills: Taste testing can be a communal activity that promotes sharing and discussion. Children learn to respect each other's opinions, share their own experiences, and engage in group conversations.
Cultural Awareness: Exploring traditional fall foods from various cultures can broaden children's understanding of different customs and traditions, promoting diversity and inclusivity.
Fine Motor Skills: Activities related to preparing and serving food, such as peeling, cutting, or arranging, help develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Science Learning: Taste testing can be tied to simple science concepts, such as the growth of plants, the changes in food as it ripens, and the nutritional benefits of different foods.
Building Curiosity: Encouraging children to try new foods fosters a sense of curiosity and openness to new experiences. This positive approach can help build a lifelong willingness to explore and learn.
Fun and Engagement: Finally, taste testing is an enjoyable and engaging activity that can make learning about food and nutrition fun. It provides a break from routine and adds a hands-on element to the preschool experience.
Overall, taste testing fall foods can be a valuable educational tool that supports a range of developmental and learning goals while making the preschool environment more interactive and enjoyable.
Thank you!
Redwood:
This month, Redwood Class will be focusing on following rules and routine. It's important for the children to understand the teacher's words and their expectations and direction. In our classroom we are focusing on the children beginning to complete 3 step challenges and how we as teachers can support them with those difficult tasks. We'll be working on numbers along with charting. We will also emphasize the correct way to hold a pencil along with proper hand usage with other fine motor tools. In a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) classroom, where children are preparing for the more structured environment of Kindergarten, the importance of three-step challenges, following directions, and mastering the pincher hold for a pencil becomes even more pronounced. These skills are crucial for ensuring that children are ready for the academic and social demands of the next stage in their education. Here’s why they are important:
1. Three-Step Challenges
Three-step challenges in a TK classroom involve tasks that require children to complete a sequence of three related actions. These challenges are crucial for several developmental reasons:
Cognitive and Executive Function Development
Sequential Thinking: Three-step challenges help children develop the ability to think sequentially, understanding that tasks must be completed in a specific order to achieve a desired outcome. This skill is foundational for later academic tasks like following multi-step instructions in math or science.
Planning and Organization: These challenges encourage children to plan ahead and organize their actions. They begin to understand the importance of completing one step before moving on to the next, which is critical for more complex learning tasks in kindergarten and beyond.
Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking
Analytical Skills: As children work through three-step challenges, they engage in critical thinking, analyzing each step to determine the best way to achieve the goal. This fosters problem-solving skills that are essential for academic success.
Adaptability: Encountering obstacles during these challenges teaches children to adapt and try different approaches, enhancing their flexibility in thinking and problem-solving.
Focus and Attention
Increased Concentration: Completing a series of steps requires sustained attention and focus, helping children develop the ability to concentrate on tasks for longer periods. This is particularly important as they transition to the more structured environment of kindergarten.
Task Persistence: These challenges also teach children the importance of persistence, encouraging them to keep trying even if the task is difficult or requires multiple attempts to complete.
2. Following Directions
Following directions is a key skill in a TK classroom, as it is directly related to a child's ability to function successfully in a more structured academic setting.
Listening and Comprehension Skills
Active Listening: Following directions enhances active listening skills, which are crucial for understanding and processing information in all areas of learning. Children learn to listen carefully to instructions and to understand what is expected of them.
Language Comprehension: As children follow directions, they practice understanding complex language structures, which is important for reading comprehension and effective communication.
Behavioral and Social Development
Classroom Behavior: The ability to follow directions is essential for maintaining a well-organized classroom environment. It helps children learn self-regulation, discipline, and respect for rules, which are critical for success in kindergarten.
Cooperation and Teamwork: Following group directions fosters cooperation and teamwork, as children learn to work together towards a common goal, listening to and respecting the teacher’s instructions and their peers’ contributions.
Academic Preparedness
Completing Tasks: In TK, children are often required to complete tasks that involve multiple steps or instructions. The ability to follow directions accurately is essential for completing these tasks correctly and on time.
Independence: Following directions builds independence, as children learn to take responsibility for their actions and complete tasks with minimal assistance.
3. Pincer Hold for Pencil
Mastering the pincer hold for a pencil is crucial in a TK classroom as it lays the foundation for writing and fine motor skill development.
Fine Motor Skill Development
Hand Strength and Dexterity: The pincer grip helps build the strength and dexterity needed for writing, drawing, and other tasks requiring fine motor control. These skills are essential as children begin more formal writing exercises in kindergarten.
Precision and Control: A proper pincer grip allows for greater control over the pencil, leading to more precise movements. This is critical for forming letters and numbers correctly and legibly.
Writing Readiness
Proper Pencil Grip: Encouraging the correct pincer hold in TK ensures that children develop the right habits early, preventing issues like improper grip or hand fatigue, which can hinder writing development in later years.
Letter Formation: As children practice the pincer grip, they improve their ability to form letters and numbers accurately. This is a key aspect of writing readiness and is crucial for developing strong literacy skills.
Cognitive and Sensory Integration
Hand-Eye Coordination: The pincer grip enhances hand-eye coordination, which is important not only for writing but also for other tasks like cutting with scissors, buttoning clothes, and tying shoes.
Sensory Feedback and Motor Memory: Using the pincer grip helps children understand the appropriate amount of pressure needed to hold and manipulate a pencil, which is essential for writing without excessive strain.
Integrating These Skills in the TK Classroom
Building a Strong Foundation: Together, three-step challenges, following directions, and mastering the pincer hold for a pencil create a strong foundation for kindergarten. These skills ensure that children are not only academically prepared but also capable of managing the social and behavioral expectations of a more formal school setting.
Supporting Overall Development: By focusing on these areas, educators can support the holistic development of children, helping them build the cognitive, motor, and social-emotional skills they need for future success in school and beyond.
These skills are critical for ensuring that children are ready to transition smoothly into kindergarten, where they will be expected to handle more complex tasks and greater academic and social challenges.
Have a great month!
Reminders
*The safety and well-being of the children and staff are of paramount importance.
*Staff are unable to release children without authorization in 1Core. Please ensure the names entered under authorized contacts are spelled correctly and match the authorized person government issued ID.
*Absence days or medical appointments can be marked within the 1Core Family App > “Record Absence”. If multiple days are missed please communicate with the school.
*Please refer to the Family Handbook for timeframe children may return to school after illness guidelines. Emailed within the welcome email at the beginning of the school year.
*We are a Nut-Free and Tree-Nut-Free center.
*Water Bottles to contain water.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership in our school community.
Looking Ahead
Mark your calendars for these exciting events happening in October
1. Pumpkin Patch: Wednesday, Oct 25, 2023 / Child only event 3pm to 4pm.
Each classroom will read “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown”
2. Happy Hall-o-Ween BLOCK Trick or Treat: Friday, Oct 27, 2023 / Time: 3-4 PM / Outdoor family event.
For this event we are requesting parent donations to give out to the children as they trick or treat around the block. PLEASE no candy or any type of food.
3. Halloween in Class Celebration: - Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Please be on the lookout for information from your child’s lead teacher.
Stay Connected
Check out our photo galleries:
Thank You!
Thank you all for your continued support and we look forward to this coming month!
Frank DiFede
Program Director
Happy Hall @ Santa Inez
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