This is a basic overview of our classroom and program to help keep you in touch with your child's education.
Communication: Please feel free to ask us any questions that you may have in regards to the class, your child, or the program. It is important to us that we keep very open communication with you about your child's needs, concerns, and overall wellbeing.
Independence: In the Bumbelebee room we are preparing and equipping children for Kindergarten. We encourage the children to be independent and self-reliant in cleaning up after themselves, getting ready, and doing basic tasks. If they are capable of doing it on their own we encourage them to do so.
Class Jobs: We have the following class jobs: sweeper, line leader, snack helper, inspector, calendar helper, and weather reporter.
Weekly Focus: Throughout the year we will work through weekly focuses on letters, numbers, shapes, colors, sequencing, comparing, sorting, and matching. Every week we have a bible theme as well as a classroom theme. We also rotate books, toys, and games througout the room periodically according to themes we are doing.
Stations: Everyday from 10:15 to 11:00 we engage in activities through stations. We generally have 3 stations a day that the children rotate to. During station time we do a large variety of activites, such as: science, games, music, dance, art, cooking, writing, building, role playing, etc...
Recess: We go outside everyday from about 11:00 to 11:50. Children are expected to have appropriate clothing to be outside during that time. We do not go outside if it is below 10 degrees. They also have gym time every day from 3:30-4:00. When it is warm enough to not wear snow pants, we go outside during this time as well.
Lunch: It is important that your child brings a balanced lunch to school. Fruit, vegetables, dairy, protein, and grains are all important for your child to be eating on a regular basis. We encourage them to eat their healthy foods first and unhealthy foods last. We do have a fridge and microwave to accommodate their needs.
Milk Cards: Milk Cards are availalbe to be purchased in the school office if you would like your child to have one with their lunch. We offer 2% white milk Monday through Thursday and chocolate or white milk on Friday. When the card is finished we will put it in your child's file folder or on their cubby, so that you are aware that they are out.
Snack: A nutritious snack is provided everyday around 9:30 and 3:00.
Naptime: We have naptime everyday from 1:30-3:00. Please do not plan on picking up your child between these times. If you must pick them up, please let us know ahead of time so that we can make proper arrangements. Your child is allowed to bring a small soft toy to sleep with (please don't send noisy or light-up toys). Due to storage limitations in the cubbies we request that naptime blankets, pillows, and toys must remain small. We send their blankets home every Friday for them to be cleaned. If we need to work out another arrangement please let us know. If you do not want your child to nap please let us know and we will let them get up at 2:15 to do quiet activities.
Label: Please label anything and everything that you bring to school for your child...lunch box, coat, snow pants, gloves, hat, blanket, naptime toy, spare clothes, etc.
Show and Tell: Every Friday we will do Show and Tell with the children. Most weeks we will request them to bring a themed object that correlates to what we are learning about. Please only send on object that is labeled and not valuable or fragile. It must be able to fit in their cubbies.
Chapel: Every Wednesday we attend Chapel with the entire school. During this time we sing songs, pray, and hear a short message. The children are allowed to bring money to put in the offering jar outside the classroom for this if they wish. The school donates the money received to various organizations and programs. Chapel starts at 9:10 am, please have your child in class by then so they can sit with their class.
Discipline: We try to give the children many options to correct their behavior before they are removed from the situation.
While at circle or stations:
- We use rephrasing and redirectioning.
- If that is ineffective they are given a warning for their actions.
- If they still don't correct, they are asked to move to the back of circle to a red rug - this removes them from the situation while still keeping them a part of circle time.
- If they still struggle on the red rug they go to a thinking chair where the teacher talks with them about their actions
If a child is disrupting their fellow students or is being harmful to other students: a teacher immediately takes them out of class on a walk to calm down and discuss what happened or they go to the office.
Parent Contact: Parent communication and consistency is important. We are able to handle the daily age appropriate misbehaviors and assure you we will contact you as necessary.