Kyrene Preschool Program at Cerritos Kyrene School District 2017-2018

Cerritos Preschool Staff Meet Our Staff Cerritos Preschool Staff Special Education Preschool Teacher Jennifer Bell Bachelors Special Education & Elementary Education Early Childhood Endorsement M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction Speech/Language Pathologist Cheryl Davis Bachelors Elementary Education Masters Clinical Speech Pathology Instructional Assistants Denise Chavez Rodisha Higgins

District Specialists Director of Special Education Sandra Laine Administrative Assistant Becky Lugo Occupational Therapist Dawn Bjornson Physical Therapist Christine Barlog Assistive Technology Specialist Helen Tinsman

More about Mrs. Bell Teaching Experience: Family Life: 23rd year of teaching I taught 3rd grade for 19 years This is my 4th year in preschool!  Family Life: Mother of 4 terrific boys Married to my wonderful husband, Steve

More about Mrs. Davis Teaching Experience: Family Life: 31st year of teaching I’ve 2nd, 3rd, Media Specialist, Speech-Preschool, K-5, and high school. Family Life: Mother of 1 son, who works in Aerospace Sales, and is getting married in March 2017. Mother of Scooby 2, the rescue dog.

Why Kyrene Preschool? Provides children and families with a positive first experience in school. Creates a smooth transition from preschool to kindergarten.

About the Program Focus: *School Readiness Skills for all students Perks: *Language & Play Based *Ages 3-5 *Integrated Program *Range of abilities Provides: *Early Intervention Services

Staff Ratio and Hours Each day there are three adults for approximately 16 students 1 classroom teacher certified in both Special Education and Early Childhood Education 2 instructional assistants with extensive training Speech Language Pathologist 1 day a week (Monday)

Speech/Language Services Leads large group lessons in phonological awareness, speech sound production, and language skills Leads small group lessons working on various language skills Works with individual students or small groups on specific goals during center time Consults with preschool staff on ways to support speech and language skills throughout the day.

Daily Schedule Circle Time Small Group Instruction Child Directed Play (1 hour) Small Group (Letter/Number Practice) Snack Time Story Time/Art Music/Show & Tell Outdoor/Gross Motor Play (30 minutes) Closing Circle Time Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning, but for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood. -Fred Rogers

Classroom Centers Art Center Sensory Table Library Area Listening Center Puzzles and Manipulatives Math Center Science Center Language Center Dramatic Play Center Music Center Writing Center Blocks and Building Center

Arizona State Standards for Early Childhood (Standards Guide our Instruction) Social/Emotional Approaches to Learning Language and Literacy Mathematics Science Social Studies Physical Development Health and Safety Fine Arts

Preschool Curriculum Handwriting without Teacher (Writing Program) Our curriculum is divided into the following 8 themes. 1. Ready for School 2. My Family 3. Our Community 4. Awesome Animals! 5. Imagine It, Make It 6. Growing Up Healthy 7. Nature All Around Us 8. Moving On Handwriting without Teacher (Writing Program)

Focus on Readiness Skills Phonemic Awareness Focus on skills to prepare children for reading. Activities Include: Letter Recognition Sound Recognition Identifying beginning sounds Breaking words into syllables Rhyming Words Playing with sounds to create new words (changing beginning/ending sounds. Show & Tell-Label in Folders align with letter of the week

Focus on Readiness Skills Number Sense/Math Focus on skills to prepare students for math in kindergarten. Activities Include: Counting Comparing Numbers and Amounts Identifying one more/one less Patterns Sorting Measuring

https://auth.tgds.hmhco.com/login/bdport/login.php?bffs=N Preschool Curriculum The Big Day program has a parent portal. Please take the information on your chair home with you. https://auth.tgds.hmhco.com/login/bdport/login.php?bffs=N

Parent/Teacher Communication Newsletters Phone Calls or Emails Student Progress Reports Curriculum Night and Conferences

Progress Reports Assessments are ongoing and are conducted in large or small groups, as well as individually. Conferences in October and in the Spring. Parents will receive a written report of progress in January and May. Parents will either be receiving a Teaching Strategies Gold Report or a Progress Report similar to the Kindergarten Report Card.

What Parents can do at Home to Support Learning Read to your child daily. Reading is the single most important activity leading to literacy. Talk to your child, use big vocabulary words, ask lots of questions, and describe things in detail. Encourage independence (even though it might be easier to do things for them, children really want to be self sufficient) Sing songs and play games with your child. Dialogic Reading-the adult helps the child become the teller of the story. The adult becomes the listener, the questioner, the audience for the child.

Cerritos Mission Statement Leaders of Today, Inspiring Leaders of Tomorrow We believe that every child possesses leadership skills.

Class Mission Statement Hand in Hand We Fill Buckets

7 Habits Habit 1-Be Proactive (you’re in charge) Habit 2-Begin with the End in Mind (have a plan) Habit 3-Put First Things First (work first then play) Habit 4-Think Win-Win (so everyone wins) Habit 5-Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood (listen to others ideas and feelings, try to see things from their point of view) Habit 6- Synergize (work together) Habit 7-Sharpen the Saw (have a balance, take care of yourself)

Ways to Support Preschool Program Communication-Keep open lines of communication between home and school, any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask me!  Volunteer Parties (Fall, Winter, & Friendship) Guest Reader Donation of requested items Wish List Items in the Newsletter

“Be a Beacon” Donation Drive School Donation Drive-supports school activities, classroom materials, etc. Runs August 14th-September 8th. Students that donate will… Receive a custom decal to put on their backpack or folder. Be entered in the weekly drawing Prizes Available-gift baskets, gift cards, free yearbook, and spirit wear.

Closing End of the Day Song Before you Leave… Thank you for coming!  1. Find your child’s 1st day photo on the cabinet and take it home.  2. Sign the Class Directory Thank you for coming! 