1. Kyrene Preschool Program at Mirada
Kyrene School District

2. Mirada Mission Statement
Inspiring Academic Excellence While Celebrating Strengths, Developing Leaders, and Honoring Diversity

3. Meet Our Teachers Integrated Preschool Teacher Jennifer Bell
Bachelors Special Education & Elementary Education
Early Childhood Endorsement
M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction
Integrated Preschool Teacher
Brandi Mitchell
Bachelors of Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education
M.A.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction

4. More about Ms. Jen…
25th year of teaching, I taught 3rd grade for 19 years, this is my 6 year in preschool, and my 2nd year here at Mirada.
Married my husband Steve in 2005.
4 terrific sons, Justin (25), Tanner (11), A.J. (10), and Lucas (7).
I love spending time with my family and friends, outdoor activities, watching my boys play baseball, going to the movies, and traveling.

5. More about Ms. Brandi…
This is my 4th year of teaching. I taught early childhood special education for 3 years. This is my first year in integrated preschool here at Mirada.
Originally from Pittsburgh, PA and moved to AZ in 2011.
I love spending time with my family and friends. I also enjoy swimming, watching movies, reading and traveling.

6. More about our Preschool Staff...
Ms. Jen’s Classroom
Speech Language Pathologist
Ms. Cara
Classroom Assistants
Ms. Lisa
Ms. Karel
Ms. Brandi’s Classroom
Speech Language Pathologist
Ms. Mikki
Classroom Assistants
Ms. Vera
Ms. Kay

7. Why Kyrene Preschool?
We strive to provide students and families with a positive first experience in school.
We believe our program provides a smooth transition into kindergarten.

8. 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

9. Staff Ratio
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 (Fridays)

10. Daily Schedule Outside/Gross Motor Play Circle Time Snack Time
Child directed Play (1 hour)
Story Time
Art
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

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

12. 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

13. Preschool Curriculum
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 Tears (Writing Program)
Sanford Harmony-Social Emotional Learning

14. Preschool Curriculum
The Big Day program has a parent portal. Please take the information on your chair home with you.
Username:
Password:
Instructions will come home in your child’s folders on Friday!

15. Speech/Language Services
Language activities done whole group
Small groups and 1:1 working on specific speech sounds
Consults with preschool staff on ways to implement speech and language goals.
Collects language samples during playtime
Facilitates peer interactions and expressive language

16. 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

17. 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/Letter of the Week-more information from individual teacher in newsletters.

18. 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
Folder Activities-Colors, Shapes, Numbers, Letters, and Writing Practice.

19. Progress Reports
Assessments are ongoing and are conducted in large or small groups, as well as individually.
Family Night in October-(Progress Report Provided)
Parent Teacher Conferences in the Spring
Parents will receive a report of progress in January and May.
Teaching Strategies Gold Report
Progress Report (similar to the Kindergarten Report Card)

20. Parent/Teacher Communication
Newsletters
Phone Calls s
Remind
Progress Reports
Parent Connect Night
Family Night
Spring Conferences

21. Ways to Support Preschool Program
Party Volunteers
PTO Opportunities
Classroom Volunteers
Guest Reader
Preparation Work
Donations of requested items

22. Remind Text Message Sign Up
We have setup classroom REMIND Accounts for us to share important information and photos with you.
IF YOU WISH TO SIGN UP FOR REMIND:
Text 81010
AM Ms. Brandi–
PM Ms. Brandi –
AM Ms. Jen –
PM Ms. Jen –

23. 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)

24. Please feel free to contact us with questions or concerns. 
Closing
We feel that teachers and parents are a team in a child’s education. We are looking forward to a great partnership with you this year!
Please feel free to contact us with questions or concerns. 
Thank you for coming!