Some questions I have been asked....

1. What are the educational Reasons for Centers?
2. What are the Top Things I should look for in a K5 Classroom?
3. How can I talk to my child about their day?
4. How can a parent help the class?
5. Why do you use sign language?
6. How can I help my child become a better reader?

What are the educational Reasons for Centers?

Art Center 
When children work at the art center, they develop: 
-social skills 
-eye-hand coordination 
-imagination 
-small muscle skills 
-creative expression 
-problem solving skills 
-concepts about size, color, shape and texture 

Block and Lego Centers 
When they build with blocks, children: 
- use our fine and gross motor muscles 
-develop math concepts-number, size, shape, space and weight 
-plan and follow through 
-work together with others 
-classify by shape, size, and color 
-experiment with balance and forms 
-use our imagination 
-test our ideas 

Reading Center 
When children play in the reading center, they: 
-pretend read 
-learn to enjoy, appreciate and care for books 
-"picture read" books 
-re-read familiar stories 
-practice reading skills 
-learn pre-reading skills 
-develop language skills 
-sequence events 
-recognize that letters have meaning 
-experience quiet moments 
-learn to create our own stories 
-gather information 
-use our imagination 

Writing Center 
In the writing center, children: 
-use a variety of materials for writing 
-discover many purposes for writing 
-write cards, letters, stories and books 
-develop small motor skills 
-develop eye-hand coordination 
-Enhance pre-reading skills 
-develop language skills 

ABC Center 
In the language and alphabet center, children develop: 
-letter recognition 
-oral language 
-vocabulary 
-rhyming skills 
-phonics skills 
-story telling skills 

Listening Center 
At the listening center, children: 
-listen to a variety of stories read by a variety of people 
-follow along in the book as it is read 
-hear special sound effects that enhance the stories 
-Enhance pre-reading skills 
-develop language skills 
-recognize that letters have meaning 
-learning to take care of books 
-gather information 
- develop a love for books 

Puzzle Center 
In the puzzle center, children: 
-exercise small motor muscles 
-advance eye-hand coordination 
-focus on spatial concepts 
-develop language skills 
-enhance cognitive development 


Home Living
In the house center, children: 
-learn to take on other roles- mother, father, doctor, teacher, waiter, etc. 
-develop social skills 
-work together with others 
-develop language skills 
-learn cooperation 
-verbalize ideas and concepts 
-understand emotions 
-act out real life situations

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What are the Top Things I should look for in a K5 Classroom?

Source: National Association for the Education of Young Children
Promoting excellence in early childhood education
http://www.naeyc.org
Top 10 Signs of a Good Kindergarten Classroom 
1. Children are playing and working with materials or other children. They 
are not aimlessly wandering or forced to sit quietly for long periods of 
time.
 
2. Children have access to various activities throughout the day, such as 
block building, pretend play, picture books, paints and other art materials, 
and table toys such as legos, pegboards, and puzzles. Children are not all 
doing the same things at the same time. 

3. Teachers work with individual children, small groups, and the whole group 
at different times during the day. They do not spend time only with the 
entire group.
 
4. The classroom is decorated with childrens original artwork, their own 
writing with invented spelling, and dictated stories. 

5. Children learn numbers and the alphabet in the context of their everyday 
experiences. Exploring the natural world of plants and animals, cooking, 
taking attendance, and serving snack are all meaningful activities to 
children. 

6. Children work on projects and have long periods of time (at least one 
hour) to play and explore. Filling out worksheets should not be their 
primary activity. 

7. Children have an opportunity to play outside every day that weather 
permits. This play is never sacrificed for more instructional time. 

8. Teachers read books to children throughout the day, not just at group 
story time.
 
9. Curriculum is adapted for those who are ahead as well as those who need 
additional help. Because children differ in experiences and background, they 
do not learn the same things at the same time in the same way. 

10. Children and their parents look forward to school. Parents feel safe 
sending their child to kindergarten. Children are happy; they are not crying 
or regularly sick.
 
Individual kindergarten classrooms will vary, and curriculum will vary 
according to the interests and backgrounds of the children. But all 
developmentally appropriate kindergarten classrooms will have one thing in 
common: the focus will be on the development of the child as a whole.

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How can I talk to my child about their day?

If you are looking for more than one-word answers from your kids about their 
day at school then try these suggestions:

1. Ask specific questions: What did you do on the playground?
Who did you play with?
What center did you go to today?

2. Give your child time to unwind. Give your child time to get home, unwind, 
and sit with a snack. Then ask them about their day.

3. Share some of your day. By doing this you are modeling for your kids the 
kind of information that you'd like to hear from them. "This is what I did 
today that I felt really good about......This is what I did today that was a 
little bit hard but I did it anyway..."

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How can a parent help the class?

We love having parents in the classroom! We have many ways that you can help 
us both at school and at home.
1. Monday help with folders. We send home newsletters and homework sheets 
every Monday and you could help stuff folders.
2. Read to the class. I have many books for you to choose from and a great 
rocking chair for you to sit in. Just let us know when you can come in.
3. Help with a special craft. We can always use an extra set of hands!
4. Help with cooking activity by sending in items and/or coming and helping 
us prepare.
5. Send in individually wrapped treats or items for the treasure box.
6. Help us by making copies to prepare for the weeks ahead.
7. Work with children one on one. I will provide everything you need. You 
just provide the time along with a warm smile and caring heart.
8. Send in items for parties and/or come and lend a hand. We always need 
extra hands on special days.
9. Share your culture or family history with us. We have had pinatas in 
December to celebrate Feliz Navidad, Chinese Treats to celebrate the Chinese 
New Year, A Kings' Cake to celebrate Mardi Gras and a Mom came and helped 
the class make their own easter baskets out of milk jugs and then we all 
went and hunted eggs. These were very memorable moments for all of us!
10. I always take pictures of student activities but never seem to find the 
time to get them all in an album. Does this interest you?


As you can see there are many ways that you can help us! Please feel free to 
let me know what interests you. I look forward to working with all of my 
parents this year!

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Why do you use sign language?

Why use sign language?

Several years ago I had a student that spoke Russian and I struggled to find 
ways to communicate with him. My research led me to the benefits of using 
Sign language. Using sign language, the child and I began to communicate for 
the first time and I saw the benefits first hand. The other children quickly 
showed interest in signing and it became a part of my daily instruction.

Later when I was in the Masters program at Furman, I researched the benefits 
of sign language and was pleased with what I discovered. The research is 
overwhelmingly positive in support of using sign language, especially in 
preschool and kindergarten to enhance reading and communication skills. Sign 
language appears to enhance brain activity on both sides of the brain and 
has been proven successful in a total communication reading program for 
students with learning disabilities. It is used to maintain behavior and 
foster self-esteem, attention, on-task behavior, and communication skills. 
This year your child will learn many different signs and here is a list of 
just a few:

All color words
*Water
*Bathroom
Eat
Sit down
Stop
Walk
Please
Thank you
Yes/No
I love you
All of the letters of the alphabet-they can learn to sign their name

*These signs are used during whole group instruction for students to let me 
know their needs. During small group time, they can go to the bathroom when 
they need to without asking. The same applies to wanting water.

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How can I help my child become a better reader?

Go to this link for ideas:
http://www.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/reader/index.html

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