Search results matching tags 'preschool' and 'teachers'

How do I help my 2 year old adjust to school?

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 04:32:00 GMT

Ms. Dorothy,
I am a working lady. My daughter is 2years and 4 months old, she is able to speak fluently in her mother tongue, and understands English as well. In my absence she is taken care by my Mother in law.
She got admitted to pre-kindergarten or nursery on 13th June. She goes to school in school van, her school timings are 8.30 am to 11.30 am, 5days a week. It’s been more than 2 weeks, but still cries a lot and reluctant to go school everyday. She wakes up in the morning and starts telling/crying “don’t want to go school” till she sits in school van.
I try to make her understand that school is a lovely place by telling many stories every night before getting sleep, but the next day morning it’s the same.
Even on off days i.e. Saturdays and Sundays, even after we tell her that. Saturdays and Sundays are holidays, making her ready as part of daily routine or plan to take out somewhere, she thinks that we might send her school, she is fearful and whole day very often she tells I don’t want to go school.
I spoke to her teacher; she says she is okay at school. She blames me that I am over anxious and over protective, that’s why my child is behaving so. But I don’t really admit.
Each day is getting a challenge for me. Please help me out to make my child comfortable to school.
-Concerned Mother

There are many reasons why children express fear about going to school.

The biggest worry is always that there is something happening at school which frightens her. An insensitive or neglectful teacher, a bully, even someone trying to do her harm. I can tell you that while this is every mother's greatest fear, it is very rarely the cause of a child's distress.

Chances are that the teacher is not blaming you as much as she is trying to reassure you of this fact.

Your daughter is probably safe and just fine in school as the teacher told you, but her fear and distress are also very real and should not be ignored.

By the age of 2, children are usually trying to figure out how to get what they want. Sometimes children your daughter's age become demanding, or throw tantrums, or tell people "no!" as they try to discover how to get their needs met. Your daughter may be expressing fear and trying to gain control of an uncomfortable situation.

While your daughter understands English, she may not be comfortable to express herself to people who do not speak her mother tongue. This could mean that the three hours she is in school feel very isolating to her. If she is not hearing the language that is most comfortable to her ears, those three hours can seem very long and distant.

She has also had the undivided attention of an adult up until now, and suddenly to have to share the only adult with other children in a class can be very hard for some children.

She may be experimenting with making you feel guilty, and trying to see if she can have her will. Or playing out behaviors she thinks are expected. Believe it or not, sometimes children think that they are expressing how much they love you when they cry about going to school, and that you might be disappointed if you thought they didn't miss you.

Sometimes children become distressed because they don't like letting a younger sibling have a parent's attention while they are not around.

There are some things you can do to help her with her worry about going to school.
What you are already doing - telling her stories to comfort her - is excellent, and you will need to be consistent and keep telling her about what a lovely place school is, and not let her see your concern.

Instead of talking about Saturdays and Sundays as holidays from school, try and talk about what sad days they are because she does not GET to go to school. If you are reassuring her in a way that makes her think school is something she has to tolerate, she may continue to resist it.
Stay positive and happy and excited when you talk about school.

When you see her at the end of the day, be excited to hear about the wonderful things she did.

Focus on how happy you are to hear about school and not on her distress.

You can also help her to choose something of yours (a necklace or bracelet that she can wear perhaps, or a photo of her loved ones) to bring with her to school. Something to hold onto when she misses you.

There is a book called "the Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn that can be helpful if your daughter is having trouble separating.

Find another family in the school to befriend and schedule play dates with.

Ask the teacher if you can donate a favorite toy of your child's to the classroom for her to look forward to playing with.

Give her crayons and let her express her worries on paper.

One final thought - while it seems like it's been forever, two weeks is not impossibly long, and she may yet make this adjustment on her own, don't give up!

I wish you both the best of luck.

Literacy Beginnings Chapter 1

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:27:03 GMT

Welcome to the Literacy Beginnings book study blog party! Today I am covering the introduction “Living and Learning in the Pre-Kindergarten Classroom” as well as the first chapter, “Growing Up Literate: PreKindergarten for the Future Generation“. I hope you will join in the conversation by leaving a comment below or posting reflections on your own blog. Bloggers, you can grab the button at the bottom of this post. I plan on offering several resources you can print and use in your classroom throughout the book study so make sure you are following Pre-K Pages and all the other participating blogs so you don’t miss anything.

Literacy Beginnings is written by Irene Fountas and *** Su Pinnell. Irene Fountas is a professor at Lesley University and *** Su Pinnell is a professor at The Ohio State Univeristy. Fountas and Pinnell have researched and published many books about literacy learning. In Literacy Beginnings they have applied their vast knowledge and expertise to the prekindergarten classroom; their recommendations are based on observations conducted in those classrooms.

After reading the entire book on an airplane (oh yes I did!) the message of this book came through loud and clear:

Children learn through play
A pre-k classroom should be full of joy and fun
A strong foundation for literacy learning must be established from the very beginning

I feel badly for the passengers sitting near me on the plane because I know I shouted “Hallelujah” a few times and there might have even been a few “Amen’s” in there too. Much of this book affirms what I have been doing in the classroom for almost 20 years. What “a-ha” moments did you have while reading this chapter?

In the introduction, Living and Learning in the Pre-Kindergarten Classroom, the authors describe a typical day in two different classrooms, one is a class of three year-olds and the other is a four year-old class. What I liked most about the daily routines they describe is that literacy is infused throughout the day, not isolated in one big chunk. The day alternates between brief whole group times and opportunities for play and hands-on learning. I know that when my day is not well balanced my students are not as focused and not as much learning takes place. We will explore full and half-day schedules in more detail in Chapter 5.

Chapter 1, Growing Up Literate, begins with a fantastic quote by John Dewey,

“If we teach today, as we taught yesterday, we rob children of tomorrow.”

I can recall my preschool experience very clearly, I remember singing “Where is Thumbkin?” blowing bubbles with a straw in the sand and water table, and eating sugar cookies with milk for snack every single day. Today’s prekindergarten classrooms may look a little different, but different doesn’t mean “wrong” or “inappropriate”. A quote from the book sums it up nicely:

“The playtime and social training of traditional prekindergartens has not been replaced but rather infused with literacy”

We are preparing children for a different tomorrow therefore the instruction they receive today will also look a little different. Another point the authors make is that teachers in today’s pre-k classrooms are intentional in planning their literacy instruction, I like to think of it as guiding the students. A good teacher focuses on the natural curiosity of his or her students and uses that curiosity to guide them towards literacy learning. We can motivate our students to want to read and write by providing plenty of fun, playful, and hands-on experiences.

The picture above shows my classroom library which we will discuss in more detail in Chapter 4.

The authors reference the International Reading Association (IRA) and National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) joint position statement which recommends including the following in the pre-k classroom:

The picture above shows my Alphabet Center. We will be discussing letter learning in more detail in Chapter 5. The item on the list above that poses the most difficulty for teachers is finding appropriate big books for shared reading. The authors address selecting texts for shared reading in Chapter 12 and offer suggestions.

Finally, my favorite part of Chapter 1 comes near the end when the authors denounce the use of worksheets and advocate for play and play activities that support language and literacy. I can’t tell you how great it is to see these words in print from the gurus of early literacy. As a public pre-k teacher I have become accustomed to not having my voice heard or being dismissed because there is nobody to back up my beliefs- at least nobody the people in charge have ever heard of. Now that Fountas and Pinnell have added prekindergarten to their repertoire I know administrators will listen because they are already familiar with and respect their work. I am certain this book will become the foundation of early literacy learning for many years to come. Do you think this book will change the way you are perceived as an early childhood educator?

Deb from Teach Preschool will be discussing Chapter 2 soon so stay tuned!

Grab the button below:

get the InLinkz code for your blog post.

Want to let your friends know about the book study blog party? Click “Like” at the top of this page or choose from other social media options below.

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Get Caught Reading Contest

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 23:00:30 GMT

I hope you will be joining us for the Literacy Beginnings book study blog party. Our party will kick-off here at Pre-K Pages on Monday, July 27th, there’s still time to get the book if you’re interested. So, you’re probably wondering why I’m talking about the party again if it hasn’t even started yet, right? Well hold on to your hats because I’ve added a little something to kick it up a notch!

I was thinking about lugging my book all over the US during the next four weeks (top secret locations- shhhh!) and I was reminded of the famous Flat Stanley project that we all know and love. Then it hit me, wouldn’t it be fun if I took pictures of myself with my book in interesting places too? That sounded a little too one-sided for me so I’m inviting you all to do the same thing! Can I get a little “Oprah’s Favorite Things” action here? That’s more like it!

Here’s how you can enter the Get Caught Reading Contest:

Take a picture of yourself reading your Literacy Beginnings book in an interesting or unusual location
Publish your picture in your book study blog party post
Link up via the link below
Vote for your favorite pictures

One winner will be announced on Monday, August 15. The winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card. The contest should begin today (crossing my fingers- this is my first attempt at hosting a voting contest with InLinkz!) so start your cameras!

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Join the Literacy Beginnings Party

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 23:00:29 GMT

I’m so excited about the Literacy Beginnings book study blog party! We will kick off the party on Monday, June 27 with each chapter hosted by a different blogger. There’s still time to get the book if you want to join in the fun. I’m also planning for a fun contest to go along with the book study, stay tuned for more details!

Here is a list of the awesome blogs that will be hosting the chapter discussions:

Here’s how you can participate in the book study blog party:

Follow each of the blogs listed above.
Post your own chapter reflections on your blog, grab a linky party button (coming soon!), and link up your post to the linky party.
Don’t have a blog? No problem! You can join in by commenting on the blog posts.
Going on vacation? No worries! If you subscribe to the blogs above you can catch up on all the great discussions when you return.

Here’s a line-up of the topics and hosts:
Section One: Living and Learning week of June 27th
Pre-K Pages
Teach Preschool
Brick by Brick
Prekinders

Section Two: Foundation of Learning week of July 5th (no posts on July 4th)
Brick by Brick
No More Worksheets
Pre-K Pages

Section Three: Supporting Emergent Readers week of July 11-15
Look at My Happy Rainbow
Growing in Pre-K
Pre-K Pages

Section Four: Supporting Emergent Writers week of July 18-21
No More Worksheets
Prekinders
Growing in Pre-K

Section Five: Letters, Sounds, and Words week of July 25
Pre-K Pages
Teach Preschool
Prekinders

Section Six: Assessment of Literacy week of July 25 or August 1
The Seeds Network

I can’t wait to read all of your fantastic posts and comments! Happy Reading!

Want to let your friends know about the book study blog party? Click “Like” at the top of this page or choose from other social media options below.

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Win a Flip Video Camera from Kabongo

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 11:00:53 GMT

This June, you can join Kabongo in a month long celebration of Father’s Day. To make this celebration extra special, Kabongo is giving away a Flip Video camera worth over $100 in their Kabongo Loves Dads Sweepstakes!

To enter, go to Kabongo’s Facebook page and click on the Sweepstakes button. Fill in your name and address, and you’re done – easy peasy!

Tell all the Dads you know, or anyone who would love a Flip Video camera, to enter now for a chance to win. Capture all your amazing dad moments and give Dad a Father’s Day to remember!

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Win an Amazon Gift Card from Preschool Buddy

Anonymous — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 11:00:36 GMT

I remember when the iPod was first introduced, I had one of those “why wasn’t this invented sooner” moments. I thought about all the time I wasted over the years fast forwarding and rewinding my cassette tapes and loading CD’s into my gigantic boom box. I had one of those moments again recently when I was introduced to PreschoolBuddy, an innovative, new web-based application that will help you manage your time in the classroom and communicate with parents more effectively.

Designed to help bridge the gap between home and school, Preschool Buddy simplifies the day-to-day administrative chores for educators and provides a convenient way for busy parents to be actively engaged with the school community. The end result is a more personalized connection with the classroom for all stakeholders in a child’s education.

PreschoolBuddy includes the following key features to help bridge the gap between home and school:

Classroom Management – Spend your day focused on what you love to do – educating children!
School Administration – Helping you save time, money, and trees!
Parent Communication – This just in…parents LOVE hearing stuff about their kids!
School Fundraising – When bake sales & book sales just won’t do!

My favorite features of PreschoolBuddy are:

Form tracker: Easily keep track who has turned in their forms and who hasn’t. Send reminder e-mails to parents with one click of a button.
Calendar: Add an event on your calendar like a field trip or a school holiday and PreschoolBuddy will automatically e-mail parents with a reminder! No more typing up notes that never get read!
State Standards: Include specific state standards in your lesson plans with the click of a button (this feature is coming soon!)

PreschoolBuddy is offering a giveaway for a $50 Amazon E-Mail Gift Card.
This giveaway is for a $50 e-mail gift card that can be used toward anything at Amazon.com. To enter to win the gift card please follow the instructions below.

Mandatory Entry:
Visit PreschoolBuddy.com to learn more about the program and leave a comment below letting me know which feature you like best about PreschoolBuddy.com.

Bonus Entries: Leave one comment below for EACH of the tasks you complete

Visit PreschoolBuddy on Facebook
Visit Pre-K Pages on Facebook
Follow PreschoolBuddy on Twitter
Follow Pre-K Pages on Twitter
Subscribe to my weekly newsletter to receive teaching tips and ideas in your inbox.
Tweet about the giveaway using this copy and paste text: “Enter to win a $50 Amazon gift certificate from @PreschoolBuddy http://goo.gl/ZFkDo via @PreKPages #ece #preschool #giveaway”

Details:

The contest ends Sunday, June 12th, 2011 at 11:59pm.
The giveaway is open to anyone 18 and older worldwide.
One lucky winner will be chosen via Random.org and sent a direct e-mail. The winner will also be announced with an update to this post.
The winner will have 7 days to claim the prize or a new winner will be selected.

Good luck!

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Father’s Day Cookie Gift

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 11:00:26 GMT

If the way to a man’s heart is really through his stomach then this Father’s Day gift idea featuring homemade cookies is sure to be a big hit! Since not every child has a father in his or her life this gift is appropriate for any male role model.

You will need the following materials:

Empty Pringles can (tall or short depending on how many cookies you want to bake)
Masculine scrapbook paper
Tape
Coordinating ribbon
Homemade cookies sized appropriately for the can
Tissue paper
Scissors
Marker or pen
Tissue or wax paper

Start with buying a can of Pringles and eating them all- that is what makes this my favorite Father’s Day gift ever! Next, clean the inside of your Pringles can. Then, cut the scrapbook paper to fit the can and secure it to the outside of the can using tape. Cut the ribbon with your scissors and tie around the top of the can. Trace the lid of the can on the scrapbook paper and cut it out. Write a message on the circle and place it on the underside of the lid.

Next comes the fun part! Make cookies with your students or child and allow them to cool. When the cookies are cool layer them in the can with tissue or wax paper. This idea could also be adapted for any type of treat such as brownies, chocolates, or snack mix.

What are your favorite homemade Father’s Day gift ideas?

If you enjoy visiting Pre-K Pages please click the “Like” button at the top of any page or share it via other social media outlets using the links below.

Don’t forget to sign-up for the Pre-K Pages newsletter. Subscribers receive early childhood teaching tips in their inbox each week.

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Father’s Day Wordle Gift

Anonymous — Mon, 30 May 2011 14:00:40 GMT

Many teachers face a dilemma when it comes to Father’s Day. The reason for the dilemma is twofold, first, many schools are already on summer vacation by the time Father’s Day arrives and second, some children don’t have fathers in their lives. While I can’t control when school gets out, I can provide ideas for Father’s Day that are appropriate not only for fathers, but any male role model.

This Father’s Day idea using Wordle is super easy, quick to make, and will be loved by any man lucky enough to receive it! If you’re not familiar with Wordle it is a free website that creates personalized word clouds using text you provide.

To create a personalized Father’s Day Wordle, first you will need to select the type of picture frame you will use. You might consider using a store bought picture frame, a craft foam frame decorated by the children, or you can have children create their own frames using popsicle sticks. Next, ask your children to describe their Dad or male role model. Type your list of descriptive words into Wordle and adjust your fonts, colors, and layout to get your desired look. When you are finished just print to create your masterpiece and place the finished product in the picture frame.

What Father’s Day gift ideas do you have up your sleeve? Leave a comment below and share with others!

If you enjoy visiting Pre-K Pages please click the “Like” button at the top of any page or share it via other social media outlets using the links below.

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We Had a Beary Good Year

Anonymous — Sat, 28 May 2011 19:57:20 GMT

If you’re looking for something “cute” to celebrate the end of your school year then look no further, this is a great alternative to a graduation diploma.

I purchased this adorable cardboard teddy bear photo prop at the local party supply store for $5. The students took turns putting their faces in the cutout in the middle while I took the pictures, they thought it was hilarious to watch their friends have their pictures taken. The photo prop is similar to a science display board with two folding wings on the side to help it stand up. Next, I optimized the photos, inserted them in a Word document, and added text that reads “I had a Beary good time in Pre-K!” You can change the text to reflect the grade level you teach.

While the photo was cute it really wasn’t for the kids, it was more for the parents and I was looking for something to give to my students on the last day of school. At first I thought of using gummy bears but I didn’t like the idea of giving out candy. Then it hit me, Teddy Grahams are a universal favorite among this age group. I stuffed snack size Ziploc bags with Teddy Grahams and created this cute topper using teddy bear clipart. I printed the toppers on cardstock and stapled them to the Ziploc bags. The toppers probably could have been more rectangular but they still turned out very cute.

If you enjoy visiting Pre-K Pages please click the “Like” button at the top of any page or share it via other social media outlets using the links below.

Don’t forget to sign-up for the Pre-K Pages newsletter. Subscribers receive early childhood teaching tips in their inbox each week.

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Kabongo Reading Games Review

Anonymous — Wed, 18 May 2011 11:00:24 GMT

Spring fever is in full-swing and both teachers and students alike are looking forward to summer vacation. Its times like these that call for a little something new to shake things up and keep everybody going for another month (or two). A few weeks ago I stumbled across a site called Kabongo that will help put an end to spring fever in your early childhood classroom. Kabongo isn’t just another online learning game site; it’s THE hot new online learning game site. What makes Kabongo stand out from the crowd? Well, since you asked:

Critical Thinking Skills: Unlike many online games that focus on very basic skills and right or wrong answers the games at Kabongo target the critical thinking skills and problem-solving strategies that are essential for future reading success.
Research Based: Games are designed by cognitive psychologists and learning experts
High Quality: The animation in these games is fantastic- move over PBS and Disney!
Interactive: There is no “osmosis” learning going on here, everything is highly engaging and fun.
Learning Skills Chart: Kabongo provides a Learning Skills Chart that lists the skills covered in each game which is very helpful for teachers and parents.

Kabongo features three different learning habitats; each habitat is broken up into three games that target different skills. Each habitat is offered for a one time flat fee of only $4.95, however you can use the coupon code shown above (LEARN) for free access to everything for a limited time! That’s nine games absolutely free. The habitats are:

Galaxy Gardens
Laughter Lake
Twister Top

How does it work?

Go to Kabongo and click on “play free” at the top of the page.
Next, sign-up to create your free account.
Once you confirm your subscription, log-in and select your habitat to start playing.

Aside from classroom use, Kabongo is also a great resource for parents. Kabongo has many parent friendly features such as a parent dashboard and progress reports delivered directly to your inbox.

Since summer vacation is right around the corner and many parents are looking for rainy day suggestions consider sending out a link to your parents letting them know about Kabongo. Kabongo’s target ages are 4-7 so you can suggest that siblings have a turn too.

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