Classroom Activities
Arrival:
Children arrive at preschool; are greeted by one of the teachers; find their cubby; put their belongings away; wash hands; move their attendance card; complete the game on the round table; and find an activity to do. The parent signs the child in on the sign in form. We suggest that parents establish a routine to say goodbye.
Large group opening:
The children gather at the group time area and begin with the hello song, check attendance to see who is absent (helps children identify friends in class), check the calendar for upcoming special events, read a story, and check special activities for the day.
Learning center time:
The children select activities in any of the learning centers in the preschool. The adults facilitate the play activities. The children participate in the planned art activity during this time. The children participate in individual or small group activities relating to skill development.
Individual and small group activities:
Children will develop preschool readiness or Kindergarten readiness skills by participating in individual or small group activities. The children will also participate in The Developmental Activities Project - the Math program used in Kindergarten in the Grinnell-Newburg Community School District. Our goal is to familiarize the children with the basic rules of the program, to help them learn to work individually with the materials and to become accustomed with the questioning process that encourages them to think about what they are doing with the materials. Children will also participate in the Handwriting Without Tears preschool program. Our goal is to help children develop the fine motor skills needed in Kindergarten.
Clean up:
The children stop playing and gather at the group time area. Children are assigned to clean up specific areas.
Large group activity:
The children participate in a large group activity and take turns washing their hands for snack. Children pass out cups, napkins, and snack at this time.
Snack:
The children sit at tables with adults and interact socially while eating a nutritious snack. Self help skills such as pouring, spreading, cutting, and using manners are developed during this time. Children are responsible for cleaning up their own materials.
Books:
When children are finished eating, they take care of their snack materials and wash their hands. They go to the library area and find a book to look at, on their own or with an adult, until all children are finished with their snacks.
Small group activities:
Children will be divided into small groups to play games that work on readiness skills
Large group closing:
The children review what happened during the preschool session and preview the next session and upcoming events.
Outside play and learning:
The children improve large muscle development and social skills on the equipment on the playground. There will be several planned learning activities for children who want to participate. We go outside every day, weather permitting. In the winter, please send boots, hats, mittens, and snow pants that are labeled with each child's name.
Dismissal:
The children will have their materials to take home in the plastic tub in the top of their cubby. The person picking up the child must sign the child out on the sign out form.
For additional information contact:
Karen Veerhusen-Langerud at veerhuse@grinnell.edu
or (641) 269-3320; 1207 Park Street, Grinnell, IA 50112.
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