Kyrene School District

Meet Our Staff Special Preschool T eacher Special Education Preschool T eacher Jennifer Bell Bachelors Special Education & Elementary Education Early Childhood Endorsement M.Ed. Curriculum and Instruction Speech/Language Pathologist Speech/Language Pathologist Cheryl Davis Bachelors Elementary Education Masters Clinical Speech Pathology Instructional Assistants Instructional Assistants Lori Holmen Tricia Mante Cerritos Preschool Staff

District Specialists Director of Special Education Shari Dukes Lead Preschool Teacher Lori Conroy Administrative Assistant Becky Lugo Occupational Therapist Dawn Bjornson Assistive Technology Specialist Hannah Jones- AT Teacher

Each day there are three adults for approximately 18 students 1 Highly Qualified Teacher in Special Education and Early Childhood 2 instructional assistants that have extensive training Speech Language Pathologist/Therapist 1 day a week (Thursday) Staff Ratio and Hours

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.

About the Program Focus: *School Readiness Perks: *Language Based * Ages 3-5 * Integrated * Range of abilities Provides: *Early Intervention Services

Program Philosophy ¤ Play Based ¤ Developmentally Appropriate ¤ Child Directed Play ¤ Integration-children learn from each other ¤ Clear Routines and Expectations ¤ Based on Whole Child Social/Emotional Language Skills Cognitive Fine and Gross Motor Self-Help Skills

Role of Typical Peer  Provide appropriate models for speech and language, behavior, etc.  Develop friendships and love of learning  Support Peers in learning activities  Typical peers learn respect and appreciation for diversity.

Daily Schedule Circle Time Circle Time Small Group Instruction Small Group Instruction Child Directed Play (1 hour) Child Directed Play (1 hour) Snack Time Snack Time Story Time Story Time Gross Motor Play (30 minutes) Gross Motor Play (30 minutes) Closing Circle Time 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 Manipulative # Math Center # Science Center # Language Center # Dramatic Play Center # Music Center # Writing Center # Blocks and Building Center

1.Social/Emotional 2.Approaches to Learning 3.Language and Literacy 4.Mathematics 5.Science 6.Social Studies 7.Physical Development 8.Health and Safety 9.Fine Arts Arizona State Standards for Early Childhood (Standards guide our instruction)

Preschool Curriculum The curriculum is divided into 8 major themes for the year. (Each theme lasts for 1 month) 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

Founding Principles of BIG DAY (correlate with the AZ State Standards for Early Childhood) 1. Integrated Learning- learning experiences that integrate all domains social-emotional, language and literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, arts, and physical development. 2. Language Development- language development provided through modeling and reinforcing conversation, vocabulary, and sentence structures across social and academic settings. 3. Social-Emotional Development- focuses on developing behaviors and traits that will enable them to function productively and collaboratively in school and society. 4. Responsive Instruction- focus on preparing children for success in school by monitoring progress and providing responsive instruction based on need for individuals and small groups. 5. Partner with Families- promotes partnership and communication with families and extends children’s learning at home.

Preschool Curriculum The Big Day program has a parent portal. Please take the information on the table home with you.

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

Progress Reports Conferences will be held in October for all students. Parents will receive a written report of progress in January and May. Parents will either be receiving a Teaching Strategies Gold Report and/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

7 Habits Habit 1-Be Proactive (your 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 (everyone wins) Habit 5-Seek First to Understand then to be understood (listen before you speak) Habit 6- Synergize (together is better) Habit 7-Sharpen the Saw (have a balance) We believe that every child possesses leadership skills.

Open lines of communication between parents and teacher Tax Credit Donation See link on district web page Volunteer Guest reader Preparation work Donation of requested items Wish List Newsletter Ways to Support Preschool Program

Closing End of the Day Song Before you Leave… Draw a picture for your child and leave it on the table. We will deliver it to them from our classroom mailbox tomorrow. Please find your child’s photo on the back cabinet and take it home. Check out the Class Wish List