The first two weeks of school your children will be working hard on learning and practicing many “getting ready for school” skills.  Some of these skills are:

 

1.      Carrying a tray in front of their tummy using two hands and walking slowly and carefully.

2.      Using two hands to roll up their work rugs, nice and neat.

3.      Using two hands to fold their work mats neatly.

4.      Pushing in their chair when they get up from the table.

5.      To come and tap the teacher gently when they need help or want to talk.

6.      Raising their hand when they wish to speak at group time.

7.      To stop what they are doing and put work away when the teacher turns on the music box.

8.      To make sure all of the materials on their work tray are beautiful and organized before putting it away.

9.      Returning their work tray to the correct shelf when they are finished.

10.  To remember to place their bathroom tag on the door when going into the bathroom, and then returning the tag to the board when leaving.

11.  To walk around work mats and rugs on the floor, so they don’t step on another persons work.

12.  To place themselves on the floor, not on their work mat or rug.

13.  To have their hands touching their body or clasped in front or back when watching others work, so as not to disturb their work.

14.  To treat the materials carefully and respectfully.

15.  To use an “inside voice” in the classroom, and an “outside voice” on the playground or in the gym.

16.  To use “walking feet” in the classroom, and “running feet” on the playground or in the gym.

17.  To treat our friends like we would like to be treated.

 

We hope you are as proud as we are of the skills the children are trying to master.  Feel free to reinforce the activities at home.

 

In addition to the above skills, the children will be introduced to activities in the Practical Life and Sensorial areas of the classrooms.  Practical Life includes exercises related to the care of self, care of the environment, social graces, and control of movement.  Sensorial activities give the children an opportunity to refine all their senses.  Math and Language activities are introduced after a good foundation is set in the first two areas.  Our returning students will soon begin work in the math and language areas.

 

Most of the student’s school work is “hands-on” and there will be nothing to take home.  Some art work or pencil work may occasionally be placed by the child in his/her cubbie to be taken home.  HOWEVER, tree books, inset (shape) books, animal books, etc. are not to go home until completed and checked by a teacher.  Feel free to ask your child to check his/her cubbie for anything that is ready to go home, but PLEASE DO NOT remove their work yourself.  We are working with the children to teach respect for each other’s personal space, work and belongings.  Help us to show them that we, also, follow this courtesy.

 

After the first week and half, snack time will progress from a group snack to an individual snack that the children serve themselves when they are hungry.  Soon this activity will involve some simple preparation such as slicing or spreading.

 

The children will go out on the playground for 25 to 30 minutes daily if the temperature is above 32 degrees, and the weather is not exceptionally windy or wet.  Please send appropriate outerwear as the weather gets cooler.  When the weather is bad, the children will have music, movement, or play in the playroom.

 

In addition to individual work with the alphabet, the children are introduced to one letter per week during circle time.  We talk about the name of the letter, how it appears upper case and lower case, and the sound the letter makes.  We will also be learning the letter in sign language.  The circle time lessons are short, but some children will be more ready than others to participate in the discussion. If your child is interested in doing so, he/she may bring an object or picture from home that begins with the sound of the week.  Please remember NO toys or weapons.

 

Our September schedule of letters will be:

 

                       September 13 -17 will be A a (short sound as in “apple”)

                       September 20 - 24 will be M m

                       September 27 – October 1 will be S s

 

Circle time discussion in September will also include the color “blue”, the shape “circle”, and the numeral “1”.  We will listen to folk music this month, using as an example, “Puff, the Magic Dragon” by Peter, Paul and Mary.  Our art print is “The Harvest” by Vincent Van Gogh.  Our “Fruit of the Spirit” topic will be LOVE.   ”Biscuit” author Alyssa Satin Capucilli will be our special author for the month.

 

We will be talking about fall, plants, Johnny Appleseed, feelings, our five senses, tree parts and hamster parts.  The children will be able to do a tree book and hamster book, if they choose to do one.  We will also be introducing Science materials to the children.  They will be able to do some experimenting and discovering with rocks, crystals, things that are heavy and light, Find It! Cylinder and the Creature Peeper viewfinder.  They will be learning to use a magnifying glass and scale for their discoveries.

 

We want to thank you parents for your interest in our program.  It is a wonderful opportunity and an important responsibility to be working with your child.  We look forward to nine months of learning and growth.

 

Your Genesis Teachers

 

Deb Debban

Nancy Pearson

Blanca Lowe

 

REMINDER:

 

*Parent Orientation Night on Monday, September 27^th at  7:00 PM (Parents Only)

                

 

 

If you would like more information about our school, you may call Deb Debban, Director at 524-1675 (home), or  525-2215 (school).

 

Have a fun and safe summer!