Happy New Year!
Just when we finally get comfortable writing and saying 2015, it is already time to turn the page of the calendar to 2016! We hope that this new year brings lots of love and learning to all of our students. We are excited to be incorporating new early writing strategies beginning as early as our Infant and Toddler programs.
Our teachers will be undergoing a series of trainings each month that will introduce the latest in writing concepts for early learners. The initial training involved learning why writing is so important. It is found that when writing is introduce in tandem with reading they both become strengthened. Writing does not simple include the ABCs as our teachers have known for quite some time. Writing includes fine motor development, attempting to cross lines when drawing, and using the whole paper when drawing and scribbling among the many more other somewhat subtle cues of early writing.
Our teachers will first be learning about new creative ways to build fine motor skills to help a child’s writing skills and allow it to feel like less of a struggle. You may witness lots of play dough with the addition of various tools; you may see lots of working with clothes pins and golf tees; when you witness children coloring with the tiniest art materials including broken crayons and golf pencils, know that is to encourage fine motor development.
Have a great new year!
From Our Education Department:
Exploring Holiday Traditions from Around the World
The holiday season is here, providing a wealth of opportunities to enrich the children’s understanding of diverse cultures and traditions around the world. In addition, our students will share their own traditions with others.
Below are age appropriate activities that we use in the classroom, as well as activities for you and your child to do at home.
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: As they near the age of two, children begin to recognize the sights and sounds of holidays celebrated by their family. Parents visit our classrooms to share holiday traditions, including unique books, songs and activities.
At home: Gather family photos and point out traditions, such as unwrapping presents, eating holiday dinner at grandma’s house, and making a snowman. Encourage your child to talk about what he sees in the photos.
Recommended reading: Children Around the World Celebrate Christmas by Christine Tangvald, Happy Hanukkah, Corduroy by Don Freeman, My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Children sing holiday songs from around the world and are introduced to holiday symbols that they may see in their communities, such as Christmas trees or Hanukkah menorahs.
At home: Take a drive with your child or bring him to various holiday festivals in your community. Encourage him to look for and identify holiday decorations.
Recommended reading: Christmas Around the World by Calliope Glass, Hanukkah Hop by Erica Silverman, Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa by Donna Washington
PRE-K/PRE-K2 (ages 4-5)
In the classroom: After learning about holiday traditions around the world, our older preschoolers identify countries on a globe. For example, they might learn about Diwali, the festival of lights, and then find India on the globe. They might make tamales, a dish often served on Christmas, and then find Mexico on the globe.
At home: Ask your child to help you prepare your family’s favorite holiday foods. Talk about the long-standing traditions in which these foods are rooted. For instance, you might explain, “I used to bake cookies for the holidays with my mom. Now we can start baking cookies together!”
Recommended reading: Children Just Like Me: Celebrations by Anabel Kindersley, Light the Lights: A Story about Celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas by Margaret Moorman, The Story of Kwanzaa by Mary Washington
Exposing children to various holiday traditions helps them build strong social skills, establish a sense of self, and respect the differences of others as they transition into elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
January News
Happy New Year!
Just when we finally get comfortable writing and saying 2015, it is already time to turn the page of the calendar to 2016! We hope that this new year brings lots of love and learning to all of our students. We are excited to be incorporating new early writing strategies beginning as early as our Infant and Toddler programs.
Our teachers will be undergoing a series of trainings each month that will introduce the latest in writing concepts for early learners. The initial training involved learning why writing is so important. It is found that when writing is introduce in tandem with reading they both become strengthened. Writing does not simple include the ABCs as our teachers have known for quite some time. Writing includes fine motor development, attempting to cross lines when drawing, and using the whole paper when drawing and scribbling among the many more other somewhat subtle cues of early writing.
Our teachers will first be learning about new creative ways to build fine motor skills to help a child’s writing skills and allow it to feel like less of a struggle. You may witness lots of play dough with the addition of various tools; you may see lots of working with clothes pins and golf tees; when you witness children coloring with the tiniest art materials including broken crayons and golf pencils, know that is to encourage fine motor development.
Have a great new year!
From Our Education Department:
Exploring Holiday Traditions from Around the World
The holiday season is here, providing a wealth of opportunities to enrich the children’s understanding of diverse cultures and traditions around the world. In addition, our students will share their own traditions with others.
Below are age appropriate activities that we use in the classroom, as well as activities for you and your child to do at home.
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: As they near the age of two, children begin to recognize the sights and sounds of holidays celebrated by their family. Parents visit our classrooms to share holiday traditions, including unique books, songs and activities.
At home: Gather family photos and point out traditions, such as unwrapping presents, eating holiday dinner at grandma’s house, and making a snowman. Encourage your child to talk about what he sees in the photos.
Recommended reading: Children Around the World Celebrate Christmas by Christine Tangvald, Happy Hanukkah, Corduroy by Don Freeman, My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Children sing holiday songs from around the world and are introduced to holiday symbols that they may see in their communities, such as Christmas trees or Hanukkah menorahs.
At home: Take a drive with your child or bring him to various holiday festivals in your community. Encourage him to look for and identify holiday decorations.
Recommended reading: Christmas Around the World by Calliope Glass, Hanukkah Hop by Erica Silverman, Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa by Donna Washington
PRE-K/PRE-K2 (ages 4-5)
In the classroom: After learning about holiday traditions around the world, our older preschoolers identify countries on a globe. For example, they might learn about Diwali, the festival of lights, and then find India on the globe. They might make tamales, a dish often served on Christmas, and then find Mexico on the globe.
At home: Ask your child to help you prepare your family’s favorite holiday foods. Talk about the long-standing traditions in which these foods are rooted. For instance, you might explain, “I used to bake cookies for the holidays with my mom. Now we can start baking cookies together!”
Recommended reading: Children Just Like Me: Celebrations by Anabel Kindersley, Light the Lights: A Story about Celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas by Margaret Moorman, The Story of Kwanzaa by Mary Washington
Exposing children to various holiday traditions helps them build strong social skills, establish a sense of self, and respect the differences of others as they transition into elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education