Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Welcome!
Welcome to my preschool blog! If you have found this blog, you have probably looked at my portfolio. I am an educator of 14 years, in both public and private settings. You are viewing the blog that I created to inform parents about the happenings at my private preschool, Super Start Preschool.
I took a hiatus from public school teaching in 2004 to start my own preschool and be more available to my young family. When we moved to Michigan in 2011, I was ready to re-enter the realm of public school teaching. I have spent the past year substituting in Saline Area Schools and volunteering on the PTA.
I have enjoyed the new friendships I have made through schools here in Michigan. As for this blog, I hope you like what you see!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
a move
It has been a while since my last blog post....after finishing the 2011 school year with a mother's day tea, and a fabulous graduation, my life took a drastic turn--My husband decided to take a career leap and go to law school! This drastic change in our lives required a move across the country, and the closing down of my beloved preschool. As I have pondered what to do going forward, I have decided that this blog is going to morph into something a little different, just as my life has. I am looking forward to the change!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
oohh la la, it's Valentines Day!
We had a blast celebrating Valentines Day! Candy hearts and messages to the people you love are hallmarks of this holiday. We got to go to the heart of Valentines---the post office! We learned all about how the mail gets there, sorting it, and then we mailed our own postcard home.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
All seasons of the year are nice . . .
for eating CHICKEN SOUP WITH RICE. This is one of my favorite preschool traditions! This book of months, by Maurice Sendak (most known for Where the Wild Things Are) is a classic. Scroll down for my secret recipe;)
Easy Chicken Soup with Rice
4 c. chicken broth (you can use boullion)
1 c. cooked rice (or 3/4 c. minute rice)
1 c. cooked chicken
1 carrot, sliced
1 celery stalk, sliced
Warm through and serve with crackers or bread.
Easiest Chicken Soup with Rice (!)
1 can Campbell's Chicken Soup with Rice
1 can water
Warm through and serve with crackers or bread.
(even preschool teachers can share their magic!)
Easy Chicken Soup with Rice
4 c. chicken broth (you can use boullion)
1 c. cooked rice (or 3/4 c. minute rice)
1 c. cooked chicken
1 carrot, sliced
1 celery stalk, sliced
Warm through and serve with crackers or bread.
Easiest Chicken Soup with Rice (!)
1 can Campbell's Chicken Soup with Rice
1 can water
Warm through and serve with crackers or bread.
(even preschool teachers can share their magic!)
Monday, January 10, 2011
Merry Christmas!
Christmas is always fun, but this year was exceptional - Pancakes, decorating Christmas trees, and the gift exchange. Santa Mouse came this year and left a special treat AND new Potato Head toys and dress ups. It was a great month. All of the special gifts and cards were so sweet and thoughtful. Thank you for a wonderful Christmas season!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
We are THANKFUL for our Preschool Neighbors!
To go along with our Farms and Barns theme, and our character education theme of Thankfulness, our friendship baskets were a hit! Thank you for sending a piece of fruit to include in the baskets. We learned about wheat and making bread, then visited our preschool neighbors to share our fruit and bread. This was a fun day for everyone.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
A new school year!
September was magical this year! It has been great to get to know your children and to see them progressing in their learning already. One of my favorite things to see is when children play "pretend." This is a skill your child needs to have in place to help them be a better learner. As they navigate their environment and pretend together, they learn to get along, problem solve, and work out their tender feelings. Enjoy this little known benefit of a preschool education!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
.............silvery slimy slug
There are always interesting things in our garden. On the last day of school, my preschoolers found a slug. We took turns holding it and looking at it and examining the slimy trail it leaves as it moves along. This is why I love to teach preschool! Your children are so inquisitive about the world around them and their curiosity is inspiring. Thank you for sharing your little ones with me!
Friday, April 9, 2010
The Spectrum - Parenting: Is Preschool for your child?
This article was published in The Spectrum, Sunday April 4, 2010, by Doreen Nagle. I thought it was timely, with preschool registration occurring as I write this! As I read the article, I felt confident in the answers I could give;)
Parenting: Is preschool for your child?
If your child is reaching that magic age where preschool is becoming a consideration, you are likely getting lots of advice about whether or not you should enroll him. Rest assured that most early childhood experts say that a truly good preschool will do a superb job of preparing your child for kindergarten and beyond. What's needed on your part is to find a preschool that will enable your child to flourish.
1. Do not confuse daycare with preschool: Daycare is a valuable service provided to parents who cannot otherwise care for their children (age infant and up) due to work and other commitments or conditions. While a good daycare facility will do more than just "babysit" your child, most are primarily in the business to assure you peace of mind about safety and your child's daily needs. Anything else is gravy. Preschools on the other hand - while also caring for your child's safety and basic needs - are in the business of teaching 3 and 4 year old children in a stimulating way.
2. Call all the preschools you are interested in and ask for a tour or to attend an open house. Survey the general condition of the space. Is it in good repair? Are there smoke detectors? Do teachers have cell phones in the event of an emergency? Review the curriculum and learn how the daily schedule integrates that curriculum. Is there lots of light, music and colorful toys to play with in good repair? Plenty of books easily accessible? How do teachers greet the children as they come into the classroom each day? Do they get them involved in an activity right away? How many hours per week will your child be attending? How is free or creative play fostered and is there room in the schedule for art and music? Are teachers certified? Do they get continuing education on the newest teaching techniques?
3. How will your child's motor skills be strengthened? Is there a well-tended outside space or frequent trips to a local park or other play spaces? Are there scooters, tricycles, ball play to develop large motor skills? Will your child handle puzzles and drawing implements to strengthen small motor skills?
4. Socialization is an important component of preschool. How do teachers integrate a shy child? How are conficts resolved? What about discipline? (Spanking is never acceptable). How are birthday parties handled? Some schools require children to invite all classmates even if the party is outside of school.
5. How will you be kept informed of your child's day and how can you communicate with your child's teacher? E-mail and other technological advances are wonderful if your teacher will actually use them daily. Is there a Webcam you can check during the day? When you are on school grounds, can you see into the classroom without going in - which interrupts activities?
Parenting: Is preschool for your child?
If your child is reaching that magic age where preschool is becoming a consideration, you are likely getting lots of advice about whether or not you should enroll him. Rest assured that most early childhood experts say that a truly good preschool will do a superb job of preparing your child for kindergarten and beyond. What's needed on your part is to find a preschool that will enable your child to flourish.
1. Do not confuse daycare with preschool: Daycare is a valuable service provided to parents who cannot otherwise care for their children (age infant and up) due to work and other commitments or conditions. While a good daycare facility will do more than just "babysit" your child, most are primarily in the business to assure you peace of mind about safety and your child's daily needs. Anything else is gravy. Preschools on the other hand - while also caring for your child's safety and basic needs - are in the business of teaching 3 and 4 year old children in a stimulating way.
2. Call all the preschools you are interested in and ask for a tour or to attend an open house. Survey the general condition of the space. Is it in good repair? Are there smoke detectors? Do teachers have cell phones in the event of an emergency? Review the curriculum and learn how the daily schedule integrates that curriculum. Is there lots of light, music and colorful toys to play with in good repair? Plenty of books easily accessible? How do teachers greet the children as they come into the classroom each day? Do they get them involved in an activity right away? How many hours per week will your child be attending? How is free or creative play fostered and is there room in the schedule for art and music? Are teachers certified? Do they get continuing education on the newest teaching techniques?
3. How will your child's motor skills be strengthened? Is there a well-tended outside space or frequent trips to a local park or other play spaces? Are there scooters, tricycles, ball play to develop large motor skills? Will your child handle puzzles and drawing implements to strengthen small motor skills?
4. Socialization is an important component of preschool. How do teachers integrate a shy child? How are conficts resolved? What about discipline? (Spanking is never acceptable). How are birthday parties handled? Some schools require children to invite all classmates even if the party is outside of school.
5. How will you be kept informed of your child's day and how can you communicate with your child's teacher? E-mail and other technological advances are wonderful if your teacher will actually use them daily. Is there a Webcam you can check during the day? When you are on school grounds, can you see into the classroom without going in - which interrupts activities?
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