Welcome to Cricket Cove 2010-2011
We are starting our 11th year of Cricket Cove Preschool. I welcome new adventures as the year unfolds. I especially look forward to my partnership with families for the education of the young children of the Hancock School.
I have found that promoting learning through “play” is active learning in practice. Every child is a precious gift. Every child is an individual. I thank you in advance for sharing your child and family with me in Cricket Cove.
Be on the lookout for a “Welcome to School” postcard in the middle of August.
Our preschool curriculum of learning through “play” embraces the following key areas:
Circle Time: During this time the Crickets are expected to attend as a whole group while seated on our castle rug. We discuss and actively participate in reading the calendar, discussing the daily events on our schedule, classroom jobs, and singing or reading a poem related to our weekly theme.
Table Top Activity: During this time a teacher-guided activity is placed out for the children to explore, create, manipulate, and complete individually or in small groups. Pre-k academic skills are experienced and addressed through the learning of letters and number sense. These activities develop and enhance the child’s eye-hand coordination, small motor development, visual discrimination, sorting skills, classifying ability, and language communication skills.
Playtime: During this time each child has the opportunity to independently explore the variety of “centers” in Cricket Cove. The child may choose to play independently and/or in small groups. Language skills as well as social skills are the key goals for these experiences. The child has free choice of the following areas to engage in (just to name a few): water/sand tables, games, puzzles, listening to books on tape, quiet reading in the pool, pretend play in the kitchen/store/dress up/puppet theatre/school bus, flannel board storytelling, building with blocks/gears/trains/legos, painting, word wall, and cars on the town mat.
Snack time: We enjoy and learn about healthy snacks and beverages, provided by the school. The child is encouraged to independently gather and set out needed utensils onto personalized mats.
Story time: Each day stories of varied genre are read or reread to the children. We also learn finger plays, songs, and poems to go along with our theme. Once a week a child has the opportunity to read one of their take home books to the class or with Mrs. D. Children are encouraged to have a journal reflection page for a favorite part of the story (refer to Student Reader Information Sheet, which is sent home at the start of the year).
Recess: Indoor or Outdoor large motor activities take place daily. Please be certain your child has appropriate clothing and footwear for climbing, running, jumping, and changing weather conditions. Sneakers are a must, as well as shorts and skorts for active play.
Homework: This is a new area where the Crickets will have an opportunity to take home an activity or game to experience at home each week. This activity is an extended learning experience reflective of our adventures at Cricket Cove. Comments and or concerns are welcome (refer to information sheet sent home at the start of the school year).
In closing, please feel free to contact me any time at 413-441-9026.
Angela DelSordo