Pre-K / Kindergarten
Orientation Information
University of Michigan - Dearborn
Early Childhood Education Center
Welcome to our class!
ECEC Garden August 2013
Suzette Zoia, Catherine Stone
and Ashley Atanosian
and Ashley Atanosian
szoia@umich.edu
ckurtjia@umich.edu
aatanosi@umich.edu
ckurtjia@umich.edu
aatanosi@umich.edu
313-593-5424
Medicine Procedure:
What to Bring to School
Please label everything your child brings to school with your child’s full name.
- A backpack to hold your child’s personal belongings. Please make sure that it is clearly labeled with child’s name.
- Accidents happen and we get messy. Keeping an extra change of clothing in your child’s backpack will make them feel most comfortable. Please make sure that each article of clothing is labeled with your child’s name.
- Soft, cuddly things may be brought for rest time. Books are also a great rest time activity. Please label things from home with your child’s name.
- Please dress your child for the very unpredictable weather and possible changes. We know that is not easy to anticipate the weather being we live in Michigan. We go outside every single day unless the temperature is well below 20°F or the weather is dangerous (lightning, etc.). If it is raining we still have the opportunity to go out under the awning. Mittens make independent dressing easier, but we will work with you to help your child learn to put on gloves independently. It is most important mittens or gloves be snow/water resistant as we go out several times per day. Snowpants keep your child warm and dry.
- With the warm weather the children need to be drinking lots of water to stay hydrated. Please send in a water bottle, clearly labeled with your child’s name, each day. We will refill the water bottles with water from our fountain as needed throughout the day. At the end of the day, please take the water bottles home to be washed and refilled for the next day. Your participation will not only help your child establish a healthy routine of drinking water through this practice, it will help conserve resources and keep cups from blowing around our playground.
- We love looking at all our families and talking about them. Please add to our family photo display. Bring in a framed picture to display in our class.
- The children need to have safe shoes for the playground. The ECEC requires that the whole foot be covered securely with shoes that are suited for running, for example: tennis shoes. If you send your child to school in sandals, Crocs, or flip-flops, please have them bring a pair of shoes for the playground. Climbing on the structure, riding bikes and scooters, even running in the woodchips, require covered feet for safety. Flip-flops, Crocs, and sandals do not provide protection. If your child doesn’t have proper shoes they will be directed to play in the sandbox or at a less physical activity. Boots are imperative for snow and mud. The children will change back into indoor shoes after going outside to keep the wet and dirt from covering our floor. Rain Boots fabulous for keeping feet dry. Our playground is famously muddy. It is great fun and rain boots insure the children can enjoy our playground.
- As we all know, bike helmets are an important way to keep children safe. In my heart (Ms. Zoia), I believe that wearing a helmet every time is the way to impress the importance upon children in a way that will last until their teens, at least that is my hope, as well as give them the most protection. Please send a bike helmet in for your child to use when riding our bikes at school. It may make the most sense to bring it back and forth from home in their backpack. While the ECEC has only trikes, the children at this age cycle quite speedily. Licensing rules do not require a helmet, but they do not allow us to share helmets. I encourage you to send one in if riding is important to your child and label it with their name.
- If you child enjoys having a warm lunch, please send food in a thermos.
Nutritional Lunches
Nutritional lunches are important for children to grow healthy and strong. They are also important to help children function throughout the day and foster learning.
Helping to support healthy eaters will also encourage children to continue healthy eating habits throughout life. Balanced lunches include a small amount from several food groups. You child will be encouraged to eat what you send and take home what they do not finish, so please send only what you expect your child to eat. Lunch is from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. for the children in the full day program. Lowfat milk is provided with lunch.
Once our class list is finalized, notification of allergies and restrictions impacting the room will be made to all families.
Nutritional Suggestions:
- Proteins & Dairy
- Cheese, cottage cheese
- Turkey
- Peanut Butter (may be restricted depending on allergies)
- Hard boiled eggs
- Tuna or egg salad
- Leftovers
- Chicken
- Tofu
- Beans and rice
- Yogurt
- Fruits & Vegetables
- Celery
- Apples
- Carrot Sticks
- Oranges
- Cucumbers
- Pears
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Peaches
- Pickles
- Raisins
- Grapes, cut in half lengthwise please
- Whole Grain Ideas:
- Granola bars (may be restricted depending on allergies)
- Cereal
- Muffins
- Oatmeal
- Pastas
- Rice
- Popcorn
- Tortillas, breads, bagels
- Tortilla chips
Lunches should be placed on the small square table by the kitchen door in our classroom upon arrival at school. A date label which we provide needs to be attached each day. This is a great task for your child to develop their independent sense of responsibility. A teacher will put it in the refrigerator. Lunch box love notes to your children are great literacy moments! (Please see ECEC policy about sending 100% juice.)
Please make sure your child’s full name is clearly marked on the outside of the lunchbox. Noting food allergies on the outside is also helpful for easy seating arrangements.
Healthy Lunch Options That Can Be Served Cold
Healthy Lunch Options That Can Be Served Cold
Warm lunch options:
Option One:
Families can place the warm portion of their child's lunch on the counter in our kitchen as they arrive. The lunch box containing cold items can continue to be put on the cart outside the classroom. Food will be warmed in the oven and delivered to the classroom. If you'd like to take advantage of this option, please be sure to use an oven safe container and to label your child's food with a name and a room number. Food to be warmed MUST be put on the kitchen cart as teachers will not be checking lunch boxes or warming food in the classrooms.
Option Two:
This warmer can be plugged into the classroom kitchen.
Option Three:
Procedures and Routines
Drop off and Pick up:
- The classroom door opens at 8:00 a.m. Morning drop off is until 8:30 a.m. as Kindergarten begins at 8:30 a.m. sharp in order to meet state educational guides. If your Pre-K student arrives after 8:30, please help your child to enter and join us once their morning arrival routine is completed. Full day Kindergarten ends at 3:30 p.m. unless a schedule is arranged in advance for your child to stay until 5:00 p.m. Full day Pre-K ends at 5:00 p.m. Late pick–ups will be billed according to the ECEC policy.
- Please remember that school ends at 5:00 p.m. If you are not here by 5:00 p.m. your child will be brought to the Extended Care in the gross motor room. Late pick–ups will be billed accordingly.
- When dropping off and picking up your child, please remember to sign in and out. Including the time and phone number where you will be helps us to comply with licensing regulations and provides the safest environment for your child.
- Your help is needed to guide your child to wash hands upon arrival and assist them when needed. In order to keep germs and viruses at bay this is a mandatory part of our day. Hand sanitizers are not a substitute for washing hands at school. We will encourage frequent hand washing throughout the day. It would be wise to have your child wash hands before you leave for home also.
Sunscreen and Insect Repellent:
- Sunscreen will be applied daily when the UV warrants it. For one annual fee, we will supply Avon's Skin-so-Soft sunscreen with SPF30 and bug repellent. See medicine procedure below if you wish to supply your own sunscreen or insect repellent.
Medicine Procedure:
- Medicine to be distributed at school MUST be in the original container and have the child’s name clearly labeled on it. Parent/Guardian must fill out an orange medication form. All medicine must be given to lead teacher or staff to be kept in a locked place. Medicine cannot be kept in backpacks or lunch boxes. This includes over the counter items such as lotions, sunscreens, cough drops, etc.
Injury Forms:
- Bumps and bruises may occur during the day and will be written up on an “Injury Form”. Injury forms will be taped to your child’s cubbie tag at pick up time. Please sign and return the white copy before you leave for home.
Rest Time Procedures:
- Rest time begins immediately after lunch. Children will be reminded to use the bathroom before resting on their mat. Children will be provided a rest mat. Having a blanket from home encourages the child to rest well.
- Resting means staying on the mat to rest mind and body without talking. Lights will be out and calm music will be played. Children will be given a choice of several relaxing activities (puzzle, book, etc.) to do on their mat after resting for 30 minutes until rest time is over at 1:30 p.m. Those children who still sleep will rest in the quietest area to sleep. The door will be closed to ensure safety and a tranquil atmosphere. The door reopens at 1:30 p.m.
- Children can bring rest time blankets, small pillows, books, or stuffed animals to rest with. Things brought from home need to fit inside the child’s backpack and go home daily for laundering as needed. If the child attends five days per week, rest things may stay in the cubbie until Friday at which time they must go home for laundering if laundering hasn't been need prior in the week.
- Teachers may assist children in resting their bodies by reading a story to them or rubbing their backs if the child requests.
Birthdays:
- Birthdays are very important to the children. We will recognize birthdays by singing “Happy Birthday” at Group Time. If you would like to celebrate with your child at school, we welcome you to read a book to the class or share some special time with us. Please refer to the Parent Handbook page for more details if you wish to send something into the class. Due to high numbers of allergies, food may not be shared. Birthday party invitations should only be put in cubbies if the entire class is invited. This certainly is not expected. Please discuss more discreet options with the teachers for inviting your child’s friends from school in order to keep non-school events outside of the classroom. Thanks for your understanding.
Family Participation:
- We love having parents and family members spend time in our classroom. Please let us know when you want to come in and visit. Children love when parents come in to do an activity or read a story with their friends. Family members often provide great opportunities for in-class field trips with experts such as dental hygienists, engineers, knitters, musicians, etc. What would you like to share with us?
Daily Curriculum Sheet:
- When picking up your child, please look for the postings near the sign-in table, on the board in the hallway, and watch for blog postings. The lesson plan book will hang near the sign-in table. This will list all the morning and afternoon activities for the day. This is a great way to begin conversations with your child about their day. If you missed any days and want to know what we have been up to, please peek in the sign-in table drawer.
Cubbies:
- Children share cubbies. They share the long bottom part for coats and snowpants. The small squares above are for their work or smaller items. Backpacks should be hung on the wheeled "backpack" rack. Boots should be put on the boot trays in the Welcome Area. Please encourage your child to put their mittens/gloves in their hat and then put their hat bundle into their sleeve. This will promote responsibility and independence when it comes time to get dressed to go back outside.
Children Sign In:
- There is a sign in sheet for the children to sign in everyday! Please encourage your child to sign in independently. This will foster the importance of print and support writing skills.
Questions or Comments for Lead Teachers:
- There is a sticky-note pad on the sign-in table on which to write daily messages to the teachers. Hand it to any teacher to give to one of us if we are not available. These messages will be put in our teacher communication book so that all who care for your child will be informed about the day.
- Email is a great way to communicate with us, also. We will check our emails at lunch and again before the end of the day.
- Phone messages may be left at the front desk and one of us will return your call as soon as possible, usually at lunch.
Opening the doors:
It is classroom policy that only adults open doors. The children are given independence in many areas, but opening doors and gates is limited to adults in order to keep the children from going to an area without an adult. We hope that it will make them stop before going before into the parking lot or other areas where safety is a concern. Please encourage your child’s independence in ways other than opening the doors.
Reggio-Emilia Approach
This philosophy influences our curriculum in the following ways:
- Children are unique, capable and full of potential.
- The environment is the third teacher— provoking materials and surroundings encourage children’s curiosity and learning.
- Children’s inquisitiveness is supported as an emergent curriculum integrates appropriate learning concepts within their interests.
- Concrete explorations provide meaningful learning experiences.
- An open-ended time frame allows for in-depth study.
- Multiple forms of representation make learning visible and provide opportunities for all children to be successful.
- Parent and community involvement is welcomed and encouraged.
Curriculum
- Kindergarten curriculum is aligned with State of Michigan’s adoption of the Common Core State Standards Initiative (Math & Language Arts) and Grade Level Content Expectations (Science & Social Studies pending new standards format).
- Pre-K curriculum is aligned with standards of National Association for the Education of Young Child for developmentally appropriate practice.
- Play and hands-on exploration opportunities provide meaningful learning experiences based on constructivist theories.
- Curriculum meets each child where they are at developmentally in order to promote exploration of concepts at many and varied levels
Learning Explorations
Each of these areas will be explored daily in planned lessons and self-initiated play.
Math
Literacy
Science
Social Studies
Art / Music / Dramatic Play
Technology
Sensory Exploration
Assessments
- All children up to 60 months: Ages and Stages
- All children: Michigan Literacy Progress Profile
- Pre-K: Portfolio and Developmental Summary (TS Gold)
- Kindergarten: Portfolio and Developmental Report Card
Thank you for sharing your child with us. We look forward to a fabulous year of fun and learning as we work together in educating your most precious child.
Ms. Zoia, Mrs. Stone and Ms. Ashley
Pre-K/Kindergarten Daily Schedule
7:30-8:00 Early Drop-off in gross motor room
8:00-9:00 Drop off, child responsibilities followed by
self-initiated activities
9:00-9:30 Clean up, morning assembly - calendar,
stretching, introduce explorations
9:30-10:30 Morning explorations including snack
10:45-11:15 Clean up, large group
11:15-11:30 Small literacy groups
11:30-12:00 Gross motor
12:00-12:15 Read aloud, set up for lunch
12:15-12:45 Lunch
12:45-1:15 Rest
1:15-1:30 Self initiated play, clean up, sunscreen
1:30-2:00 Gross motor
2:00-2:30 Large group, writing mini lesson, journal
writing
2:30-3:30 Afternoon explorations including snack
3:30-4:00 Kindergarten pick-up
4:00-5:00 Self initiated play
5:00 Full day pre-k pick-up / extended day
kindergarten pick-up
5:00-5:30 Pre-arranged late stay in gross motor
room