"Real Preschool" Ugghh

[melskids]

where we used to live, i had a mom leave to put her son in a "real" preschool.

turns out it was "just" a daycare too. its name was little professors, so she thought it was a school. turns out i did WAY more then she did, but when mom wanted to come back, whoops, i was full

[SunflowerMama]

Oh they get documentation
I do a monthly newsletter that highlights our weekly themes and our learning goals for the month. Included is a book-list that correlates to our themes in case they want to check out the same books. They get the new songs/fingerplays that we'll be learning. They get copies of our Kids in the Kitchen recipes that we'll be making together.

Every Friday, they get a "WOW What a Week!" Summary that shows what we did in each of 12 learning focus areas (ABC, 123, Color, Shape, Gross Motor, Fine Motor, etc)

Every day in their backpacks the kids have their free-art projects, Handwriting without Tears packet, Funpage of the day (dot-to-dot, maze, color in the number, etc), their binder with alphabet pages that we add a new letter page in each week, their "I Ate My Alphabet" folder, as well as other themed crafts and papers that we do each day (patterning, sorting, graphing etc)

At pick-up time each day, I make a point to have the kids share some tid-bit of what we discovered together each day. This week, we're learning with magnets - so today at pick-up, the kids will be sharing the discovery box where they can show mom and dad what items are attracted to a magnet, and which aren't.

I don't know how much more documentation the parents need to know what the kids are learning with me. I KNOW it's not me - or my program here. It's just seems to be the peer pressure parents get to have their kid in a real preschool.

What you do is awesome!! That's sad the parents don't appreciate it. I use Mother Goose and do a weekly report with basic info but I'd love to add something like your "Wow What a Week" summary that details out the learning in each of the different skills areas. I'd love to see what it looks like if you're ok with that and could maybe pm me a copy. I send home daily crafts and always some peice of free art that they did during the day but I'd love something to help them really see what their kids are learning here.

[DCMomOf3]

What you do is awesome!! That's sad the parents don't appreciate it. I use Mother Goose and do a weekly report with basic info but I'd love to add something like your "Wow What a Week" summary that details out the learning in each of the different skills areas. I'd love to see what it looks like if you're ok with that and could maybe pm me a copy. I send home daily crafts and always some peice of free art that they did during the day but I'd love something to help them really see what their kids are learning here.

I would too actually.

[SunflowerMama]

I recently did a kinder readiness assessment checklist that I gave to the parents. I figure I will do this a couple times a year so they are aware of their child's progress towards kinder and also so they see that their children are learning something at my preschool and not just being taken care of.

Busy Mom - What kinder readiness assessment are you using with your dcks? I'd love to start doing this as well.

[lvt77]

Have any of you tired zoo phonics? I teach here as well. No one DCK has left yet, but one kid will leave this fall for kinder. Some of my parents were saying stuff about needing preschool, so I panicked and shopped around ideas to get them to stay...

The zoo phonics program is fantastic.. The kids pick it up sooooo fast, its amazing. every single one of my parents are so impressed by it. In fact I has a DCD tell me this morning that this 2.5 year old daughter keeps pointing out all of the letters as they drive in the car and make the sounds of the letters. Heres the kicker, she has not even been here for 3 weeks..
I will be attending a workshop this spring and cant wait.
This program is great check it out..

[SunflowerMama]

Have any of you tired zoo phonics? I teach here as well. No one DCK has left yet, but one kid will leave this fall for kinder. Some of my parents were saying stuff about needing preschool, so I panicked and shopped around ideas to get them to stay...

The zoo phonics program is fantastic.. The kids pick it up sooooo fast, its amazing. every single one of my parents are so impressed by it. In fact I has a DCD tell me this morning that this 2.5 year old daughter keeps pointing out all of the letters as they drive in the car and make the sounds of the letters. Heres the kicker, she has not even been here for 3 weeks..
I will be attending a workshop this spring and cant wait.
This program is great check it out..

I think I'm going to try out zoo phonics and see how the kids like it. My twins are 4 and then I have 4 other 4 year olds so we're definitely in kindergaten readiness mode and I think this is something they may really enjoy. Did you just get the Essentials starter pack ($38)?

[lvt77]

I think I'm going to try out zoo phonics and see how the kids like it. My twins are 4 and then I have 4 other 4 year olds so we're definitely in kindergaten readiness mode and I think this is something they may really enjoy. Did you just get the Essentials starter pack ($38)?

so its a little expensive and confusing. there are parent packs that are sold through a different company and then there are teacher packs for larger groups.

I am a small group so I went with the $38 parent card set to start. I was a little upset when I opened a cardboard envelope with two sets of index flash card, also a dvd was included.....

So I thought hey I just spent $43.00 with shipping let me see what its about. I was laughing at the dvd video, but in the end. OMG we love love love this... The kids love it, one of their fav things to do.

If you think you need more answers or have more questions, you should call them. The lady debbie that spoke with is so sweet.

[My Lil' Monkeys]

Oh they get documentation
I do a monthly newsletter that highlights our weekly themes and our learning goals for the month. Included is a book-list that correlates to our themes in case they want to check out the same books. They get the new songs/fingerplays that we'll be learning. They get copies of our Kids in the Kitchen recipes that we'll be making together.

Every Friday, they get a "WOW What a Week!" Summary that shows what we did in each of 12 learning focus areas (ABC, 123, Color, Shape, Gross Motor, Fine Motor, etc)

Every day in their backpacks the kids have their free-art projects, Handwriting without Tears packet, Funpage of the day (dot-to-dot, maze, color in the number, etc), their binder with alphabet pages that we add a new letter page in each week, their "I Ate My Alphabet" folder, as well as other themed crafts and papers that we do each day (patterning, sorting, graphing etc)

At pick-up time each day, I make a point to have the kids share some tid-bit of what we discovered together each day. This week, we're learning with magnets - so today at pick-up, the kids will be sharing the discovery box where they can show mom and dad what items are attracted to a magnet, and which aren't.

I don't know how much more documentation the parents need to know what the kids are learning with me. I KNOW it's not me - or my program here. It's just seems to be the peer pressure parents get to have their kid in a real preschool.

I wish I lived closer... sounds like preschool to me!! I would love to send my son to you!! My son will attend preschool in the fall. We only have one choice in my area. I do the basics with him and the 3 yr old I have but I also have 3 other dcks 1 and under.. so it's hard to do all the preschool planned activities. I do more free play with my kids with lots of different toys that I switch for them to play with.

[lvt77]

Hi I am interesed adding the Handwriting without Tears to our curriculum..

But not too share where to start, can someone lead me what to purchase first?

[SunflowerMama]

so its a little expensive and confusing. there are parent packs that are sold through a different company and then there are teacher packs for larger groups.

I am a small group so I went with the $38 parent card set to start. I was a little upset when I opened a cardboard envelope with two sets of index flash card, also a dvd was included.....

So I thought hey I just spent $43.00 with shipping let me see what its about. I was laughing at the dvd video, but in the end. OMG we love love love this... The kids love it, one of their fav things to do.

If you think you need more answers or have more questions, you should call them. The lady debbie that spoke with is so sweet.

Sorry one more question. So is the DVD something the kids watch or is that just for you with tips on teaching the program? I saw the flash cards on ebay for $12 and was thinking about just getting those but if the DVD is something for the kids then maybe I'll just get the starter set.

[lvt77]

wow I am jealous...
so the dvd is to teach you how to do the movements and sounds... as if you did not know what the letter a says... it is useful, but the cards also coach you through it as well, giving simple instructions to follow. If you want I can burn my DVD and mail it to you..