January 2015

Greetings!

 

Happy New Year!

First, let me apologize for the lateness in this Newsletter.  I have been working on it for weeks . 
I would like to thank you for selecting me as your child's provider/teacher and for allowing me to work with your children.  It is wonderful to watch them grow, evolve and mature in their own ways. In my observations of them, I am seeing they are ready for the next step in their learning adventure.

 So, it is now time to get focused.  I have a fun-filled learning action plan that the children will enjoy and learn lots from. 

Activities include:
Abcmouse.com - I have purchased the online program and will be using it with the children.  We will also continue using other online educational programs. In addition,  I will share an educational video playlist with you that you can also use at home.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqY72ZborS8nlOWNWavnoxze9d45_stsa

Workbooks
I would like to order a Phonics workbook for the children (those who are ready). I will order from Modern Curriculum Press.  Let me know if you are interested;  it is about $13 per book. I would like to order a Math book, but I am still researching it


Curriculum
Some of the things will be working on ( based on readiness, some  topics are on a continuum):
Letters       Vocabulary         Sight Words
Numbers   Where we live    Handwriting
Shapes      Address               Five Senses
Colors       Spanish                Animals
Patterns     Sign Language    Plants
Time          Phonics               Water  and more

Homework
I will  start  back with the homework packet each week.  I woud like to send home a homework notebook but, it must come back to school so that I can put work in each day/week.  Tell me your preference folder/notebook ( majority rules).  If you prefer your child not receive Homework  just let me know.


Trips
After our trip to the circus.  I would like to take the children to the Children's Museum  and Fernbank Museum when the weather gets warmer. More information coming soon.

Starting time
My hours will be now from 8 - 6.  If you need me before then I will make my self available. Please let me know in advance if you will becoming before 8. 

Lateness
Please,  if you are coming in later than your  usual time in the mornings, please give me a courtesy call. If you are picking up late, please give me a courtesy call. On a personal note: My daughter has afterschool activities that end between 4:30 and 5.  Many times she is waiting for over an hour for me to pick her up so please be on time. Arrival after 6 will result in late fees.  Thanks for understanding.

Breakfast
 I would like to have breakfast over by at least 9:00am or the latest 9:30am,  so we can start circle time.  If you are coming later than that time, please have your child eat before they arrive.  It interrupts the flow of the morning as well  and throws scheduling off. When the other children see someone else eating it forms a ripple effect .  Not only that, your child is missing out from the morning activity.

 
Snacks
I provide a morning and afternoon snack for the children.  When children come with individual snacks it becomes problematic because everyone wants what the other child has.and crying ensues,  so please try to keep outside snacks/candy at home (Unless you can bring for everyone :)  )


Toys
It is very hard for me to keep track of outside toys.  And again it becomes a fight so please, please try to keep them home.  I will allow Friday share for show and tell.



Lunch  Menu
Our lunch may vary from week to week, but here is a general idea of  our menu:

Breakfast
Waffles/Pancakes/ Scrambled eggs /Oatmeal and a Fruit
Milk/water/juice(diluted with water)

Snacks
Butter cookies      Apples         Pineapples
Cheese Nips        Apple Sauce  Tortilla Chips
Ritz Crackers      Oranges          Muffins
Wheat thins         Banana           Strawberries

Lunch may consist of meals such as:
Pasta in sauce/cheese  BBQ chicken  Broccoli
Rice,  Ground turkey and mixed veggies
Baked chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans and carrots
Vegetable and pea soup



Part Time Scheduling
Please let me know your scheduled times that you will bring your child  in advance.  This will help me with planning activities as well as meals.

Potty Training
Taken from Web MD

When should I start toilet training my child?

Your child must be both physically and emotionally ready for toilet training. Most children are ready to start when they are between 22 and 30 months of age, but every child is different. Toilet training usually becomes a long and frustrating process if you try to start it before your child is ready.
Before children can use the toilet, they must be able to control their bowel and bladder muscles. Some signs of this control are having bowel movements around the same time each day, not having bowel movements at night, and having a dry diaper after a nap or for at least 2 hours at a time. Children must also be able to climb, talk, remove clothing, and have mastered other basic motor skills before they can use the toilet by themselves.
Most children are physically ready to toilet train before they are emotionally ready. Your child must want to use the toilet and be willing to cooperate with you. He or she may even talk about being a "big boy" or "big girl" and wearing underpants rather than diapers. Training generally does not go well if your child is in the stage where "no" is his or her automatic response to every request.

Coming  Soon:
~Picture Day
Picture Day will take place in April  I will give you the option  ( majority rule) to go with Teddy Bear Portrait's or not.

~Stepping Up Day
TBA

Attendance
Please make sure sign in the morning and out in the afternoon.

Holiday Schedule

*Easter Week -April 9 and 10th
Memorial Day - May 25
Independence Day - July 3
*Summer Break  (Tentatively Aug 3 - 7)
Labor Day - Sept 1
Columbus Day  - Oct 12
Thanksgiving - Nov 25 - 27
Christmas Break - Dec 24 - jan4

*Dates subject to change

Thanks once again for all of your patience, understanding, cooperation and support! Wishing you the best for 2015.
Peace and Blessings..
Sheridan
(Ms. Sheri  )  :)

 

Children need your Presence not you Presents.... Rev Jessie Jackson

 

“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” – Chinese Proverb

 

FYI

Your Childs Development

There is no one like your child

Every child's development is unique and complex. Although children develop through a generally predictable sequence of steps and milestones, they may not proceed through these steps in the same way or at the same time. A child's development is also greatly influenced by factors in his or her environment and the experiences he or she has. The information in this guide explains what child development experts consider to be "widely-held expectations" for what an average child might achieve within a given year. Please consider what you read in the context of your child's unique development.


Your One Year Old

Everything is new and interesting to one-year-olds. They enthusiastically use their five senses to actively explore the world around them. They find pleasure in causing things to happen and in completing basic tasks. And once a discovery is made, one-year-olds want to make it happen again and again and again!

Emotionally, one-year-olds are just learning to recognize and manage their feelings. They experience a wide range of emotions and have tantrums when they are tired or frustrated. They may also respond to conflict by hitting, biting, screaming, or crying. One-year-olds seek autonomy and may say, "No!" to adult suggestions or insist that they, "Do byself!" Then, moments later, they might cling to an adult's leg or ask for help.

Read more......

http://www.pbs.org/parents/childdevelopmenttracker/one/index.html

Your Two Year Old

• Two-year-olds enjoy using their senses and motor skills to explore the world and are highly curious about unfamiliar objects, events and phenomena. They can solve simple problems with the "trial and error" method and will practice an activity many times to master it. Children this age also pretend more during play, using familiar objects and situations to process their daily experiences.
• New discoveries are also facilitated by a two-year-old's blossoming language skills that prompt many "why," "what" and "how" questions. During the year, children this age pick up most parts of speech to form more complete sentences. They can understand and say hundreds of words, but familiar adults may need to "translate" for others due to immature pronunciation skills. They also understand simple directions and many common phrases used in routine situations.
• Read More  http://www.pbs.org/parents/childdevelopmenttracker/two/index.html

Your Three Year Old

Three-year-olds learn primarily through exploring, using all the senses. While playing, they are better able to ignore distractions and focus on the task at hand. They will even persist in completing something that is a bit difficult and can think more creatively and methodically when solving problems.

Language for three-year-olds is taking off. They learn lots of new words and make major improvements in pronunciation. They communicate in simple sentences and are refining their use of grammar. Children this age begin to initiate conversations, want to talk about areas of interest and can relate personal experiences to others with the support of some prompting from grown-ups.

Read More :http://www.pbs.org/parents/childdevelopmenttracker/three/index.htm


 Your Four Year Old

When it comes to learning, four-year-olds are developing greater self-control and ingenuity. Their pretend play is more complex and imaginative and can be sustained for longer periods. They can also make plans and complete tasks. Four-year-olds want to try new experiences. They also want to be more self-reliant and seek to expand the areas of their lives where they can be independent decision-makers.

The language skills of four-year-olds expand rapidly. They begin communicating in complex and compound sentences, have very few pronunciation errors and expand their vocabularies daily. They can follow multi-step directions and understand explanations given for things they can see. Four-year-olds frequently initiate conversations and are less likely to change the subject of conversation to areas of personal interest. They are also getting better at sharing personal experiences without prompts from adults.

Read More : http://www.pbs.org/parents/childdevelopmenttracker/four/index.html