ChitChat
October 29, 2024
We hope you are getting ready for some fun events, happy holidays and special times.
Our center is getting ready to start a food drive for humans and a blanket and food drive for pets. If you would like to help us in our collections, please come see Ms. Kelli between the hours of 8am-4pm.
July 15, 2024
With the new school year happening soon, we hope you all have had a fun summer and have taken time for yourself and family to build memories.
See you all soon!
February 14, 2024
Happy Valentines Days to everyone. May your heart be happy and full of love:)
Jan 15, 2024
Today we honor
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
"I have decided to stick with LOVE. Hate is too great of a burden to bear."
~ Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
"I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream."
~Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Jan 2, 2024
Happy New Year!
We hope you all had a safe and memorable holiday season.
HOLIDAY CLOSURE
Our school will be closed for winter/holiday break from Dec. 22 - Jan. 5, 2023
Quote of the Week
"It costs ZERO dollars to be a good human" ~ unknown
11/27/2023
What is Executive Functioning?
As we look at our children and wonder how they are developing, we often have questions.
Executive Functioning (EF) skills are vital to a child's development. Here are a few things to consider with regards to EF, because its how children:
1. Pay attention
2. Engage in classroom activities
3. Control impulsivity
4. Reason
5. Problem solve
6. Plan
7. Store and retrieve information
8. Switch from one activity to another
There are 3 components to executive functioning:
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Inhibitory control which we need to practice control and redirect ourselves
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working memory for remembering stories, books and schedules to working with information in the present time
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cognitive flexibility to change our focus from one activity or idea to another and switching the rules of an idea to another.
If you would like to know more about executive functioning skills for your child, email me at mskellishouse@gmail.com and we can set up some strategies that fit you and your child's individual needs.
11/23/2023
Wishing you all a very healthy and safe Thanksgiving Day.
11/13/2023
Quote of the Day
"Play is the work of a child" ~
Maria Montessori
Why is Play so Misunderstood?
11/6/2023
For years, play has been construed as a bad thing in pre-school through Kindergarten. Structured academics have taken the place of learning for children who need to move, explore, and learn using their senses. "Play versus learning represents a false dichotomy in education" (Hirsh-Pasek & Golinkoff 2008). NAEYC released an article called The Power of Playful Learning in the Early Childhood Setting, and it speaks of how play and learning support each other hand-in-hand. Self-directed play within a classroom allows children to create self-help skills, problem solve, and regulate their curiosity in a positive way. Guided play, also known as teacher directed activities, are fun learning ideas that are structured to create a way for children to take turns, discover new ideas of others, and collaborate on a grand idea together as a whole.
When teachers support children as active learners and not empty vessels, the amount of learning that takes place at small group activities, large group activities', and self-directed play makes a difference in the growth and development of each child. This all sets the stage for learning for years to come because each area in the classroom is used for literacy, numeracy, scientific study, prediction, making comparisons, engaging in community events, and serving others. Each play area represents real-world places; such as restaurants, doctor's offices, architecture firms, construction sights, libraries, post offices, grocery stores, homes, farms, also using skills to care for animals and babies, cook and organize.
Teaching skills through play allows cognitive skills (executive functioning) and academic skills (early literacy and numeracy) to develop during early learning which is critical for later learning years.
Thoughts to think about.
Time Change is Scary for Our Little Learners
11/2/2023
As we move into the weekend, adults have the concept of what it means to "Fall Back". Be honest with yourself...we all dread the drive to and from work in the dark. However, as adults, we have adapted to this concept even if we dread it. But for young children, this is not an adapted concept.
Children under the age of 6 (maybe older), may not understand the time change yet. This is a very abstract concept and our young learners are still in the concrete stages of learning, thinking, observing the environment around them and understanding change as it happens rapidly. Please be patient with your child(ren) and have a conversation with them explaining the dark drop-off and pick-up's. Find books or age appropriate videos that provide your child a visual to help them comprehend the conversation you have about the time change. Let them ask questions and reassure them that change is good.
If you prepare them for what is to happen, you are setting your child up for success, alleviating anxiety, stopping unwanted behaviors, and allowing your child to learn a little nature and science along the way. Good luck and see you in the morning:)
