Los Ninos Early Intervention Center

Philosophy
Parents In Class
Handbook Info

My Philosophy for my Classroom!

I BELIEVE:

that children should be valued as individuals;
that children need to feel safe, supported and happy all the time;
that PLAYING and TALKING are the ways in which young children learn about themselves and the world around them;
that all learning should be meaningful and fun;
that children are actively involved in learning;
that children learn through hands-on experiences;
that children learn through taking risks, making mistakes and celebrating success;
that what children CAN DO rather than what children cannot do are the starting points in their learning;
that learning should cater for the needs and interests of individuals;
that the process of learning is more important than the end product;
that children develop their Social, Emotional, Physical and Cognitive skills at differing rates;
all aspects of a child’s development are equally important and interwoven;
that children need time and space to produce work of quality and depth;
that children need to develop a sense of responsibility for their own learning;
that children who are encouraged to think for themselves are more likely to act independently;
that parents are the first educators of children and have a vital part to play in the establishment of their child’s learning environment.

PARENTS IN THE PRESCHOOL
Parents play an important role in the Family Literacy Program. Each parent has a unique set of talents and interests so don’t be shy about offering your assistance. (Be the kind of person you want your child to be!) There are a number of ways you can assist me in providing your child with the best possible education.

Supporting and encouraging your child to develop a positive sense of self-worth
Discussing any problems or worries directly with me
Reading the newsletters and notice boards
Collecting junk materials for use in collage and carpentry
Offering to share any hobbies, interests or expertise you may have with the children (e.g. playing an instrument, pottery, cooking etc.)
Assisting with maintenance and beautification of the school grounds

Our Program aims to provide an environment that will assist the children begin to make a smooth transition from the naturalistic learning environment of the home to the more formal learning environment of the later years of primary school.
Parents are encouraged to participate in their child’s learning at the school. To do this effectively it is important that the parents understand the educational objectives being pursued for their children.

HOW CHILDREN LEARN
When you visit our classroom, you will see a room full of children learning through play. I have prepared below an activities chart. On the left side I’ve listed typical things children do when they play in each area of the class. On the right side I’ve listed the concepts and skills children actually develop from this play.

When Children Do This:	They Are Learning To:
Put blocks in trucks and dump them out	Understand size, weight, and number concepts (Math and Science)
Use blocks and wooden animals to create a zoo	Recreate the world around them (Geography and Social Studies)
Balance one large block on top of another	Control and co-ordinate muscles (Physical Co-ordination)
Put on dress-up clothes	Use their small muscles skills (Self-help and Writing)
Pretend to be grown-ups	Understand their experiences better (Abstract Thinking)
Separate cups and plates at clean-up time	Group objects in categories (Math)
Put pegs in a pegboard	Co-ordinate the actions of their eyes and hands (Reading/Writing Readiness)
Finish a puzzle	Complete a task (Study Habits and Self-Esteem)
Sort pictures that are the same	Match and classify (Math)
Make play dough	Recognize how materials change (Science)
Gather paper, scissors and glue for a project	Plan and carry out a task (Study Habits and Independence)
Draw a picture	Use symbols (Reading/Writing Readiness)
Make boats sink	Recognize cause and effect (Science and Logical Thinking)
Play beside other children	Get along with others (Social Skills)
Pour without spilling	Use their small muscle skills (Physical Co-ordination)
Turn pages of a book from beginning to end	Read a book from left to right (Reading and Writing Readiness)
Scribble on paper	Use writing as a means of communication (Reading and Writing)
Listen to a story and talk about what happened	Love books, remember details and express ideas (Language Development)
Watch bread dough rise or melt butter	Understand that foods can change their physical states (Science)
Follow directions in a recipe that call for adding ingredients by teaspoons, cups, etc.	Understand measurement (Math Skills)
Make a salad for the family dinner or bake muffins for breakfast	Take pride in their accomplishments (Self-Esteem)
Create different sounds by putting more (or fewer) beans in cans and shaking them	Explore cause and effect (Science and Logical Thinking)
Sing or do a finger play with the other children and the teacher	Participate co-operatively in a group (Social Skills)
Find ways of moving across the rug without their feet touching it	Think creatively to solve problems (Independence and Problem Solving)
Try out a computer program together with another child	Share and play co-operatively with others (Social Skills)
Operate a computer mouse, put a disc in the computer, and turn on a printer	Improve their co-ordination skills (Physical co-ordination)
Catch and throw balls	Co-ordinate eye and hand movements (Physical development)
Talk about changes in plants, people and things outside as seasons change	Sharpen observation skills (Science)
Climb on outdoor equipment	Use their bodies in challenging tasks (Self-esteem) (R/W)

HOMEWORK
Part of the Literacy Program is that you keep a monthly reading log. I will provide you with the form to complete, and you will be required to send it back to me completed on the last day of the month that we have class.

FAMILY LITERACY INSTITUTE
You will be required to attend ten (10) workshops of the Family Literacy Institute. You will be provided with the information of each workshop by the first day of class so that you can make arrangements to attend. There will be day care. Please advise me in advance if you WILL NOT be able to attend. Keep in mind that failure to attend could result in your child being dropped from the program!

HOME VISITS
I am required to make one (1) personal visit with you.

SUPPLIES
The Family Literacy Program will provide supplies for the classroom!
In a gallon size zip lock bag please provide me with a change of clothes (i.e. pant, shirt, sock, underwear).

The only thing that I ask is PLEASE NO BAG PACKS!

JUNK PLEASE
Many important skills are developed by the children’s use of junk materials, and thus we need a constant supply of all sorts of junk;

Cardboard/paper of any size, color, shape
Magazines/Avon books
Silver and Gold Foil
Cardboard cylinders
Wool
Material Scraps
Shirt Boxes
Stamps/Envelopes
Milk bottle tops
Bark/seeds
Boxes/match boxes
Nails/screws
Cotton reels
Pipe cleaners
Tins
Brushes

Greeting cards
Wrapping paper
Cellophane/crepe paper
String/lace/ribbon
Buttons
Large grocery bags
Ice cream sticks
Calendars
Clean egg shells
Wood shavings
Soft wood
Corks
Bottle tops
Sand paper
Squirt bottles
Tire Tubes
Old cell phones

Anything Else You Think Of!!

CLASS TIMES
We have class on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays. There is NO school on Wednesdays’ due to faculty meetings and/or Professional Development. The morning class meets from 7:45 am to 10:45 am. The afternoon class meets from 11:45 pm to 2:45 pm. PLEASE NOTE…PUNCTUALITY is very important!!

TARDIES
You child is considered to be tardy if not in the classroom by 8:00/12:00. You are able to begin to drop off your child at 7:45/11:45, therefore if you arrive after 8:00/12:00 you will need to stop by the office and obtain a tardy slip before your child will be allowed in the classroom. Remember this is a requirement for your child being accepted into the program.

PHONE CALLS
Contact with the school is through the school office. The Director has ultimate authority over our school and most important inquiries must go through the office. The School can be contacted through the school office at the school phone number 769-4460. The office is open from 7:30 am – 5:00 pm. **As a reminder if you plan on keeping your child home for any reason, please contact the school for each absent day. For absences in excessive of three (3) consecutive days a doctor’s note will be required to have the absence excused.

SAFETY FIRST
The school child must be brought to and collected from school by a responsible adult (normally the parent). You must be signed “in” and “out” each day. If at any time you arrange for someone else to collect your child from school, please inform me of these arrangements before they occur. I ask for your complete co-operation on these matters for the sake of the children’s safety.

LEAVING EARLY
If you need to check your child out early you will need to report to the office to sign him/her out. The office will call the classroom on the intercom to send your child down to meet you. If you would send me a note with the time you expect to pick your child up, I will try to have them ready.

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
The morning class will eat breakfast and the afternoon class will have lunch. I will send a menu home monthly. Please review the meal for that day with your child. I want to make sure that each child has eaten properly. If you have elected to feed your child at home, please inform us so that we are not asking them to finish.

SPECIAL OCCASIONS
If you have a special occasion and would like to celebrate, I ask that you speak to me prior to the event so that I can plan for it. Remember that there is NO FOOD allowed in the classroom, so special arrangements will have to be made for the cafeteria.

FIELD TRIPS
I will try and plan a field trip each month. You will be notified of all upcoming events through the “Weekly Newsletters” that I send on Monday’s. I encourage you to try and attend these with us. You will have to follow us in your own vehicle.

STUDENT DRESS
I ask that you send your child dressed to be comfortable. It is usually better to dress in layers so they may take off or add a shirt if they are too hot or cold. Proper shoes for your child to run and play should also be taken into consideration.

ILLNESS
If your child becomes ill at school the school nurse or office staff will make every effort to contact you or your emergency person. PLEASE make sure that your work and home phone numbers are always current. However, if your child IS sick—please do not send them to school. They will not feel like working and may make others (or US!) ill also. Don’t forget to call the office and inform them that your child will be out for that day.

MEDICATION
All medication (including cough drops) must be dispensed by the school nurse. I am not allowed to give your child any kind of medication.

SHARING INFORMATION
As part of our school family I welcome you and invite you to share any family news with us – happy or sad. The sharing of information helps to create community and an increased understanding of the behavior patterns of the children. Additional excitement or stress can markedly affect children’s behavior. It may help if I am informed. Any information of a confidential nature will be treated as such.

TREASURES FROM HOME
While I do not wish to dampen your child’s enthusiasm I would appreciate it if TOYS not be brought to school. Treasures can be lost and broken – please have your child leave them at home.