Weekday Program Web site: www.fumcplanoweekday.org

Weekday Update

March 2008
   

Director's Report

Dear Parents-

 

As always, we want to thank you for the honor of allowing us to care for your children. We know that you take their interests seriously and we do too. We know that you are concerned with the type of program your child/ren attend and also the cost. We want you to know that each year we do cost comparisons with similar programs and work hard to keep our tuition rates in the same range. You can find programs that are less expensive but in most cases, you get what you pay for. Our program is accredited by The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).  Ask any early childhood educator and they will tell you that NAEYC is the gold standard in young children's programs. NAEYC accredited programs complete a rigorous self-study and external review to prove that they meet standards of excellence in early childhood education. This isn't to say that other programs are not good, but our program like other accredited programs have gone through rigorous assessment to prove that we offer the highest quality program available. According to NAEYC there are 10 signs of a great preschool and we are proud to say that you can find all 10 of the items listed here at the Weekday Program.

10 Signs of a Great Preschool

 

If your child is between the ages of 3 and 6 and attends a child care center, preschool, or kindergarten program, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) suggests you look for these 10 signs to make sure your child is in a good classroom.

  1. Children spend most of their time playing and working with materials or other children. They do not wander aimlessly, and they are not expected to sit quietly for long periods of time.
     

  2. Children have access to various activities throughout the day. Look for assorted building blocks and other construction materials, props for pretend play, picture books, paints and other art materials, and table toys such as matching games, pegboards, and puzzles. Children should not all be doing the same thing at the same time.
     

  3. Teachers work with individual children, small groups, and the whole group at different times during the day. They do not spend all their time with the whole group.
     

  4. The classroom is decorated with children’s original artwork, their own writing with invented spelling, and stories dictated by children to teachers.
     

  5. Children learn numbers and the alphabet in the context of their everyday experiences. The natural world of plants and animals and meaningful activities like cooking, taking attendance, or serving snack provide the basis for learning activities.
     

  6. Children work on projects and have long periods of time (at least one hour) to play and explore. Worksheets are used little if at all.
     

  7. Children have an opportunity to play outside every day. Outdoor play is never sacrificed for more instructional time.
     

  8. Teachers read books to children individually or in small groups throughout the day, not just at group story time.
     

  9. Curriculum is adapted for those who are ahead as well as those who need additional help. Teachers recognize that children’s different background and experiences mean that they do not learn the same things at the same time in the same way.
     

  10. Children and their parents look forward to school. Parents feel secure about sending their child to the program. Children are happy to attend; they do not cry regularly or complain of feeling sick.

If you would like to know more about NAEYC accreditation, please visit their website at www.naeyc.org.

 
 

 

Always Across

Cross-Lateral Movement and the Brain

Doing arm and leg movements that cross over from one side of the body to the other (cross-lateral movements) can have a dramatic effect on learning. Since the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body and the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, the two sides of the brain are forced to communicate when the legs and arms cross over.

Our Learning and performance are dramatically affected by our biological rhythm. We have cycles of the mind and body that correspond to lunar and solar cycles. Brain research tells us that every ninety minutes the normal hormone levels of our bodies peak. This peak causes the brain to get stuck on the right or the left side. The use of cross0lateral movement is an easy way to “unstick’ the brain. We need to engage both sides of the brain to learn efficiently and effectively.

 

Ideas of Using Cross-Lateral Movements to Build Brain Power

  • Start each day with exercises that require cross-lateral movements, such as twisting at the waist with arms stretched to the side and bending at the waist to touch toes using left hand to touch right toe and right hand to touch left toe.

  • Sing songs that repeat cants using hand motions that cross the middling of the body such as “Doodlely-Doo,” “Hot Cross Buns,” and “Pat-a-Cake.”

  • Vary movements to traditional songs such as”Itsy Bitsy Spider” and “Where is Thumbkin?”

  • Make up hand jives. For example, slap right hand on left knee and then clap hands in the center of the body. Slap left hand on right knee and clap hands. Then snap fingers several times while crossing hand over hand left over right and then right over left. Repeat sequence.

  • Play records that focus on body movements. If crossing the middling is not inherent in the prescribed motions, add motions that include cross-lateral movements.

  • Teach children simple dances from the fifties and sixties like the Twist, the Pony, and the Stroll. Each dance includes step that require crossing the midline.

  • Dance using streamers and scarves. Encourage children to swing the across their bodies.

  • Play waltz music. Invite children to remove their shoes and socks and skate. Encourage them to swing their arms in front of them.

  • Walk on a balance beam. If you want have a balance beam, use a strip of masking tape on the floor.

  • Go to the park. Play on the jungle gym. Challenge the children to use cross-lateral movements as they climb the ladder to the sliding board, reaching their left arm across to the right side of the ladder and vice versa as they climb.

  • Encourage children to climb trees.

  • Take a brisk walk outside. Encourage children to swing their arms at the walk.

  • Encourage children to stop occasionally and give themselves a couple of hugs (cross arms across the chest and squeeze) or pats on the back (left hand to right shoulder and right hand to left shoulder).

  • Rearrange materials on tables so children must reach across the mid-line of grasp what they need.

  • Encourage children to paint with both hands at the easel.

  • Play games that require children to crawl on the floor and challenge them to crawl in such a way as to use cross-lateral movement.

  • Teach children to tell and act out stories that require cross-lateral movements.            

  

From “Start Smart” by Pam Schiller

 
 
Spring Break Activities for Children:

The PTC will be hosting several fun outings for kiddos during Spring Break.

Monday, March 17th - Dart train/Zoo Day (morning)

Let’s all meet at the Bush Turnpike station at 9:00 a.m. and ride the train to the Dallas Zoo.  In the event of inclement weather we will establish an alternative location.

 

 Tuesday 3/18/08 – Purple Cow - West Plano Lunch

Let's meet for lunch and ice cream at 11:15 - we will be seated in the dining car.  Space is limited reserve early. 

 

Wed 3/19/08 – Easter Craft Day

First Methodist Gathering Area 10 am 

 Easter craft day  - join us in the gathering area for snacks and an Easter craft party.  Cost will be for $3 per person.

 

Thursday 3/20/08 –Frisco Fire Safety Town

9:30 and 10:30

Come and learn fire safety at Fire Safety Town in a miniature version of the city of Frisco. Space is very limited, we have reserved two time slots so reserve early.

All events will be at your expense and you will need to provide your own transportation, but use this opportunity to carpool.

A sign-up sheet for all events will be on the table across from the office.  Please sign up if you plan on attending one, a few or all of the events by March 14th.

Please Join us for the FUMC

Easter Eggtravaganza

 

Saturday, March 22 11:00-1:00

The church is currently collecting unfilled eggs in the gathering area. Please help by donating a dozen or 2!
The PTC will be offering begonias for sale this spring.  Look for order forms at the end of March.  Flowers will be available for pick up in mid-April.

 

 

Parents, Please remember:

 If your child has had a fever, thrown up or had diarrhea in the past 24 hours, has a green runny nose or eyes, or is taking medicine to prevent these symptoms, he or she will not be allowed to attend school.  Please help us prevent the spread of germs by keeping them out of the preschool.

 

Interested in a Spanish Preschool Class?

We will be offering a Monday-Friday Spanish Immersion class for older threes and Pre-K next year. If you are interested, please contact the office immediately.  This class will have limited space and enrollment will be on a  first-come-first-served basis.

 

 

Home/School Connection

 

Strategies for Supporting Early Science and Technology Development

Classification

·         Provide and label diverse materials.

·         Provide materials with a wide range of sensory features.

·         Ask children to make things that are the same and things that are different.

·         Encourage children to collect and sort things throughout the day.

·         Encourage children to sort things by two attributes.

·         Encourage children to respond to and use “no” language.

·         Playing guessing games that require children to hold more than one attribute in mind

Time

·         Provide materials that children can use for exploring time concepts.

·         Call attention to the daily routine and its occasional exceptions.

·         Encourage children to describe intentions and activities in time-related language.

·         Relate lengths of time to familiar actions or events.

·         Encourage children to move at different rates of speed throughout the day.

·         Celebrate special occasions if and when they are meaningful to the children.

·         Call attention to time in nature.

From “Essentials of Active Learning in Preschool” by Ann Epstein

 

 

Mark your Calendars

Items in bold have been added or changed.

  

March:
17-Spring Break-No preschool **
18- Spring Break-No preschool **
19- Spring Break-No preschool **
20- Spring Break-No preschool **
21-Good Friday-No preschool or LFP
25-Family Conferences-Ms. Sharon
26-Family Conferences-Ms. Daphne and Ms. Shannon
27-Family Conferences-Mrs. Reid and Ms. Carrie
28-Family Conferences-Ms. Carrie

28-Early Release 11:30 **
31-Family Conferences-Ms. Donni and Ms. Dorota
 

 

**Little Friends' Place (before- and after-school care open as usual)

    

April:
1-Family Conferences-Ms. Vonda, Ms. Dorota and Ms. Betsy
2-Family Conferences-Ms. Betsy
21-Scholastic Book Fair
22-Scholastic Book Fair
23-Scholastic Book Fair
24-Scholastic Book Fair
25-Scholastic Book Fair

May:
2-Early Release 11:30 **
23-Last Day of Preschool
26-Memorial Day Holiday
 
 

First United Methodist Church Weekday Program * 3160 E. Spring Creek Parkway Plano, TX 75074

phone 972.423.4910 * fax 972.633.9126