McAdam

We believe that all children are successful learners. We work together to provide the best educational environment where individuals are respected and valued, encouraged to take risks and are supported, stimulated and nurtured. We encourage children to develop self-esteem, respect for their environment and to maintain healthy relationships with peers, families and community.

Our Program

The pre-kindergarten program is available to the children in Stafford ages three (by August 31st) until they are eligible for kindergarten.

Our play based curriculum provides a variety to activities designed to meet the individual needs and developmental stages of each child. Activities address social and self-help skills, thinking skills and language development as well as gross and fine motor skills.

We use both a math and reading program to explore different age appropriate concepts as well as teacher developed themes. I have personally developed monthly themes and topics of interest to pre-k students to encourage them to actively explore their world around them. Newsletters will come home explaining what topics are being discussed in class and offer ways for you to support this learning at home.

Language Arts

Convey thoughts using complete sentences
Converse appropriately with others
Respond appropriately to questions
Label objects in the environment
Predict outcomes and consequences
Build vocabulary through formal and informal word study
Use categories to classify objects
Recite familiar rhymes and songs
Remember and follow two-step directions
Differentiate between pictures and print
Use drawing/print to communicate meaning
Identify printed name
Recognize rhyming words
Listen and respond to stories
Retell stories

Physical Education

Develop an awareness of personal space
Explore basic fine and gross motor skills

Self-Help Skills

Indicate basic needs and desires
Communicate full name
Follow daily routine
Return materials to appropriate places
Manage own clothing
Toilet independently
Take responsibility for own belongings
Demonstrate self-control

Science

Explore five senses
Observe and identify weather and seasonal characteristics
Explore property of water

Math

Recognize and label basic shapes
Compare sets using language
Classify objects by one attribute
Sequence events
Recognize money and know how it is used
Extend simple patterns
Explore number symbols, graphing, problem solving, ordinal numbers, and measurement

Music

Participate in a variety of music and movement activities
Explore keeping beat during songs and chants

Social Studies

Explore charateristics of families, community helpers, transportation, and safety tips

Social Skills (Responsive Classroom Model)

Explore appropriate ways to communicate and deal with feelings and emotions
Use speaking/listening skills to resolve conflict
Respect the rights of others
Share materials and take turns
Use social courtesies
Develop good listening skills
Ask for assistance when needed

Art

Experiment with a variety of art materials
Explore drawing, cutting, painting, and tracing

Our Classroom

Our classroom is organized into learning centers. These centers include:

	Block Area The block play fosters cooperation, structural concepts, interaction and problem solving through building with wooden blocks, playing with dinosaurs and other wild animals, using the family doll house, driving toy cars and other transportation vehicles and building with construction tools.
	Art & Writing Center The art/ writing center fosters fine motor skills, holding a pencil appropriately, left to right progressing , creativity, imagination, tracing skills as well as writing own name and other theme related words.
	House-keeping Area Dramatic play in our housekeeping area offers opportunities for children to learn and practice many of the skills necessary to their future success in school and in life: cooperation, imagination, expression of individuality, negotiation, empathy and planning with others.
	Library The library offers many books to choose from and a place for children to practice reading, learning how to use books appropriately and put them back into the correct bins, listen to books on tape and share a story with a friend.
	Sand Table Sand table is always a favorite. Just like having a sandbox inside, children can take turns pouring, building, scooping, sifting, shoveling and filling
	Bucket Games & Puzzles Bucket games are manipulatives that we use at a table. They are small toys which encourage fine motor skills such as: stringing beads, building with legos, creating patterns with blocks, linking chains, sorting color tiles, counting beads, experimenting with magnet letters and shapes and building puzzles.

Each day we follow a schedule of activities: circle time, centers time, snack time, specials and outside play.

Circle Time~ provides a framework in which language, cognitive and social skills can develop naturally. During circle time, children can ask and answer questions, participate in songs, stories and other forms of self-expression and experience patience in taking turns with other children.

Centers Time~ we participate in a variety of centers each day. We have a picture chart that shows us which centers are open as well as our schedule for the day. There are usually 1 or 2 teacher directed activities along with block area, library, house-keeping, art/ writing center, bucket games and sand table.

Snack Time~ children can enjoy having a healthy snack and a drink form home. Milk can be purchased for 50 cents per day. Children who attend in the afternoon session may bring in more of a lunch-type snack considering they arrive around lunch time.

Special Time~ children usually participate in music, art and library each week. Our music teacher is Mrs. Arnott, our art teacher is Mrs. Longmore and Mrs. Post is our librarian. I send home a schedule to let parents know which day each special is on. We have other specialists visit our classroom as well ~Mrs. Davino is our Speech and Language Pathologist, Mrs. Dell is our Occupational Therapist and Mrs. Kane is our Physical Therapist.

Outside Play~ we try to go outside everyday, weather permitting. Children are asked to wear shores and clothes that are appropriate for this type of activity.

return to top

When you are helping your child to write his/her name be sure to use a capital letter for the first letter only and all others should be lowercase letters. For example: Trevor and not TREVOR. It is difficult to change their habits when they get to school.

When you are purchasing a backpack for school, please make sure to get a large one. Children need enough room for a lunch box/ snack, extra clothes (in case if accidents), a mail folder (they receive from school), winter clothes during the cold weather and school projects to go home. If you get a backpack large enough for all of these things, we will be thrilled!!!

Each child will be given a plastic mail folder on the first day of school. This folder is to be sent to school daily and all correspondences ( notes, money, etc) should be sent in it. We will send home newsletters, notices and your child's work home in this folder as well.

Meet the Teacher	Our Philosophy and Program	Our Curriculum
Our Classroom	Our Schedule	Helpful Hints