LIL' LEARNERS
PRESCHOOL​
ALL ABOUT LIL' LEARNERS PRESCHOOL
What age children can attend Lil' Learners Preschool?
Lil Learners is a home-based multi-age program for children who are 3 to 5 years of age and potty trained
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What type of classes do you offer?
3 Day per Week Classes:
All 3 day a week classes are multiage classes
consisting of children from 3 to 5 years of age.
MTW 8:15-11:00
Extend Day available 8:15-2:15
5-Classes per Week: Available for Pre-K children who will be attending Kindergarten the following year.
These children will attend the 3-day per week multiage classes and attend morning and afternoon
class on Thursday consisting only of
children that will be going to
Kindergarten the following year.
MTW- Multi age class and TH 8:15-2:15
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Lil Learners 5-class Pre-K Program:
My child is going to be entering Kindergarten the following year. Do they need to be in the 4-class program? No, the multiage program is designed with Kindergarten readiness in mind. Many children have entered Kindergarten very successfully directly from our 3-day multiage program.
What are the benefits of enrolling in the 5-class Pre-K Program? The Pre-K class is designed as an addition to the preschool curriculum. In the Pre-K class, we have only children entering Kindergarten the following year. This allows us to design an environment that is structured more like a typical Kindergarten classroom. In these classes, we spend additional time on print concepts, phonemic awareness, phonics skills, letter formation, and writing. We go into greater depth on the mathematical concepts taught in the multiage program. Also in this class, we expose the children to additional mathematical concepts that they would not be working with in the 3-day program. Because the class is structured more like a typical Kindergarten classroom, your child's teamwork and independent skills are fostered. Considering most Kindergarten classrooms have a higher student to teacher ratio, these skills are very helpful in preparing them for success in Kindergarten. The Pre-K class consists of a morning and afternoon class on Thursday. By having both classes on the same day, this gives them the opportunity to have both additional learning time and experience the longer day like they will have in Kindergarten.
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How do you deal with children that are not behaving?
We see discipline as a means of helping children learn to use self-control and to cooperate with peers and teachers through appropriate behavior. Our discipline will be approached proactively with a positive attitude. Rewards: Special activities, positive comments, stickers, treasures, notes home, special recognition, incentives, and HUGS. Consequences: Redirection, loss of a privilege, Time away from group, and/or parent notification. Good behavior is an essential part of a terrific school experience. Now is when your children are learning these important behaviors. Please talk to your children about ideal behavior and class rules before school starts and throughout the year so that your children begin to develop good habits now to take with them through their school years. In order for the children to fully support the classroom rules, we talk about different reasons for rules and then the children help us establish what the rules will be for the year. Generally the rules follow these guidelines: 1. Be Kind *Follow the Golden Rule, treat others the way you would like to be treated. *Take turns and share. Be quick to say you are sorry and be quick to forgive. 2. Be Safe *Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself. *Respect yours and others personal space. *Use your WALKING FEET inside. 3. Be Courteous *Listen to the teacher and follow directions. *Raise your hand to speak. Use your quiet voice inside. *Use kind words and be a good friend. Because this is many of the children's first experiences in school/social settings, some rewards are used to help shape these early behaviors. In addition to recognition and positive reinforcement, children that are making good choices and following directions will earn stickers. After 10 stickers they get to choose a prize from the treasure box. In addition to individual recognition, when the entire class is doing a superb job at an activity, they will earn 10 marbles. When the marble jar is full the class earns a party!
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How do you have the family involved?
The success of your child in school requires a team effort. We believe that you as the parent are your child's first and most important teacher. With the conscientious effort of the teacher, parent and the student, your child can attain both academic and social growth. Remember that your positive attitude and support for what is happening in school will help make this a very positive and successful experience and help ease any separation anxiety. We are very excited about the many fun and learning activities your child will be involved in at preschool. As your child's teachers', we would like to invite you to become a partner in these experiences. We realize that you have many demands on your time, but we encourage you to be involved anyway that you can. Some of the possible ways that you may be able to help are: Check your child's folder daily, asking your child about his/her day and responding positively to school activities. Car pooling Helping at parties and on field trips. Reading stories. Donating materials that can be used in the classroom. Volunteering to help in the classroom.
What curriculum areas do you focus on and how?
Language Arts: Conversation, sharing, word games, songs, loud-soft, high-low, left-right, body parts, finger-plays, writing, scribbling, coloring, handedness, following directions.
Reading Readiness: Shapes, name recognition, stories, books, alphabet, letter sounds, sequencing, rhyming, expanded vocabulary, exploration of print, comprehension.
Math Readiness: Counting, measuring, shapes, comparing (size, color, weight, shape), grouping, corresponding units, estimating, numbers, matching, separating, classifying, patterning, number representation, more/less/equal, positional terms.
Science and Nature: Discovering how things work, floating, sinking, cooking, balancing, friction, wheels, magnets, evaporation, freezing, boiling, melting, weighing, learn about living things through observation, caring for and talking about plants, seasons, weather, cause and effect.
Physical Skills: Gross motor skills developed through use of games, tools, building, carrying, climbing, lifting, pushing, throwing, catching, balancing, swinging, running, jumping, dancing.
Fine motor skills developed through the use of manipulative materials, paints crayons, clay sand, water, scissors, dressing, and crafts.
Arts: Experiences with rhythm, movement, music, songs, instruments, color, pictures, crafts, paints, clay, scissors, glue, chalk, dramatic play, dance.
Social Studies: Family, self, friends, community, holidays, cultures, days of the week, months of the year, geographic awareness.
Social Skills: Independence, attention to tasks, confidence, awareness of self and others, respect, patience, cooperation, responsibility, politeness, conflict resolution, following directions, taking turns.
How do you teach your curriculum?
At this age your child is learning a variety of new skills to prepare them for Kindergarten. Social skills, listening skills, following directions, and self- help skills are critical to their success in school and life. In addition to these, they will also be gaining academic knowledge. Many of the learning activities that we do in preschool are hands on and paperless. Although you may not see them or even be aware that they are occurring, teaching through play, hands on activities, and songs is the most effective way for children to learn at this age. Your child will be both learning through play and experimentation as well as teacher lead explicit instruction. Please be aware that your child is being exposed to new concepts all of the time and any worksheets that you see are done either 1 on 1 or in small groups with the teachers help and guidance. These are used as additional tools to work with the children on the skills being taught and to provide you with some connection to what we are working on. Completion of the activity correctly does not necessarily mean your child has mastered this concept. Rarely would your child complete an activity on their own with out the guidance and support of the teacher.
I would like to enroll my child or talk further, what next?
Click on the link and send us an email. We can talk about what classes are available or answer any questions you have. Then print out the enrollment form, complete it, and send it in with your child's registration fee.
