Play With Me

 

The only screen that your child can look at MCP is the screen in the window.  No computers. No tablets for children.  Play.  Play powered by your child's imagination and creativity.  It's a powerful energy that we channel in the classroom and it's a joy to watch. 

Read more about the power of play-

https://elf2.library.ca.gov/pdf/WisdomOfPlay.pdf

Fine Motor Skills---Lacing Cards

Lacing cards are a very important part of the MCP curriculum.  We have lacing cards available for the children everyday.  After your child laces a card, we do not rip out their work for the next student.  Your child may take the lacing card home! This is an important difference in purchased lacing cards.  We are working on strengthening those very important fine motor skills---building strength to hold a pencil, crayon, paint and scissors.  When a child gets to keep their work, they are more likely to participate in the activity.  

Lacing cards are easy to make at home with your child. Old greeting cards and cereal boxes make colorful cards that will interest your child. 

Pattern Blocks & Geoboards

We have geoboards and pattern blocks in our Discovery Center. Learn more why these are an important classroom activity:

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2016/09/geoboards-pattern-blocks.html

MCP Centers

The first day of school is approaching fast. Your child will discover that the MCP classroom is divided into 'centers'.  We believe in the power of play.  Find out more about each center:

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2019/09/our-room-mcp-centers.html

Worksheets---why not?

 

No daily worksheets for your preschooler at MCP.  Why not?  Because there are lot of ways to teach your child their ABC's and 123's without them.  

https://learningprofessor.com/2018/09/03/using-worksheets-in-preschool/

https://empoweredparents.co/preschool-worksheets/

Getting Ready to Read

At MCP we do not use daily worksheets to teach letters or numbers.  Reading readiness activities are woven into our program in many ways.  What is reading readiness?  Short answer-recognizing letters, making sure books and reading material are available for children and much more. During the school year, your child will:

• learn to recognize their name
• recognize letters of the alphabet and be introduced to beginning letter sounds
• retell stories
• have literary units with crafts, projects and activities 
• be introduced to and practice new vocabulary words (palette, coprolite, concentric and many, many more)
• act out stories
• dictate reports and stories
• have center activities that encourage reading
• see  many items labeled in our classroom (by the window is the word 'window', every chair has the word 'chair' on the back)

For more information:

https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/how-to-create-a-literate-home-young-child-and-kindergartner

https://www.colorincolorado.org/article/tips-developing-good-reading-habits-home

How to Be a Student

 

At Metamora Community Preschool, we believe that our program will provide a solid foundation for elementary school.  What will your child learn?  More than you think...

1. How to be a student---When the children are playing in centers, our room may seem disorganized and chaotic but a lot is happening. The children are allowed to move from center to center and choose activities or toys that interest them.  Yet within the structure of our centers, there are rules and routines to learn.  The children learn where to return toys, how many children are allowed in each center, what to do when the bell rings, how to stand and walk in a line with their friends, and how to sit and listen to the teacher.  The children are learning how to behave in the classroom and how to behave in a  large group.

2.  How to make friends and be a friend---The park, daycare, lessons and activities have already provided your child with the opportunity to be with other children.  School is way for your child to connect with other children, make friends and be a friend.  Your child will learn to resolve conflicts and communicate with their friends.  We will provide activities for the children to work in pairs and small groups.  This encourages communication, sharing of  ideas, and  making decisions as a group.

3.  How to be independent---As parents, we naturally come to the aide of our children---helping with a coat or backpack, handing a towel to dripping hands and other small tasks.  At school, we work on independence.  The children not only learn to be independent but also to be patient.  As they learn to be more independent from teachers, they will develop into a more confident and independent  student. 

4.  How to tell a story---The children will listen to stories,  use props to retell stories, and dictate stories.  We work on developing a love for books and the written word.

5.  How to ask the teacher for help---It's easy for a child to ask mommy or daddy for help. A teacher has many other children who all need time and attention.  When teachers build  caring relationships with students, the student will develop the confidence to request help.  Our goal is to be caring, responsive and approachable.

6.  How to use a scissors and glue---Working with scissors, crayons and markers do more than just decorate your refrigerator.  When children use scissors and crayons, they are developing fine motor skills and small muscles.  We have many toys, activities and centers that work on fine motor skills.  Our art center has scissors, glue, markers, crayons, pens and pencils available every day.  Our writing center has pens and pencils with paper, cards, stickers and envelopes. 

7. How to build with blocks---Building with blocks allow children to freely explore spatial relationships, strengthen motor skills, promotes eye/hand coordination  and develop social and language skills. We also have Legos, waffle blocks, bristle blocks, and a train set that rotate through this center.

8.  Learn to recognize symbols---Most preschoolers are able to to identify a few letters and numbers.  They thrive on reciting and writing the letters in their name and begin to learn the letters in classmates and teacher's names.  They are understanding and recognizing colors and shapes.  We repeatedly say, "Shapes are everywhere."  "Colors are everywhere."  "Letters and numbers are everywhere." 

9.  How to hop, skip and jump---Playing outside is different than indoor center play.  Playing outside strengthens muscles, increases coordination, develops body awareness, and boosts  a child's self confidence.  Outdoor play creates situations for children to independently problem solve and socially interact with peers in an a environment different than the classroom.

10. How to be a scientist---Preschoolers are naturally inquisitive and love to explore.  Our job is to provide many opportunities for children to have hands-on and self-directed activities.  Pumpkin pieces with seeds, flowers, a computer motherboard, sensory bottles and tubs, science experiments for the group and individual are just a few ways that science is introduced and explored.

Our classroom encourages children to be a student by providing a wide variety of interesting materials, activities and experiences.  Building, painting and exploring will allow your child to learn and be creative in the classroom.