Meet Our Staff Special Preschool T eacher Special Education
Preschool T eacher Jennifer Bell Bachelors Special Education &
Elementary Education Early Childhood Endorsement M.Ed. Curriculum
and Instruction Speech/Language Pathologist Speech/Language
Pathologist Cheryl Davis Bachelors Elementary Education Masters
Clinical Speech Pathology Instructional Assistants Instructional
Assistants Lori Holmen Tricia Mante Cerritos Preschool Staff
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District Specialists Director of Special Education Shari Dukes
Lead Preschool Teacher Lori Conroy Administrative Assistant Becky
Lugo Occupational Therapist Dawn Bjornson Assistive Technology
Specialist Hannah Jones- AT Teacher
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Each day there are three adults for approximately 18 students 1
Highly Qualified Teacher in Special Education and Early Childhood 2
instructional assistants that have extensive training Speech
Language Pathologist/Therapist 1 day a week (Thursday) Staff Ratio
and Hours
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Speech/Language Services Leads large group lessons in
phonological awareness, speech sound production, and language
skills Leads small group lessons working on various language skills
Works with individual students or small groups on specific goals
during center time Consults with preschool staff on ways to support
speech and language skills throughout the day.
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About the Program Focus: *School Readiness Perks: *Language
Based * Ages 3-5 * Integrated * Range of abilities Provides: *Early
Intervention Services
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Program Philosophy Play Based Developmentally Appropriate Child
Directed Play Integration-children learn from each other Clear
Routines and Expectations Based on Whole Child Social/Emotional
Language Skills Cognitive Fine and Gross Motor Self-Help
Skills
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Role of Typical Peer Provide appropriate models for speech and
language, behavior, etc. Develop friendships and love of learning
Support Peers in learning activities Typical peers learn respect
and appreciation for diversity.
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Daily Schedule Circle Time Circle Time Small Group Instruction
Small Group Instruction Child Directed Play (1 hour) Child Directed
Play (1 hour) Snack Time Snack Time Story Time Story Time Gross
Motor Play (30 minutes) Gross Motor Play (30 minutes) Closing
Circle Time Closing Circle Time Play is often talked about as if it
were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is
serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood. -Fred
Rogers
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Classroom Centers # Art Center # Sensory Table # Library Area #
Listening Center # Puzzles and Manipulative # Math Center # Science
Center # Language Center # Dramatic Play Center # Music Center #
Writing Center # Blocks and Building Center
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1.Social/Emotional 2.Approaches to Learning 3.Language and
Literacy 4.Mathematics 5.Science 6.Social Studies 7.Physical
Development 8.Health and Safety 9.Fine Arts Arizona State Standards
for Early Childhood (Standards guide our instruction)
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Preschool Curriculum The curriculum is divided into 8 major
themes for the year. (Each theme lasts for 1 month) 1. Ready for
School 2. My Family 3. Our Community 4. Awesome Animals! 5. Imagine
It, Make It 6. Growing UP Healthy 7. Nature All Around Us 8. Moving
On
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Founding Principles of BIG DAY (correlate with the AZ State
Standards for Early Childhood) 1. Integrated Learning- learning
experiences that integrate all domains social-emotional, language
and literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, arts, and
physical development. 2. Language Development- language development
provided through modeling and reinforcing conversation, vocabulary,
and sentence structures across social and academic settings. 3.
Social-Emotional Development- focuses on developing behaviors and
traits that will enable them to function productively and
collaboratively in school and society. 4. Responsive Instruction-
focus on preparing children for success in school by monitoring
progress and providing responsive instruction based on need for
individuals and small groups. 5. Partner with Families- promotes
partnership and communication with families and extends childrens
learning at home.
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Preschool Curriculum The Big Day program has a parent portal.
Please take the information on the table home with you.
http://auth.grolier.com/login/bdport/login.php?bffs=N
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Parent/Teacher Communication Newsletters Phone or Email Student
Progress Reports Curriculum Night and Conferences
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Progress Reports Conferences will be held in October for all
students. Parents will receive a written report of progress in
January and May. Parents will either be receiving a Teaching
Strategies Gold Report and/or a Progress Report similar to the
Kindergarten Report Card.
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What Parents Can do at Home to Support Learning Read to your
child daily. Reading is the single most important activity leading
to literacy. Talk to your child, use big vocabulary words, ask lots
of questions, and describe things in detail. Encourage independence
(even though it might be easier to do things for them, children
really want to be self sufficient) Sing songs and play games with
your child. Dialogic Reading-the adult helps the child become the
teller of the story. The adult becomes the listener, the
questioner, the audience for the child.
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Cerritos Mission Statement Leaders of Today, Inspiring Leaders
of Tomorrow
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7 Habits Habit 1-Be Proactive (your in charge) Habit 2-Begin
with the End in Mind (have a plan) Habit 3-Put First Things First
(work first then play) Habit 4-Think Win-Win (everyone wins) Habit
5-Seek First to Understand then to be understood (listen before you
speak) Habit 6- Synergize (together is better) Habit 7-Sharpen the
Saw (have a balance) We believe that every child possesses
leadership skills.
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Open lines of communication between parents and teacher Tax
Credit Donation See link on district web page
www.kyrene.orgwww.kyrene.org Volunteer Guest reader Preparation
work Donation of requested items Wish List Newsletter Ways to
Support Preschool Program
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Closing End of the Day Song Before you Leave Draw a picture for
your child and leave it on the table. We will deliver it to them
from our classroom mailbox tomorrow. Please find your childs photo
on the back cabinet and take it home. Check out the Class Wish
List