Pre-K parent post, Aug. 2006 (1st edition)

THE PRE-K
PARENT POST
Ready to learn...Ready for school Activities for Georgia's Pre-K children and families

First Edition

"My child seems to play a lot. When will she begin to learn her letters and numbers?"

Remember a time when your child was so involved in an activity like watching a bug or drawing a picture that she did not hear you call her to dinner? What appeared to be play was the budding scientist or future artist at work!
When we think of the concept of play in this sense, we begin to understand the importance it has in a child's learning. Play focuses on the pleasure one gets from doing an activity; the end result is not important. Learning by doing builds self-esteem and feelings of accomplishment.
The child makes choices, explores interests, acts out roles, tries new skills, makes decisions, and gains independence while playing. Whew! And you just thought she was "messing around."

For four-year-olds "reading" is looking at books and listening to stories. Similarly, "math" is making patterns with beads and sorting cubes. Once all of these early skills are learned, they can be transferred to "academics" at the appropriate time.
As children play store or office, they begin to ask for "money" and pads or pencils. As they compose games and make up rules, they learn how to negotiate and compromise. As they act out roles, they make connections about the responsibilities of adult life and appropriate ways of behavior. Through play they are learning in the most meaningful and enjoyable way. Let's all play a little more!
Play is the work of a young child.

WHAT ARE CONTENT STANDARDS? They are a set of standards that your child's teacher
will use to plan instruction as well as assess the growth and development of your child. Many of the activities featured in The Pre-K Parent Post have also been aligned with the content standards. The content standards have been divided into seven areas: Language and Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Creative Expression, Social and Emotional, and Health and Physical Development. Specific goals and performance indicators have been identified for each domain.
As a parent you can use the standards to provide additional activities at home and further guide your child's learning. When using the standards, it is important to be aware that children learn at different rates and will match a range of performance indicators. For a complete listing of the Content Standards, visit the Bright from the Start website at www.decal.state.ga.us.
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Where is the Green Sheep?
By Mem Fox
This easy-to-read rhyme will increase basic vocabulary as children quickly catch on to the rhyme, "But where is the green sheep?" Children will be introduced to colors and comparisons as they read the simple text. See activities on page 3.

CLASSROOM CORNER

When you visit your child's classroom, you will see many "learning centers" where important learning takes place. In this issue of The Pre-K Parent Post, we feature the Dramatic Play Center.
Pre-K classrooms have a dramatic play area that is furnished with props such as kitchen accessories, housekeeping items, and dolls. Props may be changed to relate to a certain theme, such as a grocery store or a post office.
This center is an important part of a wellrounded curriculum, and children develop many skills as they work here. For example:
Social skills develop as children learn to share materials and work cooperatively.
Oral language grows when children talk to each other as they play.
Vocabularies increase when they play with new materials and learn the meaning of new words.
Children are practicing early writing skills when they write grocery lists, telephone messages, and notes to place on the bulletin board in the play kitchen.

Fine motor skills needed for writing are strengthened when children use their fingers to fasten buttons and snap on doll clothes.
Children feel grown up when they feed the baby, mail a letter, or use the cash register.
Dramatic play, whether at school or at home, develops children's independence as they practice roles, routines, and responsibilities. Plus it is fun!
HOME CONNECTION
You can support your child at home by using an old suitcase or box to store pretend play supplies such as dress-up clothes, tools for various occupations, and writing materials. When your child is role playing, talk to the character he is pretending to be.
Content Standard: Children will explore and use a variety of materials to develop artistic expression.

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ACTIVITIES
Try this activity after reading Where is the Green Sheep?
Have your child talk to you about the opposites they noticed throughout the story such as near and far, scared and brave, and up and down. Help your child think of other opposite word pairs.
Content Standard: Responds to questions; develops an understanding of vocabulary introduced in conversations, activities, stories, and books.

DINING
Juicy Finger Blocks

3 envelopes unflavored gelatin Dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Add juice and stir until

3/4 cup boiling water

mixed. Pour into a lightly greased 9 x 13 inch cake pan.

1 12-oz can frozen apple, orange,

or other juice concentrate

Chill in the refrigerator about 2 hours or until firm.

Cut into squares or use cookie cutters to make shapes. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Content Standard: Children will develop a sense of space and an understanding of basic geometric shapes.

MEANINGFUL MATH
Set up an office for your child. Provide paper, pencils, old checkbooks, deposit slips, a mailbox (shoebox), envelopes, stamp pads, and stickers. Children will love reading, writing, mailing letters, making a grocery list, and paying bills.
Give children an old telephone or calculator. They love to push the buttons and copy the numbers. This is a great way for your child to learn your home telephone number too! To make the office portable, store it inside an old briefcase or bin to take in the car.
Content Standard: Children will begin to develop an understanding of numbers.
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A MINUTE FOR MANAGEMENT ON...
ROUTINES
Children require consistency in their world and from the adults who take care of them. When they cannot depend on certain things, their behavior often becomes disruptive.
Mornings are a rush for even the most organized families.
PROBLEM: Jamal gets up and starts watching TV. Then he rushes to get dressed and to brush his teeth. He ends up eating breakfast in the car.
SOLUTION: No TV until Jamal is ready for school. This allows him to be more independent and gives him more time to dress and eat at the table. Jamal will learn that if he completes all of his tasks, he might still have time to watch a special show.
GEORGIA'S PRE-K ASSESSMENT PROGRAM
Bright from the Start developed Georgia's Pre-K Assessment to inform teachers and parents. The assessment helps parents and teachers by indicating areas where children are performing as a typical four year old and areas where children need more development.
It is not a test. The assessment involves observing, recording, and documenting data about children as they interact with the world around them. Teachers accomplish this through a variety of methods including writing anecdotal notes, taking pictures, and selecting children's work samples.
Results of the assessment are used by the teacher to plan instruction to meet the needs of children and to inform parents about their child's performance. Teachers also use the information they have collected to complete a developmental checklist. Information from the checklist is used to determine each child's performance in seven domains and is reported on the Georgia Pre-K Progress Report.
The Georgia Pre-K Progress Report is shared with parents at parent/guardian conferences, which are held at least two times per year. Attendance at each conference is essential for learning more about your child's progress in the Georgia Pre-K Program.
Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning 10 Park Place South, Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30303 404-656-5957 or 1-888-4GA-PREK www.decal.state.ga.us
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