Georgia's Pre-K Program teacher newsletter, Vol. 3, Issue 1 (Aug./Sept. 2006)

BACK TO SCHOOL

UPDATES FROM PRE-K

It is hard to believe we are beginning another school year. This year we will be serving 76,600 four-year-old children in Georgia's Pre-K Program!
STAFF -- Many of you have heard that the Pre-K Division will be losing two very valuable players, Mary Rieck and Daphne Haley. We assure you that there are transition plans in place, and the change will be smooth!
Both Mary and Daphne will depart by the end of August. They will be missed very much.
Your consultant will be your key contact in the meantime. If you are not sure who your consultant is, please call and ask to speak to the Pre-K Consultant of the Day.

Consultant regions have changed in some areas of the state. We have added new staff and lost others. Tiffany Blassingame, Leah Freeman and Edye Summerfield are no longer with our agency and are happily pursuing new careers.
Dana Evans is the new Inclusion Coordinator for the state and will be providing technical assistance, in addition to handling all disenrollments and suspensions. You can reach her via e-mail at dana.evans@decal.state.ga.us or 404-464-0009. Meghan McNail has joined our consultant team for the Pre-K Division.
ASSESSMENT -- We will be implementing the Work Sampling System statewide this

year. You can contact your Project Director or Consultant for more information. Your training will focus around assessment this year. The training calendar is online at www.decal.state.ga.us.
GOVERNOR'S BOOK -- The Governor's Book this year is Over In The Meadow illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats. You will receive lesson plan ideas and the books in September.
PQA -- There were no changes to the Program Quality Assessment (PQA) this year, but we still recommend that each site complete a self-evaluation early in the school year. The selfassessment can be found on our website.

Georgia's Pre-K Program
Volume 3, Issue 1
August/September 2006
Special points of interest: Updates Georgia Pre-K Assessment Back to School Games and
Songs
Contact information:
Consultant of the Day 404-656-5957 888-4GA-PREK (427735)
Resource Coordinator Contact: Darlene Sims 404-651-7418 Darlene.sims@decal.state.ga.us
Inclusion Coordinator/ Disenrollments/Suspensions: Dana Evans 404-463-0009 dana.evans@decal.state.ga.us

BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS

As you prepare your class-

be taking their picture

getting home the first

room for your new children,

and want them to be

day of school and the

here are a few things you

sure to come.

rest of the year.

might want to consider.

Tell them a little bit These steps will help your

Contact each family be-

about yourself and what open house run smoothly.

fore school starts and

they will need to bring Updated ideas for Parent

extend a warm welcome

the first day of school. Orientation can be found in

to the family to open Check for changes of the Pre-K Providers' Operat-

house or the first day of

address and contact ing Guidelines available on-

school.

numbers.

line at www.decal.state.ga.us.

Tell the family you will Ask how the child will be

Georgia's Pre-K Assessment: A New Day, A New Way

Georgia is implementing Georgia's PreK Assessment this year. It uses the Work Sampling System (WSS) and the Georgia Pre-K Progress Report.
Training on the Work Sampling System will be offered throughout the school year. Teachers will receive their manuals, Work Sampling System Developmental Checklists (one per student), and Georgia Pre-K Progress Reports (one per student) during training.
Until the teacher receives this training, she should continue to observe and record student performance and collect work samples as previously required. There is no reason for not collecting assessment information.
Upon completing training, teachers will be able to immediately implement

Georgia's Pre-K Assessment using the Work Sampling System Developmental Checklist and the Georgia Pre-K Progress Report. In addition to the materials teachers receive at training, they will need: 2 tubs or bins that will accommo-
date legal sized hanging folders. Buy them large enough that they can store the school year's worth of children's portfolios including selected work samples, observational notes, and other data related to the child's performance 21 Hanging Folders (Legal Size): 1 for Teacher Materials, 1 for each child

180 Folders (Legal Size): 9 for each child (1 for each of seven domains, 1 for multi-domains, 1 for WSS Developmental Checklist and Georgia Pre-K Progress Report)
These items are necessary for each teacher to successfully implement the Georgia Pre-K Assessment.
Other items that will be helpful in the implementation of Georgia's Pre-K Assessment include: assorted labels Post-It Notes Clipboards a digital camera.

Materials, Materials, Materials

When setting up your classroom, keep in mind children can quickly become overwhelmed and distracted when too many items are accessible in the room. Refer to your PQA, and make sure you start by making the required items accessible.
Be sure to introduce each new material placed in a center throughout the year. Small Group time is an excellent time to introduce new materials and teach the proper way to use them. You can involve

the children in finding a location for the new object and labeling it.
It is also important to introduce each
"Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Just walk beside
me, and be my friend." Anonymous
area of your room at the beginning of the year, along with each material you

have already placed in the learning areas. Pretend the children don't know anything, and you have to teach them everything--how to use it, where to put it during clean-up, etc.
Take time to do this, and you will be amazed at the results.

PRE-K CONSULTANTS

Some of the Pre-K Consultants have changed regions. It is for a good reason, but we realize it may be frustrating to you.
This year we were able to hire two additional consultants, which should allow all of us more time to spend benefitting you. The role of your consultant is to partner with you to help provide the best learning opportunities for the children enrolled in your Pre-K program.

If you are not sure who your new consultant is, you can contact our Pre-K Consultant of the Day. Your consultant's contact information -- phone number and e-mail -- is available from the Consultant of the Day and our website.
Don't hesitate to contact him throughout the school year. Your consultant is available to provide you with needed assistance or as a resource for ideas and information.

If he is unavailable for any reason, please contact the Pre-K Consultant of the Day at 404-656-5957 or 888-4GAPREK(427735). Consultant contact information is being updated on the website.
Our website is another excellent source for obtaining information for your site. Be sure to visit www.decal. state.ga.us often for updates and new information.

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BACK TO SCHOOL GAMES

Need a great transaction activity to help fill some time? Try these games once your children learn them.
Copycat: Teach children the following chant, and then choose a child to "copy."
Let's play copycat just for fun! We'll copy _________ 'cause s/he's the one! Whatever s/he does we'll all do the same. Let's all play the copycat game!
(You can copy the child jumping, clapping, tapping his/her head, etc... whatever the child chooses to do.)
Alphabet Name Game: Hold up a letter (on a card), and say the sound. Ask the children whose name begins with that same sound. Teach children the

following song using that sound. Continue until everyone's beginning sound is used. The song is to the tune of "Mary Had A Little Lamb."
If your name begins with ____,
begins with ___, begins with ____.
If your name begins with ___, stand up please.
Concentrate on the sound, not the letter recognition. It is more important at age four that they begin to develop phonological awareness orally.
"If You're Friendly And You Know It": If you're friendly and you know it, clap your hands.
If you're friendly and you know it, clap

your hands. If you're friendly and you know, and you really want to show it, If you're friendly and you know it, clap your hands! (Let the children help you decide what other things they want to do... jump up high, dance around, shake a hand, hug a neighbor, give a high five, etc.)
"If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can't, you're right." Unknown
"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.." Ralph Waldo Emerson

GOOD MORNING BOOGIE

It is important to begin each day by greeting your children and practicing established daily rituals. Let your children choose each day how they want to be greeted as they enter the room... maybe they want a high five, a butterfly hug, a pinkie hug, a smile, etc.
Here is a great song you might want to add to your daily routine as you begin to establish classroom rituals.
Good Morning Boogie
Hello neighbor, what do you say?
(Children bow to each other)

It's going to be a happy day. (Children clap hands together) So greet your neighbor, (Children give each other high fives) And boogie on down. (Children wiggle their hips) Give `em a bump, (Children bump hips together) And turn around.

ANXIETY
Here are some books you might want to have on hand to read during the first few weeks of school. They can help relieve some separation anxiety. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn I Like School by Michael Mantean Going to School by Anne Civardi Friends at School by R. Bunnett Oh My Baby Little One by K. Appelt

ME IN A BAG
Introduce yourself by using "Me In A Bag." Put a few items that represent you in a large bag. For example, you might include a picture of your family, a paintbrush if you like to paint, your favorite book, your favorite food, a cookbook if you like to cook, a picture of your pet, etc.
Have the children sit around you, and explain the significance of each item as you pull it out of the bag. This is a

great way to begin a discussion to help your children get to know you.
When you are finished, pass the bag to a child in your room along with instructions for parents, so they can fill-up the bag and bring it back. Be creative and encourage parents to be creative as well!
Continue this until each child has had a turn. Children can learn about each

other faster if you use more than one bag. You and your assistant might begin the process and then pass the two bags along.
This is a great way to start showing the importance of the home and school connection!

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