The Bear Necessities
Back to School Edition, August 2017
Meet Your Teacher, it's a marathon here at GBEEC
We greet families year around here at GBEEC for Meet Your Teacher, not a week goes by when a new family isn't meeting a staff member for the first time. I would encourage you to gain lots of information about the family, favorite things to do together, pet info, etc...as you have always done...but I would like to encourage you to let them know a little about your family (does not have to be great detail).
It is important for families to realize that everyone has a family to care for and a life outside of school. You walk in their parenting shoes daily, and you enjoy the journey, even when there are rough spots. Sharing celebrations can also be fun for families and a nice reminder for them that you fill many roles, not simply "most awesome preschool teacher/therapist/paraprofessional".
Some of you have begun to take pics at MYT so that you can place a framed pic of family in your classroom, this is an awesome practice and really grows that school family practice.
Parent Involvement Idea....Mystery Reader...
From Fairy Dust Teaching:
Let me count the ways. . . family involvement makes my teaching year sing!
Today, I want to share my passion for Mystery Readers. This idea is not original to me - and quite frankly - has been around a long time. It is gold.
When I was an intern, my Supervising teacher Suzy McMahon, had mystery readers. I watched the magic unfold as they waited to see WHO would be the mystery reader that day.
Suzy would have families sign up at Back-to-School night and at Meet-the-Teacher.
GBEEC STAFF: just let front office know to expect the reader!! We will also need to send them the volunteer training link, also super easy!!
ELD
Snack, it's time to consider the new way of doing things....
Oh and speaking of fresh starts....while planning....
In your mailbox, classrooms will find a short article on "How Process Art Experiences Support Preschool"...consider planning for a "Tuesday Art Day", where you throw on some music, throw out some supplies and just "ART"!! This practice builds in an open art opportunity for kids weekly (maybe tie it to a library day that makes your schedule wacky).
Seriously....easy on the crafts....if you know what it should look like when their done more than once a week, you and I need to chat about some new ideas!! Crafts have merit (following directions, referencing a model, etc), but in 12 hours a week, they should NOT be our main focus....
THINK:
art is unique and original
no sample for children to follow
activity is focused on the experience and on exploration of techniques, tools and materials.
See article that was also in the July edition of Bear Necessities!!