Aviator Preschool Newsletter
Sycamore Community Schools Preschool Parent Communication
August/September
Our Flight Plan
MD Attendance Line: (513) 686-1726
BA Attendance Line: (513) 686-1710
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
August 27: Curriculum Preview Night - 6pm to 7pm
September 2: Labor Day - no school!
September 5: Grandfriends' Day (11:00 for the AM classes) and (3:00 for the PM classes)
September 10: Fall Picture Day - Maple Dale
September 19: Fall Picture Day - Blue Ash
September 27: Professional Development Day - no school!
October 14: Teacher Records Day - no school!
October 21: AM Field Trip to Farm - NO PM classes
October 22: PM Field Trip to Farm - NO AM classes
Note from the Coordinator:
Welcome to preschool! We have had such a great start to the school year. We will have many adventures together as we learn about the world around us!
Please join us on August 27, 2019 from 6-7pm for our Curriculum Preview Night which will be held in your child's classroom. As many of you may have noticed, the Preschool Staff has been very busy setting up lots of different areas for the children to learn and play. Curriculum Preview is the perfect time to come into your child’s classroom to learn more about how we utilize the space and materials to promote growth for all students.
Friendly reminder...Please send your child to school in closed-toe shoes that they will be safe wearing on the playground. Our top priority is ensuring the safety of your child.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful children with us. We are looking forward to watching them learn and grow this year!
Speech and Language Spotlight
We already know about Vocabulary:
A limited vocabulary is a hallmark of underdeveloped
language skills and a serious obstacle to
acquiring literacy and academic standards.
Plays a critical part in learning to read
• Helps students make sense of the words
they see by comparing them to the words
they have heard
• Is one of the 5 building blocks of reading
• Can be divided into four types
Vocabulary Demands on Students are Daunting
• 450,000 words in English- largest vocabulary of languages in use today
• Students must learn 3,000 words per year by 3rd grade.
• Only 400 words a year are directly taught by teachers.
• Academic demands are high
• However, everyday speech consists of only 5,000- 7,000 words.
• Conversation cannot make up the difference (Frey & Fisher, 2007).
7 Principles of Vocabulary Acquisition
1.Have a variety of rich experiences- and then talk about these events
2. Relate words to students’ lives
3. Establish word relationships
4. Develop depth of meaning
5. Provide frequent exposure
6. Create an interest in words
7. Use vocabulary acquisition tools independently
(Gunning, 2004)
Vocabulary is the CORE in the Core Curriculum. During the school year, you will receive
Vocabulary sheets for all our themed units and sound of the week activities. Please print these and talk about them with your child. To build expressive language skills, engage in conversation through open ended questions, reading together, and sharing experiences.
Here’s to a great year and Keep Talking!!! Mandy Conrad, SLP
Theme of the Month - All About Me 8/26 - 10/23
Essential Understanding: Understanding that I am a unique individual with abilities and skills, I can learn from my environment, I have a story to tell, and I can be a contributing member of a group.
Key Concepts and Skills:
I am special and introduction to he 4 “B” Statements-Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe, and Be a Problem Solver we will use to support our school-wide Positive Behavior Intervention Supports program (PBIS)
I can point to a picture or name family members, classmates, teachers, and bus drivers.
I can identify/name 10 body parts.
I can match body parts and senses.
I can identify/name and demonstrate 5 emotions.
I can name parts of their environments.
Thematic Read-Alouds:
I Like Me! Nancy Carlson
From Head to Toe, Eric Carle
I Went Walking, Sue Williams
Here Are My Hands, Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
Knuffle Bunny, Mo Willems
All By Myself, Aliki
My New Friend is So Fun, Mo Willems
The Way I Feel, Jannan Cain
The Way I Act, Janaan Cain
My Five Senses by Aliki
Owl Babies Martin Waddell
Theme Vocabulary
Sound of the Week
We will use the descriptions created in the LiPS Program by Patricia and Phyllis Lindamood. The sounds presented follow a sequence from the front of the mouth to the back of the throat. They also mirror how articulation develops in young children, they develop the sounds they can see on their parents’ lips first as these are the easiest to produce. In January, 2020 we will focus on a single sound each week.
Schedule by Week:
August 26: Lip Poppers (P,B)
September 3: Tip Tappers (T, D)
September 9: Nose Sounds (M, N)
September 16: Tongue Scrapers (K, G)
September 23: Lip Coolers (F, V)
September 30: Wind Sounds (W, H)
Activities for Extension at Home:
Listening Walk! Close your eyes and talk about what do you hear? Learning letter sounds, rhyming, alliteration, and reading start with being able to hear and identify different environmental sounds!
Review the sound of the week vocabulary with your child.
Make a Sound Book or Sound Page with each page dedicated to a set of sounds. Google images with your child, cut out pictures from magazines, or cut up the sound of the week vocabulary sheet and glue them on the designated page. Targeting each initial sound as you glue it on. Try expanding their vocabulary with each picture. For example: This is a ball. What shape is a ball? It looks similar to a… Open ended questions helps to elicit varied responses!
Family Connections
Week 1
Parent connection: I am Special
Each of us has a special gift that makes us unique. Help your child find that special gift this week. Do they bring happiness to your family? Do they always have a smile that lights up the room? Are they kind? As a family draw a picture of each family member and come up with what makes each of you special. Each person’s uniqueness is what makes your family so very special. Celebrate your family this week!
Week 2
Parent connection: Relationships
This week take a moment to build a special memory with your child. Do an art activity, share a story under the covers with a flashlight, have a tea party, or play a silly game. Relationships at home and at school are what bring meaning to our lives. This Thursday we create a special memory with our loved one for grandparent day. Let our school day be the beginning of a fun filled day filled with lots of memories. After school, go on a walk or a short trip to the park. Grandparents share beautiful relationships with our children.
Week 3
Parent Connection: Body Parts
Parent Connection: This week play a game with your child trying to name 10 body parts. Use baby dolls, stuffed animals, siblings, and other family members to add some excitement.
Week 4
Parent Connection: The Senses
Take an old pillowcase and fill it with familiar objects. Without peeking, have your child reach in and try to guess one object inside using their sense of touch. Take turns until all of the objects have been guessed. Enjoy your special time with your child.
Week 5
Parent Connection: Emotions
Take a mirror this week and make faces in the mirror with your child. Make a happy face, an angry face, a silly face, an excited face, and any other emotion your child is excited about. Talk with your child about how their body feels when they have that emotion. Ask your child when they feel happy, sad, angry, and excited.
Week 6
Parent Connection: Environment
This week find sometime to cuddle up and look at family photo albums together with your child. Talk about the experiences, who you are with, and where you are in the photo. Make a list of your favorite places to visit and your favorite people.
A Few Family Friendly Area Attractions
Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County:
Symmes Township Branch Library
Blue Ash Branch Library
Parks and Area Attractions:
Great Parks of Hamilton County greatparks.org
Summit Park www.summitparkblueash.com
Parks in the City of Montgomery https://www.montgomeryohio.org
Parks within Symmes Township https://www.symmestownship.org
Cincinnati Nature Center https://www.cincynature.org
Krohn Conservatory https://www.cincinnatiparks.com › krohn
Kings Island Amusement and Waterpark https://www.visitkingsisland.com
Coney Island Amusement and Waterpark https://coneyislandpark.com
Smale Riverfront Park https://www.cincinnatiparks.com › river-parks › smale-riverfront-park
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens cincinnatizoo.org
Cincinnati Museum Center https://www.cincymuseum.org
Newport Aquarium https://www.newportaquarium.com
Parky’s Farm https://www.greatparks.org › parks › winton-woods › parkys-farm
Gorman Heritage Farm gormanfarm.org
Shaw Farm https://www.shawfarms.com
Burger Farm and Garden Center https://burgerfarms.com
Blooms and Berries https://www.bloomsandberries.com
CIncinnati Children’s Theater https://www.thechildrenstheatre.com
Cincinnati Ballet Family Series https://www.cballet.org/family-series/
Quick Links:
Contact Us
Preschool Coordinator
Regina Stauder: stauderr@sycamoreschools.org
Classroom Teachers
Anna Battershell: battershella@sycamoreschools.org
Joy Nichols: nicholsj@sycamoreschools.org
Angela Garrett: garretta@sycamoreschools.org
Amanda Hughes: hughesa@sycamoreschools.org
Amber Fetherolf: fetherolfa@sycamoreschools.org
Related Service
Amanda Conrad: conrad@sycamoreschools.org
Judi Pollak: pollakj@sycamoreschools.org
Kim Toft: toftk@scyamoreschools.org