beth_rosa_prek

Welcome to Beth and Rosa's 2018-19 Pre-K Class!

July 2018

Dear Families

Welcome to Pre-Kindergarten at the Earth School! My name is Beth and I am your child’s teacher for the upcoming 2018-2019 school year. This will be my first year at the Earth School and I am thrilled to be joining this fantastic community of educators, children, and family members. Before coming to the Earth School, I taught for 6 years in progressive early childhood and elementary classrooms in both New York City and Germany. I am originally from the suburbs of Chicago, but spent my adult life living and working in other states and countries. I received an undergraduate degree in music and anthropology from the University of Iowa and a masters in historical archaeology from the University of Sheffield in England. After realizing how much I loved teaching young children, I went back to school to earn my masters in early childhood and early childhood special education from Teachers College at Columbia University. In my free time, I sing, play guitar, travel, read, knit, and spend time with family and friends. I try to bring these and other interests into the classroom as much as possible. What hobbies do you and your child enjoy? I encourage everyone to come in and share their interests with the class!

I am bubbling over with curriculum ideas and cannot wait to collaborate with the children to see where their interests take us. Dewey wisely noted, “Learning is experiencing the world.” I agree, but extend his statement by asking the questions, “How can we EXPAND that world and how can we provide equitable access to these learning experiences?” With those questions in mind, one of my goals as an educator is to develop accessible learning experiences that follow and expand on the children’s interests whenever possible. I believe that by providing a diversity of learning activities, making room for open-ended explorations, and encouraging children to ask, Why, How, and What If questions, our classroom will be a warm and bustling place filled with confident and curious learners.

Our Philosophy Early childhood teachers at The Earth School are committed to supporting children in learning and growing through play and discovery. We strive to provide a nurturing and stimulating environment in which children’s interests and strengths are celebrated. Our hope is that during Pre-K, children develop a deep love for learning, awareness of themselves and others, and confidence to pursue their interests. In various ways teachers strive to offer children a range of choices that allow them to engage in activities that provide both practice and challenge. Throughout the year, teachers plan and reflect on curriculum that meets the needs of the class, collective interests and the educational needs of each individual student. This means that although some of our curriculum is planned prior, some curriculum also emerges out of student interest and excitement for new topics.

The First Few Weeks The beginning of the school year is a time for everyone to transition into the new classroom environment. We will learn new routines and develop a strong classroom community. Children will learn about self care and how to develop their independence. They will learn how to dress themselves when we get ready to go outside, take care of the classroom and materials, and pour water for themselves when they are thirsty. Socio-emotional learning will also be emphasized in our classroom. Children will learn to identify and understand their feelings, and come up with solutions .to manage the “big feelings” that are a natural part of their emotional development. In addition to learning about their own emotions, we will encourage children to become mindful of how others feel as they develop a sense of empathy towards those around them. We will learn how to take turns, share materials and ideas, and resolve conflicts peacefully. To aid us in this journey of social and emotional growth, each child will receive a teddy bear that they will name and care for throughout the school year. We will have a more in depth discussion about the curriculum and how it will unfold at the Classroom Kickoff in the Fall.

The First Few Days On the first day of school, your child will receive a home-to-school folder. Please check this folder daily for important notices from teachers and the school. You should also use this folder to send notes if there is going to be a change in your child’s daily routine (doctor’s appointments, birthdays, illness, etc). Pre-kindergarteners will be on a shorter, modified schedule for the first few days as they transition into the rhythms of school life. You will be receiving a phase-in schedule in the coming weeks.

Family/School Connections: At the Earth School, we encourage a strong family/teacher/school partnership and there are many ways for families to take part in our school community. Some examples of involvement include being a class parent, being part of the Parent Association, or volunteering for school events or trips. In the classroom, you are welcome to come in and celebrate your child’s birthday, honor a cultural event, share a snack, or read a book to the class. I hope we can come together during the year if there are any skills, talents. or bits of knowledge you wish to share with the class as we embark on classroom studies. We welcome your input and any new ways to bridge the home and school environment!

On the following pages I have included a supply list and questionnaire. If you are able to supply any of the following materials, it would be greatly appreciated. Please fill out and return the questionnaire so that I may have a better understanding of your child at the beginning of the year. Don’t hesitate to email if you have any questions: beth@theearthschool.org.

Have a great rest of your summer!

Sincerely,

Beth Petrenko

.Supply List:

● A family photo that we can keep in class. This is very important transitional tool for children as they begin their journey into Pre-K!

● One change of clothing in a Ziploc bag marked with your child’s name (Shirt, pants, underwear, socks, shoes).

● One reusable cup (without a top) marked with your child’s name that will be used for drinking water in the classroom (Earth School is committed to banning single-use plastic water bottles to reduce waste).

● 2 rolls of paper towels (select-a-size sheets if possible)

● 1 box of tissues

● 1 package of unscented baby wipes

Optional Supplies:**

● Sponges

● Liquid hand soap

● Dish soap

● 1 bottle non-toxic spray cleaner

● Ziploc bags (any size)

● Band-aids

● Watercolor paper

● Black felt-tip (Flair) pens

● Scotch/Masking tape

● Dish towels (for cleaning spills) **We understand that some families may not be able to supply us with items from the optional portion of the list. We are grateful for anything that you are able to share with our class and we thank you in advance!

Supply List for Earth Science with Emmy

● Blue paper folder (please write your child’s name on the folder)

● A box of tissues

.Family Questionnaire

Child’s name/preferred name: __________________________________________________

Child’s birthday: _____________________________________

Email addresses that you would like to be contacted at concerning class news:

Name/Relationship:_________________________ Email:__________________________________

Name/Relationship:_________________________ Email:__________________________________

Name/age of siblings:

Name ___________________________ Age________

Name ___________________________ Age________

Who does your child live with in their home(s)?: ________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

What languages are spoken in your home?: ____________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Does your child have any food allergies, dietary restrictions, or medical conditions that we should know about?: ___________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Has your child been to school before?:_______ Where? __________________________________

Please note any other information that you think would be helpful for us to know about your child in order to make them more comfortable in the classroom:

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________