Welcome to the Tadpole Room!

Tadpole Team includes; Miss Kim, Miss Denise, Miss, Mary and Miss Sue. 

Again, welcome and let the fun begin!

 

 

MAY HAPPENINGS!

(WOW! Can you believe it's May already?)

May 1st- May Day

May 3rd- National No Pants Day (We don't celebrate this one)

May 4th- Star Wars Day- May the force be with you

May 5th- Cinco de Mayo

May 6th- Buddah Day

May 8th- Receptionist Day

May 9th- School Nurse Day

May 11th- National Miniature Golf Day

May 12th- Mother's Day

May 13th- Frog Jumping Day

May 14th- National Chicken Dance Day (one of our favorites)

May 17th- Nascar Day

May 23rd- National Turtle Day

May 25th- Full Moon

May 26th- Shavout

May 27th- Memorial Day- No School

May 29th- LEEP Carnival Day

 

 

 

 

Please remember we are a nut product safe environment.  Be sure to check those snack labels frequently.  For more information on snacks check out the Parent Handbook.

 

 

 

 

CONTACT INFORMATION! 

You can reach us at 437-5855 extension 7213 or by email at kspeers@londonderry.org. You can also send a note in with your child. Please remember the school email is considered public information, so we strongly discourage you from sharing any sensitive information via this resource.

 

 

 

“Why fit in when you were born to stand out.”    

 

LEARNING TO READ

 "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."- Dr. Seuss quote

      Teaching your child to read can seem like an overwhelming task.  The good news is you’ve already started.  Just by talking with your child you are expanding their vocabulary, teaching them the structure of the language and developing good listening skills.  Way to Go!  There are other skills you have been working on as well.  When you’ve taken your child on vacation or out into the community, you have been creating experiences in which they can build an understanding of what they are reading.   Awesome job!

     Learning to read is a truly a joint effort between home and school.  There are things you can do to help your child become a confident reader.   The first thing you can do is simply read to your child every day.  You can even make it part of the bedtime routine.  Another great way to show your child how important reading is to you is by stopping everything you’re doing and taking the time to read to them.  If you're lucky, you can even get in a little snuggle time while you’re reading.   

     There are also specific skills you can be working on at home.  I have included a list of online resources which I have found very helpful.  Please take some time to review a few of the sites and let me know what you think.  If you find any of the links not working, go to the main website and type “literacy” in the search engine.  If you could, also let me know so I can update it or fix it.  If you have any websites or resources you have found helpful and would like to recommend them to other parents, please send me a note or email me with the name and information. 

CENTER FOR EARLY LITERACY LEARNING (C.E.L.L.):

LITERACY AREAS- defines the six interrelated areas of early literacy skills. http://www.earlyliteracylearning.org/frameworksrtpld.php

RESOURCES FROM READING ROCKETS:

READING ROCKETS TIPS FOR PARENTS OF PRESCHOOLERS http://www.readingrockets.org/article/7833

FREE READING GUIDES http://www.readingrockets.org/guides/readingrockets

LITERACY MILESTONES: AGES 3-4 http://www.readingrockets.org/article/169

PRINT AWARENESS: http://www.readingrockets.org/teaching/reading101/printawareness

PHONEMIC AWARENESS IN YOUNG CHILDREN: http://www.readingrockets.org/article/408

THE PHIVE PHONES OF READING: http://www.readingrockets.org/article/347

THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHONOLOGICAL SKILLS: http://www.readingrockets.org/article/28759

PHONICS: http://www.readingrockets.org/teaching/reading101/phonics

 A CHILD BECOMES A READER

http://www.cdl.org/resource-library/pdf/NICHD_redr_brth_prK.pdf

 RESOURCES FROM ZERO TO THREE

PARENT HANDOUTS www.zerotothree.org/BrainWonders

GETTING READY TO READ http://www.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/CradlingLiteracy_Ready2Read_8.14.09.pdf?docID=9661&AddInterest=1145

 

SUGGESTED WEBSITES FOR KIDS

 

PBS KIDS RAISING READERS http://pbskids.org/read/

READING BETWEEN THE LIONS http://pbskids.org/lions/ 

STARFALL http://www.starfall.com/ 

SPROUT http://www.sproutonline.com/

THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION NETWORK http://www.literacycenter.net/

 

Preschool Math

“If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them.”  ~ quote by Phil Pastoret

     With the exception of addition and subtraction, many adults try to avoid activities involving math or have a negative emotional response connected to it.  By introducing math skills to your child at a young age, and through natural and fun activities, you create a child who is more comfortable and confident in math.  So the next question is, “What skills should I be teaching and how?”   There’s good news, by now you have most likely already started teaching your child number, space, time and size concepts.  By teaching your child the natural and/or logical arrangement of a sequence, you are teaching them skills in numerical order.  This skill is usually the focus around birthdays, discussions of who’s the oldest and who’s the youngest, and when talking about the days of the week.  When you practice reciting numbers in order, you are working on their counting skills.  When asking your child to put something in front of, in back of, beside, over or under another object, you have been working on their spatial relationships.  If you’ve ever told your child it will be time for bed in 5 more minutes or that you need to leave in 10 more minutes, you’ve been working on time concepts.  This will be an especially important concept for them to learn when they get their own cell phone.  When asking your child what size piece of cake they want, you have been working on size and measurement concepts.  So let’s build off those skills and add some more.

     I’ve listed some websites below that you can use as resources.  They have some great activities or games you can do with your child.  Other skills that we focus on at school include: patterning, sorting by attributes, 1-to-1 correspondence, numeral recognition, simple addition and subtraction, naming and recognizing two- and three-dimensional shapes and providing opportunities and materials that build a foundation for understanding economic concepts (e.g., playing restaurant, running a toy store, identifying and exchanging money, etc.).  We strongly encourage teaching children new skills through hands on activities and manipulatives (small objects such as counting bears, buttons, cubes, beans, etc.).  Once they understand the concept and are consistently able to demonstrate the skill at a concrete level, we introduce activities which encourage the use of mental images or pictures of real objects.  The highest level for our preschoolers would be functioning at an abstract level.  This would involve very basic and simple skills such as 1+1=2 (without using fingers or thinking of objects). 

     Please take some time and check out a few of the websites listed below and let me know what you think.  If you have some suggestions for math activities or websites that you would like to share with other families, please let me know.  Remember to make working with math fun and interesting.  Unless you have a learner who loves worksheet, provide hands on materials that your child can feel and touch.  By doing so, you’re utilizing different parts of the brain and building a stronger experience to store in memory. So, remember what Mickey Mouse said, "Arithmetic is being able to count up to twenty without taking off your shoes."

Parent Resources

 

Counting And Numbers http://math.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&zTi=1&sdn=math&cdn=education&tm=336&gps=453_301_1362_560&f=00&tt=14&bt=0&bts=1&zu=http%3A//preschoolrainbow.org/counting-theme.htm

Early Math Skills- Early Math Skills from Preschool through Kindergarten http://learningdisabilities.about.com/od/infancyandearlychildhood/qt/earlymathskills.htm

Home Measurement http://math.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&zTi=1&sdn=math&cdn=education&tm=146&gps=290_116_1362_560&f=00&tt=14&bt=0&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/large/home.html

 Learning Station Preschool Math http://www.preschoolexpress.com/learning-station09/preschool-math-feb09.shtml

Launching Into Literacy & Math - Parent Handouts http://oldweb.madison.k12.wi.us/tnl/lilm/handouts.html

Math 4 Children - Lots of Resources http://www.math4children.com/Preschool/index.html

Preschool Math http://math.about.com/od/reference/a/preschool.htm

What Is Mathematics? http://math.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&zTi=1&sdn=math&cdn=education&tm=11&gps=410_66_1362_560&f=00&tt=14&bt=0&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.ed.gov/pubs/EarlyMath/

Why Teach Your Preschooler Math http://math.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&zTi=1&sdn=math&cdn=education&tm=195&gps=288_229_1362_560&f=00&tt=14&bt=0&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.preksmarties.com/math/

 Websites for Kids

Cool Math 4 Kids – Games for kids http://www.coolmath4kids.com/

Edhelper.com- Math Activities for Kids http://www.edhelper.com/math_preschool.htm

Jumpstart Use the Free Online Learning Games Section- Recommended by USA Today

http://www.jumpstart.com/free-online-game.aspx?pid=googpd&cid=content&gclid=CP6yw5PStqACFekD5Qodih_IVg

Math Foundations http://www.topmarks.co.uk/Interactive.aspx?cat=1

Number Theme Preschool Activities and Crafts - Go down to: Online Story Time and Activities http://www.first-school.ws/theme/numbers.htm

Online Math Learning Includes other areas of learning too!http://www.onlinemathlearning.com/pre-k.html

Preschool Math Games http://www.ixl.com/math/grade/pre-k/

Zoodles Free Online Reading & Math Games http://www.zoodles.com/landing/preschool_safety_short?gclid=CMf26tWRtqACFdhM5QodfQP7Vg

PRESCHOOL SCIENCE

     Most children have a natural curiosity about the world around them.  In preschool we provide opportunities to learn about the life cycles of various organisms (e.g. plants, frogs, chickens), the four seasons, weather conditions, magnetism, the structure and property of matter (e.g. things that float and sink), and behavior of materials (e.g. transformation of liquids and solids by dissolving or melting).  We also provide opportunities to recognize and name individual body parts through the use of Handwriting Without Tears© Matman and encourage the development of an awareness of the world of nature and living things.  The Tadpole Classroom also participates and supports Moose Hill School’s Recycling Program.  In the discovery area children are provided the opportunity and materials that encourage them to use their five senses as well as use simple tools to explore various objects (e.g. rocks, gems, leaves, shells, starfish, etc.).  Children participate in graphing weather conditions and determining which type of condition there was more or less of over the course of a month.  In the block area, children have the opportunity to learn about machines with incline planes (ramps) and wheels and axles (cars and trucks) and with bikes and wagons on the playground.

 

PARENT RESOURCES

EXPLORATORIUM: SCIENCE SNACKS- A list of science activities http://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/index.html

FEDERAL RESOURCES FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE- Science Resources http://www.free.ed.gov/subjects.cfm?subject_id=41

GOVERNMENT RESOURCES FOR SCIENCE IMAGES- http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/selected-internet/imagesources.html

NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION- http://www.nwf.org/Kids.aspx

HELPING YOUR CHILD LEARN SCIENCE- http://www2.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/hyc.html

PRESCHOOL SCIENCE ACTIVITIES AND CRAFTS- http://www.first-school.ws/theme/science.htm

PRESCHOOL ROCK- Activities related to physics, biology, weather, nature, astronomy and space, hydrology, botany, experiments, and entomology. http://science.preschoolrock.com/

SCHOLASTIC- An article for parents on skills to teach at the preschool level http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=1371

SCIENCE FOR PRESCHOOLERS- Activities and suggested lessons http://scienceforpreschoolers.com/

SCIENCE IN THE PRESCHOOL CLASSROOM http://journal.naeyc.org/btj/200209/ScienceInThePreschoolClassroom.pdf

SCIENCE INTRODUCTION- A website for both parents and children- a variety of science activities, videos, and games http://www.kids.scintro.com/

SCIENCE VIDEOS- Yahoo- Science Facts & Videos http://kids.yahoo.com/science

WEATHER LOOK- Images of Weather in N.H. http://www.weatherlook.net/nh.shtml

WEBSITES FOR KIDS

ENERGY KIDS- Games and Activities http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=5

NASA- NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ASSOCIATION- Kid’s page-http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES- Kids Page- Games, Music, and Fun http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/science/index.htm

PBS Kids- Jay-Jay the Jet Plane http://pbskids.org/jayjay/

PBS Kids- Zoom http://pbskids.org/zoom/

WATCH KNOW- Videos for kids to learn science from http://www.watchknow.org/

 

NEW HAMPSHIRE FAMILY RESOURCES

CASEY FAMILY SERVICES Established in 1988, the New Hampshire Division of Casey Family Services offers an array of services to support and strengthen children, families, and communities statewide. http://www.caseyfamilyservices.org/index.php/ourdivisions/newhampshire/

CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES The Family Support and Preservation programs offered by Child and Family Services of NH are designed to provide a wide array of support services to families throughout NH and portions of VT.  These programs offer emotional support and practical solutions in managing family life, work with families who struggle with employment barriers and offer assistance to those who need in home assistance with parenting and household management.  Other programs range from those designed to facilitate permanence for at-risk youth to support groups for parents to a program that assists families who have a child with a chronic health condition. http://www.cfsnh.org/pages/programs/FamilySupport/parentingPlus/index.html

FAMILY RESOURCE CONNECTION, OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE LIBRARY F.R.C. has an Online Lending Library with over 5000 titles relating to current issues of concern to families with children. http://www.nh.gov/nhsl/frc/

N.H. HEALTHY KIDS New Hampshire Healthy Kids is a non-profit organization providing access to low-cost and free health coverage options for New Hampshire’s uninsured children and teens. http://www.nhhealthykids.com/

N.H. FAMILY VOICES They operate a "Family To Family Health and Education Center", and several projects, each with a specific focus on different ways we can help families supporting children with special needs to become informed, experienced self-sufficient advocates for their children and themselves. There is no charge for the services they provide. They are funded by state and federal grants, as well as donations from community partners and supporters. http://www.nhfv.org/

THE UPPER ROOM The Upper Room is a non-profit Family Resource Center who is committed to the development of strong individuals and families in our community. They are a team of dedicated professionals who are actively working to improve the family life of the citizens of Derry and surrounding communities in a way that is unique to any place in New Hampshire. The Upper Room is here to help individuals and families in need of education, support, and resources to "make it" in today's world. http://www.urteachers.org/

 

OUR CURRICULUM!

Our curriculum covers four main themes: All About Me & My Family, Friends & Fairy Tales, Community Helpers & Transportation, and Animals & Nature. Each of the four classrooms at L.E.E.P. utilize the Creative Curriculum to develop goals and objectives for the daily lesson. If you would like more information, please visit their website at www.teachingstrategies.com. If you have any questions, please let us know.

 

 

We also use the Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing ^® Program for reading, spelling and speech (LIPS^®) which stimulates phonemic awareness. Our students learn to become aware of the mouth actions which produce speech sounds. This awareness can assist with self-correcting in reading and spelling, and speech. You can learn more about this program by going to: http://www.lindamoodbell.com/programs/lips.Aspx

 

 

Our pre-kindergarten students also participate in Handwriting Without Tears® curriculum. This curriculum has shown success in making legible and fluent handwriting an easy and automatic skill for all students. H.W.T. uses fun, entertaining, and educationally sound instructional methods to teach handwriting to all students: pre-k through cursive. It is the handwriting curriculum used throughout the district. You can learn more at: http://www.hwtears.com/.

 

Scholastic Book Order

New Hampshire Healthy Kids Insurance

Creative Curriculum

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Rich Text Files ".rtf" will open on any computer.

APPLICATIONS.docx

November_5th.docx

October_29th.docx

TADPOLE_PM_CLASS_SCHEDULE_2012.docx