Some Great Resources for Helping Your Preschooler

Dear Parents,

Here are some great resources to help your preschooler learn new skills and prepare to enter kindergarten next year.

Preschool Pioneer is a great website with links to activities and resources involving all subject matters.  There is also a link to a calendar that will show you what activities are going on in your area that will interest you and your preschooler.  There is also a list on this site of all the skills your child needs to master before kindergarten.  http://preschool.uen.org/

Please take advantage of all of the books, audio books, movies, story times, and programs offered through our local public library.  Search for books and events on their website.  http://www.slcolibrary.org/

DLTK is a website with activities and ideas for many different subjects that will interest your preschooler.  http://www.dltk-kids.com/

This website published by a homeschooling mother provides hundreds of ideas to do with your preschooler.  There are many ideas that can be used on rainy days or to pull our when you hear "I'm bored."  http://thisreadingmama.com/homemade-printables/preschool-printables/

Thank you for everything you do to enhance your child's knowledge and encourage their love of learning.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Taylor

Nursery Rhymes

Dear Parents and Students,

This month's nursery rhymes are "Mary Had a Little Lamb", "Hickory Dickory Dock", and "Humpty Dumpty".  I have been very impressed at how quickly they memorized "Humpty Dumpty".  The other ones have given us a little trouble.  "Mary Had a Little Lamb" is quite long compared to some other nursery rhymes so it will be one that takes many repetitions to master.

This article titled "Rhymers are Readers: The Importance of Nursery Rhymes"  will help you know why I feel it is important to have the students know and recite the traditional rhymes.

Ideas to use with "Mary Had a Little Lamb" http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/MaryHadaLittleLambPrintables.htm

Ideas to use with "Hickory Dickory Dock" http://www.dltk-teach.com/rhymes/hickory/

Ideas to use with "Humpty Dumpty" http://onetimethrough.com/20-humpty-dumpty-inspired-activities/

Thank you for your help with these rhymes.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Taylor

Scissors

Dear Parents and Students,

Learning to use scissors properly is an important skill as we prepare each child for kindergarten.  We have been working on this skill in class but more practice at home will be a great benefit to your child.  Just make sure to take it slow and follow the tips mentioned in the video that I have linked to below.  Thank you for your help with this.  If you need to borrow a pair of scissors, please let me know.
http://www.howcast.com/videos/284692-how-to-teach-a-preschooler-to-cut-with-scissors/

Sincerely,

Mrs. Taylor

Snow Much Fun

Dear Parents and Students,

We have had a lot of snowy days in January.  It's so nice for me to be working with your children because they always get excited when the flakes start to fly.  Many of our preschool activities have involved snow and studying animals that live in habitats that are snowy.

Please find books either at your home, the library, or online to share with your children that feature snow or polar animals. Two of the books we have read that involve snow are Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs this book focuses on how every snowflake is unique.  We discussed how snowflakes and people have this in common.  Next time it snows, please take your child outside, try to catch some flakes on their gloves so they can have an up close look at snowflakes.  and The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats  Most children don't mind hearing the same book multiple times.  It helps them become familiar with new words and story structure.

Here is a link with activities that go along with Snowflake Bentley https://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/homeschool-lesson-plans/five-in-a-row/snowflake-bentley/

Here are two links with activities that go with The Snowy Day http://homeschoolcreations.com/SnowyDayPrintables.html  http://www.homeschoolcreations.net/35-crafts-activities-and-printables-for-the-snowy-day/

Thank you for sharing your unique and beautiful preschooler with me.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Taylor

All About Mrs. Taylor

Hello, parents and students!  I feel so lucky to be a preschool teacher and to have each one of you in my classroom and as a part of our team.  Here are some fun facts about me and I can't wait to get to know each one of you better.

I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and although I have moved a few times, Utah will always be home.  I love being close to the mountains and close to many of the people I love.

I enjoy reading, traveling to warm places, water-skiing, spending time with my family, eating Mexican food, and being creative in the kitchen.  Any warm beach is my happy place.  Nothing beats the feel of soft sand beneath my feet.

I taught elementary school for ten years before taking a break to have my own children.  I now have a nine year old daughter and a six year old son.  I adore them and we spend as much time together as possible.

I have been teaching preschool for two years now.  I love watching young children discover new skills and be excited about learning.  I know we will have a great year together.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns that may come up throughout our journey together.