Welcome to the Space Travelers Room!

We are looking forward to an exciting and busy year with your four-year-old.  Communication between parents and teachers is the key to a successful experience for your child at MudPies.  The PARENT HANDBOOK you received upon enrolling will provide you with a review of the general policies and procedures at our center.  In addition, this note contains special information to help you understand our classroom.  Referring to both, as well as meeting with us to discuss any concerns, will help ease the transition for your family to our classroom.

Please help us with our record keeping by signing your child in and out each day when you arrive and when you pick up your child.  Our staff will be happy to help if necessary.

GOALS

Our main objective at MudPies is to provide a positive atmosphere in which your child can grow physically, intellectually, socially and emotionally.  Learning experiences appropriate for the developmental age of our group are provided daily.  A Weekly Activity Plan and a Daily Schedule will be posted inside the classroom, this will describe the day’s activities.  These notes can be helpful during your drive home in initiating a discussion of the day’s events with your four-year-old.  The teachers will contact you verbally or through personal notes whenever the need arises.

Four-year-olds are ready for many new learning experiences.  We encourage children to:

  • Judge how far to climb and return safely.

  • Toilet without help (unless clothing requires help)

  • Stop and go on a slide, climb ladders, learn to jump.

  • Identify and name basic shapes and colors.

  • Perform short pantomimes with adults.

  • Learn his or her birthday.

  • Recognize the names of several animals.

  • Learn to write his or her name.

  • Identify the alphabet

  • Participate in activities, which develop fine and gross motor skills.

  • Learn to follow classroom rules.

  • Recognize and name numbers.

  • Take part in-group activities.

  • Learn through dramatic play.

  • Listen to stories.

  • Paint on an easel as well as to enjoy other art media.

  • Listen to music.

  • Distinguish between indoor and outdoor voices.

  • Play alongside others.

  • Learn sounds used in words as well as new words.

We participate in arts, crafts, simple cooking projects, gross motor activities, songs, fingerplays and language activities.  We stress good manners such as using the words “please” and “thank you”.  We continue working on self-help skills like dressing and eating.  Most importantly we play.  Play is our best training for becoming independent!

GUIDELINES FOR PLAY

To alleviate the problems presented when children bring toys to the center (broken toys, disagreements over ownership. Lost items). We allow toys to be brought only on Show & Tell day. 

Show and Tell day in on Friday. Our lunchtime is 12:00-12:30.  Our naptime ranges room 12:50-2:30.

Four-year-olds get very INVOLVED with our activities and don’t want to be overly concerned with staying clean.  We ask that your child dress in comfortable, washable clothing that is appropriate for messy activities.  Please be sure clothes allow independence and success in self-dressing and pottying.  TWO SEASONAL changes of clothes (shirt, pants and socks) should be left at the center for your child in case of an emergency.  This is a state law and required in all rooms!

COOPERATION

Part of our learning process is learning responsibility for ourselves, our behavior, our things and the property of others.  We encourage children to put away materials and toys when they finish with them.  You can help by encouraging cooperation at home.  Together we will be patient as your child learns to put away his or her things. 

Two children will share a cubby in our classroom.  Please check your child’s cubby each day for soiled clothing, artwork, notes!  Please do not send more than two items to school with your child, as cubby space is limited!

We take great pride in our learning centers.  Ask your child about playing and learning in the classroom centers.  The organization of playthings into learning centers communicates to the child that this is a safe and comfortable place where people are respected.  An well-organized and clearly defined classroom provides a positive environment rather than the confusing, overwhelming choices of a cluttered arrangement.  Children like to participate in areas that look inviting.  A pleasant environment encourages them to become INDEPENDENT and to learn to replace materials when they have finished with them.  They learn to take pride in their classroom.

Shelves in our room are neat and clearly labeled, and art work and other information is placed at the child’s eye level.  Defined spaces for various activities help children to become involved in activities and to stay focused in their activity; distraction by other activities is lessened.  Small, carpeted, quiet areas allow children privacy when desired.

Activity areas are designed for small group plays.  The teacher encourages cooperation and sharing of materials.  The message children receive is to TRUST and COOPERATE.  Enriched centers challenge children to explore, to solve problems and to think for themselves.  The message becomes clear: THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO BE!

Please encourage communication by discussing your child’s day during the drive home.  Children have difficulty in remembering the events of the day because it is hard for them to start at the beginning of a story; they are eager to get on with the next event in their lives!  Begin with the notes on the dry erase board beside the classroom door.  Avoid questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no.  Instead, be specific: “Who did you play with today?” “What did you learn about winter?” “Did you play house today? Were you the Mom? The baby? The babysitter?” “What did you do in art today?”

Some children may experience signs of stress when entering a new classroom.  They may cling, act shy, become more aggressive, have bathroom accidents or cry and tire more easily.  These are all normal symptoms of change and will disappear as your child comes to know our routines and us.  You can help by being supportive, cheerful, positive and relaxed.  Please be patient with the changes for a few weeks and we’ll be great friends.  Of course, if you have any discomfort or have questions now, we want to help.

Communication and a great relationship are our ultimate goal.  A successful center is one in which parents, teachers AND children learn together.

Together for children,

Space Travelers Teachers