Greetings!
"WE'RE SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE."
As we begin our fall program, we welcome you! We appreciate your decision to choose our center and we take seriously the responsibility you have given us. Whether you are new with us this fall, or whether you have been at the center for years, we are excited to watch this year unfold. Our staff looks forward to forming special relationships with you and your child. Have a great fall!
We wish all of our graduating preschoolers success as they move into their kindergarten classrooms in September. We have enjoyed our time with you and hope that you remember to stop by and visit us!
|
|
|
ANNUAL PARENT SURVEY GOALS
Thank you to all the families that completed the Annual Family Survey. As a result of your feedback we will be providing more communication within the Baby/Daily Connect App by adding more classroom photos explaining classroom projects and including classroom books that are being read each day. We hope that with continued communication, you will find a connection between your home and our center.
We’re excited to watch this year unfold. Our teaching staff looks forward to forming special relationships with you and your child. Ask any questions you have about our classroom procedures or activities. Visit anytime!!
|
|
|
|
FIELD TRIP
The Dolphin and Monkey classes will be heading to Minnetonka Orchards on
Monday, September 23
. We will tour the orchard, have a special snack and pick an apple. Please sign the field trip log for your child to attend and the bus will leave at 9:45 am. Parents are welcome to attend the field trip—just add your name to the field trip log.
|
|
|
|
TEACHERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE
When you put your child into a childcare program, you are, in fact, entering into a new interpersonal relationship with another adult(s). Someone else important and influential is becoming a part of your child’s life. As staff, we strive to communicate with you and listen to your input. We hope that by talking openly with one another we will team up to develop the best possible plans for your child’s growth and development. When a child senses that his teachers and his parents are comfortable with one another, (s)he will be able to relax, have fun, and get the most out of the experience. Please feel free to take the time to talk with your child’s teacher, even about fun and exciting things that may be happening at home!
|
|
|
|
ENRICHMENT CLASSES
Jean Kretzschmar—“Music with Mrs. Jean”
“Mrs. Jean” is how the children address our music teacher, who teaches classes every other Tuesday morning to the toddlers, 3’s and 4’s. Jean has her degree in music/music therapy from the University of Iowa. The classes combine singing songs, playing instruments, listening, moving, building confidence, and learning about music.
Sarah Weston—Jr. Jazzercise
Every Monday morning, she will perform movements to music, keeping in mind the age level of the child and allowing
children the opportunity to keep fit. Jr. Jazzercise is held weekly for all toddlers and preschoolers. There is an extra charge of $1.
Sarah also teaches adult Jr. Jazzercise classes and lives in Minnetonka with her daughter. She loves teaching this class!!
Jackie Eimers with Gitssmart Computers
Computer classes are held on Wednesday afternoons for ages 3-5 years old. We will have a “Demo Day” for your child to experience computer class on
Wednesday, September 4
. We will have information available on-site if you have questions. Class will typically be held on Wednesday afternoons each week. Payments are made separately to Jackie Eimers.
Karen Laughlin—Sign Language
We are fortunate to have Karen teach basic sign language to our toddlers, 3’s, and 4’s each week. Karen has a degree in Early Childhood Education from U-W Madison. Karen offers an interactive class based around themes that we are studying here at EFC. The charge of the class is a $1.50 per child. Our classes are held on Friday’s with the first class being held on
Friday, September 6
.
Kyle Witherow—Play, Tap, and Go!
Kyle is a former public school music teacher who now introduces young children to music concepts. His course is a pre-piano course where children learn about high/low notes, variations in sounds, as well as being introduced to many instruments. His class is Thursday afternoon’s at 2:45 pm beginning
Thursday, Sept. 12
. He will have a “Demo Day” on
Thursday, September 5
. This class is for older toddlers (Chipmunks) and all preschoolers and payment is made separately to Kyle.
Spanish for Preschoolers
Every Tuesday afternoon we offer Spanish for our preschoolers taught by Stefanie Boettcher, our older toddler teacher. The children enjoy learning the new language and have done very well with the program.
|
|
THE CREATIVE CURRICULUM AT ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN
For several decades, Especially for Children has used
The Creative Curriculum® as the foundation of our early childhood programs.
The Creative Curriculum® is a play-based learning curriculum that focuses on interest areas and fosters creativity in both children and teachers. Being creative means thinking of new ideas, obtaining information by asking questions, and learning through trial and error.
Beginning this fall, you will see additional elements of
The Creative Curriculum® taking place in your child’s classroom. Our teaching staff has spent the past several months, including at our most recent Professional Development Days, revisiting the foundational basis of the curriculum and engaging with new teaching materials; they are excited to bring even more of these research-based methods into the classroom to build on what our programs have always aimed to do: develop the confidence, creativity, and life-long learning skills of each child in our program.
Infant and toddler classrooms will follow
The Creative Curriculum® for Infants, Toddlers & Twos, which emphasizes the importance of the child/caregiver relationship.
The Creative Curriculum® emphasizes a classroom environment filled with responsive daily routines and meaningful, individualized experiences that nurture your child’s learning and development.
The routines will sound familiar to you: hellos and good-byes, diapering and toileting, eating and mealtimes, sleeping and nap time, and getting dressed. These routines are the foundation of your child’s day; they are also the foundation of learning. The consistent and nurturing interactions that children experience during everyday activities build trust and allow them to learn through experiencing the world around them.
In addition to daily routines,
The Creative Curriculum®
will support your child’s teacher every day as she engages your child in meaningful experiences, such as playing with toys, enjoying books and stories, creating art, and going outdoors. In each of these experiences, teachers observe what children do and select materials that match their growing abilities and interests.
The Creative Curriculum
®
for Preschool is based on 38 objectives for development and learning that focus on all the areas that are most important for school success: social–emotional, cognitive, math, literacy, physical, language, social studies, science and technology, and the arts. These objectives are built into every activity that happens in the classroom, which means that all day long, the teacher is helping your child build skills and knowledge in these important areas.
In
The Creative Curriculum
®
for Preschool, learning happens through
studies. Studies, which span several weeks, are in-depth, project-based investigations of topics that are part of your child’s everyday life. They feature topics such as trees, buildings, clothes, and balls. In a study, children raise questions about the topic and find answers by exploring, experimenting, and investigating in a hands-on way—through activities that take place in the classroom and outdoors.
Importantly, teachers will follow the lead of the children and pursue the questions and investigations within each study that are most interesting to the children in their classroom, thus promoting a love of learning. Teachers will also continue to have the freedom to add their own “handprint” when lesson planning, utilizing their personal experience and passions to shape the studies.
We are thrilled to have new curriculum materials in each of our classrooms that will support our teaching staff as they guide your child on this journey of early childhood. We have always been proud of the gifts our teachers bring to the classroom, and we are thrilled to be able to support their passion and creativity with this curriculum. In addition, we look forward to connecting with families in new ways as we engage with these materials and methods. Please let your directors know if you have any questions.
DeeAnn Besch
VP of Operations
Alli Zomer
Director of Operations
|
|
TWIN CITIES
FAMILY EVENTS
Apple Orchards
|
|
|
Especially for Children
6223 Dell Road
Eden Prairie MN 55346
(952) 934-1119
Center Director:
Cathie Underwood
Center Assistant Director:
Jamie Rocheford
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
