Message from the Principal
Back to School excitement is here at Discovery Isle! The weather is still very warm, but Autumn is just around the corner; new exploration and curiosity is all around us. Our Teachers have planned many fun and exciting learning activities as we celebrate this amazing time of year.
Stay connected… parent communication is so important to our program! We have Links2home to help our parents, get a snap-shot of their child engaged with an learning activity or with peers. We also have the “What we learned today” sheets, which are posted on all classroom doors. These sheets give parents great conversation starters for a car ride home or the dinner table. The WWLT sheets usually include a question for the parent to ask their child or what we call “Car-Talk.” Next, we have rich colorful lesson plans. These are also posted on the “Parent Board” window, just outside the classroom.
In addition, please be sure to check out your child’s classroom news letters each month. All important information will go home in your child’s work/art file. Work files are to be checked on a daily basis. Also, at the end of the month, you will receive a folder that contains work your child has done throughout the month. An enclosed letter will connect what we learned as well as a sneak peak at the upcoming month. Don’t miss out on your child’s learning… get involved with Links to Learning!
Important Dates
Discovery Isle will be CLOSED- Monday, September 5th for Labor Day.
September 6-8th will be our 3nd annual Yellow bake sale.
Say Cheese! Fall Photos: September 8th & September 9th
September 13th-16th will be our “Alex’s Lemonade Stand” to support Childhood Cancer Awareness.
*Monthly special event calendars are also available at the front desk.
Fundraiser: Coming soon! Little Caesar’s Pizza Kit Fundraiser this month. More info to come, check your child’s work folders for details.
Reminders
School Tuition is due on the 1st of each month. Thank you for paying on time! (*Please pay by the 5th to avoid a $50.00 late charge.)
Every Friday: Pizza Friday Lunch! This is an optional lunch program for $5.00, sign up at the front desk.
News from the Education Department
Developing Balance Skills in Young Children
From Tummy Time to Bike Riding
Balance is a fundamental skill necessary for maintaining controlled positions, such as sitting in a chair, or engaging in physical activities like running or riding a bike. Having balance makes motor skill development easier, reduces the risk of injury, and helps children focus on academic tasks.
Our Nobel Learning Education team stays up to date with the latest research to ensure that our Links to Learning curriculum exceeds childhood learning standards. The Links to Learning curriculum was enhanced last fall to include a greater focus on balance, a building block for skills such as hand-eye coordination, muscular strength and body awareness.
Here are some ways we help improve balance in the classroom, as well as ideas for you and your child to do at home.
INFANTS:
In the classroom: Tummy time promotes neck, back and abdominal strength needed for infants to eventually push up, roll over, sit up and crawl. Teachers keep infants engaged by using activity mats or plush blocks.
At home: Place your baby on his stomach and shine a flashlight near him. Once you have captured his attention, shine the light in a rhythmic pattern. For older infants, encourage your baby to move or crawl toward the light.
TODDLERS (ages 1-2):
In the classroom: During the toddler years, children make major strides in balance and coordination. Teachers play music and encourage students to move their bodies in different ways while maintaining their balance.
At home: Push and pull toys require children to use core balance and arm strength, which can be difficult for new walkers. Place a small wagon or toy shopping cart and a pile of blocks on the floor. Show your child how to fill the cart with blocks. He will enjoy pulling or pushing the blocks around the room.
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: Sitting cross-legged, or as we say with the children “criss-cross applesauce,” is an important developmental skill for two year olds. Teachers encourage children to sit criss-crossed anytime they are playing on the floor. Sitting in this position strengthens a child’s core muscles and helps improve body control. We discourage “W-sitting,” with knees together and feet on either side of the hips, because it puts strain on knees and hips and fails to engage core abdominal muscles.
At home: Provide your child with a sit-and-spin toy. Ask him to sit on the toy with his legs crisscrossed. As he turns the wheel to spin, he will gain a better understanding of cause and effect.
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Around age three, children learn to maintain control of their upper body while moving their lower body. Our Intermediate students practice pedaling a tricycle, bouncing on hopper balls, and walking on a balance beam.
At home: Have your child practice running and stopping with control by playing the traffic light game. Shout out the color green, yellow or red. Have him move quickly when hearing “green,” move slowly when hearing “yellow,” and completely stop when hearing “red.”
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Teachers encourage children to practice balance and coordination by jumping on their non-dominant foot, walking on a line or beam, or jumping rope. Children also practice balance by crouching down to tie their shoes.
At home: Ask your child to tell you about the games and activities played at school. Include these activities at home and during family events such as birthday parties and vacations. Scooters and pogo jumpers are great toys for children at this age.
Good balance helps children maintain appropriate and controlled body movement during important tasks. By building balance skills in the preschool years, your child will be better prepared as he enters elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
SEPTEMBER NEWS
Message from the Principal
Back to School excitement is here at Discovery Isle! The weather is still very warm, but Autumn is just around the corner; new exploration and curiosity is all around us. Our Teachers have planned many fun and exciting learning activities as we celebrate this amazing time of year.
Stay connected… parent communication is so important to our program! We have Links2home to help our parents, get a snap-shot of their child engaged with an learning activity or with peers. We also have the “What we learned today” sheets, which are posted on all classroom doors. These sheets give parents great conversation starters for a car ride home or the dinner table. The WWLT sheets usually include a question for the parent to ask their child or what we call “Car-Talk.” Next, we have rich colorful lesson plans. These are also posted on the “Parent Board” window, just outside the classroom.
In addition, please be sure to check out your child’s classroom news letters each month. All important information will go home in your child’s work/art file. Work files are to be checked on a daily basis. Also, at the end of the month, you will receive a folder that contains work your child has done throughout the month. An enclosed letter will connect what we learned as well as a sneak peak at the upcoming month. Don’t miss out on your child’s learning… get involved with Links to Learning!
Important Dates
Discovery Isle will be CLOSED- Monday, September 5th for Labor Day.
September 6-8th will be our 3nd annual Yellow bake sale.
Say Cheese! Fall Photos: September 8th & September 9th
September 13th-16th will be our “Alex’s Lemonade Stand” to support Childhood Cancer Awareness.
*Monthly special event calendars are also available at the front desk.
Fundraiser: Coming soon! Little Caesar’s Pizza Kit Fundraiser this month. More info to come, check your child’s work folders for details.
Reminders
School Tuition is due on the 1st of each month. Thank you for paying on time! (*Please pay by the 5th to avoid a $50.00 late charge.)
Every Friday: Pizza Friday Lunch! This is an optional lunch program for $5.00, sign up at the front desk.
News from the Education Department
Developing Balance Skills in Young Children
From Tummy Time to Bike Riding
Balance is a fundamental skill necessary for maintaining controlled positions, such as sitting in a chair, or engaging in physical activities like running or riding a bike. Having balance makes motor skill development easier, reduces the risk of injury, and helps children focus on academic tasks.
Our Nobel Learning Education team stays up to date with the latest research to ensure that our Links to Learning curriculum exceeds childhood learning standards. The Links to Learning curriculum was enhanced last fall to include a greater focus on balance, a building block for skills such as hand-eye coordination, muscular strength and body awareness.
Here are some ways we help improve balance in the classroom, as well as ideas for you and your child to do at home.
INFANTS:
In the classroom: Tummy time promotes neck, back and abdominal strength needed for infants to eventually push up, roll over, sit up and crawl. Teachers keep infants engaged by using activity mats or plush blocks.
At home: Place your baby on his stomach and shine a flashlight near him. Once you have captured his attention, shine the light in a rhythmic pattern. For older infants, encourage your baby to move or crawl toward the light.
TODDLERS (ages 1-2):
In the classroom: During the toddler years, children make major strides in balance and coordination. Teachers play music and encourage students to move their bodies in different ways while maintaining their balance.
At home: Push and pull toys require children to use core balance and arm strength, which can be difficult for new walkers. Place a small wagon or toy shopping cart and a pile of blocks on the floor. Show your child how to fill the cart with blocks. He will enjoy pulling or pushing the blocks around the room.
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: Sitting cross-legged, or as we say with the children “criss-cross applesauce,” is an important developmental skill for two year olds. Teachers encourage children to sit criss-crossed anytime they are playing on the floor. Sitting in this position strengthens a child’s core muscles and helps improve body control. We discourage “W-sitting,” with knees together and feet on either side of the hips, because it puts strain on knees and hips and fails to engage core abdominal muscles.
At home: Provide your child with a sit-and-spin toy. Ask him to sit on the toy with his legs crisscrossed. As he turns the wheel to spin, he will gain a better understanding of cause and effect.
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: Around age three, children learn to maintain control of their upper body while moving their lower body. Our Intermediate students practice pedaling a tricycle, bouncing on hopper balls, and walking on a balance beam.
At home: Have your child practice running and stopping with control by playing the traffic light game. Shout out the color green, yellow or red. Have him move quickly when hearing “green,” move slowly when hearing “yellow,” and completely stop when hearing “red.”
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Teachers encourage children to practice balance and coordination by jumping on their non-dominant foot, walking on a line or beam, or jumping rope. Children also practice balance by crouching down to tie their shoes.
At home: Ask your child to tell you about the games and activities played at school. Include these activities at home and during family events such as birthday parties and vacations. Scooters and pogo jumpers are great toys for children at this age.
Good balance helps children maintain appropriate and controlled body movement during important tasks. By building balance skills in the preschool years, your child will be better prepared as he enters elementary school and beyond.
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education