The Office of Early Learning is thrilled to announce this upcoming event. We're looking forward to connecting with our families and providing a space to discuss early learning and what that looks like at home! Please share with all APS Pre-K families and any other families with early learners at home, ALL are welcome!
RSVP to tinyAPS.com/?ECEparents
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Please check out these links for digital resources & forms:
In basketball, the "paint" is the rectangular area of the court contained within the key. It's where players show grit and endurance when striving to make a goal. It's where push comes to shove, and team members put themselves in the right positions to overcome barriers and dominate their opponents. It's where the rubber meets the road. It’s how we roll in OEL! All year long, you have been focused, data-driven, collaborative, and open-minded. From the moment your students walked in your classrooms, you have dedicated yourselves to making them better. We are seeing progress and this is because of you. We don't know what the growth report scores will show. But, we do know that, regardless of what happens, we will leave this year being proud of each and every one of you. We are confident that, when the chips were down, you did what was best for kids. That, my friends, is what matters most. Thank you for going hard in the paint! -Team OEL We can’t drop the ball~ KINDERCAMP & Summer Transition Program KinderCamps and Summer Transition Programs are an opportunity for children and their parents to learn routines, become comfortable with the school environment, and ensure that they are Day One ready for Kindergarten. Whereas STP is a district program, KCamps are supported by individual schools. We are all ambassadors for Early Learning and closing opportunity gaps is how we can lead the way. Share this information with everyone, you know. Also, please go to the APS careers website if you are interested in applying for a teaching position. Kindercamp dates, times and locations: Please click on the link https://forms.gle/nG1B88YvhUPU9ZJR9 to enter up to 5 student recommendations for our rising Kindergarten Summer Transition Program (STP). Rising Kindergarten STP is a full-day, 6 week summer program with a focus on language, literacy and math designed to reduce the achievement gap and increase school readiness. Students must need additional academic assistance prior to entering Kindergarten and the family must meet the income requirements (85% of the state median income). Please email the flyer to the families of the students you recommend. The Office of Early Learning will also reach out to the families to encourage them to apply. Please note that one site location has changed. We will have now have a class at Deerwood instead of Continental Colony. Feel free to reach out with any questions. Free Throw Stone Mountain Park is offering FREE Spring/Summer park passes to Pre-K students! This means unlimited visits to the park attractions from March 1 – August 31, 2020. The deadline to register for passes is May 25, 2020. Please share this exciting information with your Pre-k families! Follow this link for all the details. Blue Chips Collegiate players being scouted by professional franchises are referred to as blue chips. Your work with our scholars puts you in the same category. Going the extra mile has not gone unnoticed. Thank you to the BAMO, DOBBS, and ERivers team for completing all of your parent contact calls. (And anyone we missed - let us know!) Your level of execution creates a standard for all of us to keep our head in the game. You are so valuable, and you’re all that...and a bag of chips! Slam Dunk~ It's Time for Shadows and Reflections! Do you have great ideas about how to make this unit shine bright? Let us (and your fellow OEL teachers) know by commenting down below or tweeting! (To get creative juices flowing, you can also check out http://peepandthebigwideworld.com/en/educators/curriculum/family-child-care-educators/15/shadows/; www.prekinders.com, www.educatall.com, and www.exploratorium.edu) FOCUS ON MATHEMATICS: Shadow Patterns Materials: Table or desk lamp, white paper, pencils and markers, paint and brushes, natural and man-made objects. Procedure: Take a walk to look for shadows indoors or outdoors and ask the scholar to look for patterns. Talk about what makes a pattern. Use the lamp and a variety of objects (leaves, sticks, blocks, etc.) for them to create their own patterns with shadows and trace them on paper. Use words to describe size and relative position as scholars are working. Adaptations: Shine multiple lights on a blank wall or paper and ask them to describe and paint or draw what they see. Call their attention to patterns created by the lights. FOCUS ON LITERACY: Build a Shadow Theater Materials: Shoeboxes or pieces of cardboard, tape, white or waxed paper, flashlight, variety of objects to cast shadows Procedure: Cut off the top and bottom of the boxes. Ask scholars to make their own frame using cardboard. Help to tape paper across one of the openings. What else could we use to attach the paper? Place different objects in the box and light them from behind. Allow the scholar to select objects and have others guess what each object is while viewing from the other side. Encourage experimenting with moving the object and the light. Can you make the object look bigger? Ask them to think of other ways to make a shadow theater. What else could we use to let the light shine through? FOCUS ON ENGINEERING: See-Through Cup Construction Materials: Transparent colored cups, flameless tea lights/candles, stiff paper or cardboard, transparent colored page dividers Procedure: Talk with scholars about creating a construction using the cups. How can we build with these? What should we try? What is the best way to stack them? Do you think the cardboard can help you to build higher? Encourage them to work cooperatively to build a structure that meets a need, like a home for animals or dolls. Allow them to use the lights inside the cups and introduce the concept of transparency Make it Count~ Educators Encouraged to Help with Complete Census Count Efforts DECAL is collaborating with the Georgia Department of Education, other state education agencies, and advocacy organizations to enlist the help of stakeholders in ensuring Georgia communities are prepared to participate in the 2020 Census. Obtaining a complete count of all Georgians through the Census will impact everything from school meals to special education funding, the partners stated in a joint email to superintendents, principals, and teachers. The email encouraged educators to make sure their students, families, and communities know the who, what, when, where, and why of the Census: WHO: The Census counts all people of any age or status living in the United States. WHAT: The Census is a count of everyone living in the U.S. taken every 10 years. It is required by the Constitution. WHEN: Census day is officially April 1, 2020. Citizens will start receiving information in the mail in mid-March. WHERE: The Census can be filled out online, on paper, on the phone, or directly to Census workers. WHY: The Census helps your family get the education, health care and public services they need. Census counts direct funding to programs like school lunch, Head Start, SNAP, WIC, Medicaid/CHIP, and affordable housing. The Census is convenient, safe, and required. The email listed the following sites for downloadable resources to help stakeholders communicate about the Census: www.census.georgia.gov (Governor's Complete Count Committee resources, including customizable posters and additional resources) www.everyonecountsga.org (Voices for Georgia's Children and Georgia Family Connection). Starting Lineup~ Dates to Remember:
March SEL Book of the Month: Malala’s Magic Pencil
Written by Malala Yousafzai and Illustrated by Kerascoet Book Summary: As a child in Pakistan, Malala made a wish for a magic pencil. Malala saw a world that needed fixing. This beautifully illustrated volume tells Malala's story for a younger audience and shows them the worldview that allowed Malala to hold on to hope even in the most difficult of times. SEL Competency: Self-Management Allows individuals to handle daily stresses and control their emotions under difficult situations. Also includes the ability to monitor and reflect on personal and academic goals. SEL Theme: Perseverance We set and achieve realistic goals, both immediate and long term, by maintaining our focus and using a growth mindset when presented with a challenging task. SEL Curriculum Connection: This is a great opportunity to reflect on our academic goals, in order to refocus on those goals or set a new plan. ELA Connection: Story Structure, Character Traits, Setting, Fiction vs. Non-fiction, Opinion, Informational, Personal Narrative Writing Social Studies Connection Themes: Beliefs and Ideals, Conflict and Values Topics: Women’s Rights, Suffrage, Human Rights, Female Leadership Science Connection: Women in STEM Jobs, Female scientists that have contributed to scientific knowledge Weather Wise: This year's Weather Wise has been updated! As a reminder, this is a resource that we can share with families in the event that school needs to be closed for any reasons, weather or otherwise. http://tinyaps.com/?PreK_WeatherWise Have a wonderful March everyone! Looking forward to seeing you soon! -Team OEL Encourage Families to Start Their Summer Activity Planning Now Happy February Pre-K family! Can you believe the first month of 2020 has flown by and is already behind us? As teachers, parents, and overall caregivers many of us escape the winter blues and grey winter skies by dreaming about spring break vacations and summertime adventures. It may seem too early to begin looking into summer programs for your students, but on the contrary, now is the perfect time! It is imperative that we provide early information and ample time for our students and families to find the right summer program fit. As parents, we may imagine our children spending summer playfully exploring the world around them, laughing as they interact with other children and gaining confidence in themselves as they develop new skills and learn about fascinating new topics. As educators, we dream of summers spent reinforcing lessons from the previous year, and enrichment programs preparing for the upcoming school year. Although it might seem early, the start of the new year is an ideal time to turn those dreams into plans. As you prepare for teacher conferences/home visits and plan to connect with your current parents begin encouraging them to look into high quality summer programming. Take each moment to educate your parents and help them understand how to evaluate whether a summer program is likely to be time well spent for their child. Encourage and empower them to ask questions that will reveal each programs view on how it supports children’s learning and development. For example:
Feb 21, 2020: Summer Camp & Enrichment Fair www.eventbrite.com/o/atlanta-public-schools-office-of-family-engagement-26852991289 Pre-K Summer Transition ProgramThe Office of Early Learning will host 5 rising Kindergarten STP classes and 1 rising Pre-K STP class. Rising Kindergarten STP is a full-day, 6 week summer program with a focus on language, literacy and math designed to reduce the achievement gap and increase school readiness. Students must need additional academic assistance prior to entering Kindergarten and the family must meet the income requirements (85% of the state median income). Rising Pre-K STP is for students whose home language is Spanish. The program is designed to provide rich language, literacy and math experiences to prepare students for Pre-K. The program will run from June 1-July 21 (all program information is tentative until approved from BFTS). If you are interested in working please complete the link forms.gle/CnNxwmS7Cr5vd4oq5. You will receive more information soon regarding recommending students for STP. KinderCampKinderCamp is an opportunity for children and their parents to learn routines, become comfortable with the school environment, and ensure that they are Day One ready for Kindergarten. Please go to the APS careers website if you are interested in applying for a teaching position. Kindercamp dates, times and locations: FREE Stone Mountain PASSStone Mountain Park is offering FREE Spring/Summer park passes to Pre-K students! This means unlimited visits to the park attractions from March 1 – August 31, 2020. The deadline to register for passes is May 25, 2020. (Bonus: if a family registers before February 23, their pre-K child can also get a free ticket to Snow Mountain!). Please share this exciting information with your Pre-k families! Follow this link for all the details Love and literacyValentine’s Day is around the corner and like every other holiday season, it’s the perfect time to captivate your students through stories of delight. Help your students foster a love for literacy by reading these love- themed stories. From tales about robotic romantic adventures, to a whimsical story about animal hugs, these heartwarming books will teach your child about the many ways to express love, especially amongst family and friends. I’LL LOVE YOU TILL THE COWS COME HOME BY KATHRYN CRISTALDI AND KRISTYNA LITTEN Love knows no bounds in this delightful read aloud that sends cows to Mars and has sheep steering ships. Fun wordplay and a rhyming refrain will soon have little ones chiming in. Perfect for Valentine’s Day or saying I love you any time of year. Ages 4-8. I LOVE YOU, LITTLE POOKIE, BY SANDRA BOYNTON an affectionate tale and funny drawings, this book is ideal for little ones. Bestselling author Sandra Boynton is back with a new board book, just in time for the holiday of love. Little Pookie is one of Boynton’s most beloved characters and he is reassured over and over as mom tells him just how much she loves him on nearly every sturdy page. Ages 2-5. ROBOT IN LOVE, BY T. L. MCBETH A robot love story with a splash of color that’ll surely catch your child’s eye. It’s love at first sight in this playful picture book about a robot who spots his soulmate, loses her and then finds her again. Love can look different for every one of us, and in this case the robot’s object of affection is a shiny toaster with whom he discovers various shared interests. Including toast. Very sweet! Ages 4-8. THE LITTLEST THINGS GIVE THE LOVELIEST HUGS BY MARK SPERRING AND MADDIE FROST Nothing is cuter than a snuggly tale from your favorite animals. Bright and colorful, this picture book celebrates hugs across the animal world. From snuggly seals to beetle bug hugs, these little critters are all happy to be with their families, sharing an embrace. Warm, rhyming text opens the door for telling our own little ones how much their hugs mean to us. Ages 3-6. dates to remember
Can you believe we're already 100 days into school? It's amazing to look back to the beginning of the year and think about how much your students have grown! Mid-year data is almost in, which will give us a chance to think about how to support each student towards EOY (and Kinder) goals! We're looking forward to a strong Spring - see below for a few reminders: Social and Emotional Learning Getting our students socially and emotionally ready to learn is -and should be - a primary focus of ours. These skills include being able to get along and cooperate with others, managing strong feelings, focusing attention, and persisting at challenging tasks. These skills deserve focused attention daily, because they are critical for long-term school and life success. When done consistently, the "Second Step" curriculum has shown success in our classrooms. As you conduct your Child Protection Unit, please emphasize the three key components: personal safety, touching safety, and assertiveness. Remember, do not start this unit until you have sent home the Family Letter, which allows parents to opt out of the lessons. It's Time for Earth and Sky! Do you have great ideas about how to make this unit come to life? Let us (and your fellow OEL teachers) know! (To get creative juices flowing, you can also check out www.prekinders.com, www.educatall.com, and www.exploratorium.edu.) Weather Wise http://tinyaps.com/?PreK_WeatherWise February Dates to Remember January 31st- PALS window closes January 31st- "From Jungle to Desert" Theme Ends February 1st- Final day to Submit 2nd Semester Orders February 3rd- "Earth and Sky" February 20th- PLT Meetings February 24th- Home Visits begin (Head Start sites only) February 28th- Health and Safety Checklist due (Head Start sites only) We've had a busy month with guest readers to celebrate Read for the Record and from Grow Kids Inc. (pictures from Dobbs & BaMO) Reminder about Active Supervision: As we get into the second quarter of the school year, we wanted to send out a few refreshers to keep students and staff safe throughout the day and year. Please review the following reminders and reach out to your ISS with any questions.
Farm ActivitiesAs you continue with the current unit "Life on a Farm", here is a link to some fun farm activities that can be implemented during centers and some pretty cool sensory table ideas. Can you believe that Thanksgiving is next week! Here is a list of books that are perfect to share with your Pre-K students this week. The Office of Early Learning is thankful for such a dedicated group of teachers who provide rich, meaningful experiences for our Pre-K students everyday. We appreciate all that you do. Enjoy your break! IF YOU HAVE SOME FREE TIME VISIT STONE MOUNTAIN PARK FOR A FREE EDUCATOR EVENT Stone Mountain Park Christmas: November 23 – November 28, 2019 Stone Mountain Park is offering educators 1 complimentary All-Attractions Pass and the opportunity to purchase additional All-Attractions Passes at a discounted rate of $22.95 plus tax. This offer is limited to 6 accompanying guests. The All-Attractions Pass includes admission to all open Stone Mountain Park Christmas attractions November 23-28, 2019. The complimentary All-Attractions Pass is only valid November 23-28, 2019. It does not include Snow Mountain admission. Please check the Park’s operating schedule for events and times. https://www.stonemountainpark.com/Events/Educator-Appreciation-Week Dates to rememberNov 22-Finalize Developmental Checklists
Nov 22-Health & Safety Checklists Due (HS) Dec 2- Ongoing Assessment Tracking Forms Due (HS) Dec 2-6-Complete Narrative Summary Reports Dec 9-13-Parent Conferences Dec 12- Professional Learning Track Meeting (3:30-5:00 pm) Dec 13-End Theme-Life on a Farm Dec 16-20-Winter Plans Dec 18-Parent Conference Tracking Forms Due (HS) Dec 20-Health & Safety Checklists Due (HS) Could your school benefit from some $$$ to help ensure a smooth transition to Kindergarten? Apply here by January 31st! This funding should be used to help students and families get ready for K - think parent workshops, family readiness events, and more. Extra points will be given to school who partner with early learning centers. Reach out to Adrienne Hall ([email protected]) with any questions! Check out some great pictures from Pre-K Week across the district! October, how is it almost over?! Well, time flies where we’re having fun! We celebrated Georgia Pre-K Week October 7-11. EVERY Pre-K site had a special guest reader as well as tons of fun activities throughout the week. We would like to thank all of our special readers and volunteers - we llama llama love you! If you haven’t already, make sure to check out ATLsuper Blog, the official blog of Meria Carstarphen, superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools. You can read her thoughts about Pre-K Week and her visit to Perkerson! Check it out here!
Looking forward to next week? Here are some Halloween book recommendations and activity ideas! We wish you all a safe and happy Halloween however you may celebrate. Halloween Book Recommendations
Here are some additional fun ideas for classroom activities: https://www.pre-kpages.com/halloween/! Be sure to take pictures of any fun you have next week! Lastly, November is right around the corner and you know what that means? The 90th Day of School, woohoo! Not only should we celebrate our 90th day, we should also be reminded that this marks a very important day for our Head Start sites. The Family Support Specialists have been buzzing around their sites like bees to ensure every child has a current physical and dental exam on file, what a feat! Other Upcoming Deadlines/Events:
Images from the first week of school at Heritage Academy, Burgess Peterson Academy, Kimberly Elementary, Barack and Michelle Obama Academy, Whitefoord Early Learning Academy, and Parkside Elementary. Teachers,
What a fantastic first week! We had so much fun getting to meet your new students and to see you all in action during the first few days at school. Shout out to everyone who went the extra mile this week to create a positive experience for students and families as they start school - in many cases for the first time ever! A few key reminders:
Resources:
Have a wonderful weekend! We can't wait to see you again next week. <3 Team OEL School Site Support Changes:
Lesson Plan Updates:
SST/RTI:
Bright from the Start:
Literacy Small Group Changes:
Professional Learning Tracks:
Welcome back teachers! We are so excited to kick off another fantastic school year with you in just a few short weeks. We got to meet all of our new teachers this week and the future is looking bright! Specifically, the future for our Pre-K students is looking bright!
Have you ever read this article about the case for a $320,000 Kindergarten teacher? It is a great read about the importance of early learning and the *key role* that an early learning teacher can play in long term life outcomes. What a great reminder about how valuable your work is as we start the year! (Our Pre-K teachers may not make $320,000, but research like this is part of why the district invested in ensuring that Pre-K leads and paraprofessionals make the same as their K-5 peers!) A few reminders:
Ready to see you all soon, The OEL Team P.S. Can you tell from the big gap between posts that the end of last year was a sprint? One of our goals for this year to be more consistent in communication! We would love to feature your words, so let us know if you'd like to do a guest post. |
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