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Junior Room
In the
Junior room, we have 8 young preschoolers between 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 years old. The
ratio for preschoolers is 1 teacher to 8 children. This small group setting
is a perfect learning environment for this age group.
Junior
Goals...
- To maintain a
consistent routine with a well-planned, flexible schedule.
- To encourage
self-help skills, i.e. zipping coat, putting on shoes, toilet training.
- To encourage
children to constructively communicate their feelings to each other with
their words.
- To encourage
children to experience all activities set up in the room.
- To encourage
children to participate in more co-operative play.
First
Day...
On the
first day at Genesis, children need to bring the following: blanket, diapers
(if not toilet trained), 2-3 pairs of underwear, 2-3 pairs of pants, socks,
2-3 tops, and weather-appropriate clothing:
- Summer -
sunscreen and hat required
- Spring & Fall
- jacket and hat
- Winter - hat,
scarf, mittens, snowsuits, and boots
Since this is
the age that their independence is important to them, shoes that are easy to put
on (with Velcro) will enhance their self-esteem.
Toileting
Routine...
Some
children are completely toilet trained or are working on it by this age. If
your child is not toilet trained, we can work on it together. It is also
important for their self-help skills if the children wear clothes that they
can take off by themselves. This will prevent toilet accidents and help their
self-confidence.
Meals...
Three
nutritious meals are served daily. The children are encouraged to try all
foods, but if they are not hungry or do not like certain foods, we understand
since this is the age when children can be very picky eaters.
Extra
Clothing...
Messy
days can happen, from painting their masterpieces to having fun playing in
the coloured water. So, extra clothes are very
important for the teacher to have handy.
Program
Objectives...
To
provide the children the opportunity to learn through play and socializing
with each other. The small group enables each child the opportunity to
develop self-help, language, fine motor, gross motor, and cognitive skills.
These skills will help them grow into confident, sociable individuals, and
prepare them for elementary school. Our program consists of weekly themes
which are planned a month in advance and are planned around our learning centres.
Monthly calendars are sent out at the beginning of the month to parents so
that parents know what their children are learning and are aware of some of
the special days and activities that will be going on in the room.
The daily program consists of an hour of outdoor play twice a day (weather
permitting), an hour of planned program, a 2-hour nap, and free play. All
monthly and weekly plans are always posted in the classroom.
Learning
Centres...
The
Junior room is made up of 7 learning centres:
Sensory, Science & Nature, Creative, Dramatic, Cognitive, Blocks, and
Books.
- Sensory Area: In the sensory
area, the children learn through all their senses. The sensory area is
an excellent place for the children to play together or by themselves. It can also be soothing and calming, as
well as messy, this is why a lot of extra
clothing is important.
- Science &
Nature Centre: We encourage children to learn more about their
environment and the interesting things that happen in science. How are different
colours made? How do plants grow? What do
magnets do?
- Creative Area: Experimenting
with different creative activities/mediums gives the children
opportunities to develop their fine motor co-ordination, gross motor
skills, socialization, and further develops their self-esteem.
- Dramatic Area: Dramatic area
gives the children a chance to explore their imaginations and use
role-playing to learn about their environment, about the people in their
lives, and to express their feelings and emotions.
- Cognitive Area: In the Cognitive
area, the children develop their fine motor and reasoning skills to
complete a puzzle or acquire math proficiency, as well as being exposed
to emerging literacy skills.
- Block Centre: In the block
centre, the children play with a variety of toys: blocks, cars, plastic
animals, and people. This area helps them to move on to the co-operative
stage of play.
- Book Centre: Gives the
children the opportunity to expand their language, fine motor and
cognitive skills, as well as learning to expand their imaginations.
Show and
Tell...
Every
Friday during morning circle time, the children share something from home
with the other children. Show and tell is a perfect opportunity for the
children to talk to their peers about something they feel comfortable with.
This experience helps the children develop their language skills and gives
them more confidence in themselves.
Artwork...
Your
child's artwork will be sent home to you every Monday afternoon for you to
enjoy at home.
Health
Policy...
The
daycare's health policy is to call you if your child has a temperature of 38
degrees Celsius, and/or has diarrhea 3 times. We prefer to call as soon as
your child shows any symptoms of ill health, in order to prepare you for the
possibility that he/she may have to be sent home.
Playroom
and Playground Guidelines...
Children
learn through play and from proper role modelling.
Therefore, we do not allow guns or any violence-associated toys, as well as
wrestling in the room or on the playground.
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