Welcome to the Seniors Room
Introduction:
The age group for this room is 4 and 5 yrs of age. There is a 1 teacher to 12 children ratio in this room. The room limit for enrolment is 24 children with 2 teachers.
The Senior/ Kinder Room provides a pre-school Senior/ kindergarten program. This program gives children daily customized learning with small group size and individualized attention. This gives children the foundation they need for ongoing learning. Our program is sensitive to individual developmental needs, and we adjust lessons to provide each child with a challenging and meaningful learning experience.
In addition, the senior/kinder room will provide a monthly calendar that will be handed out to parents describing special events, birthdays and activities. Programs are prepared weekly which outlines what the children will be doing on a daily basis. Programs and calendars are also posted on the board by the door.
A cubby is provided with a name tag for your child's coat, bag, rest blanket and spare clothing. Please be aware your child may share cubbies with another child due to part time children attending the daycare.
We provide an environment that accommodates children that attend Senior/ kindergarten ½ day (morning or afternoon we provide transportation to local school please see staff for more information). Along with children who attend school every other day & alternating Fridays.
Orientation
It is recommended that one to two weeks prior to your child/children’s official start date, you set up an orientation time with the supervisor and/or Director of Operations.
The following is a recommended schedule for an orientation:
• 1 – 2 hour visits with parent/guardian in attendance
• 2 hour visit without parent/guardian in attendance (1/2 day without lunch)
Program
The program begins at 9:00 a.m. Morning circle is held every day to discuss calendar, weather, stories, songs, phonics, special event theme days, birthdays and group discussions.
Our goal is to teach the basic concepts ie. Letters, sounds, numbers, colours, shapes, sizes etc. and prepare each child for a successful year in Senior/ kindergarten.
The senior /kinder room focuses on a phonics program described as JOLLY PHONICS. The JOLLY PHONICS program is a thorough foundation for reading and writing. It teaches the letter sounds in an enjoyable, multi-sensory way, and enables children to use them to read and write words.
The five basic skills for reading and writing within this program are:
1. Learning the letter sound
2. Letter formation
3. Blending
4. Identifying sounds in words
5. Tricky word (ex. Said, the, was)
Play/Learning Areas
The room layout provides learning/play areas for each child to explore. Toys and activities are rotated weekly. Ongoing program plans will foster physical, social, intellectual, emotional and creative independence, self-help skills and community awareness.
The daily play areas and learning centers/activities include:
(Please see parent Handbook for information on each play area)
• Table toys
• Large motor activities
• Creative art
• Block play
• Fine motor activities
• Cognitive activities
• Puzzles & Dramatic play
• Music and movement
• Reading area
• Science and nature
During the play/learning areas, the teacher(s) will circulate the room observing children and joining in their play. The teacher(s) will periodically sit with a small group of children to complete a teacher-directed activity.
