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Upcoming Events
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Western Days
Jan. 31-Feb. 1
PAC/Preschool Day at Zoo
Feb. 4
Visit from Tooth Fairy
Feb. 5-7
Parent/Teacher Conference
Feb. 5 and Feb. 7
Valentine's Day Parties
Feb. 13-14
No School
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Dear Preschool Families,
February is Dental Awareness Month! To get the children excited about taking care of their teeth, the tooth fairy will be visiting us from Kids DDS. She will go over proper brushing technique, flossing and healthy food choices. Each child will get a little bag to take home with some goodies. Dates vary based on class, but all are scheduled for next week!
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Parent Corner
Many parents ask me, "Is my child ready for kindergarten?" There are many aspects to think about when answering this question. The following includes a few tips:
- Look at the whole child, not just cognitive skills. The main areas of child development are social/emotional, cognitive, fine motor (hand control), gross motor (larger muscles) and speech and language. Click here to learn more about each area and see a list of typical milestones.
- Children all develop at their own pace, even throughout the different domains. Don't compare your child to another. Each child is unique, having both strengths and weaknesses. Start where your child is - challenge when appropriate and provide extra support where needed.
- Boost your child's self-esteem. Confident children are ready to learn. They follow their curiosity and are quick to recover from mistakes. Click here for ideas.
- Partner with your child's teacher. They are your key to understanding how your child interacts in a classroom environment.
- There are many free online quizzes that score basic development. A good resource is the Ages and Stages questionnaire. I am happy to review the results with you!
Overall, you know your child best! Sometimes you have to go with your gut.
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Curriculum Corner
I am happy to announce that the preschoolers will be using the Lexia Reading program during their computer lab time. It is an interactive program that focuses on building the foundational skills needed for reading success. The program has great interactive games that build skills such as rhyming beginning sounds and blending. The program also tracks your child's progress! I will keep you updated as we dig deeper into the program.
Don't forget to check out your child's class web page:
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PAC and Preschool Day at the Zoo
The Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) would like to sponsor an afternoon at the Denver Zoo for all Ben Franklin Academy preschoolers. The event will take place at 1:15 p.m., this Monday, Feb. 4, and ONLY if the weather remains sunny and is above 40 degrees. This is a free day at the zoo, so parking may be difficult; however, the parking garage's lower level (Zebra level) typically has a lot of available parking.
Please meet in front of the large copper giraffes, prior to entering the zoo, at 1:15 p.m. The group will wait until 1:30 p.m. for anyone running late. Shannon Hinrichsen, PAC preschool representative, will have a BFA sign so you can easily spot the group. This will be a great opportunity for the children to spend time together outside of school, and for parents to get to know each other better. If you have any questions, please email Shannon. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Quote of the Week
Preschoolers are just plain honest. This week we heard, "Where's that freckle-faced girl?"
Sincerely,
Kristen Goldberg
Preschool Director
Ben Franklin Academy
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