September, 2015
Parents/Guardians,
Hello! Welcome to Augusta Preschool Academy. My name is Ms. Osterman and I am your child's teacher for the 2014/1015 school year. The paraprofessional in my classroom is Ms. Katie Woods. I am pleased to meet all of you! I wanted to touch base with all of you concerning some important information you will need to know.
I would like to take the opportunity to briefly discuss our classroom environment, procedures and rules. The room is broken up into several learning centers. These centers are Discovery, Dramatic Placy, Cooking, Blocks, Toys and Games, Sand and Water, Art, Writing, Library, and Computers. These centers aid the childeren's development socially, emotionally, physcially, and cognitively.
The day is started wtih them putting their belongings away in their cubbies followed by a brief morning activity. They will meet me on the carpet for circle time. Circle time will be started with the pledge of allegiance and a brief morning song. I will then have a lesson prepared for them and discuss the activities and work for the day. Your children will have a lot of hands on experiences and the projects and art work will reflect the theme and lessons being taught within the room. Any art work or papers will be sent home in a tiemly fashion.
We have a PM snack in our class that you are asked to provide for your child. Please place snack in a lucnh box, or Ziploc bag with your child's name on it. Sheets will be sent home on Friday to be washed. Also, please send in an extra change of clothes in case accidents should occur and please label all of your child's belonginings. ( including: jackets, hats, scarves, gloves etc...)
There are 4 rules I will enforce in the classroom. These rules are: Helping Hands, Listening Ears, Inside Voices, and Walking Feet. These rules will help the room to run smoothly.
Lastlsy, it is my pleasure to teach all of your wonderful children. I hope that they will come away from this experience having enjoyed the learning process an yearn for more!! Again if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me through the school office or notes ( to be placed in child's folder) and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Thank you,
Amanda Osterman
In room 111, we
1. strive to build a community of independent, life long learners
2. foster a safe learning environment which respects diversity
3. continue to use students’ needs and strengths to drive professional development and instructional strategies
4. attempt to stay true to the district’s mission and vision
5. empower each student to be successful and to reach his or her own potential
6. nurture good citizens by promoting respect and responsibility
7. challenge each student using a rich curriculum founded upon research based, developmentally appropriate best practices
3- to 4-Year-Olds: Developmental Milestones
Your 3- to 4-year-old child will continue to grow and develop in many ways in the coming year. Although children reach developmental milestones at different times, your child will likely achieve the following developmental milestones before he or she turns 5 years old.
3- to 4-Year-Old Development: Language Milestones
If your child is not very talkative, that will likely change soon. At 3 to 4 years old, your child should be able to:
- Say his or her name and age
- Speak 250 to 500 words
- Answer simple questions
- Speak in sentences of five to six words, and speak in complete sentences by age 4
- Speak clearly
- Tell stories
3- to 4-Year-Old Development: Cognitive Milestones
Your child will start asking lots and lots of questions. "Why is the sky blue? Why do birds have feathers?" Questions, questions, and more questions! While it may be annoying at times, asking questions is a normal developmental milestone. In addition to asking "why?" all the time, your 3- to 4-year-old should be able to:
- Correctly name familiar colors
- Understand the idea of same and different
- Pretend and fantasize more creatively
- Follow three-part commands
- Remember parts of a story
- Understand time better (for example, morning, afternoon, night)
- Count, and understand the concept of counting
- Sort objects by shape and color
- Complete age-appropriate puzzles
- Recognize and identify common objects and pictures
3- to 4-Year-Old Development: Movement Milestones
Your busy preschooler continues to be on the move. At 3 to 4 years old, your child should be able to:
- Walk up and down stairs, alternating feet -- one foot per step
- Kick, throw, and catch a ball
- Climb well
- Run more confidently and ride a tricycle
- Hop and stand on one foot for up to five seconds
- Walk forward and backwards easily
- Bend over without falling
3- to 4-Year-Old Development: Hand and Finger Skills
Your child is becoming much more nimble. At this point in his or her development, your child should be able to:
- More easily handle small objects and turn a page in a book
- Use age-appropriate scissors
- Copy circles and squares
- Draw a person with two to four body parts
- Write some capital letters
- Build a tower with nine or more blocks
- Dress and undress without your help
- Screw and unscrew jar lids
- Turn rotating handles
3- to 4-Year-Old Development: Emotional and Social Milestones
Your 3- to 4-year-old is not only becoming more independent physically, but also emotionally. You may start to notice fewer tantrums when you leave your child with a sitter or at preschool.
In addition, your 3- to 4-year-old is becoming more social. Your child may now be able to cooperate with his or her friends, take turns, and may begin to show some problem-solving skills.
At this point in development, your child should be able to:
- Imitate parents and friends
- Show affection for familiar family and friends
- Understands the idea of "mine" and "his/hers"
- Show a wide range of emotions, such as being sad, angry, happy, or bored
In addition, you may notice your child's imagination is in overdrive. This can be good and bad. Fantasy and pretend play becomes more interesting and involved, but your child may also start developing unrealistic fears, such as believing a monster is lurking in the closet.
3- to 4-Year-Old Development: When to Be Concerned
All kids grow and develop at their own pace. Don't worry if your child has not reached all of these milestones at this time. But you should notice a gradual progression in growth and development, as your child gets older. If you don't, or if your child has signs of possible developmental delay, as listed below, talk to your child's doctor.
Signs of developmental delay in 3- to 4-year-old children may include:
- Inability to throw a ball overhand, jump in place, or ride a tricycle
- Frequent falling and difficulty walking stairs
- Inability to hold a crayon between his or her thumb and fingers; has trouble scribbling and cannot copy a circle.
- Unable to use a sentence with more than three words and uses "me" and "you" inappropriately
- Persistent drooling and trouble speaking
- Cannot stack four blocks and has trouble handling small objects
- Continues to experience extreme separation anxiety
- Lacks interest in interactive games and doesn't engage in fantasy play
- Does not play with other children and doesn't respond to non-family members
- Has trouble with self-control when angry or upset
- Does not understand simple commands
- Avoids making eye contact