Red Class
Class Description
The Red/Green Class is made up of 20 four and five year olds and two teachers, Joanne Thessen and Michelle Smith. A combination class, the Red Class students attend class Monday through Thursday afternoons from 12:00-2:45pm, and the Green Class students come Friday afternoons as well. Most students will attend kindergarten next year, although some will continue with another year of preschool. The Red/Green Class follows the traditional schedule and is our only afternoon class.
Curriculum Description
The Creative Curriculum is a nationally recognized curriculum that is aligned with the Iowa Quality Preschool Program Standards (QPPS). The Creative Curriculum translates new research and theory from the field of early childhood education into a practical, easy-to-understand approach to working with children. It is a comprehensive curriculum that includes a framework for decision making along with a focus on interest areas (blocks, dramatic play, toys & games, art, library, cooking, discovery, music & movement, outdoors and computer.)
Handwriting Without Tears is a nationally recognized handwriting curriculum. The Pre-K Get Set for School program that we use at IPS introduces school readiness activities for young children of all ability levels. Through music, movement, building, coloring, and multisensory activities, children have fun as they develop important skills: language proficiency, color and shape awareness, fine and gross motor control, letter and number recognition, counting abilities, and social skills.
Skills Covered
The skills covered in the Red Class include: name recognition, writing first name in caps and title case, shapes (square, triangle, circle, heart, star, rectangle, oval, crescent, diamond), cutting out a simple object, points to and counts 10 out of a possible 10 items, recognition of numbers 1-10, identification of all uppercase and most lowercase letters, self-help skills, and following directions.
These skills are taught through a series of thematic units.
The Red/Green Class is made up of 20 four and five year olds and two teachers, Joanne Thessen and Michelle Smith. A combination class, the Red Class students attend class Monday through Thursday afternoons from 12:00-2:45pm, and the Green Class students come Friday afternoons as well. Most students will attend kindergarten next year, although some will continue with another year of preschool. The Red/Green Class follows the traditional schedule and is our only afternoon class.
Curriculum Description
The Creative Curriculum is a nationally recognized curriculum that is aligned with the Iowa Quality Preschool Program Standards (QPPS). The Creative Curriculum translates new research and theory from the field of early childhood education into a practical, easy-to-understand approach to working with children. It is a comprehensive curriculum that includes a framework for decision making along with a focus on interest areas (blocks, dramatic play, toys & games, art, library, cooking, discovery, music & movement, outdoors and computer.)
Handwriting Without Tears is a nationally recognized handwriting curriculum. The Pre-K Get Set for School program that we use at IPS introduces school readiness activities for young children of all ability levels. Through music, movement, building, coloring, and multisensory activities, children have fun as they develop important skills: language proficiency, color and shape awareness, fine and gross motor control, letter and number recognition, counting abilities, and social skills.
Skills Covered
The skills covered in the Red Class include: name recognition, writing first name in caps and title case, shapes (square, triangle, circle, heart, star, rectangle, oval, crescent, diamond), cutting out a simple object, points to and counts 10 out of a possible 10 items, recognition of numbers 1-10, identification of all uppercase and most lowercase letters, self-help skills, and following directions.
These skills are taught through a series of thematic units.
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Class Schedules
12:00-12:15 Arrival 12:15-12:35 Group Time 12:35-1:00 Outside 1:00-1:20 Snack 1:20-1:35 Story 1:35-2:30 Project/Choice Time 2:30-2:40 Music 2:45 Review and Dismissal |
Thematic Units
August/Sept. – Getting to Know Your Preschool, All About Me, Feelings October – Fall, Fire Safety November – Corn, Thanksgiving December – Giving, Christmas January - Winter, Author Study February – Valentines, Community Helpers March – Sea Life, Spring April – Pets, Gardening May – Favorites from the year |
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Preschool-wide Events
October 11 – Costume Exchange and Flu Shot Clinic October 20 – Fall Open House October 23 (October 30 – rain date) – Trunk or Treat November 10 – Parent Education Network and Scholastic Book Fair January 17 – Community Open House February 13-16 – Parent/Teacher conference March – Simpson Play for IPS friends and families |
Special Visitors
Every month, each class enjoys a visit from two special community helpers: Jane Carlson, librarian at Indianola Public Library Missy Smith, naturalist at Annett Nature Center Field Trips: October – Fire Station April – Indianola Public Library May – Annett Nature Center May – Barker Park |
