FAMILY CENTERED CHILD CARE APPROACH PROJECT

PRE-K ROOM

Due to the generous funding from the Schenectady Foundation, on June 8, 2007 Lorraine Gerardo, lead teacher, received new program supplies and toys for the Pre-K environment. Lorraine ordered dramatic play items such as play food, dishes for kitchen area and dolls. She also requested an easel with some art supplies, as well as a listening center complete with a cd player for the classroom. To help improve small motor skills, Lorraine ordered wooden puzzles, legos and small wooden vehicles.

In this picture, the boys are hard at work, figuring out what roles each will play, in what could develop into a complex cooking or restaurant play script. Making dramatic scripts that are familiar helps children integrate their ideas of the world with the plans of others. They will rely on their cognitive, motor, and language skills to navigate this complex social experience.

On June 6, 2007 Natalie Toro received new supplies for the pre-k environment. Natalie and her assistant Alana Adams were excited to see the the children have the opportunity to develop and grow as they played with new materials. The items received were wooden blocks, dramatic play toys, a water/sand table complete with water and sand toys, an easel, multicultural markers, chalk, drawing paper, lacing boards, games and puzzles, some items for science discovery and a listening center. The children were all smiles as they came to check out the new materials.

Preschool children took initiative in opening boxes and unpacking the new classroom materials. The boy pictured below is likely unaware that the blocks, contained in this shipping carton, can provide a significant mathematical foundation for later learning of number concept, ratio, division, geometry and algebra. Blocks provide a creative outlet that strengthens imagination and language. He likely understands, however, that blocks are fun and he is undoubtedly eager to get to work!

Preschool children are eager to begin playing with the new items and they immediately set to the task at hand.