Teachers
Molly Kirschling, teacher Kimberly Jonker, paraprofessional
Daily Schedule explanation
ECE students follow the Steck Elementary calendar. We have a full day 7:40am -2:40pm Mondays through Thursdays and a half day 7:40am-11:30am on Fridays. Our daily volunteer period in 8:30-9:00am Mondays -Thursdays, the sign up to volunteer is sent out monthly with the class calendar.
Fridays
Fridays themes are Science/Social Studies using the news booklets “Let’s Find Out”.
Every month we will have one Friday for Show and Share - the teachers will put out a theme for items to be brought in. This date is posted on the monthly calendar. Children should not bring toys or items to share about on days other than Show and Share. The purpose of Show and Share is to connect something from home with our learning at school as well as to promote oral language skills.
Star of the Week is held on the other Fridays of the month. We go in alphabetical order by the child’s first name. Family members are encouraged to come in to watch and possibly help with the presentation of the child. No live pets may be brought to school. Photos or short videos are encouraged. Your child will receive his/her poster for the presentation about a week before his/her turn.
Centers
The following Centers are open for free choice play everyday in our program:
Blocks Center: promotes the development of concepts of shapes and size, planning skills, spatial awareness, strength and coordination
Sensory Table: promotes the development of concepts of volume and measurement, understanding of cause and effect, sensory awareness, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, sharing and cooperation
Art Center: promotes the development of planning skills, color and shape recognition, fine motor skills, creativity and self-expression, concepts of symmetry and sensory awareness
Dramatic Playhouse: promotes the development of oral language, decision making skills, cooperation and problem solving skills, social skills, imaginative thinking, and role playing skills
Music Center: promotes the development of rhythm, balance, coordination, fine and gross motor skills, creativity, self-expressions and listening skills
Table Toys/Puzzles Center: promotes the development of problem solving skills, fine motor skills, logical reasoning, hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and self-help skills
Math/Science Center: promotes the development of making predictions and drawing conclusions, gathering information, asking questions, solving problems, thinking critically, one to one correspondence, association of numbers with quantities, and sorting and classifying skills
Literacy Center: promotes the development of letter formations, sense of left to right directionality, associations between letters and sounds, communication skills, fine motor skills, and concepts about print
Computer Center: (opens after Spring Break) promotes the development of how to use technology, how to follow directions, letter and number recognition, sequencing, problem solving, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination
Dollhouse: promotes the development of oral language, decision making skills, cooperation and problem solving skills, social skills, imaginative thinking, fine motor, and role playing skills
Light Table: promotes the development of counting, sorting and classifying skills, gathering information, asking questions, one to one correspondence, association of numbers with quantities, letter recognition, making predictions and drawing conclusions
TS Gold Assessment
Teaching Strategies Gold (TS Gold) is the assessment tool used for children in Pre-K in Denver Public Schools and across the nation in other preschool programs. It is a tool for observing and documenting growth from age Birth to Kinder age. You will receive a “report” on your child’s development, based on observations and some formative assessments, three times per year.
Curriculum Review
We use Creative Curriculum, which is a program based from TS Gold, as well as a mixture of Literacy and Math activities from Everyday Math, Denver Public Schools Early Literacy Program and Literacy best practices. We will have guided reading groups and journal writing activities during the second semester of school. We differentiate our instruction during the questioning of the children, during small group instruction, with homework activities and with expectations of products made/produced by the children.
E.C.E. Basics
Molly Kirschling, teacher Kimberly Jonker, paraprofessional
Daily Schedule explanation
ECE students follow the Steck Elementary calendar. We have a full day 7:40am -2:40pm Mondays through Thursdays and a half day 7:40am-11:30am on Fridays. Our daily volunteer period in 8:30-9:00am Mondays -Thursdays, the sign up to volunteer is sent out monthly with the class calendar.
Fridays
Fridays themes are Science/Social Studies using the news booklets “Let’s Find Out”.
Every month we will have one Friday for Show and Share - the teachers will put out a theme for items to be brought in. This date is posted on the monthly calendar. Children should not bring toys or items to share about on days other than Show and Share. The purpose of Show and Share is to connect something from home with our learning at school as well as to promote oral language skills.
Star of the Week is held on the other Fridays of the month. We go in alphabetical order by the child’s first name. Family members are encouraged to come in to watch and possibly help with the presentation of the child. No live pets may be brought to school. Photos or short videos are encouraged. Your child will receive his/her poster for the presentation about a week before his/her turn.
Centers
The following Centers are open for free choice play everyday in our program:
Blocks Center: promotes the development of concepts of shapes and size, planning skills, spatial awareness, strength and coordination
Sensory Table: promotes the development of concepts of volume and measurement, understanding of cause and effect, sensory awareness, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, sharing and cooperation
Art Center: promotes the development of planning skills, color and shape recognition, fine motor skills, creativity and self-expression, concepts of symmetry and sensory awareness
Dramatic Playhouse: promotes the development of oral language, decision making skills, cooperation and problem solving skills, social skills, imaginative thinking, and role playing skills
Music Center: promotes the development of rhythm, balance, coordination, fine and gross motor skills, creativity, self-expressions and listening skills
Table Toys/Puzzles Center: promotes the development of problem solving skills, fine motor skills, logical reasoning, hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, and self-help skills
Math/Science Center: promotes the development of making predictions and drawing conclusions, gathering information, asking questions, solving problems, thinking critically, one to one correspondence, association of numbers with quantities, and sorting and classifying skills
Literacy Center: promotes the development of letter formations, sense of left to right directionality, associations between letters and sounds, communication skills, fine motor skills, and concepts about print
Computer Center: (opens after Spring Break) promotes the development of how to use technology, how to follow directions, letter and number recognition, sequencing, problem solving, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination
Dollhouse: promotes the development of oral language, decision making skills, cooperation and problem solving skills, social skills, imaginative thinking, fine motor, and role playing skills
Light Table: promotes the development of counting, sorting and classifying skills, gathering information, asking questions, one to one correspondence, association of numbers with quantities, letter recognition, making predictions and drawing conclusions
TS Gold Assessment
Teaching Strategies Gold (TS Gold) is the assessment tool used for children in Pre-K in Denver Public Schools and across the nation in other preschool programs. It is a tool for observing and documenting growth from age Birth to Kinder age. You will receive a “report” on your child’s development, based on observations and some formative assessments, three times per year.
Curriculum Review
We use Creative Curriculum, which is a program based from TS Gold, as well as a mixture of Literacy and Math activities from Everyday Math, Denver Public Schools Early Literacy Program and Literacy best practices. We will have guided reading groups and journal writing activities during the second semester of school. We differentiate our instruction during the questioning of the children, during small group instruction, with homework activities and with expectations of products made/produced by the children.
E.C.E. Basics
- Signing in and out: This is required by the State of Colorado Licensing Dept. All students must be signed in by and released to only those people ages 18 and older who are listed on the release form. Please sign using your complete name and time of arrival/pick up. Your child will not be released to any individual not listed on your release form without proof of ID and written permission from guardian (email or Classtag communication is fine). Drop off and dismissal will be at the playground or directly from the classroom in inclement weather.
- Lockers: All ECE students will have a locker located down the hall from the classroom. Students are supervised at all times they are at the lockers. Students keep backpacks, coats, boots and rest time bags in their lockers. Please provide a water bottle and an emergency outfit for your child. These are kept in the classroom. ECE staff refill the water bottles daily. Please also provide something small but snuggly for rest time for your child (small stuffed animal and/or crib sized blanket). These rest time items MUST fit inside the blue bag provided by the district.
- Snacks and Supplies: We have a healthy snack each afternoon that is provided by the district. These snacks are nut free, but may contain dairy and gluten. If your child has special dietary needs, please let the teacher know. We encourage all children to try the snack but never force them to finish it.
- Rest time: Students will have a 45 minute rest time after lunch/ lunch recess daily. We provide individual mats with sheets, that are laundered weekly by ECE staff. During rest time, the lights are dimmed and soft music, yoga for children, or audio books are played. Quiet activities such as reading a book, completing a puzzle, or coloring a picture will be offered to students who do not sleep.
- Volunteer Opportunities: We will need volunteer help with small groups Mondays through Thursdays from 8:30-9am. Two helpers (parents or grandparents, nanny, visiting relatives, etc.) are needed each day. We will need 3 to 4 chaperones to help with each of our field trips. Younger siblings may NOT accompany volunteers during small groups time because many of our toys and manipulatives are considered choking hazards to children under 4. Children not enrolled in D.P.S. schools are not able to ride the buses for field trips. We will send out a signup sheet for these volunteer opportunities the month before with our weekly newsletter and calendar.
- Star Celebrations and Show and Share: Fridays will be reserved for classroom “Star of the Week” celebrations, when a child gets to showcase him/herself (children will be picked in alphabetical order by first name). One Friday per month is reserved for “Show and Share” themed around the teacher’s learning objective. Classroom celebrations and performances will be held around Halloween, the Winter holiday season, Valentine’s Day, and at the end of the school year.
- E.C.E. non-contact days and parent meetings: The Early Education Department of Denver Public Schools hosts 2 days of training for its E.C.E. teachers. These are mandated by the District for E.C.E. continuing education The E.C.E. students will not have class these dates, but the rest of Steck Elementary will have school. As soon as these dates are decided upon by the district they will be communicated to parents.
- Birthdays: In ECE birthdays are celebrated on the child’s birthday. Summer birthdays will be celebrated at the end of the year picnic. Birthday treats must meet the dietary restrictions of all ECE students so as not to exclude anyone.