Hello ELC Families!
Fall is approaching fast, and we have some super fun activities planned for the students! As the leaves begin to change and the air gets a little crisper, we’re excited to embrace the season with a variety of engaging events. From exciting field trips to local pumpkin patches to creative art projects centered around autumn themes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
We’ll also be hosting seasonal crafts where students can make their own decorations, as well as interactive storytelling sessions featuring fall-themed tales. Plus, keep an eye out for our upcoming harvest festival, complete with games, snacks, and opportunities for everyone to showcase their talents. It’s going to be a fantastic time filled with laughter, learning, and a celebration of all the wonderful things autumn brings! We can't wait to dive into this vibrant season together!
Parent Reminders:
- As the temperature begins to cool down (finally), please send in a jacket for your child to wear at school.
- Please limit the amount of stuffed animals & comfort objects to just one item that will fit inside their backpack.
- If you work on campus and have an ID, we kindly ask that you still visit the front office or the designated meeting area to pick up your child. For the safety and security of our students, please avoid opening classroom doors unless teachers are expecting you.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!
Please feel free reach out to me with any questions or information needs.
-Catherine
Catherine Bailey
Director of Early Learning
(904)827-2835
VP: (904)824-4540
This week was a fun week participating The Viva Las Vegas FSDB Homecoming for the Deaf Department!
We had two students this week participate during the Homecoming Court night as a crown bearer and flower girl who also join the parade in a gold cart. The other ELC students watched and saw fire fighters, police cars, and LOUD motorcycles! We all also had fun going to the Pep rally to meet Sammy the Dragon and got some freebies such as a small football, shirts, and balloons! One of our students got to join one of the pep rally games while we all cheered them on!
What is happening in the ELC...
We want to introduce Maria Montessori and her method to explain why we do what we do in our Early Learning Classroom. Maria Montessori held a special class for deaf children along with children with other disabilities. She developed and adopted some materials from other physicians in her time. She adopted the idea of THREE PERIOD LESSON, a three-step process that uses to introduce new vocabulary.
- Teacher/parent names the object.
- Ask the student to touch the object when the name is given.
- Ask the student to name the object that is being pointed at.
This is what we use daily in our lessons and for every new lesson that is given to our students.
The other important method was to have children like size tables, chairs, and materials. The purpose of this to help student feel comfortable enough to learn.
- Students can move tables and chairs independently.
- Helps support gross motor skills (large body movements).
- The weight of the furniture helps support students ability to control motor activities by being careful and caring for their own environment.
- Students have the ability to be able to choose work from the shelves and have freedom to choose base on their interest.
We had a visit from the St Johns County Firefighters!
The students had an amazing time meeting the firefighters! They loved feeling the different pieces of equipment, exploring the inside of the firetruck, and learning all about how firefighters serve our community. It was a hands-on experience that really brought their lessons to life!
Preschool social skills are built on three abilities - self-control, empathy and communication.
In the ELC, we work to develop all three of these abilities everyday. Self-control and communication are topics with which most of us are already familiar.
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
In our ELC Montessori program, we work to instill empathy in children in a variety of ways.
First, teachers and staff model empathy to each other and to the children. When adults demonstrate kindness and patience in their interactions with each other, children observe and absorb empathetic responses into their own behaviors. This sets expectations for the way we treat others.
Second, our daily instruction includes lessons in grace and courtesy that help the children to understand socially acceptable behavior.
These lessons include:
- greeting each other
- waiting patiently
- taking turns
- apologizing
- learning how to interrupt politely
- speaking politely
- saying please and thank you
- respecting others and their space
- walking in line
- taking care of materials
- making friends
- and being kind
Early lessons in grace and courtesy can set positive behaviors and patterns that will help the children throughout their lives.
