• Mrs. DiDonna- Classroom Teacher• Ms. Dee- Teaching Assistant• Ms. Kathy- Occupational Therapist• Ms. Emily- Physical Therapist• Ms. Kaitlin Daltrey- Speech and Language

Pathologist• Ms. Jill- Adaptive PE • Ms. Milissa Riley- Social Worker

Education

I live in Itasca with my husband and two daughters. My oldest

daughter attends Indiana University and my youngest attend

Lake Park High School. I enjoy working out, taking walks, cooking

and reading.

We will be using literacy and

mathematics concepts from the

Big Day Pre-K curriculum, as well

as Handwriting Without Tears. In

addition to these two curriculums,

we will be using PATHS social-

emotional curriculum.

• We will be incorporating learning

concepts into thematic units and

activities. A few of the thematic

units planned for this school year

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The preschool program uses a research based Preschool-

Kindergarten Curriculum called PATHS. PATHS is taught once a

week during social skills development time. PATHS offers songs,

skits, puppets, stories and age appropriate games to foster

positive social development in preschool and kindergarten. The

following topics will be covered during the school year.

Friendships – building and maintaining

Self-Control

Social Skills

Basic problem solving

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Circle

Hands on Activities

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Gross Motor MovementGross motor movement is an essential part of the early childhood day. Gross motor movement allows for brain breaks. The following activities are a few of the gross motor activities the early childhood children participate in.• Movement to music• Balance Beam • Crawling through tunnel• Scooters• Jungle Gym• Hoola hoops• Foam Hop Scotch• Organized age appropriate games

Table work

Table work is done several times a week in the early childhood classroom. Table work aids students in developing fine motor skills, which are useful in academic and functional skills. Once a week, students are taught using the handwriting curriculum Handwriting Without Tears. The following activities are some of the activities completed during table work.• Cutting straight and curved lines (learning the correct way to hold

scissors)• Tracing straight and curved lines• Tracing letters in name • Letter of the week (correct formation using wooden lines, chalk boards,

dry-erase boards).• Tracing letters, numbers, shapes and objects

Research shows that young children learn best through play. In the early childhood program students engage in cooperative play daily. Each day, students are given a choice of several different centers to explore, be creative and let their imaginations go wild. The following are the center activities available in the early childhood program.

• Kitchen/Dramatic Play area

• Table toys (puzzles, hand and eye coordination activities)

• Game area (age appropriate board games, floor puzzles)

• Technology- I-pads (age appropriate academic programs)

• Sensory table (sand, water, rice, other sensory materials)

• Construction (large and small blocks, construction tools)

• Light table

• Science center

• Large toys (doll house, farm house, castle, dinosaurs, etc.)

• Art Station – structured art activities, as well as non-

structured art time.

Class Do-jo