DEWDROPS
Age Group: “The Waddlers”
( 1 year or older by August 31 )
Our youngest class is called the Dewdrops. We designed the environment, the schedule, and curriculum to make this the premier one year old program in the area.
THE WADDLERS ARE 1 YEAR OR OLDER BY AUGUST 31
Jill Bolduc (Lead Teacher)
7:00 am to 3:00 pm (paid planning 2:30 to 3:00)
Lana Khomchik (Lead Assistant Teacher)
8:20 am to 4:20 pm
Lauren Petry ( Assistant Teacher)
11-11:30 am and 2:30 to 6:00 pm
Teachers are the core of The Shyne School. The curriculum centers around the loving, warm and welcoming interaction children have each day with teachers and friends. Teachers work together with parents so they can ensure children feel safe and secure while at school. We work with parents to respect individual differences as well as families’ preferences. Our teachers attend special training in early childhood education so teachers understand the different stages of children’s development. Understanding development helps them guide the children’s behavior with patience and understanding. Each classroom at The Shyne School has two primary teachers to promote consistency and responsiveness. We have a low turnover rate that helps us provide a high level of care.
With a group of 10:2 (5:1 ratio), teachers are able to be responsive to the children’s needs. When interacting with the children, teachers actively encourage and extend the children’s developing language. Teachers identify and label objects, feelings and actions while the children are going about their day. Children learn basic sign language to extend communication for talkers and non-talkers, such as the sign for more, eat, drink, want, tired, cold, coat, etc. Children learn during daily routines as well as specially planned projects.
Children must be one year old by August 31st and walking to attend. Children will range from 12 to 23 months of age at the beginning of the year. They will move to the two year old classroom at the beginning of our school year in September. We move children by teacher recommendation and space available in the next class. This will be the group they will move with from classroom to classroom. They will all leave for Kindergarten together. Children need to move from a bottle of formula to a sippy cup of whole milk before they start. Bottles are not recommended past 12 months of age. We provide one afternoon nap but know that at the beginning of the year some children my need two naps on some days.
We encourage active parent participation. Parent communication is very important. We ask parents to let the teacher know about the child’s night and morning. We feel the more time the parents and teachers spend together on the child’s transition and separation anxiety the more trust is built and the stronger the bond.
The classroom plan includes separate areas for diaper changing, general hand washing, art, sensory, small motor, large motor, teacher prep area and quiet areas. To help children feel strong, competent and empowered, toys are down at the children’s level for self selection, tables and chairs and, a hand washing sink are just their size. Children love to be independent and feel “BIG”. Teachers work with children to make appropriate choices so they can “do it themselves.”
Keeping the children healthy is important to us. The children go outside at least two times a day, weather permitting. While the children are outside we are able to air out the classroom. Large motor activities outside are important to their health and development so we ask parents to send their children in coats with hoods for those drizzly days. Parents can also send rubber boots and water proof pants.
The daily schedule is balanced between active and quiet, teacher directed and child directed times. Our day starts with a circle time followed by free choice activities. The children are able to choose from special projects, playing in the learning centers (art, sensory, books, blocks, dramatic play, large or small motor areas) or snack, during free choice. The children then clean up and head outside before lunch. After lunch we prepare for a nap. When the children get up they learn self help skills such as putting socks and shoes back on, diaper change and snack before we head outside. The children come back in for music and movement time and free choice activities until parents pick up. The children eat and have diaper changes about every two hours or more often as needed.
National Association for the Education of Young Children: New research on brain development underscores the importance of the first few years of life for children’s development and learning. New studies also confirm that when very young children are in child care, quality matters.
At The Shyne School we know you are your child’s first teacher, so we want to build a partnership with you so we can provide the highest quality of care.
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