Here is my entire policy handbook for the Summer Program :)
Miss Melissa’s Summer Program: Sizzling Summer of Science!
Melissa’s in-home preschool summer program is a Biblical-based program for 2-6-year-olds We focus on science, reading, writing, math, and Bible. We merge play and academics in a laid-back, educational setting. Ms. Melissa is an experienced preschool teacher with a love for students and teaching. It is the goal of this program for each student to reach their full academic and individual potential.
Who I am: I am a 24-year-old mother and student. I have worked for 5 years now on my degrees in Early Childhood Education. I hold an Associate’s in this field and am 2 classes away from having my Bachelor’s. I am putting school on hold to pursue other dreams right now. Those include being able to stay home, spend more time with my 3-year-old daughter, and still interact with and teach young children.
My Experience:
I have taught full-time in an academically-driven, Christian Preschool as a Lead Teacher teaching 4, 5, and 6-year-olds. I also worked with and taught 1-year-olds, 2-year-olds, and 3-year-olds at this school.
I have tutored students ranging from 1st graders to high school students. I have taught and tutored students with special needs and whose first language is not English (ESL students).
I have volunteered and worked in elementary schools, daycares, and preschools over the last 5-6 years. I spent over 70 hours in daycares, preschools, and elementary schools while completing my Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. I have spent additional hours working and volunteering with families in the community as well as teaching one-on-one and in groups in elementary-school settings.
While working on my Bachelor’s, I taught reading to various levels of elementary-aged students. My course work for both degrees included extensive training and experience teaching not only all academic areas but also teaching students whose first language is not English (ESL students).
My Philosophy: I love kids and I love their love for learning and life. I’m a very hands-on caregiver and teacher. I encourage children in whatever they do (learning, playing, socializing, crafts, etc).
I believe that children will go as far as the faith we put in them. I know that every child develops at his or her own pace when it comes to academics, emotions, social maturity, physical maturity, and more. I believe in encouraging and building on the skills that children have already mastered on their own.
Educational Philosophy:
My educational philosophy comes from many models of childhood development and areas of childhood development research. Among these is Lev Vygotsky’s metaphorical Zone of Proximinal Development. Simply stated, it is:
“the distance between the actual developmental level…and the level of potential development…under adult guidance, or in collaboration with more capable peers” (Lev Vygotsky).
As the teacher, it is my job to take what a child already knows and has mastered and guide them one step further until they are ready to master that next step on their own. This applies to all areas of childhood development.
Our home:
In 2008, I lost my little brother suddenly. As my husband and I were looking to move, my parents had also been searching for a new home since they had recently moved back to Texas. During a time when our family needed to be close to each other, we made the decision to merge households. We currently share the house with my parents, Mike and Val, an RN. You may sometimes see them here. They are not a part of this preschool program and are not considered helpers of mine. They will never be in charge of the children in any way. However, they are sometimes present in the house and of course meet the state requirements of being up-to-date on criminal background checks, as does my husband.
When this living situation changes, I will of course give pre-school parents plenty of notice and we will still be in the immediate area.
We also have 3 dogs and 3 cats who stay outside. We have an elderly kitty who has recently come inside because he’s getting too old to be out. He is de-clawed and loves everyone. We will never go outside in the backyard to play with the dogs. They’re perfectly safe and love kids, but we won’t ever go out there. We use other parts of the yard to play if we go outside. All of our animals meet the state’s requirements for animals in a licensed in-home facility and are all great with children.
Our schedule for the summer will be as follows:
Week one: Let’s make things grow!
This week will be all about plants, flowers, and things that grow! We’ll become gardeners and explorers of everything related to the wonderful world of nature!
Week two: At The Pond:
We’ll explore pond creatures, critters, and plants. We’ll dive into what makes a pond and its surroundings unique and wonderful.
Weeks three and four: Under the Sea: We’ll explore the depths of the ocean. Who lives there? What makes it so amazing and special? What makes all of these animals such individuals?
Week five: The Desert!
Many of our favorite zoo animals come from other parts of the world, particularly the desert! This week, we’ll explore all of our favorite creatures that God placed in the desert.
**** ONE WEEK BREAK ****
Week six: The Rain Forest!
Who swings from the tallest trees in the Amazon? Where IS the Amazon? What lives in the green depths of the rain forest? We’ll find out this week!
Week seven: At the farm:
What makes farm animals unique? How is a farm run and operated? Why do we have farms? We’ll explore all of this and more!
Week eight: DINOSAURS!
We’ll explore the ancestors of the world and all of the questions that go along with them. How would we like to live in a world of dinosaurs? How would things be different if dinosaurs still lived? How do we learn about dinosaurs? We’ll practice digging for ancient artifacts as we learn about what the world was like long before we were here.
Week nine: Things with lots of Legs
What’s the difference between a bug and an insect? Why are they important to our world? What is an insect or bug’s life like? We’ll explore some of the smallest creatures on earth.
Week ten: Water Science
This week is all about water fun! We’ll measure and pour and of course… get wet! This will be a great way to wrap up our summertime fun!
This is a 10-week program. Please note that the week of July 17th- July 21st, we will take a 1-week break.
Our Daily Schedule
** Schedule will be adjusted according to special events, projects, etc. but will remain the same most days. Consistency is an important part of young children’s lives and I will keep our schedule the same each day unless we have a special event going on that day. Children will never be forced to nap, but we will have a quiet rest period each day. **
9:30- 10:00 am- Center Time
Academic and interactive centers will be set up around the room. These centers will often reflect the theme we are studying that week.
10:00 am-10:10 am- Bathroom break
Individual bathroom breaks will always be given as children request as well.
10:10-10:30- Snack Time/ Reading
Students will bring their own snack.
10:30-11:00- Science and math
11:00- 11:25- Art and crafts
11:25- 11:30- Bathroom break/ wash hands
11:30- 11:50- Lunch
Bathroom break after lunch
12 pm- 12:45 pm- Outside/ Gym play
If there is inclement weather, we will play indoor. We will have an indoor “gym” set up with bigger play items. Our “gym” is upstairs.
12:45-1:15 pm- Enrichment activities
At this time during the day, we will do enrichment activities that go along with what we have learned about that day. We may have a science experiment to check on or more activities to do outside. We may have another craft to do or a game to play that is related to our theme. During this time, we may also read additional books and do reading and writing activities. I tend to come across so many quality ideas that are so enriching and educational and I like to leave a time each day to take full advantage of these great activities and lessons.
1:15- 1:30- Bathroom breaks/ Get ready for rest
1:30- 2:30 Rest/ Quiet time
At this time, students who need to nap can do so. Students who no longer nap will be allowed to lay quietly on their mat and look at books. At 2 pm, those who are not asleep will be allowed to get up and work puzzles and look at books quietly. This is a time of wind-down for all students from the busy day we’ve had.
Tuition:
Parents may choose to send their child(ren) for 2 or 3 days for Ms.Melissa’s summer program.
There is $100 non-refundable registration fee. This is to hold your child’s spot in the program.
Tuition for the 2-day program is $70/week OR $600 for the summer. (This is a $100 savings if you pay for the summer up front).
Tuition for the 3-day program is $80 week OR $700 for the summer (Again, this is a $100 savings).
Weekly tuition is due on Tuesday (the first day of our school week).
If tuition is not paid by the following Tuesday, a $15 late fee will be assessed.
Summer tuition paid in whole is due the 1st day of class (June 7th).
YOU MAY CHOOSE TO ENROLL YOUR CHILD FOR ONLY CERTAIN WEEKS. IF YOUR CHILD IS ENROLLED FOR ONLY A PART OF THE SUMMER, THE REGISTRATION FEE WILL STAY THE SAME. PLEASE PAY YOUR CHILD'S FULL TUITION ($70 OR $80 X'S THE AMOUNT OF WEEKS THEY ARE ENROLLED) ON THEIR 1ST DAY. Please know which weeks your child will be attending when you register! :)
Snacks and lunch
Please provide your child with a lunch and one snack as well as 2 drinks each day during the summer. If you would like to have a snack and lunch provided for your child, you may pay an additional $20 per week to have these provided. Please notify Ms. Melissa well in advance if you need snacks or lunch provided for your child.
Materials needed for the summer program:
Please provide the following for your child
* A folder and/or backpack with your child’s FULL name on it
* A full change of season-appropriate clothes- these can be kept at the school or brought daily.
* A nap mat- This can be any kind you choose or already have. These are available at Wal-mart and local teacher supply stores, as well as online.
* Anything your child would like to sleep with. Please make sure any of these items can fit not only on your child’s mat, but also in their back pack/ cubby area. This includes blankets, stuffed animals, etc.
* If each parent could also bring the following, it would greatly help our classroom supply and keep our craft time running smoothly.
1 package of stick glues
1 package of regular, washable markers
1 package of crayons (any size will do)
1 package of multi-colored construction paper.
Ms. Melissa will provide the rest of the supplies.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me!
I look forward to teaching and having a great time with your child this summer!!!
Ms. Melissa
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