Message from the Principal
May is in full bloom here at Discovery Isle! The children had such an amazing April with many special activities focused on our Mother Earth and embracing nature with planting, gardening and exploring amazing insects such as ladybugs and worms.
Ladybug exploration
Important Dates and Events
Happy Mother’s Day to all of our moms and grandmothers! We have a special Mother’s Day treat for you on the morning of Friday, May 6th during drop off time (7:15-9:15am). We will be hosting “Muffins for Mommy” in the front lobby. Please take an extra few minutes to enjoy your treat here or pick one up for the road. Enjoy your special weekend… you deserve it!
The week of May 9th to the 13th we will be celebrating “Teacher Appreciation” week here at Discovery Isle. We have organized some events for the teachers to enjoy their special week. Please look for your Teacher Appreciation week itinerary and stop by the front desk to view and snap a picture of your child’s teachers wish list for simple ideas. Thank you for all of your participation in advance for making this a memorable week for our amazing and talented teachers.
On Wednesday, May 18th we will be hosting our annual ART SHOWCASE and Art auction from 5:30-7 pm. This is a family event! Come join us for this memorable evening and get to mingle with other families as well.
Reminder: Discovery Isle will be CLOSED on Monday, May 30th in honor of Memorial Day. Please take a moment to pay tribute and respect to all the we have lost. To all our military families… thank you for your serve!
News from the Education Department
“Building Your Child’s Sense of Family Belonging”
Relationships with family members play an important role as children begin to develop a sense of self. When they feel a sense of identity and belonging within their own families, children are better able to grow emotionally, make friends, and appreciate and accept the diversity of others.
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, it’s a great time to share activities that celebrate the importance of family.
Below are age appropriate activities that we implement in the classroom, as well as activities you can do with your child at home.
INFANTS/TODDLERS:
In the classroom: Teachers use baby sign language to help children identify and eventually verbalize names for their family members. When parents enter the classroom, teachers say, “Look! Here’s Sophia’s mommy,” while also signing “mommy.” They work with parents to learn specific names used at home, and then use those names in the classroom.
At home: Use baby sign language as you come across names of family members in books and songs. To sign “mommy,” tap your thumb on your chin repeatedly. To sign “daddy,” tap your thumb on your forehead repeatedly. Remember to say the word aloud as you sign.
Recommended reading: Spot Loves His Mommy by Eric Hill, Are You my Mother? by PD Eastman
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: By age two, children begin to learn the names of extended family members, such as grandmother, uncle and cousin. They practice using these words as they talk about their families. After sorting stuffed animals by type, teachers might say, “This is the horse’s family. He has a big family. Who’s in your family?”
At home: Give your child play dough and encourage him to create the members of his family. Afterward, ask him to count and name them. This activity helps him conceptualize that multiple people make up his entire family and gives you insight into what family means to your child at his particular point in development.
Recommended reading: On Mother’s Lap by Ann Herbert Scott, Oonga Boonga by Frieda Wishinsky
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: As children read stories about diverse families, teachers encourage them to share unique details about their own families. For example, teachers might ask, “Who has a sister?” or “Who has a pet?” Afterward, students create charts with the information.
At home: Have each member of your family make a thumbprint using finger paint on a piece of paper side by side. Then, ask your child to compare the various sizes, and guess which thumbprint belongs to each person. As they talk about their family members, they begin to appreciate what makes their family unique.
Recommended reading: Clifford’s Family by Norman Bridwell, What Mommies Do Best and What Daddies Do Best by Laura Numeroff
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Our older preschoolers begin to understand that their parents have more than one role. Family members are invited to visit and talk to the class about their roles inside and outside of the home. Students are encouraged to write and draw their family members in the different roles they serve. For example, “Mommy is a doctor.”
At home: Go on an uninterrupted family outing with your child. Try to avoid checking work emails or answering unimportant phone calls. Afterward, ask your child to write about his favorite parts of the day in his journal.
Recommended reading: Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too? by Eric Carle, The Napping House by Audrey Wood
All of our schools will be celebrating families in really fun ways this Mother’s Day season, and we hope that you do too!
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education
May News
Message from the Principal
May is in full bloom here at Discovery Isle! The children had such an amazing April with many special activities focused on our Mother Earth and embracing nature with planting, gardening and exploring amazing insects such as ladybugs and worms.
Ladybug exploration
Important Dates and Events
Happy Mother’s Day to all of our moms and grandmothers! We have a special Mother’s Day treat for you on the morning of Friday, May 6th during drop off time (7:15-9:15am). We will be hosting “Muffins for Mommy” in the front lobby. Please take an extra few minutes to enjoy your treat here or pick one up for the road. Enjoy your special weekend… you deserve it!
The week of May 9th to the 13th we will be celebrating “Teacher Appreciation” week here at Discovery Isle. We have organized some events for the teachers to enjoy their special week. Please look for your Teacher Appreciation week itinerary and stop by the front desk to view and snap a picture of your child’s teachers wish list for simple ideas. Thank you for all of your participation in advance for making this a memorable week for our amazing and talented teachers.
On Wednesday, May 18th we will be hosting our annual ART SHOWCASE and Art auction from 5:30-7 pm. This is a family event! Come join us for this memorable evening and get to mingle with other families as well.
Reminder: Discovery Isle will be CLOSED on Monday, May 30th in honor of Memorial Day. Please take a moment to pay tribute and respect to all the we have lost. To all our military families… thank you for your serve!
News from the Education Department
“Building Your Child’s Sense of Family Belonging”
Relationships with family members play an important role as children begin to develop a sense of self. When they feel a sense of identity and belonging within their own families, children are better able to grow emotionally, make friends, and appreciate and accept the diversity of others.
With Mother’s Day right around the corner, it’s a great time to share activities that celebrate the importance of family.
Below are age appropriate activities that we implement in the classroom, as well as activities you can do with your child at home.
INFANTS/TODDLERS:
In the classroom: Teachers use baby sign language to help children identify and eventually verbalize names for their family members. When parents enter the classroom, teachers say, “Look! Here’s Sophia’s mommy,” while also signing “mommy.” They work with parents to learn specific names used at home, and then use those names in the classroom.
At home: Use baby sign language as you come across names of family members in books and songs. To sign “mommy,” tap your thumb on your chin repeatedly. To sign “daddy,” tap your thumb on your forehead repeatedly. Remember to say the word aloud as you sign.
Recommended reading: Spot Loves His Mommy by Eric Hill, Are You my Mother? by PD Eastman
BEGINNERS (ages 2-3):
In the classroom: By age two, children begin to learn the names of extended family members, such as grandmother, uncle and cousin. They practice using these words as they talk about their families. After sorting stuffed animals by type, teachers might say, “This is the horse’s family. He has a big family. Who’s in your family?”
At home: Give your child play dough and encourage him to create the members of his family. Afterward, ask him to count and name them. This activity helps him conceptualize that multiple people make up his entire family and gives you insight into what family means to your child at his particular point in development.
Recommended reading: On Mother’s Lap by Ann Herbert Scott, Oonga Boonga by Frieda Wishinsky
INTERMEDIATES (ages 3-4):
In the classroom: As children read stories about diverse families, teachers encourage them to share unique details about their own families. For example, teachers might ask, “Who has a sister?” or “Who has a pet?” Afterward, students create charts with the information.
At home: Have each member of your family make a thumbprint using finger paint on a piece of paper side by side. Then, ask your child to compare the various sizes, and guess which thumbprint belongs to each person. As they talk about their family members, they begin to appreciate what makes their family unique.
Recommended reading: Clifford’s Family by Norman Bridwell, What Mommies Do Best and What Daddies Do Best by Laura Numeroff
PRE-K/PRE-K 2 (ages 4-5):
In the classroom: Our older preschoolers begin to understand that their parents have more than one role. Family members are invited to visit and talk to the class about their roles inside and outside of the home. Students are encouraged to write and draw their family members in the different roles they serve. For example, “Mommy is a doctor.”
At home: Go on an uninterrupted family outing with your child. Try to avoid checking work emails or answering unimportant phone calls. Afterward, ask your child to write about his favorite parts of the day in his journal.
Recommended reading: Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too? by Eric Carle, The Napping House by Audrey Wood
All of our schools will be celebrating families in really fun ways this Mother’s Day season, and we hope that you do too!
– Lauren Starnes, PhD – Director of Early Childhood Education