Tell me about the 2
classrooms.
Our
preschool 1 classroom is a mixed age group of up to 15 boys and girls
from 2½ years of age up to 5. Our preschool 2 classroom is a group of up
to 19 children who are also 2½-5 years of age. Both classrooms offer a
variety of small and large group activities within a planned daily
schedule with ample outside time. Depending on the number of children
the 2 classes come together in the afternoon for rest time (about 1:00)
until the end of our day. The afternoon group rests and meets in one of
the 2 classrooms and on the play yard.
Do I
get to choose which classroom my child is assigned to?
We will
take your request into consideration in addition to various criteria for
assigning children to a classroom. Sometimes we group the children
according to their schedule, ½ or full days. However, we have also found
that teachers establish close relationships with parents and want to
maintain that connection with the family over several years.
Additionally, assignments are made based on the teachers’ observations
at visitation, the balance of boys and girls and the age ranges of
children seeking enrollment in any given year and any other criteria
that warrants consideration.
Why
do you not group by age or in defined age groups?
Historically Island Children's School offered one mixed age classroom.
The benefits of a mixed age grouping are well documented, from offering
young children a more natural family grouping of various ages, to having
a broader frame of reference for typical development at any age.
Children in a mixed age group are given more time to develop
individually, at their own rate within the classroom group. A wide
variety of activities are offered that appeal to the wider age range.
Older or returning children serve as models and helpers in the
classroom. Children learn that everyone has differing abilities,
strengths, weaknesses, skills they have mastered and things they are
still learning.
If my child is placed in a mixed age
class will they be ready for kindergarten?
Since the
most important skills needed for kindergarten are good social skills, we
feel strongly that both classrooms do a superb job preparing for
kindergarten. Both classrooms focus strongly on using words to solve
problems, seeking a teachers help if needed, staying involved with
friends throughout the day, making appropriate choices and helping
others remember the classroom rules. Teachers encourage and support
beginning friendships. Children learn skills such as entering play
successfully, negotiating for materials, and waiting turns or finding
alternative activities. Additionally, both classrooms have teachers who
plan activities and themes that typically support young children’s
development of fine and gross motor skills and introduce them to
beginning activities of reading, math, science and social studies.
However, because much of this work is often part of what young children
play it may not be obvious to the outside observer.
How
do you handle classroom management and discipline?
Classroom
management means providing affectionate care and security within a
reasonably ordered environment and an interesting daily schedule. We aim
to avoid problems before they start by having ample activities and
materials and arranging the environment to accommodate the needs of a
wide variety of children.
Discipline
is individual and at ICS children are treated individually based on each
situation that might arise. The teachers’ responses to discipline are
based on their knowledge and understanding of each child and his/her
ability to understand the situation. We try to establish a community
where all are treated kindly and inclusively by adults and children
alike.
We believe that discipline includes:
setting fair and reasonable limits for behavior usually based on
personal safety or the safety of others, observing and modifying the
programming as necessary, listening to children, working and playing
along with the children when we can and helping children learn coping
skills and communication skills.
Island Children School does not use time
out, rather we redirect children to other activities or playmates, offer
positive reinforcement for behavior we want to see, and offer children
alternatives for the behaviors we would like to see stop.
Why does ICS require a 5
morning minimum?
Island Children’s School philosophy is
based primarily on the development of good social skills within a strong
classroom community. It is difficult to build a community when children
are not in attendance every day. Teachers see that children settle into
routines and friendships, rely on their understanding of a daily
schedule and seeing each other every day. Our Board of Directors has
looked at changing this requirement but every time they decide that the
minimum schedule enhances the group and supports the skills we are
trying to instill. Even though it doesn’t meet every family’s needs we
have continued to find families who understand and believe in our
philosophy.
