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Welcome to the preschool program! Our program consists of the Yellow, Orange, and Red rooms. The preschool program is designed to meet the needs of all children by providing many experiences for them to practice and build upon the skills they already know, incorporating new knowledge. Most of the children’s learning at this age is center based, providing hands-on experiences. It is very important the children learn the appropriate developmental skills needed at each stage, building the foundation for further learning. By securing these steps, the children will take with them the basic skills needed for Kindergarten. The teacher will accomplish this through assessments of each individual child and create lesson plans accordingly. Our primary goal is to instill a love for learning and provide the children with school readiness skills. The early years in a child’s life set the tone for future learning. Our goal at UHCCC is to stay current with research in child development so that we are able to build a foundation for each child that lasts a lifetime. Our curriculum is designed with specific objectives for each age level and child; however, the following goals are incorporated into every classroom:
Consult with your child’s teacher for specific objectives addressed in each classroom. [ Go to Index ] [Return to Previous Page] [ Go to UHCCC Home Page ] The Preschool program uses the revised Learning Accomplishment Profile (LAP-3) as an assessment tool. It is designed to provide the teacher of the young child with a simple criterion-referenced tool for systematic assessment of the child’s existing skills. This instrument is a valuable guide for observation of typically developing children as well as young children with disabilities. It is broken down into the following seven domains: The Gross Motor area examines the child’s development in large muscle coordination, strength, and stamina. This section involves postural reactions, balance, and ambulation. Skills with play equipment and physical activities such as hopping, skipping, running, and jumping are included. The Fine Motor domain focuses on skills in eye-hand coordinations that involve reaching, grasping, and manipulating objects. A sequence of fine sensorimotor behaviors using cubes, scissors, clay, puzzles, and toys is included. Pre-Writing- Written language constitutes a basic form of communication in our society. For this reason, writing skills are a primary focus of the child’s early schooling. These behaviors address the stages of grasping writing instruments, the role of finger and easel painting, and a hierarchy of pre-writing skills for appropriate developmental levels. The Cognitive area addresses intellectual functions such as reasoning, problem solving, and knowledge. The specific skills that are included in this section are basic prerequisites to scholastic functioning such as numbers, colors, shapes, money, and measurements. Concepts of similarities/differences, size, position, weight, and textures are also assigned to the cognitive section. Language- This domain examines the child’s ability to perform the following functions of language: reporting, questioning predicting, and relating information; following and giving directions; describing actions, sources of actions, and functions; and expressing needs, feelings, and preferences. This area includes items, which address both expressive and receptive aspects of language development. The Self-Help area examines the child’s ability to cope independently and responsibly with the skills of daily living. This area includes items that involve: feeding, dressing, toileting, bathing, and grooming. The Personal-Social component of the LAP focuses on the child’s responsiveness to his social environment. This area of development not only reflects the child’s perception and knowledge of his personal life but it examines interpersonal behaviors such as cooperation, ability to relate to a group, sensitivity to others, and helpfulness. [ Go to Index ] [ Go to UHCCC Home Page ] PROGRAM QUALITY/ STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE High quality early childhood education benefits children. Children who experience a quality program are more likely to have greater academic success, enhanced self-esteem and increased self-control. UHCCC aligns the program and curriculum with federal and state guidelines and is licensed by the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services. For more information about program quality you can visit the following web sites: National Education Goals (NAE) [ Go to Index ] [Return to Previous Page] [ Go to UHCCC Home Page ] VISION & HEARING SCREENING The Special Senses and Communication Disorders Act, Texas Health and Safety Code requires that all children enrolled for the first time in a Texas Department of Family and Protective Services licensed child-care center in Texas, or who meet certain grade criteria (specified below), must be screened for possible vision and hearing problems.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Vision and Hearing Screening
[ Go to Index ] [Return to Previous Page] [ Go to UHCCC Home Page ] Most classrooms begin curriculum instruction at 9:00 a.m., when breakfast is over. In order for children to receive the full benefit of our program we ask that you have your child here by this time. Please notify the Center no later than 10:00 a.m. if your child is going to be absent, (10:00 a.m. is the time the daily lunch count is made). If there is a special circumstance requiring arrival after 10:00 a.m. it will be necessary to check with the Center/Teacher and receive special permission for late arrival before bringing your child to the Center. BIRTHDAYS/ CELEBRATIONS/ HOLIDAYS The Center celebrates the children’s birthdays in age-appropriate ways in the classroom. The birthday celebration, however, is purposefully kept simple and child-centered. Parents may bring a cake/cookies/cupcakes that are store-bought and labeled with the ingredients (www.tdprs.state.tx.us/childcare). These will be served during afternoon snack and parents are welcome to join the children. The child’s birthday observance at the Center is not intended to take the place of each family’s special observance at home. No gifts will be exchanged and no treat bags or party favors are to be distributed in the classroom. Birthday party invitations for parties away from the Center may be distributed at school only in the parent mailboxes located at the front. If you do not want your child’s birthday celebrated, please notify the Center in advance in writing. UHCCC does observe traditional, national, cultural and seasonal holidays with activities that are child-centered, educationally oriented and developmentally appropriate. Every effort is made to be culturally sensitive. Please share with the Center staff any celebrations that are important to your family, so that these too may be included in our classroom planning. We must provide a supervised sleep or rest period after lunch for children 18 months or older (www.tdprs.state.tx.us/childcare). Infants sleep according to their individual schedules. [ Go to Index ] [Return to Previous Page] [ Go to UHCCC Home Page ] Your child should be dressed in play clothes that are durable, comfortable and appropriate for play. We will go outside daily, weather permitting. Because a wide variety of activities take place at our Center, we recommend clothes that allow for freedom of movement. Many of your child’s favorite activities may tend to be a little messy, like finger painting and digging in the dirt, so again make sure the child’s clothes are suitable. At UHCCC your child’s safety is of great concern, therefore, we ask that you send your child to school wearing a sturdy shoe that supports the foot properly and protects the toes. Sneakers with socks are the best. Children are not permitted to wear open-toed sandals, clogs, and boots or flip-flops on the playgrounds because they are dangerous for running and climbing. We ask that you provide a complete change of clothing for your child to be left at school and in order to avoid confusion and lost items, label each article of clothing. [ Go to Index ] [Return to Previous Page] [ Go to UHCCC Home Page ] Children frequently want to share with their class nature items and treasurers from home. Such items are especially welcomed if they support the topic being studied. It is always a good idea to check with your child’s teacher first before bringing objects to the Center. Each classroom also, has a special Show and Tell time, so be sure once again, to check with your child’s teacher for this schedule. We do discourage your child from bringing toys from home; although, some teachers will allow items of comfort, such as a soft cuddly stuff animal, to be brought to school to help your child sleep more comfortably (please check with your child’s teacher first). When a child brings a toy from home, it is sometimes difficult for them to share and the toy could get lost or broken. The staff will not be responsible if these items are lost or damaged. The Center does not allow toys of violence like guns, swords, or violent action figures at any time. [ Go to Index ] [Return to Previous Page] [ Go to UHCCC Home Page ] The preschool program may take field trips (on campus only) throughout the year. Permission slips must be signed before your child may attend any of these functions. UHCCC NEWSLETTER/CLASSROOM MEMOS/ WEBSITE The Center publishes a newsletter as a way to maintain communication with parents. An electronic notice is sent to subscribers to inform them when a new E-news is available for viewing. Hard copies are available at the front desk each month as well and a copy is posted on the parent bulletin board in the front lobby. You may also access past UHCCC newsletters @ http://www.uh.edu/ccc/pages/newsletters.php The teachers use the UHCCC website to communicate with parents about their child’s classroom, by posting weekly/ monthly classroom memos, notes and lesson plans. Please check the website each week by classrooms. [ Go to Index ] [Return to Previous Page] [ Go to UHCCC Home Page ] All parents are invited to participate in parent/ teacher conferences in the fall and spring semester. These conferences will be held during school hours and at a time that is convenient for both you and the teacher. Occasionally a teacher may request a parent conference when there are special concerns in the classroom. We ask that parents respect this request with prompt attention. SUMMARY OF UHCCC PARENT RESPONSIBILITIESUHCCC expects parents to be reliable and responsible for:
Please see The University of Houston Child Care Center Parent Handbook for more information. [ Go to Index ] [Return to Previous Page] [ Go to UHCCC Home Page ] |
