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Kindergarten Ready
Secrets of Preschool Teachers of the Year By Laura Cone
Karla Lyles of Chicago, Ill., another national preschool teacher of the year and mother of one, says she has a housekeeping section in her classroom at Our Lady of the Gardens in Chicago. Her preschool children, who range in age from 3 to 5, learn about table manners and etiquette. She says parents do not need to spend a lot of money or read scientific journals to come up with experiments to do with their children at home.
"My suggestion is parents take their everyday experiences and teach their children," Lyles says. "We had a snack with Cool Whip one day. I colored one red and one blue and we made purple and put that on our fruit. We just used the Cool Whip and food coloring." Lyles sings with her students and makes everything into a game. She points out shapes to her own daughter, such as the clock, which is a circle. "It's going through your lifestyle and pulling out key concepts," Lyles says. "You can say, 'Let's count how many forks we have.' You count everything. When you are driving, count the trees and ask, 'What colors do you notice?' You teach your children about colors and nature and pull in math skills and science concepts."
"Even scribbles are important, even if you can't read them," Lyles says. "It helps with prewriting skills and fine motor skills. At this stage, they are learning how their muscles work. It's also helping them to be creative. It helps them to express themselves."
Parents need to read to their children, Lyles says. Make time to read even if you work outside the home. Also, take advantage of library programs.
Lyles says her own child often wants her to read a favorite book 15 times. "Definitely read," she says. "Read, read, read. I promote literacy. Children grasp everything at this age."
Wendy Butler-oyesen of Eugene, Ore., a mother of two grown children and grandmother to an infant grandson, says thatas the lead teacher in the pre-kindergarten room at EWEB CDC Child Development Center, she reads to her students every day.
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