Joanne Parlee - K4 13 years at Holy Family - 27 years teaching experience Room 103 Ext.204 parleej@archmil.org
Philosophy of Education
My primary goal as a teacher of young children is to provide a warm, safe, caring, and nurturing environment where each child can grow as an individual and feel happy and successful. I feel that each child has unique talents to share, and by providing a wide range of activities, materials, and experiences, I can help each child develop into a confident learner, with a love for God and the world.
Curriculum Summary
Religion
The spiritual development of the children is very important to me. We use the “I Am Special” curriculum and “Seeds” weekly magazine to teach religion in K4. I emphasize the beauty of God’s creation through science themes. We also do special service projects to help others, such as collecting mittens and hats for less fortunate children. We pray often in my classroom, especially for others. We thank God every day for His blessings.
Reading/Literature/Language Arts
Pre-reading and reading skills are taught through an integrated approach. We have daily stories, poems and big books that revolve around the theme we are working on for that week. The children dictate stories to me that I write for them and we make class books. We learn beginning sounds by having a “letter of the week” that goes along with the theme we are studying, so it is more meaningful to the children. A book corner and writing center are available in the room during playtime for the children to enjoy.
Mathematics
I use our calendar to teach beginning math concepts – counting, patterns, counting up to special dates, skip counting, etc. We do daily weather and learn how to read a thermometer. We have a chart showing the number of days we have been in school and we celebrate the 101st day with a “101 Dalmatian Party”!
Science
My classroom is very science oriented. Most of my science is hands on learning. We have studied animals, insects, plants, astronomy, gravity, the ocean, the rainforest and seeds, just to name a few! Toads, frogs and other critters visit from time to time. In the fall, Monarch caterpillars live in our classroom and we observe them as they make a chrysalis and later emerge as beautiful butterflies. The children also observe another classroom lifecycle as our classroom tadpoles turn into frogs.
Social Studies
Social studies is coordinated with our themes. For example, we study the Monarch butterfly migration to Mexico. We find Mexico on the map and talk about people, customs, etc. The respect for other cultures is emphasized because God created and loves all of us.
Other Classroom News
We spend a lot of time learning through experience. We play and have fun and socialize a lot! My classroom is very child-centered. I learn a lot from my students too. Parents are always welcome. Kindness and caring toward others is very important in K4. We learn how to treat others through the examples that Jesus taught us. I really believe that by being helpful and caring toward others and by learning to be good stewards of God’s earth, our precious children develop a sense of how very important and special they are in this world.