PARENT GUIDE

An overview of the 2011-2012 Fireflies Curriculum Year

Fireflies FunShine Express Early Learning Curriculum 926 East Industrial Drive Dickinson, North Dakota 58601

Welcome to FunShine Express!

Your child’s teacher/child care provider will be offering a wide range of preschool activities this year through our curriculum program. We are looking forward to another exciting year. Before we begin, let us introduce ourselves and the program.

FunShine Express is a professionally designed monthly preschool curriculum for children ages two through five. Your child’s teacher/child care provider will receive a kit each month that includes art and craft materials, alphabet and language activities, music and movement, hands-on math and science, social activities and games. We believe children learn best through interacting with their environment and we strive to present activities with that in mind.

Each month, your child will participate in three educational themes. They will also be introduced to three alphabet letters, one color, two to three numbers, and one shape each month. Watch your child’s backpack for related activities to begin arriving home!

You will receive a copy of “The Parent Express” Newsletter each month, along with Weekly Family Notes. These resources include a description of each theme’s goals, a list of the songs and rhymes your child is learning, a Book List, and a Music Resource List. You may wish to gather some of those book and music resources to share with your child at home.

Fireflies Program Goals:

•The curriculum will be based on current research and sound educational theories of early childhood learning and development.
•We will provide a wide range of hands-on, interactive materials allowing children to experiment and explore their surroundings.
•The activity and project suggestions provided in our kits will stimulate creativity and build a positive self image in each child.
•The program will encourage involvement of family members in each child’s learning.

What Is Developmentally Appropriate Practice?

In simple terms, Developmentally Appropriate Practice means that preschool activities and programs take into account what each child is ready for. Developmentally appropriate for ages 2-5 means that children should be offered a wide variety of hands-on opportunities to explore the world around them.

What Are The Benefits of Being Developmentally Appropriate?

Practices that take into account the developmental readiness of each child can boost self confidence and independent thinking. Children are also provided opportunities for individual expression, and are able to practice decision-making. This type of environment promotes skills and discipline, inspires creativity, encourages flexibility, and provides for emotional release.

Is Fireflies Developmentally Appropriate?

The Fireflies curriculum is designed to be open-ended and flexible. We provide ideas that caregivers can implement to insure appropriateness. To a great extent, each teacher determines how the program is used in their particular setting.

As parents, you can support developmental appropriateness by following the lead of your child’s teacher. Be supportive and involved in their efforts! Also, remember that children can accomplish many things without you seeing a specific project each day.

Give Us A Call!

Again, welcome to the start of another curriculum year. Please visit our website at FunShine Express for descriptions of upcoming themes or to shop for educational resources and gifts. Call us with your questions at 1-800-340-8103. Have a great year!

2011-2012 Activity Schedule
Months	Themes	Letters	Numbers	Color	Shape
Sept '11	Off To School Dinosaur Daze Apples Everywhere	A, B, C	1, 2, 3	Red	Circle
Oct '11	Safety Sense Four Seasons Web Wonders	D, E, F	4, 5, 6	Black Orange	Triangle
Nov '11	Sleep Tight Manners Matter Let’s Give Thanks	G, H, I	7, 8	Brown	Rectangle
Dec '11	Gingerbread Goodness 'Tis The Season Fasten Up	J, K, L	9, 10	White	Star
Jan '12	Once Upon A Time Wheeling About Sparkles and Shivers	M, N, O	11, 12	Blue	Octagon
Feb '12	In The Mail Feeling Fine Teddy Bear Games	P, Q, R	13, 14	Pink	Heart
Mar '12	Silly Dr. Seuss! You Are What You Eat Here Comes the Circus	S, T, U	15, 16	Green	Square
Apr '12	Spring Has Sprung! Up and Away The World of Art	V, W, X	17, 18	Yellow	Oval
May '12	Baby Animals All Grown Up Dandy-lions and Busy Bees	Y, Z	19, 20	Purple	Diamond
June '12	Rainy Day Fun Giddy Up and Go Caterpillar to Butterfly	Review A-H	Review 1-8	Orange Black Pink Brown	Triangle Octagon Heart
July '12	Going Fishing Pizza Parlor Sports Talk	Review I-Q	Review 9-14	White Blue Red	Star Square Circle
Aug '12	Reptile Rally Playground Palooza Cookout Lookout	Review R-Z	Review 15-20	Green Yellow Purple	Rectangle Oval Diamond

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