PARENT GUIDE

An overview of the Fireflies Curriculum 2007-2008 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.

FunShine Express 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. For example, some four year olds may be ready to begin to read – many others are not. Developmentally appropriate for most children ages 2-5 means that more activities are child-initiated than teacher-directed. Children should be offered a wide variety of hands-on opportunities to explore the world around them.

What Are Some Dangers of Not Being Developmentally Appropriate?

Practices that do not take into account the developmental readiness of each child can be detrimental to a child’s self confidence and independent thinking. Children can also be deprived of opportunities for individual expression, and are not able to practice decision-making. This type of environment does not promote skills and discipline, is frustrating to a child’s creative attempts, encourages inflexibility and rigidity, and does not provide for emotional release.

Is The FunShine Express Curriculum Developmentally Appropriate?

The FunShine Express curriculum is designed to be open-ended and flexible. We stress that activities be child-directed and provide ideas that teachers and caregivers can implement to insure appropriateness. To a great extent, each teacher determines how the program is used in their particular setting and makes their own decisions on structure.

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

Preschool activities can challenge them to be creative, as well as to develop emotionally, cognitively, socially, and physically. Appropriate activities can also build self-esteem and enthusiasm.

Give Us A Call!

Again, welcome to the start of another school year. Please visit our website at FunShine Express for detailed descriptions of upcoming themes or to shop for educational resources and gifts. Or, call us at 1-800-340-8103. We would be happy to answer any of your questions! Have a great year!

2007-2008 Activity Schedule
Months	Themes	Letters	Numbers	Color	Shape
Sept '07	Animals of the Forest Fabulous Friends Oh, Nuts!	A, B, C	1, 2, 3	Red	Introduce Shapes
Oct '07	Community Helpers Fire Prevention Week Night Creatures	D, E, F	4, 5, 6	Black Orange	Triangle
Nov '07	Medieval Make-Believe Thanksgiving Time Music And Song	G, H, I	7, 8	Brown	Rectangle
Dec '07	Choo, Choo! Sock Hop! Jolly Holidays	J, K, L	9, 10	White	Star
Jan '08	Mitten Magic Penguin Party How Things Work	M, N, O	11, 12	Blue	Circle
Feb '08	Hearts And Hugs Inside My Mouth Opposites Attract	P, Q, R	13, 14	Pink	Heart
Mar '08	Lions And Lambs Shamrocks And Rainbows Bunny Parade	S, T, U	15, 16	Green	Square
Apr '08	Springtime Sparkles Hats Off To You Wiggle Worms	V, W, X	17, 18	Yellow	Oval
May '08	Pet Friends Ocean Adventure Gardening And Growing	Y, Z	19, 20	Purple	Shape Review
June '08	Tutti Frutti Construction Zone Dairy Days	Review A-H	Review 1-8	Orange Black Red Brown	Triangle Heart
July '08	America The Beautiful Vacation Bound Colors and Shapes	Review I-Q	Review 9-14	White Blue Pink	Star Square Oval
Aug '08	In The Green Grass Beautiful Bugs Everything Alphabet	Review R-Z	Review 15-20	Green Yellow Purple	Rectangle Circle

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