Whenever possible, families should actively participated in the Pre-K program and maintain open communication with the Pre-K program staff.  Research shows that active family participation in children’s learning experiences contributes to success in school.  Volunteering in the classroom is highly recommended because it helps the children and is informative and rewarding for families.  In order to promote a safe school environment, all volunteers in Summers County Schools must have the following:

 

¨      State Police Background Check

¨      TB Skin Test

¨      Sign and abide by the Drug Free Schools Workplace Policy

¨      Be approved by the Summers County Board of Education

 

Talk with your child’s teacher to find out about opportunities to volunteer your time, talents, and experiences in your child’s classroom.

 

A minimum of two family/teacher conferences/home visits will be required of families during the school year.  Included in this handbook are the Pre-K curriculum guidelines and the WV Early Learning Standards.  Your child’s teacher will schedule a parent conference with you at three progress checkpoints during the school year.

 

Throughout the school year you will have many opportunities to attend Head Start parent meetings and other trainings and workshops.  This is a wonderful way to be involved in your child’s education and to make a difference.  Please try to attend as many as you can.

 

Our Parent’s Role in Children’s Education (PRICE) committee sponsored in part by Title I meets four times during the year to discuss ways to involve more parents in their children’s education. The PRICE committee makes recommendations for changes and improvements in current parental involvement practices. You are invited to become a member of this group. Call 466-6009 to learn the date of the next meeting.

 

We suggest you read to your child as often as you can.  Time spent reading to your child and encouraging your child to read will strengthen your child’s school success.  Together, at home and at school, you can help your child be an explorer, a discoverer, a problem solver, and an inventor. 

 

Following is a listing of recommended children’s books:

 

Alphabet Books

Alphabet books introduce your child to the letters and connect the beginning letter sound with pictures.

Dr. Seuss’ ABC, Dr. Seuss

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault

Eating the Alphabet, Lois Ehlert

 

Counting Books

These books emphasize counting and connect the numeral with a corresponding number of items.

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, Eileen Christelow

Anno’s Counting Book, Mitsumasa Anno

 

Concept Books and Informational Books

These books teach concepts that children will review in schools such as colors, shapes, opposites, or sizes and provide information to help in understanding the world.

Red, Blue, Yellow Shoe, Tana Hoban

Boats, Anne Rockwell

 

Poetry/Rhymes

These books contain rhymes and repeated verse.  Learning to hear rhymes is an essential step in developing the skills needed for reading.

Read Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young, Jack Prelutsky

Hickory Dickory Dock and Other Nursery Rhymes, Carl Jones

Over In The Meadow, Ezra Jack Keats

 

Predictable/Repetitive Books

In these books, a word or phrase is repeated throughout the book forming a pattern.  Children quickly recognize the patterns and are able to read along.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Bill Martin, Jr.

Are You My Mother? P.D. Eastman

 

Picture Books and Wordless Books

Picture books have easy to understand stories and can include contemporary stories and traditional literature.

Wordless books encourage language development as children create their own stories using the pictures.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Laura Numeroff

The Snowy Day, Ezra Jack Keats

The Mitten, Jan Brett

Good Dog, Carl A. Day

School, E. McCaully