NEW WEBSITE!

The new site is up! 

Please visit www.littlereaderspreschool.com for current information. 

Thanks!

REGISTRATION for FALL 2012

This website/blog will be getting a makeover during the holiday break! In the meantime, I know that many of you are logging on to find information for our upcoming registration. (Please ignore any enrollment info. elsewhere on the site, it is not current). Below is a simplified version of things for the FALL 2012 signup.
Registration for current and past clients will begin January 1st, 2012.

Open registration (everyone else) will begin January 15th, 2012.

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME ANYTIME BEFORE THESE DATES AND I WILL EMAIL YOU A REGISTRATION PACKET TO FILL OUT. YOU CAN THEN DROP IT BY THE SCHOOL WITH THE REGISTRATION FEE DURING SCHOOL HOURS AFTER JAN. 1st, OR MAIL IT TO US (THE SCHOOL ADDRESS IS LISTED BELOW).
FALL 2012 SCHEDULE: Note, there will be a registration fee of $60.00 (this includes a backpack, if you already have one of our clear backpacks then the fee is $50) due at sign up.

CLASS A and B: Mon/Tues/Wed 8:30 am to 11:15 am $95.00 (12 students) - This class is a Pre K class open to children who are eligible to attend Kindergarten in the Fall of 2013.

There is only one 3 day class (10 students) that will be available to the younger age group (3 and 4 yr olds), the rest will be 2 day classes for Toddlers on Thursday and Fridays. Here are the details...
CLASS C: Mon/Tues/Wed 9:15 am to 11:30 am $90.00 (10 students) - This class is a Toddler class open to 3 and 4 yr olds (children must have turned 3 yrs old by Aug 1st 2012 AND be potty trained)

I have had a lot of interest, or rather parents begging me to open up a 4 day class , this coming year I have the time and the resources - YAY! There will only be one 4 day group, consisting of 12 students. Here it is...
CLASS D: Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs 12:15 to 3 pm $125.00 (12 students) - This class is a Pre K class open to children who will be attending Kindergarten in the Fall of 2013.

CLASS E: Mon/Tues/Wed 12:15 to 3 pm $95.00 (12 students) - This class is a Pre K class open to children who are eligible to attend Kindergarten in the Fall of 2013.

CLASS F and G: Thurs/Fri 9:15 am to 11:30 am $65.00 (10 students) - this class is a Toddler class open to 3 and 4 yr olds (children must have turned 3 by Aug 1st, 2012 AND be potty trained).

CLASS H: Thurs/Fri 12:15 to 2:30 pm $65.00 (10 students) - this class is a Toddler class open to 3 and 4 yr olds (children must have turned 3 by Aug 1st, 2012 AND be potty trained).

If you have any questions or concerns, please call, text, or email me at (801) 623-1150 or littlereaderspreschool@gmail.com THANKS, Miss Jamie

A peak at our NEW place!

http://www.littlereaderspreschool.com/

(ignore the address in the sidebar, the new one is posted below)

(see why I need a new website...)

Little Readers Preschool
462 S. Main Street
Spanish Fork, Utah 84660

*we are located on the South end of Main Street in Spanish Fork, across from the fairgrounds.

(801) 623-1150

BACK TO SCHOOL 2011-2012

UPDATED 8/15/2011

***Several factors have combined to make it difficult to hold Back to School on the originally planned evenings. First, the neighboring store experienced a flood and this resulted in the wall and floor in one of our classrooms having to be replaced. I thought we would be able to get it taken care of it by now, but my estimations were wrong! Second, I have received quite a few phone calls from parents unable to attend because our nights are conflicting with other Back to School nights in the elementary and other schools. And last of all, my family has all contracted some 24 hr flu bug over the weekend. It has been spreading through them each one by one and unless it skips me (which I’m hoping for), I’ll probably get it last and be unable to attend my own party! So here is the new schedule…

Dear Parents,

It’s that time of year… Back To School! You are invited to the new school building located at 462 South Main Street in Spanish Fork for our Back to School Night (see schedule below). Come meet the teachers and get acquainted with our new school. See you soon!

- Miss Jamie

Back To School Night(s)

For all MORNING students

An Open House will be held,

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

From 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

For all AFTERNOON students

An Open House will be held,

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

From 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

A couple of things to note…

*Please bring a copy of your child’s immunization records (if they are not immunized, please write a letter saying so and sign it). Thanks!

* Please come prepared with September tuition. Also, I’m getting quite a few calls about paying for the whole year up front. It is not required, but it is an option. I give a 10% discount if you pay for the entire year up front. (Just take the monthly payment and times it by 9, then take %10 of that off and you will have the correct amount). Come prepared to pay this at Back to School Night.

*If you absolutely cannot make it to the open house on your assigned evening you are welcome to come the other evening if it works better. You will probably miss meeting your teacher (unless it's me), but this way you will at least get all the forms filled out and tour the school. Thanks!

*If you have not purchased a backpack for your child already, please consider purchasing one of the recommended back packs. (check the website for more info… www.littlereaderspreschool.com)

Clear Tote $6.00

Large Blue Backpack $12.00

I have searched long to find the perfect preschool backpack and I think these are as close as I can get... the backpack is actually my fave, but I wanted to have two options in different prices to cater to everyone (and yes, it only comes in blue). I have actually had quite a few problems with backpacks in the past and am hoping to solve them with these. If you really don't like them, please try to follow these guidelines when choosing your own:

*Must be large enough to fit a 9x12 folder in it without scrunching or folding.

*Must have working zippers and straps.

Most of the problems I've had come from those two things, but there are a couple of other things that I thought were cured with the "clear" bags. First, parents will not miss what comes home with their kids and backpacks will get emptied and the projects brought home will be shared. Second, toys and other fun objects will not accidentally get brought into the school with the children (many a precious toy has been lost or broken when brought to school, as well as disrupting class).

If you would like to order one of the two clear bags, please email me at littlereaderspreschool@gmail.com and I will put the order in and hopefully have it for you to pick up at Back to School Night. Thanks!

WHEN CHOOSING A PRESCHOOL... PICK A WINNER!

Choosing the right preschool for your child is important...

*Our small class size of 12 equals more individual attention for your child. This allows the teacher to interact with the children on a more individual basis and more easily assess and meet the needs of each child.

*We provide a safe, comfortable, and clean environment for your child to learn and play inside and out.

*Our curriculum has been carefully and thoughtfully researched and put together to maximize your child's learning experience.

*We feel that our "3 days in a row" school week provides your child with a routine that they will respond to with ease. With this type of schedule, Monday is the only day that we, as teachers, will have to spend time helping the children to readjust from their time off. If you are signing up for our "2 day course", click here for details!

*We believe children respond best in a positive environment. We praise our students freely and often. While discipline is important and used when appropriate, we believe that the more "yes" responses a child hears, the better they will learn. Good self esteem goes hand in hand with motivation to learn.

*We recognize the importance and value of free time and creative play for children. Pretend play teaches preschoolers so much about life and emotions. They mimic the things that they see adults do and practice the skills that they will need later in life. Preschoolers need the freedom to create their own world through imaginative play and make sense of their world by acting out what they see.

*We provide the children with play materials that encourage them to use their imaginations and think creatively. All of our toys were purchased with this purpose in mind.

*Our classroom is filled with books, books, and more books! We believe a classroom should be filled with meaningful print which is then utilized in storytime, play acting, and readily available to the child for touching, seeing, hearing, etc... We teach the children to value books and give them a head start to a lifelong love of literature.

*We incorporate important social lessons into our daily routine such as, sharing, listening, and self control. Children perform better when they know what is expected of them.

*We are mothers ourselves and promise to give your child the love and care that they deserve, and that we would expect for our own children, while they are under our tutelage.

(A Spanish Fork Preschool)

JUMPING FOR JOY...

Ooooh, I am SO excited to announce that Little Reader's Preschool is GROWING... which also means that we will be MOVING! It's a big decision that I have been agonizing over for weeks, all the while fielding almost daily phone calls and emails from potential clients, whom I've had to put on a wait list or turn away for this fall (I filled up my 24 spots for Fall in only 3 weeks this year)!

It was tricky business figuring out how to get all I wanted and still keep tuition where I wanted it- affordable, of course. I'm going with $85 for 3 day and $65 for 2 day! Finally, just this week, everything just fell right into place.

I am feeling so blessed right now.

I have leased a wonderful space on Main Street in Spanish Fork. It's about 4 times the size of my school currently(1700 sq ft)!!! I plan to hire a teacher or two and fill it right up with cute kids.

Starting in FALL 2011 we will be offering 2 and 3 day classes. I'm still not loving the traditional split schedule (M/W/F and T/Th) so I've decided to continue with M/T/W and then add a Th/F class.... make sense (click here for more details and explanation on the schedule)? I really think the kids are able to grasp the concepts we are teaching so much better when they are taught on consecutive days. THIS MEANS THAT I HAVE OPEN SPOTS!!! Call or email to reserve yours today! I will, of course, be reserving the first pick to my wait list, but with all the new changes I now am able to guarantee all of those and add more!

Now for the fun part... the decorating! Let me paint you a picture of our new digs... First, there is a lot of parking - YAY! The inside is open, well lit, has high ceilings (I love the feeling you get with high ceilings), 2 huge classrooms, 2 bathrooms, an Arts & Crafts room, and a BIG open space that is just perfect for an indoor play area!

A little paint, some wood floors, a willing husband/handyman, and quite a few shopping trips to Ikea, Pottery Barn Kids, The Land of Nod, etc... and we'll be IN BUSINESS!

Remember this??? Just a small sample of my BIG IDEAS, can't wait to get started!

disclaimer** these are not actual pictures from the school, they are pictures from magazines that I am using for inspiration in the preschool remodel.

SPREAD THE WORD! I am also going to be teaching a Kindergarten Prep Course this summer (space will be limited), as well as getting together Summer Mini Camps and classes! I'll be getting the info. up ASAP on that. If you are interested in more details call me at (801) 623-1150 and we'll chat!

(Preschool in Spanish Fork)

SUMMERTIME

I am planning on holding the camps at our new location...
The address is 462 South Main Street in Spanish Fork!
It's right across the street from the Fairgrounds. Pics coming soon!
Summer 2011 schedule


ATTENTION!!! Only MORNING SESSIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL CAMPS AS OF MAY 14th, 2011!!! When you send in your enrollment form, please only check the MORNING SESSION. THANK YOU!









If you are enrolling more than one child in camps or one child for more than one camp the fee is $45 per camp, make sense? Email with questions!

EMAIL littlereaderspreschool@gmail.com to sign up!

summer fun for kids in Spanish Fork

December Highlights...

We enjoyed a fun and relaxing PAJAMA DAY! Hot Cocoa and our favorite books made the day a big hit with the kids...

We used different SHAPES and COLORS (plus a little glitter, always a hit with the kids) to decorate our Christmas trees...



Preschools in Spanish Fork, Utah

WEEK TWO highlights...

On TUESDAY we introduced CIRCLE TIME...

We start out the day with free time in which the children can choose to play with toys, puzzles, magnets, etc... or they can choose to draw pictures or play with play dough. Then we all work together to clean up and meet on the red rug for Circle Time!





During Circle Time, we review the month, day, and year and sing our "Months of The Year" song (which is basically "January, February, March, etc..." set to the "Macarena" complete with actions). We introduce or review the letter/sound of the week, choose a color, shape, and rhyming words for the day. One child is then chosen to be the "weatherperson". The weatherperson looks out the window and changes the weather dial on our wall to fit the weather of the day. We finish up the Circle Time calendar by counting out our gumballs in the jar together.




Next, the children find their "Name-o-saurus" on the wall and look to see if the "special heart" has been placed next to their name! Each day, the special heart is placed next to a different child's name designating them the Flag Leader for the day. We then have the Flag Leader come to the front and lead us in The Pledge of Allegiance. After this, Miss Jamie plays "My Country Tis of Thee" on the piano and the children march around the rug singing as they follow the Flag Leader.

On WEDNESDAY we walked to Centennial Park...


After we got back, we fingerpainted with PUDDING our LETTER OF THE DAY, which is A - the children learned to make a lowercase "a" by first making the letter "c" then adding the line!

Preschool in Spanish Fork, Utah

Highlights from WEEK ONE...

On TUESDAY (the first day of school) we read the story "The Kissing Hand" by Audrey Penn. Each of the children found a handprint made by their parent(s) and placed a "kiss" on it. We talked about our worries of leaving Moms and Dads while we are at school and we talked about the fun we will be having each day at school. In art we made handprints to take home for our parents to have. The rest of the time was spent getting to know each other and the preschool surroundings better.

On WEDNESDAY we read "How Do Dinosaurs Go to School" by Jane Yolen and introduced each child to their "Name-0-saurus". Each child's name was placed next to a different dinosaur on the wall. We then had each child stand up one at a time and take a turn finding their "Name-o-saurus" on the wall as we chanted "Dinosaur, Dinosaur, ONE, TWO, THREE... who's that dinosaur standing next to me"?. This helped each child recognize their written name. In art we made dinosaur hand puppets to take home (with our names on them of course)!

The latest...

Hello Everyone! Just a quick update on "preschool happenings". First, I've finally managed to get things organized - YAY! It looks great (pictures coming soon on the website) and the kids are LOVING it (my kids and all the neighborhood friends, that is). Summer camps are in full swing now and I must say that I've gone a little overboard on Fancy Nancy this year (I think it's the little girl in me), also because I've got good "hook ups" in the cupcake industry. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about the others (I've got a week after Fancy Nancy to switch into Pirate mode) - plenty of prep has already gone into ALL the camps - we are having FUN around here! I do still have openings in some of the camps, so if you hear of anyone looking for some summer fun for their kids - let them know about us.

I have a photographer (www.photographybyjocelin.com) coming to photograph the summer camps. I am planning on using the pics on the website and for promotional purposes next year. Digital copies of the pictures, with your child(ren) in them, will be available for $5.00 per disc for interested parents. No names will be mentioned on the website or in any advertising material, but if you are opposed to having your child on it please let me know ahead of time so that I may let the photographer know.

I will be holding a parents open house in August and will be getting more information out soon. September tuition will be due at the open house (or you can pay anytime before that at your convenience). That reminds me, I have had a couple of parents approach me about paying for the whole year up front and would I offer them a discount or incentive? If you would like to do this, you will receive one month of tuition free ($75.00 off basically). Email me if you are interested at littlereaderspreschool@gmail.com.

Last, but certainly not least, I have updated the website (see above) with a FUN contest offer for all you Moms out there! Let me know what you think!

Thanks and see you soon! Miss Jamie

TRANSFORMATION

I've been searching all over for "bug" related projects, stories, etc... for our Creepy Crawlies and Winged Wonders Summer Camp. I really want the kids to be able to interact with some real live bugs and I've been cooking up all kinds of schemes (most involve my kids hunting and capturing them). I mentioned this to my sister and she said "You know you can mail order butterflies".

I did not know this, but after a quick trip to Google I found THIS SITE and others like it). It is so cool! You can order the caterpillars and they are guaranteed to turn into butterflies before your very eyes (obviously not immediately upon arrival).

It takes me back to my own childhood, where this was a frequent sight...

Spanish Fork Preschool

CURRICULUM

A love of reading will take a preschooler further towards success in school than anything else. We feel it is our job to take advantage of their early years to help them develop a strong foundation for success in reading. Participating in story telling and reading activities will develop essential pre-reading skills and set a preschooler on the path to literacy. In addition to this, research shows that early reading is a key predictor of academic success.

Our goal is to help each child to gain a love for reading and to build a foundation for each of them to use as they enter the world of an emerging reader. Literature and reading are utilized all throughout our teaching. We feel that all other areas of education will be benefited by the child having good reading skills. It is always exciting to be a part of child's first experiences with words. To help our students build a strong phonetic foundation, we use the "Phonics by Spelling" program developed by Nada Wilkins.


In order to prepare for the math skills they'll be expected to grasp later, children need early exposure to mathematical concepts. By building a solid understanding at the preschool age, we pave the way for more advanced learning later. Preschool-age children are ready to explore more than one might think! Parents often focus on counting from one to ten, but there are many other skills that children are ready and able to investigate. We like to incorporate the following into our daily lesson plans and playtime...

- Familiarity with numbers: Here we have basic counting, visual recognition of numbers, etc... Something we like to do is to count our snacks during snack time. How many crackers do you have? How many fruit snacks, and so on.

- Number operations: This can be as simple as counting out a pile of red blocks, then a pile of blue blocks, then counting them all together. Or counting out six apple slices during snack time and dividing them among three students.

- Measurement: We find that our daily "Welcome" routine, in which we use the calendar and the clock is a good time to introduce this concept. Children learn to measure time in hour increments, as well as learning about the days of the week and months of the year. We talk about "today", "tomorrow", and yesterday" and the children become familiar with measuring days and months.

- Shapes: This is an easy one because shapes are everywhere! We make a game of pointing out everyday objects and identifying their shapes (and color). Repetition is the key to teaching this simple concept.

- Patterns and Sorting: Also a part of our "Welcome" routine. We show patterns on our calendar as well as various other places on our board to teach the children about patterns. Play time is also a good time to point out patterns and use sorting. For example, we might help the children sort out the green cars and then the yellow. Then we could help them to make a pattern using the different colors.

Science activities help preschoolers to look at the world around them in a different way. The possibilities are endless with preschoolers and exploration! It can be as simple as blowing bubbles and discussing the colors you see reflected in them. Or as magical as watching and caring for a live caterpillar as it morphs into a butterfly! We like to take walks around the yard with the children and always take along magnifying glasses to aid in our search. This opens up a multitude of discussions, everything from plants, to insects, to elements of the earth. We encourage our students to be "little scientists" while at school and all questions are welcome. We often find that we all learn something as we search for the answers together.

Creating art projects and crafts is a big part of what makes preschool so magical! The results of Arts & Crafts time at school are often seen on display for all to see and appreciate at the home of the child, as well as in our school. Art is a fantastic and fun way to teach children about colors, shapes, patterns, and so on... the possibilities are endless.

We believe that children are naturally creative and need only the right tools and a tiny bit of direction to get them started. At Arts & Crafts time, we follow a few basic rules then sit back and watch the children do what they do best - CREATE!

Rules:

1. All art supplies are non-toxic and safe for children to use.

2. Have a good supply of tools ready. For example, each child should have access to a pair of scissors if those are being used in the project. Patience is not a skill that most preschoolers have acquired, it's best to be prepared with enough tools to go around so there is no waiting involved.

3. Messes are welcome and expected. Washable aprons will be available for each child to use.

4. No one is wrong. This just means that if a child paints a tree "purple", that is o.k. Trees do not have to be green and we don't plan on pointing it out to them. Creativity is fostered best with positive affirmations. For example "What a beautiful purple tree, you are so smart to have come up with that on your own"!

5. Clean up time is for everyone! A regular clean up routine will be set that the children will find easy to master and repeat after each Arts & Crafts session.

We incorporate music into many aspects of our teaching. In our school, music is used as a tool to teach the children, such as when we sing songs about the days of the week and the months of the year. We like to introduce the children to rhythm by making our own instruments using rice, beans, plastic containers, etc... and using the finished product to keep a steady beat as we sing a song or dance around the room.

We have a piano and other musical instruments available to us and frequently use them in our lessons and play. We feel that music is not only fun, but essential to a child's development and growth. For more detailed information please see this fabulous article explaining the benefits of music for preschoolers!

Little Readers Preschool in Spanish Fork

2009-2010 CALENDAR

Visit THIS LINK for a Nebo School District 2009-2010 calendar.

Little Readers Preschool in Spanish Fork, Utah

A List of Preschools in Spanish Fork

There are actually quite a few preschools in Spanish Fork, but finding a list of them for comparison can be a little tricky. Most preschools are not "big business" and try very hard to keep costs down so the prices stay competetive. Paying for expensive advertising is not likely to be an option, so we put up cards at Macey's and generally hope that word of mouth will take care of the rest. I've noticed also that preschools come and go with the wind... you hear about one nearby, but when you call to find out more information - they are no longer doing it.
I don't know about you, but when I'm looking for something I go to my good friend "Google" for the answers. In most cases this provides me with all the information (and more) that I need. However, when I googled "Spanish Fork Preschools" I found two or three preschools mixed in with a list of a whole bunch of elementary and middle schools and a few sites which looked promising, but ended up with little or none of the information I was hoping for.
So what's a girl with a preschool that needs some free advertising to do?
She will make a list. On the internet. And get lots of people to look at it.
And someday, hopefully soon, it will show up when a person googles "Spanish Fork preschools" or "preschools in Spanish Fork" or anything else resembling "preschools and Spanish Fork"...
Here's the list... If you would like to be on it, email me at littlereaderspreschool@gmail.com with your information and I'll get you added.

Little Readers Preschool
890 South Wolf Hollow Drive
(801) 623-1150
www.littlereaderspreschool.com

Achiever Preschool
1200 East Canyon Road
(801) 798-8102

Country Kids Preschool

Kris Kelly
7239 S. 2400 E. Spanish Fork
801-798-6146

Growing Tree Academy
Center St. in Spanish Fork
(801) 369-2787 or (801) 798-7898

M's Preschool
645 E 300 S
Spanish Fork
Emily Burraston
801-717-0463
call or Text

Miss Heidi's Preschool
238 S. 750 W.
Spanish Fork, UT
(801) 798-9898
www.heididimmick.com

Miss Jodi's Leaps N Bounds Preschool
726 East 320 South
Salem, UT
(801)787-5638
https://www.facebook.com/LeapsnBoundsPreschool

Nada's School
732 East Scenic Drive
(801) 798-1503

The Little Red School House Preschool
1102 W. 520 S.
Spanish Fork, UT
Ms. Jana  (801) 310-6127


and let them know WHO sent you! Thanks bunches!