The Two's Room Handbook

Two’s Schedule

7:30 – 8:30 Free Play
8:30 – 9:00 Clean Up/Potty
9:00 – 9:30 Breakfast
9:30 – 10:00 Playground/Playroom
10:00 – 11:00 Art Activities/Centers (playtime)
11:00 – 11:30 Lunch
11:30 – 12:00 Circle Time/Clean Up/Potty
12:00 – 12:30 Story Time
12:30 – 2:30 Nap Time
2:30 – 3:00 Potty
3:00 – 3:30 Snack
3:30 – 4:00 Playground/Playroom
4:00 – 4:30 Potty
4:30 – 5:00 Carpet Sing Along Activities/Potty
5:00 – 5:15 Markers/Crayons
5:15 – 5:30 Puzzles

WELCOME to the SUNSHINE CLASSROOM!!

Welcome! We would like to welcome all the Sunshines and their families to the classroom. We are very excited to have you in the Sunshines class and are looking forward to the following year. The following packet contains the guidelines and procedures of the Sunshine room. If we have forgotten something or you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to speak with either one of the teachers in the class.

Open-door Policy: We welcome all parents to stop by anytime and join us in our day. Please feel free to express any concerns or questions at anytime to either one of the teachers about the classroom.

Potty Training: Part of becoming a two year old is accomplishing potty training and here in the Two’s, we strive to help them meet this goal.
• A teacher will oversee this area and work directly with you and your child.
• To help get a jumpstart with your child, she will work with one child at a time.
• We normally start with the oldest child in the class to help them prepare for the move to the Three’s classroom. However, feel free to speak with her about a time right for your child. If they are showing interest, we will be more than happy to speak with you and see what we can do.
• When your child begins potty training, please supply them with a full set of clothes which contains:
? 5 pairs of underwear, pants, shirts, & socks
? 1 pair of extra shoes
• Once the child has accomplished potty training, their photo will be hung on the wall in the “Potty Club” pictures, and they receive an award acknowledging a job well done.
• We do reward the children with a variety of potty treats when they use the potty. To name a few examples of treats used are small crackers, such as goldfish, or small cereals, such as Fruit Loops.
• We do not use Pull Ups for potty training. However, if your child wears them in for the car ride, please put underwear over the pull up. Thank you.

Classroom Setup: Please label the items you bring in for your child to insure their return.
• Mailboxes: Each child has a mailbox located by the door. Please check them daily for notes and crafts that go home.
• Labeled carpet squares: Each child has an assigned carpet square used for calendar time, circle time, stories, and games.
• Labeled tables: Each assigned spot is used for snack, lunch, and art.
• Bins: Each child has a labeled bin (by the snack tables). Please be sure to provide a complete extra set of season appropriate clothes for your child (shirts, pants, socks, etc.).
• Parent Information Board: This is the area where parents can gather all the information for our classroom. Our daily activities will be posted there along with a snack and lunch menu.

Nap Time: Naps are taken between 12:30 and 2:30 daily.
• We provide the sheet and cot. Please provide a blanket.
• Your child may bring one soft toy to sleep with and a pillow if desired. You will need to take them home on Friday’s to be washed.

Absences: If you know your child will not be attending a day of school or will be coming in late, please call the Children’s House office (523-0122) by 9:00 so we are able to have a lunch count for that day. We are also able to plan our day’s activities.

Toys: We will have Show-n-Tell on Fridays. We encourage your child to bring their toy this day. We ask that toys are left at home the other days of the week.

Calendar Time: We will have a calendar time set aside each day at 10:00 for 20 to 30 minutes. This is the time we will focus on the learning aspect of the class.
• We will study the following things each day:
? Days of the week
? Months of the year
? Counting
? Colors and shapes
? Spelling our names
? Weather wheel
? Songs and books
? Talk about the theme for the month
• At the end of our daily calendar routine, we will provide subbed activities which alternate daily.

Circle Time: Circle time is between 11:30 – 12:00.
• Another time set aside for academic purposes
• Usually them related
• We will work on fine and gross motor skills
• Such activities may include songs and games applying to: sorting by shapes, colors, or themes.

Medicine Policy: When your child requires medication, please sign it in on the medicine form at the Parent Information Center. Please be sure to write the time and dosage. We do have a locked medicine box in our cabinet, which all medicine must be stored in. When your child is finished with their medicine, the medicine must go home.

Birthday Parties: We encourage all children to celebrate their special day with their friends. Due to DCFS regulations, all treats must be store bought. Also, Children’s House is a peanut, and rice free center. We also have allergies in our room, so please check with us before the treats are brought in. Than you!

Video Day: Mondays are our video days. All children are welcome to bring in videos to share with their friends. Movies must be rated G.

Dress Code: Please dress your child in play clothes and clothes that are comfortable for your child to play in.
• All girls must wear shorts under their dresses. Thank you!

Skills-Concepts for the Two’s Room

Children between the ages of 24 to 36 months, tend to develop skills rapidly. During your child’s time in the Two’s room, the listed abilities will emerge as they turn three. The crafts and activities in our classroom are focused to help your child meet these goals. The following is a list of the concepts and goals for a child turning three.

COGNITIVE

Personal Curiosity/Autonomy
1. Shows curiosity and interest in surroundings
2. Imitates the actions of adults
3. Imitates play of other children
4. Finds own play area or activity
5. Enjoys looking at books
6. Begins to notice differences between safe and unsafe environments.

Senses
7. Begins to develop senses of touch, smell, taste, and hearing
8. Begins to place large puzzle pieces in appropriate slots

Memory
9. Refers to self by name
10. Points to common objects on command
11. Associates use with common objects
12. Stacks three rings by size
13. Knows different activities go on at different times of the day
(2 ½ to 3 years of age)
14. Understands the idea of waiting for someone else to go first
(2 ½ to 3 years of age)Creativity

Creativity
15. Shows simple symbolic play (pretends block is a cup)
16. Acts out a simple story (2 ½ to 3 years of age)
17. Draws a face (no arms or legs) (2 ½ to 3 years of age)

Language
18. Describes what happened in two or three words
19. Verbalizes want (“want water”)
20. Repeats parts of songs, rhymes, and finger plays
21. Gives first and last names when asked (2 ½ to 3 years of age)
22. Uses short sentences to convey simple ideas (2 ½ to 3 years of age)

Listening
23. Listens to simple stories and songs
24. Follows simple directions
25. Places objects in, on, beside, or under
26. Identifies loud and soft

Labeling
27. Identifies own gender
28. Identifies boy or girl
29. Identifies self in mirror
30. Names common objects in pictures

Self
31. Points to six body parts when named
32. Puts on and removes coat unassisted
33. Lifts and drinks from cup and replaces on table
34. Spoon feeds without spilling
35. Begins to understand cleanliness
36. Helps put things away

Social Studies
37. Identifies self from a snapshot
38. Shows pleasure in dealing with people and things
39. Values own property and names personal belongings (2 ½ to 3 years of age)
40. Follows simple rules in a game run by an adult (2 ½ to 3 years of age)

Math (Counting)
41. Understands the concept of “one”
42. Counts two (repeats two digits)
43. Indicates awareness of more than two (2 ½ to 3 years of age)

Classifying
44. Groups things together by size (one category)

Size Differences
45. Points to big and little objects

Shapes
46. Differentiates circle and square

Science Concepts
47. Knows the names of three animals
48. Can associate the words grass, plants, and trees with correct objects
49. Identifies rain clouds and sun
50. Begins to understand hard and soft
51. Begins to understand hot and cold
52. Begins to understand wet and dry
53. Matches two color samples

Gross Motor

Hand-Eye Coordination
54. Throws a small object two feet
55. Catches a rolled ball and rolls it forward

Body Coordination
56. Jumps with two feet
57. Claps with music
58. Walk on tip toe
59. Walks upstairs alone (both feet on each step)
60. Walks downstairs alone (both feet on each step)
61. Hops on one foot

Fine Motor

Finger Strength and Dexterity
62. Fills and dumps containers with sand
63. Turns single pages

Hand-Eye Coordination
64. Applies glue and paste collage pieces
65. Paints with a large brush
66. Tears paper
67. Strings five large beads
68. Colors with a large crayon
69. Rolls, pounds, and squeezes clay
70. Draws a horizontal line
71. Builds a six block tower
72. Uses scissors with one hand to cut paper

*The Skills/Concept exert is taken from “Year ‘Round Activities for Two-Year-Old Children”, written by Anthony J. Coletta, Ph.D. & Kathleen Coletta.