Redlands House/Transition Gold
Storypark
Thank you to all of the new families who have provided permission for their child to be on Storypark. Storypark allows us to communicate, deepen relationships and strengthen communication between home and Preschool. It also enables us to reinforce experiences and deepen children’s learning. Stories are shared with families each week, sitting and viewing these stories with your child will demonstrate your interest in their world, and acknowledge its importance. You can choose to add your own stories or leave comments and feedback for children and our teaching team. You can also choose to share these stories with family members if you wish. We hope that you will invite your extended family so that the children have an authentic audience who are genuinely interested in their learning.
Learning Centres
When exploring the rooms in Redlands House, you cannot miss the learning centres thoughtfully created by the staff to inspire children’s play. Learning centres are an important way to support the play-based learning environment that underpins the Early Years Learning framework. Each area of the room has a focus and is changed regularly to meet the needs of individual children and the group as a whole. Staff work with children in and around these areas to teach concepts and skills targeted to each child’s needs. Experiences are set up to challenge thinking and extend an interest. This is the magic of the early childhood classroom and makes it a highly individualised learning environment for each child.
Centres are based on areas of learning and can include:
The Library or Reading Centre – a quiet spot set up in the classroom, with a variety of books available for the children to read or share literature with teachers.
The Writing Centre – a place where students can practise the various stages of writing. Exploring a wide range of writing and drawing materials. Learning that writing has a purpose.
Block Corner or Building Centre – having a large spot set-aside for building and creating is an important part of early childhood classrooms. Building can include blocks, train tracks and cars, Lego, and so many other creative building options.
Art and Crafts Centre – lets the children explore their creativity. Students might paint self-portraits, make play dough, or paste collage material. Children might see what happens when they mix different paint colours or experiment with mixed-media art or sculpture.
Science/ Environment Centre – helps the children learn to investigate the world around them. Depending on the children’s interests, you might have pumpkins to dissect, rocks, shells, insects to observe, or snake skins in the Centre.
Literacy Centre – allows children to explore literacy concepts: how letters look, how they compare to each other, how they combine to form words, how we make meaning using symbols. Reading visual images and sharing literature of different genre.
Mathematics and Manipulate Centre – focused on learning more about shapes, colours, numbers, quantities and assists in developing fine motor skills.
Puzzles and Games Centre – a space to work on puzzles or play games together. Fun, cooperative play!
Mrs Chemane Huon
Redlands House and Transition Coordinator
chuon@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9904 1448
Mrs Ainslie Breckenridge
Head of Preparatory School
abreckenridge@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9848