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New preschool to hold meeting for public Teacher Chris Hinton is getting ready for classes
by diane vance/gate city staff writer
Hawthorne Elementary School in Keokuk is readying to teach new students. A teacher is hired, curriculum ordered and a community meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the Hawthorne gym for families with children 4 years old by Sept. 15.
“I'm excited to give 4-year-olds another option for preschool,” said Chris Hinton, who will teach the classes. “We'll have applications at Thursday's meeting. There's a PowerPoint with information and we can answer questions.”
Hinton is certified in special education K-12 and is working on her preK-3 certification. She has taught as a long time substitute in the district and has eight years of experience teaching in early childhood education.
Keokuk won a state grant in second round funding to offer preschool to 24 students. Classes begin Monday, Oct. 22. Students will attend either a morning or afternoon session Mondays through Thursdays.
The school district is offering curb-to-curb school bus service and either breakfast or lunch to 12 students in a morning session and 12 students in an afternoon session. As in all public school classes, there is no cost.
Applications will be accepted through Monday. Staff will begin calling parents next Wednesday to announce placements in the classes.
“We don't want to take students away from other programs,” said Hinton. “According to a census used in the grant writing, there are 194 4-year-olds and not enough programs to accommodate them.”
Previously, families in Keokuk could chose private preschools or send 4-year-olds to Head Start, if they qualify. The public school is now offering a third option.
“Hawthorne is the logical site for the program,” said Hinton. “The developmental preschool program is here and we can coordinate some activities together. The kindergarten wing was built with a preschool program in mind.
“I subbed long term, for five months in a kindergarten classroom last year, so I am familiar with the building and staff. I love the staff here and I'm thrilled to be hired.”
Hinton will use the same curriculum as Head Start, Creative Curriculum. The program recommends setting up 10 stations in the classroom for students to rotate through various activities including blocks, dramatic play, toys and games, art, library, discovery, sand and water, music and movement, cooking and computers.
“And that's just one aspect of the curriculum,” said Hinton. “We'll have small group activities, large group activities, we'll read and have field trips. A preschool teacher observes a lot of play activity. I will need to observe and write my observations. There are benchmarks in the program. I will be evaluating students on goals geared to each child, what that child needs most. Preschool activities address social, emotional, language and cognitive skills.”
Hinton will have a classroom aide and the buses will have an aide riding along with preschool children.
The program follows a fall, winter and spring cycle and will follow the district's calendar. Preschool parent/teacher conferences will be held at the same times as the rest of the district.
Students attend classes four days a week because Fridays are home visits and professional development days.
“I'll work closely with parents and they will help me write goals for their child,” said Hinton. “I will send home school packets and encourage parents as educators at home. I can hold day or night sessions to offer parenting skills. The goals of the program include two home visits per child per year.”
Hinton said she can tell kindergarten students who have attended preschool and those who have not.
“Preschool gives students better social skills for attending school, better motor skills at cutting with scissors and standing quietly in line or staying seated,” she said.
Hawthorne Principal Sharon Kokemuller had Hinton in mind as the teacher for the new preschool program.
“She's worked with us, she's had two years of preschool teaching experience and six years of kindergarten teaching experience,” said Kokemuller.
Hinton grew up across the Mississippi River, between Nauvoo and Hamilton, Ill.
She has lived in Keokuk for 13 years, has a son in sixth grade at Keokuk Middle School and a 2-year-old daughter.
“I'm excited to give 4-year-olds another option for preschool,” said Chris Hinton, who will teach the classes. “We'll have applications at Thursday's meeting. There's a PowerPoint with information and we can answer questions.”
Hinton is certified in special education K-12 and is working on her preK-3 certification. She has taught as a long time substitute in the district and has eight years of experience teaching in early childhood education.
Keokuk won a state grant in second round funding to offer preschool to 24 students. Classes begin Monday, Oct. 22. Students will attend either a morning or afternoon session Mondays through Thursdays.
The school district is offering curb-to-curb school bus service and either breakfast or lunch to 12 students in a morning session and 12 students in an afternoon session. As in all public school classes, there is no cost.
Applications will be accepted through Monday. Staff will begin calling parents next Wednesday to announce placements in the classes.
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Previously, families in Keokuk could chose private preschools or send 4-year-olds to Head Start, if they qualify. The public school is now offering a third option.
“Hawthorne is the logical site for the program,” said Hinton. “The developmental preschool program is here and we can coordinate some activities together. The kindergarten wing was built with a preschool program in mind.
“I subbed long term, for five months in a kindergarten classroom last year, so I am familiar with the building and staff. I love the staff here and I'm thrilled to be hired.”
Hinton will use the same curriculum as Head Start, Creative Curriculum. The program recommends setting up 10 stations in the classroom for students to rotate through various activities including blocks, dramatic play, toys and games, art, library, discovery, sand and water, music and movement, cooking and computers.
“And that's just one aspect of the curriculum,” said Hinton. “We'll have small group activities, large group activities, we'll read and have field trips. A preschool teacher observes a lot of play activity. I will need to observe and write my observations. There are benchmarks in the program. I will be evaluating students on goals geared to each child, what that child needs most. Preschool activities address social, emotional, language and cognitive skills.”
Hinton will have a classroom aide and the buses will have an aide riding along with preschool children.
The program follows a fall, winter and spring cycle and will follow the district's calendar. Preschool parent/teacher conferences will be held at the same times as the rest of the district.
Students attend classes four days a week because Fridays are home visits and professional development days.
“I'll work closely with parents and they will help me write goals for their child,” said Hinton. “I will send home school packets and encourage parents as educators at home. I can hold day or night sessions to offer parenting skills. The goals of the program include two home visits per child per year.”
Hinton said she can tell kindergarten students who have attended preschool and those who have not.
“Preschool gives students better social skills for attending school, better motor skills at cutting with scissors and standing quietly in line or staying seated,” she said.
Hawthorne Principal Sharon Kokemuller had Hinton in mind as the teacher for the new preschool program.
“She's worked with us, she's had two years of preschool teaching experience and six years of kindergarten teaching experience,” said Kokemuller.
Hinton grew up across the Mississippi River, between Nauvoo and Hamilton, Ill.
She has lived in Keokuk for 13 years, has a son in sixth grade at Keokuk Middle School and a 2-year-old daughter.
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