PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN
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Helaine Beal Koch, Teacher
Lainie has extensive experience in early childhood education and developmentally appropriate practice, and an
interest in the project approach of the schools of Reggio Emilia. She has taught at Neskowin Valley School since
1979, as the preschool and kindergarten teacher as well as teaching a variety of subjects to different age groups.
Lainie co-founded K.E.L.P, Kiwanda Environmental Learning Program, and serves as an interpreter at the tide
pools at Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City. She attended Kenyon College and earned a B.S. from the University of
Wisconsin at Green Bay.
Shannon Sowle, Assistant Teacher
Shannon has been the assistant in the preschool/kindergarten classroom for 3 years. She has Montessori training
from the Montessori Educational Training Center of the Rockies in Boulder Colorado and has run our Summer
Discoveries program for the past two years.
Curriculum
Preschool/Kindergarten students at NVS have the enviable task of developing concrete skills as they make choices
in a hands-on environment designed to help them learn about their world. Lainie’s warm, inviting, organized
classroom is made up of a number of centers: manipulatives, skills, dramatic play, blocks, math and discovery,
listening, library, projects, easel painting, the sand/water table, and computer. These centers reflect individual
student interests, learning styles, and talents. The well-rounded program addresses the social, emotional,
intellectual, and physical needs of each child. Respectful support and listening, plus positive reinforcement and
verbal encouragement combine with clear limits, expectations and consistency to give students a reassuring social
foundation for learning.
Literacy Skills and Language Arts
Language and literacy activities, including journal writing, story dictation, picture labeling, group reading, poem
memorization, and group list-making are just a few of the ongoing literacy activities students encounter every week.
Books are the heart of the program, with reading, book-making, and library visits. Kindergartners do alphabet and
phonics activities each week, and work with the teacher individually at their own pace as they begin to read.
Students also use italic letter forms to learn letters and develop small hand control. Whole group, small group, and
individual activities help students practice literacy skills in a number of situations and in ways that match their
growing abilities.
Math and Science
Children work individually and in groups exploring math and manipulative materials. The Pre/Kindergarten program
includes patterning, sorting and classifying, comparing and describing attributes, sequencing, estimating and
predicting, number recognition, numeral writing, graphing, one-to-one correspondence, counting by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s and
10’s, problem solving, geometry shapes, and measurement in both standard and nonstandard units. Students begin
the day with Morning Math Task, an activity that incorporates the mathematic strands listed
above.
Students enjoy a variety of science activities and units each year as they explore the life of nearby meadow, creek
and ocean environments. In spring, students visit the tide pools of Cape Kiwanda as part of a study of the inter-tidal
zone. Individual student interests and seasonal highlights and opportunities translate into other science studies,
such as spiders, frogs, dinosaurs, birds of prey, seeds, incubator chicks, magnets, gears, and simple machines.
Social Studies
Social studies units focus on community and students may visit a local post office, store or business during the
year. Other cultures are introduced through stories, visitors, pictures, and artifacts sparked by student or teacher
knowledge and interest. Pre-K and Kindergartners also examine the community of the classroom through weekly
class meetings where they express compliments, appreciation and concerns.
Art, Drama and Music
A variety of art and drama experiences happen daily in the classroom. In art, creative experimentation is stressed,
using art materials such as tempera, watercolor, markers, crayons, pencil, chalk, charcoal, play dough and clay.
The work of well known artists is introduced to students. Art teacher Judith Schlicting involves them in a weekly art
class.
The Preschool/Kindergarten class has a weekly drama class with Judith Schlicting. Drama focuses on movement
and rhythm for 4-6 year olds, and group storytelling and mimicking sounds provide inventive content. Theater
games and exercises emphasize stretching, challenging and controlling the body and mind. Respect, support and
cooperation are an integral part of the process.
The Preschool/Kindergarten class has a weekly music class with Eric Simpson. Students sing in the
Preschool/Kindergarten room nearly every day, learning at least one new song per week, including folk songs,
foreign language songs, rounds, camp songs and finger plays. Rhythm activities, music appreciation and listening
activities take place through out the year. Students sing with the entire school community at weekly Gather’rounds
on Thursday mornings.
Lainie has extensive experience in early childhood education and developmentally appropriate practice, and an
interest in the project approach of the schools of Reggio Emilia. She has taught at Neskowin Valley School since
1979, as the preschool and kindergarten teacher as well as teaching a variety of subjects to different age groups.
Lainie co-founded K.E.L.P, Kiwanda Environmental Learning Program, and serves as an interpreter at the tide
pools at Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City. She attended Kenyon College and earned a B.S. from the University of
Wisconsin at Green Bay.
Shannon Sowle, Assistant Teacher
Shannon has been the assistant in the preschool/kindergarten classroom for 3 years. She has Montessori training
from the Montessori Educational Training Center of the Rockies in Boulder Colorado and has run our Summer
Discoveries program for the past two years.
Curriculum
Preschool/Kindergarten students at NVS have the enviable task of developing concrete skills as they make choices
in a hands-on environment designed to help them learn about their world. Lainie’s warm, inviting, organized
classroom is made up of a number of centers: manipulatives, skills, dramatic play, blocks, math and discovery,
listening, library, projects, easel painting, the sand/water table, and computer. These centers reflect individual
student interests, learning styles, and talents. The well-rounded program addresses the social, emotional,
intellectual, and physical needs of each child. Respectful support and listening, plus positive reinforcement and
verbal encouragement combine with clear limits, expectations and consistency to give students a reassuring social
foundation for learning.
Literacy Skills and Language Arts
Language and literacy activities, including journal writing, story dictation, picture labeling, group reading, poem
memorization, and group list-making are just a few of the ongoing literacy activities students encounter every week.
Books are the heart of the program, with reading, book-making, and library visits. Kindergartners do alphabet and
phonics activities each week, and work with the teacher individually at their own pace as they begin to read.
Students also use italic letter forms to learn letters and develop small hand control. Whole group, small group, and
individual activities help students practice literacy skills in a number of situations and in ways that match their
growing abilities.
Math and Science
Children work individually and in groups exploring math and manipulative materials. The Pre/Kindergarten program
includes patterning, sorting and classifying, comparing and describing attributes, sequencing, estimating and
predicting, number recognition, numeral writing, graphing, one-to-one correspondence, counting by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s and
10’s, problem solving, geometry shapes, and measurement in both standard and nonstandard units. Students begin
the day with Morning Math Task, an activity that incorporates the mathematic strands listed
above.
Students enjoy a variety of science activities and units each year as they explore the life of nearby meadow, creek
and ocean environments. In spring, students visit the tide pools of Cape Kiwanda as part of a study of the inter-tidal
zone. Individual student interests and seasonal highlights and opportunities translate into other science studies,
such as spiders, frogs, dinosaurs, birds of prey, seeds, incubator chicks, magnets, gears, and simple machines.
Social Studies
Social studies units focus on community and students may visit a local post office, store or business during the
year. Other cultures are introduced through stories, visitors, pictures, and artifacts sparked by student or teacher
knowledge and interest. Pre-K and Kindergartners also examine the community of the classroom through weekly
class meetings where they express compliments, appreciation and concerns.
Art, Drama and Music
A variety of art and drama experiences happen daily in the classroom. In art, creative experimentation is stressed,
using art materials such as tempera, watercolor, markers, crayons, pencil, chalk, charcoal, play dough and clay.
The work of well known artists is introduced to students. Art teacher Judith Schlicting involves them in a weekly art
class.
The Preschool/Kindergarten class has a weekly drama class with Judith Schlicting. Drama focuses on movement
and rhythm for 4-6 year olds, and group storytelling and mimicking sounds provide inventive content. Theater
games and exercises emphasize stretching, challenging and controlling the body and mind. Respect, support and
cooperation are an integral part of the process.
The Preschool/Kindergarten class has a weekly music class with Eric Simpson. Students sing in the
Preschool/Kindergarten room nearly every day, learning at least one new song per week, including folk songs,
foreign language songs, rounds, camp songs and finger plays. Rhythm activities, music appreciation and listening
activities take place through out the year. Students sing with the entire school community at weekly Gather’rounds
on Thursday mornings.
