If you wonder what your kids are learning outside

A lot of Parent's ask what is my child learning by just playing outside during free time? Well here is a very cool list of things we learn while playing outdoors :)

First day of school!

The first day of school for our Monday, Wednesday, Friday friends was a great success! Thank you to everyone for getting your kiddos to school and for helping us to have a great first day! Thank you to the parent workers who all came in today and did all the tasks we needed done so that we could play today. I saw a lot of fun and growing taking place and without you that would not be possible!

Interesting reading

Sometimes I like to post things I have found online that make me think or relate to our school. I think sharing knowledge about early childhood development and education are an important part of our program at IPS.

This blogger wrote about how some times early academics can actually hurt the learning process in the long run. I have had this happen to me personally with my older child so I feel this is important to share with everyone as we start off our year.

http://prekandksharing.blogspot.com/2012/08/overly-academic-preschool-experiences.html

Welcome to my blog

My Name is Charlee Pensak and I am the outdoor teacher at Inland Preschool. I have been married to my husband Bradley an Electrical Service Planner for Southern California Edison for 10 years. Together we have two wacky children. Breven is 7 years old and a second grader in Beaumont schools, and Aubree is 4 years old and a student at Inland Preschool.

I received my Associates Degree's in Humanities and Social/Behavioral Sciences from MSJC in 2005. God called me to spend 6 years as a stay at home mom so that I could be home during my children's formative years. At that time we attended the early childhood programs at the library, I ran a mom's group, I taught Sunday school for ages 2-5, and I worked at the local Jazzercise. Now in my spare time I continue to work for my local Jazzercise, I road bike with my husband, I knit with my mom and I spend a lot of time on pintrest (as I bet most of you enjoy doing as well.) I also spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking and preparing healthy meals and snacks for my family as my son and I have high cholesterol and my husband has Multiple Sclerosis. I have found that a healthy lifestyle helps us to manage our health issues and improve our lives.

I came to Inland Preschool first as a parent I was looking for a different kind of preschool program after a disheartening experience at an academically charged preschool. I found an article in the paper and signed up for a tour the next day, and registered my daughter for the fall of 2011. I loved the idea of parent involvement I never got to participate in school activities at the last program and I spent one day week volunteering at my son's school and loved it. I began doing my parent work hours in my daughters classroom and found myself loving it and looking forward to my in class working days. When the opportunity came up to work for Inland Preschool I prayed about it and immediately said yes and began working and being a parent helper in February 2012.

This school year I am teaching outdoors which is going to be so much fun I have a lot of ideas and activities floating around in my head and my pintrest boards! I also will be with you and your children every day for snack which is another fun thing for me as well I love to see what creativity and food can bring to our school experience. I also will be working in the extended care program and enjoying some time with those that stay for a longer school day.

Visit the blog often for updates on outdoor happenings, snack ideas for home or lunches, general school updates and whatever fun things come into my head or heart and show up on this blog. I look forward to meeting all the parents and children soon. We are going to have a great school year!