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May Early Childhood Family Newsletter

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In this newsletter, you will find books and activities to help extend your child’s learning at home. This month, we're focusing on the Program of Studies topics of Living Things and Life Cycles.

Important Dates May

Monday 5/25: Holiday -Memorial Day

Tuesday 5/26: Student Holiday/Teacher Work Day

Wednesday 5/27: Holiday - Eid al-Adha

June

Tuesday 6/16: The last day of school for PreK, Early Childhood Class-Based (AM and PM), and Early Childhood Resource

Visit the FCPS School Year Calendar for more information.

Who I Am in My World

During the fourth quarter, children explore the theme Who I Am in My World . They learn about how living things grow and change by studying life cycles and different plant and animal parts. Students also discover what all living things need to survive. Throughout this unit, children build confidence and learn how to work together and independently to stand up for fairness and care for people, living things, and their community.

Preparing for Kindergarten

Starting kindergarten is an exciting time for children and parents. It can also bring some anxiety as children adjust to a new school, teachers, and peers.

Check out this resource from Fairfax County, Stepping into Kindergarten , a helpful guide with tips on how to prepare your child and what to expect when school begins.

You can also support your child's transition in these simple ways: 

• Visit your elementary school’s playground to help your child become familiar with the space. Point out boundaries and expectations you notice.
• Check your school’s PTA for any summer playdates.
• Help your child build independence by practicing everyday school skills like opening snack or lunch packaging, hanging up backpacks and jackets, zipping and unzipping bags, and putting items in and taking them out.
• Read stories together and talk about them. Share about your day and encourage your child to recall past events and describe details.

Book: The Listening Walk

Author: Paul Showers

Using verbs and adjectives are important for your child’s language development. It helps them learn how to form complex sentences and to express themselves more clearly.  While reading the story, focus on describing the actions you see in the pictures and using/defining adjectives used in thebook.

Vocabulary:slowly, zooming, noisy, whisper, quiet, loud shiny, quickly, high, shady, soft, tiny, big, far, digging, dribbling, mowing

Story Link

Click the story link to watch or listen to the story!

Book: Froggy Learns to Swim

Author: Jonathan London

As you read Froggy Learns to Swim , talk about what Froggy is doing and how things feel or look. Point out the verbs and adjectives in the story and pictures, and model using them in your own sentences!

Vocabulary:flopped, swinging, grabbed, float, sank, burst, crawled, yanked

Story Link

Click the story link to watch or listen to the story!

Additional Books:

Tally O’Malley : Taking a road trip to the beach is quite necessary during the summer. But what do we do to keep ourselves busy during the long drive? Tally up anything and everything you see. From gray cars to green shirts. This summer book is a great way to get your little learners excited about math.

The Watermelon Seed : We all know what happens when you swallow a watermelon seed! This hilarious story brings that classic tall tale to life. Little learners will get a kick out of this summer book.

Home Connections

Summer break is right around the corner, and for many, it can be hard to find activities to keep your child having fun and engaged. Consider creating a monthly calendar or bingo card (with your child if they are old enough) to combat the summer slide and keep their mind active. These activities can be as simple or as detailed as you choose to match your child’s individual needs and interests. Either way, it will help to provide a hands-on and interactive learning experience that allows your child to practice skills while having fun.

Here are some activities you might include on your bingo board:

• Collect rocks and paint them
• Use a tape measure to measure things in your house
• Wash non-electric toys using tear-free soap and water in a large bin
• Create an indoor fort using pillows/blankets
• Visit your local library
• Pack a lunch together and have a picnic                                              

Community Resources Recreation Programs:

Fairfax County Recreation & Parks

Fairfax City Parks & Recreation

Library Story Time for Preschoolers:

Fairfax County Public Library Events

Fairfax Event Listings:

Things to Do in Northern Virginia

Family Friendly Fun in Northern Virginia

Early Childhood Special Education

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Become a Direct Subscriber

If you received this as a forward from your child's teacher and would like to receive our family newsletters and other updates like this directly, please use the “Subscribe to the Early Childhood Newsletter” link under "Early Childhood News and Announcements" on the FCPS Early Special Education web page to subscribe or update your preferences.

Calendar Update

PreK, Early Childhood Class Based (AM and PM), and Early Childhood Resource: The last day of school will be Tuesday, June 16, 2026.

Kindergarten Orientations - Spring 2026

The move from a preschool special education program to kindergarten can be both exciting and overwhelming for children with disabilities and their families. This change often includes a longer school day, bigger classes, and new teachers and classmates. Fairfax County Public Schools uses a team approach to support each child and help make this transition as successful as possible.

Attending your elementary school’s kindergarten orientation is an important step for families of students with IEPs. It’s an opportunity to meet staff, learn about daily routines, and ask questions about what the school day will look like. Families can also share helpful information about their child to support a smooth start to the school year.

To find the date and time for your school’s orientation, please visit Kindergarten Orientations - Spring 2026 . 

Countdown to Kindergarten Webinar

Recently, the Fairfax County Public Schools Family Resource Center   hosted a webinar for families with children starting kindergarten in August 2026. During the session, families learned practical tips and important information to help their child have a smooth and successful start.

You can watch the webinar here . It’s also available in multiple languages on the Family Resource Center’s YouTube Channel .

Community Peers

Children who are ages 3-4 by September 30th (birthday after 9/30/2025) may be eligible to attend preschool classes at an FCPS elementary school as a Community Peer.

The Community Peer program provides an opportunity for preschoolers with all abilities to work and play together on a regular basis.  Selected community peers attend as peer models in an early childhood special education classroom to promote social, academic, and language development. 

Community Peers must be fully potty trained and not currently receiving FCPS special education services.  Parents are responsible for providing transportation and meals for their child while attending the school site.  Days and hours vary based on location, with half-day and full-day options for FCPS staff that may be available based on program availability at select schools. 

Please complete this form if you are interested in having your child attend as a community peer.

IEP: Annual Goals and Objectives

Annual goals and short-term objectivesstate what the student can reasonably be expected to accomplish in specific areas during the duration of the IEP (typically one year). Goals answer the question:  What do we want the student to be able to do at the end of the timeframe of this IEP?  Goals should be written to address the unique needs of the student, not to describe the specific program in which the student will participate. Goals must be measurable. The IDEA states that, for most students, short-term objectives are not required. The IEPs of students who participate in alternative assessments must include short-term objectives. Objectives describe the steps the student must accomplish in order to master each goal. A discussion and documentation of how the student’s progress toward the annual goals will be measured is included. An IEP progress report for the goals is provided to parents quarterly, at the same time report cards are distributed.

For more information, please visit the Fairfax County Public Schools Special Education Handbook for Parents .

Child Development: Fine Motor (Virginia's Early Learning & Development Standards)

Preschool age students are continuing to build important fine motor skills, including coordinating their eyes and hands and strengthening the small muscles in their hands and fingers. These skills are essential for everyday tasks and help children become more independent and confident in both classroom and home activities.

Throughout their day, students are practicing how to handle small objects with greater control, draw simple shapes, and add more details to their pictures. They are also learning to use tools such as crayons, markers, scissors, and eating utensils with increasing coordination and accuracy. As their skills grow, students are able to cut along lines and simple shapes more precisely and participate more independently during mealtimes.

In addition, students are developing independence in self-care routines, such as dressing themselves using zippers, buttons, and snaps. These fine motor skills support success in learning activities and daily routines, helping students gain confidence and independence over time

ECID&S Information & Updates for Families - April 2026

Early Childhood Special Education

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April Early Childhood Family Newsletter

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

In this newsletter you will find books and activities to extend your child’s learning at home. This month’s newsletter will focus on the Program of Studies topics of Living Things and Life Cycles.

Important Dates April

Friday 4/10: Student Holiday

Tuesday 4/21: Statewide Election - Student Holiday/Teacher Work Day

Visit the FCPS 2025-26 News and Calendars page for more information.

Who I Am in My World

During the fourth quarter, children explore the theme Who I Am in My World . They learn about how living things grow and change by studying life cycles and different plant and animal parts. Students also discover what all living things need to survive. Throughout this unit, children build confidence and learn how to work together—or independently—to stand up for fairness and care for people, living things, and their community.

Social Emotional Supporting New Friendships

As the weather warms up we can spend more time outdoors at parks, playgrounds, or our neighborhoods. Here are some tips for helping your child navigate interactions with other kids that could become new friendships:

• Bring your child places where there may be children to play together.
• Monitor children for safety when playing outside and/or with new peers; adults can help resolve conflicts peacefully.
• It’s ok if your child is an observer or if children play next to each other rather than speaking with each other. That’s one way kids play!
• Model positive social behaviors, such as taking turns or sharing a toy. If your child does not like sharing his/her toys, you can have a few toys that are yours to share with other children (a ball or bubbles is a
  good start).
• Practice empathy by recognizing and talking about feelings of others.
• Encourage your child to be kind to others.

Book: From Seed to Plant

Author: Gail Gibbons

This non-fiction book explains how plants grow. It shows how seeds sprout, grow into plants, and make new seeds through flowers and pollination. The book helps children understand the plant life cycle.

Key Vocabulary

seed, root, shoot, germination, stem, leaves, minerals, bud

Questions

• What do seeds need to grow?
• What are the different parts of a flower?
• Why is it important for seeds to be scattered?
• What are some different fruits and vegetables that grow from seeds?
• Why do you think it is called a plant cycle?
• What can we learn from this story about helping our friends?

Art Extension Ideas:

• Have your child draw a picture of a flower and help them label the different parts of the plant.
• Have your child draw a picture of the plant life cycle.  Help them label the different stages.

Story Link

Click the story link to watch or listen to the story!

Book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Author: Eric Carle

In this story, we follow a small caterpillar as it eats different foods during its life cycle. Along the way, children learn about numbers, days of the week, and the butterfly life cycle.

Key Vocabulary

Explore basic concepts like counting, days of the week, food (pickle, plum,watermelon),and nature (egg, caterpillar, leaf, cocoon).

There are also descriptive/action words to explore: hungry, big, small, warm, eat, bite, build, feel, sleep.

Questions

• What do you think this book is about?
• What do you know about caterpillars?
• What happened to the caterpillar at the end?
• What would you eat if you were a hungry caterpillar?

Story Link

Click the story link to watch or listen to the story!

Community Resources

Nature centers and gardens are wonderful places to visit and explore beautiful flowers, play areas, and exhibits. Many nature centers have events each month for families. Click on the links listed below to find a garden or nature center near you to explore their resources!

Fairfax County Gardens and Nature Centers  ( click here )

Annandale - Hidden Oaks Nature Center
Springfield - Hidden Pond Nature Center Event List

Take a picture walk

Home Connections

Have a spring  Scavenger Hunt with your child!

Early Childhood Special Education

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Become a Direct Subscriber

If you received this as a forward from your child's teacher and would like to receive our family newsletters and other updates like this directly, please use the “Subscribe to the Early Childhood Newsletter” link under "Early Childhood News and Announcements" on the FCPS Early Special Education web page to subscribe or update your preferences.

Kindergarten Orientations - Spring 2026

The move from a preschool special education program to kindergarten can be both exciting and overwhelming for children with disabilities and their families. This change often includes a longer school day, bigger classes, and new teachers and classmates. Fairfax County Public Schools uses a team approach to support each child and help make this transition as successful as possible.

Attending your elementary school’s kindergarten orientation is an important step for families of students with IEPs. It’s an opportunity to meet staff, learn about daily routines, and ask questions about what the school day will look like. Families can also share helpful information about their child to support a smooth start to the school year.

To find the date and time for your school’s orientation, please visit Kindergarten Orientations - Spring 2026 . 

Community Peers

Children who are ages 3-4 by September 30th (birthday after 9/30/2025) may be eligible to attend preschool classes at an FCPS elementary school as a Community Peer.

The Community Peer program provides an opportunity for preschoolers with all abilities to work and play together on a regular basis.  Selected community peers attend as peer models in an early childhood special education classroom to promote social, academic, and language development. 

Community Peers must be fully potty trained and not currently receiving FCPS special education services.  Parents are responsible for providing transportation and meals for their child while attending the school site.  Days and hours vary based on location, with half-day and full-day options for FCPS staff that may be available based on program availability at select schools. 

Please complete this form if you are interested in having your child attend as a community peer.

IEP: Strengths and Needs

The Present Level of Academic and Functional Performance (PLOP) gives a clear picture of your child as a learner. It highlights their strengths, including skills, interests, and areas of success, while also describing where they may need additional support. It explains how these strengths and needs impact your child’s learning and participation in the general education classroom. This information is used to guide the rest of the IEP, so goals, services, and accommodations are directly connected to your child’s current abilities and areas of growth.

For more information, please visit the Fairfax County Public Schools Special Education Handbook for Parents .

Child Development: Problem Solving Skills (Virginia's Early Learning & Development Standards)

Problem-solving skills develop over time as children explore, try different approaches, and figure out how things work. These early experiences build the foundation for more advanced thinking.

In the preschool years, problem solving becomes more thoughtful and flexible. Children begin to try new strategies when something doesn’t work, remember what worked before, and sometimes come up with more than one solution. They also show more persistence, especially with activities they enjoy. These skills are important because they help children become confident learners, support early academic skills, and build independence in everyday situations.

Families can help at home by giving children time to try things on their own, encouraging them to keep going, and offering gentle support when needed. Asking questions like “What else could you try?” or “What worked last time?” helps children think through problems. Everyday activities like puzzles, building, and helping with simple tasks are great ways to practice. Praising effort, not just success, helps children stay motivated and willing to try again.

ECID&S Information & Updates for Families - March 2026

Early Childhood Special Education

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March Early Childhood Family Newsletter

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

In this newsletter you will find books and activities to extend your child’s learning at home. This month’s newsletter will focus on the Program of Studies topic of Economics and Community Resources.

Important Dates March

Friday 3/20: Student Holiday - Nowruz

Friday 3/27: Quarter 3 Ends 

Monday 3/30 - Friday 4/3: Spring Break

Monday 4/6: Student Holiday - Teacher Work Day

Visit the FCPS 2025-26 News and Calendars page for more information.

Who I Am in My Community

This month, we are learning about what it means to be a citizen in our community. Citizens are people who live, work, and play together. They think about ways they can help others and make good choices based on their needs and wants.  Students will also be introduced to simple ideas about economics, such as people who build different community buildings, goods and services and how people work together to meet the needs of a community. The grocery store is also a great example of how different parts of a community connect—farmers grow food, truck drivers deliver it, store store employees organize and sell it, and families choose what they need. We will also explore how construction workers use different materials to build safe, strong structures, helping children connect jobs, resources, and building materials to our study of economics and community. In this newsletter, you’ll find community themed activities that help your child understand how people work together and how they can be helpful, responsible citizens every day.

Book: The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza)

Author: Philemon Sturges

Illustrator: José Ramírez

"The Little Red Hen (Makes a Pizza)" is a retelling of the classic tale, The Little Red Hen. Little Red Hen decides to make a pizza and tries to enlist her friends to help her gather the ingredients. There are so many things to do to make a delicious pizza! Will her friends decide to help? Teamwork, generosity, and helping others are the key in this story.

Key Vocabulary

Descriptive words: large, round, flat, small, lovely, delicious

Action words: fetch, knead, pound, spin, toss, slice, grate, chop, spread, float, drift

Food-related words: mozzarella, olives, anchovies, pickled eggplant

Questions

• What kind of food did the Little Red Hen make?
• Who did she ask for help?
• Did her friends help her?  Why or why not?
• How do you think the hen felt when no one helped her? What about when they did?
• What can we learn from this story about helping our friends?

Story Link

Click the story link to watch or listen to the story!

Book: The Three Little Pigs

This is just one version of the classic story of the 3 little pigs.

While you read the story with your child, keep the vocabulary words listed below in mind. Explain what they mean and incorporate those words into your daily language.

Key Vocabulary

straw, sticks, bricks, swiftly, scattered, stream, admired, howled, furious

Questions

• Why were the 3 pigs warned about the wolf?
• What materials were used to make the different houses?
• Why could the wolf not blow down the house of the third pig?
• Which pig do you think built the best house? Why?
• How did the pigs stop the wolf?
• Who was your favorite character? Why?

Story Link

Click the story link to watch or listen to the story!

Social Emotional Grocery Shopping with Preschoolers

Children can learn a lot from a trip to the grocery store: exposure to new vocabulary, colors, shapes, numbers, and letters! We might feel nervous taking children out because they can be unpredictable (too loud, grab things, tantrum, whine). You can support your child by:

• Communicating expectations before entering the store, like “we are going
  to the store to get milk today.”
• Pretending to play grocery store at home with toys or containers
• Allowing the child a choice between two acceptable options, like “would you like blackberries or raspberries?”
• Narrate your trip, talking about what you see and what you are doing, like “I see two kinds of cheese, I’ll pick this one because it is a better price.”
• Create a visual list for your child to cross off or find the items.

To make a shopping list you can use the computer, save pictures in a note on your cell phone, write or draw by hand or cut and glue pictures from ads.

Community Resources

There are many resources available in the community! Explore free workshops for all ages and experience levels.

Home Depot

Register for a free In-Store Kids Workshops for all ages at 9 a.m. the First Saturday of Every Month. CLICK HERE

Lowes

Register for a monthly free kids workshop at Lowes. CLICK HERE

Other Resources

Find a Library near you. CLICK HERE

Community Helpers Book List CLICK HERE

Home Connections Extend your child’s learning about community helpers: Trash Collectors

There are many benefits of teaching preschoolers about recycling. This helps them understand how their actions can affect our environment. Learning how recycling impacts our environment can help them understand what they can do to help keep our environment clean. You can start by sorting trash and recycling items in your home!

Trash/Recycling

Read about or watch trash/recycling in your neighborhood.

Egg Carton Caterpillars

Paint individual egg carton sections, connect them, and add googly eyes to create cute caterpillars.

Nature Collage

Go on a nature walk and collect leaves, twigs, and flowers. Use recycled cardboard as the base for creating a nature collage.

Early Childhood Special Education

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ECID&S Information & Updates for Families - February 2026 Become a Direct Subscriber

If you received this as a forward from your child's teacher and would like to receive our family newsletters and other updates like this directly, please use the “Subscribe to the Early Childhood Newsletter” link under "Early Childhood News and Announcements" on the FCPS Early Special Education web page to subscribe or update your preferences.

PreK Enrollment 

FCPS PreK and Early Head Start program provides a high quality early learning experience for qualifying children ages 6 weeks to 4 years old.  Your family may qualify for PreK or Early Head Start if you live in Fairfax County and meet certain age and family eligibility guidelines. PreK is for children who will be 3 or 4 years old by September 30. Early Head Start serves children from birth to age 2, as well as pregnant women living in the Reston, Herndon, or Springfield areas. Families may qualify based on factors such as income, homelessness or foster care, having a parent with limited education, or if a child receives special education services.

Because space is limited, placement is based on family need—not on who applies first. Priority for PreK is given to 4-year-olds and children with multiple risk factors. Applications open each January for the next school year, and families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

For more information on the application and enrollment process, please visit the FCPS website for PreK and Early Head Start .

Community Peers

Children who are ages 3-4 by September 30th (birthday after 9/30/2025) may be eligible to attend preschool classes at an FCPS elementary school thanks to FCPS Community Peers.

The Community Peer program provides an opportunity for preschoolers with all abilities to work and play on a regular basis.  Selected community peers attend as peer models in an early childhood special education classroom to promote social, academic, and language development. 

Community Peers must be fully potty trained and not currently receiving FCPS special education services.  Parents are responsible for providing transportation and meals for their child while attending the school site.  Days and hours vary based on location, with half-day and full-day options for FCPS staff that may be available based on program availability at select schools. 

Please complete this form if you are interested in having your child attend as a community peer.

IEP: The Present Level of Performance (PLOP)

The Present Level of Academic and Functional Performance (PLOP) section of the Individualized Education Program IEP is where an IEP team member summarizes and documents your child’s current development and skills. This includes information about your child’s strengths and areas of need, and how those needs affect participation in everyday routines and early learning experiences. During the IEP meeting, the team also includes parent or family concerns, along with any developmental, behavioral, social/emotional, environmental, and/or medical factors that may impact your child’s growth and learning.

This section also reflects your child’s strengths and interests across daily activities and interactions. By documenting the information discussed at the meeting, the PLOP helps ensure there is a clear connection between your child’s current development, the goals that are written, and the supports and services provided through the IEP.

For more information, please visit Fairfax County Public Schools Special Education Handbook for Parents .

Child Development: Social Emotional (Virginia's Early Learning & Development Standards)

Social and emotional skills help children make friends, learn, and feel good about themselves at school. For children with disabilities, these skills may develop in different ways and at a different pace. Through caring, supportive relationships with adults at home and at school, children learn that they are safe, valued, and capable. They learn to express their feelings in many ways, including through words, actions, signs, pictures, or communication devices. Over time, children grow from simply showing emotions to beginning to calm themselves, understand how others feel, and work through problems. While some children learn social skills naturally by watching and playing with others, some need skills like sharing, taking turns, or understanding social cues to be clearly and directly taught.

Families play an important role in partnering with schools to support social and emotional growth. Talking about feelings at home, modeling calm behavior, practicing simple routines, and gently guiding your child through challenges can reinforce what they are learning at school. If your child benefits from direct teaching then practicing social skills through role-play, visual supports, or simple conversations about “what to do,” in different situations can be helpful. A helpful resource for families is the NAEYC website, especially the article Building Social and Emotional Skills at Home . It shares simple, everyday ways parents can support their child’s emotional growth—such as talking about feelings during story time, playing turn-taking games, and modeling calm problem-solving.

Staying connected with your child’s teachers and celebrating small steps forward builds confidence and consistency. With strong home–school partnerships and steady support, children can develop the social and emotional skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.

Resources from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)

The VDOE has released resources created by the Family Engagement Network (FEN), through a grant provided by the Virginia Department of Educationand managed by the Center for Family Involvement at the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Transition Across the Grade Span: From Pre-K to Post-Grad is a resource that helps families plan for their child's future, from early childhood through adulthood, by addressing skills in four key areas of transition planning. 

The Keys to Academic Success: Critical Decision Points in Early Childhood Companion assists families with helping their young child with a disability or developmental delay receive the best possible preschool education.

Early Childhood Special Education

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February Early Childhood Family Newsletter

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In this newsletter you will find a book and activities to extend your child’s learning at home. This month’s newsletter will focus on the Program of Studies topic of Geography and Community Helpers.

Important Dates February

Tuesday 2/3: Quarter 2 Ends(extended due to snow days)

Monday 2/16: President's Day

Tuesday 2/17:  Student Holiday - Teacher Work Day

Wednesday 2/18: Observance: First Full Day of Ramadan

Visit the FCPS 2025-26 Religious and Cultural Observances page for more information.

Introducing Places in the Community and Community Helpers

Your child can begin to understand the community around them by exploring the places you visit and the people who help you throughout your week. Whether it is the mail in your mailbox, or a package delivered to you or someone else in your neighborhood, mail carriers and other delivery people are often one of the first community helpers your child will see or interact with. Consider expanding their understanding of the people in their neighborhood, or the role of the mail carrier in the community by reading the books and/or completing the home activities below.

Book: Quinito's Neighborhood

Author: Ina Cumpiano

Illustrator: José Ramírez

Key Vocabulary

This book has words in both English and Spanish. Here are some words to know:

Mami- mommy

Primo - male cousin

Papi - daddy Prima - female cousin

Abuelo - grandfather

Abuela - grandmother

Bodega - small neighborhood grocery store

Questions

Who are some of the people that live and work in Quinito’s neighborhood?

Are these people the same or different from your neighborhood?

What are some of the jobs in Quinito’s neighborhood?

Why are those jobs important?

Use a sentence starter to help direct your child’s thinking.Example: A_____ is important because_____.

Extension Activities

Have your child pick one of the jobs from the story and draw or act out that job and how it is helpful.

Use blocks to build or crayons to draw a picture of your neighborhood.

Story Link

Click the story link to watch or listen to the story!

Book: Dear Zoo

Author & Illustrator: Rod Campbell

While you read the story with your child, keep the vocabulary words listed below in mind. Explain what they mean and incorporate those words into your daily language.

Key Vocabulary

zoo, pet, sent, elephant, big, giraffe, tall, lion, fierce, danger, camel, grumpy, snake, scary, monkey, naughty, frog, jumpy, thought, puppy, perfect

Questions

What animals do we or people we know have for pets?

What animal do you think the zoo will send? (or send next)

When turning the page, pause and allow your child to fill in the name of the animal pictured.

How do you know it is a/an (animal on page)?

Do you think a/an (animal on page) would make a good pet? Why or why not?

What do you notice about (animal on page)?

What does it mean to be grumpy? What makes you feel grumpy?

What pet would you ask the zoo to send you? Why?

Story Link

Click the story link to watch or listen to the story!

Book: Delivering Your Mail

Author: Ann Owen

Illustrator: Eric Thomas

Key Vocabulary

community, jobs, mail carrier, letter, package, deliver, route

Questions

What do you notice on the cover of this book?

What do you know about mail carriers?

What kinds of things do you think mail carriers deliver?

How do mail carriers deliver letters and packages?

How do mail carriers know where to go?

Story Link

Click the story link to watch or listen to the story!

Home Connections Neighborhood Walk

Seek out community helpers in everyday life‍. Look for mail trucks, fire trucks, police cars, and ambulances driving past you on the street while you take a walk (or drive) around your neighborhood/community. Make sure you talk with your child about the importance of each of their roles in the community. For example, while you shop for groceries point out the cashier ringing up their snacks and discuss their role. You can use this neighborhood seek and find print out to look for things around your neighborhood.

Mail Carrier Dramatic Play

Use household items (an old purse, a box with a slit cut into it, or a recycled package envelope stuck to the wall) and junk mail, empty packages, or letters that you or your child has written for mail dramatic play.

You can also set up a writing station to encourage family members to write to each other. Ask your child to name or repeat the names of the things they use to do their job and encourage their use of mail vocabulary (letter, package, send, mail, deliver, etc.)

Write a Letter

Help your child "write" a letter to a friend or family member. Ask them how they want to write their letter? Some will want to do it themselves (drawing a picture and/or writing real or pretend letters), some who are beginning to recognize and write letters may want your help writing words, and some will want to tell you what they want to say and have you write it out.

Each of these options offers different learning opportunities. Regardless of what method they choose, you can encourage their use of language and their ability to plan by asking what they are going to write or draw in their letter. Ask them to name or repeat the names of the materials they need (paper, crayons, markers, pencil, envelope, stamp, etc). For older preschoolers, you can also ask what they need to do first, next, and last to develop their understanding of sequencing and mail vocabulary.

Put a stamp on the letter and go to your mailbox, one in the neighborhood, near a store or at the post office to mail it together. If placing in a mailbox your child can see from the window, they may enjoy watching for the mail carrier to come pick up their letter.

Social Emotional Resources

Some of your child’s favorite characters can help them to learn social emotional skills. Sesame Street has videos, activities, and resources about a variety of topics including calming strategies, feelings, friendships, tantrums, and more.

Visit the Sesame Street Workshop to access these resources to support social emotional skills development.

Book: Love Monster

Author: Rachel Bright

Key Vocabulary

extreme, slightly, oomph, blink

Questions

Have you ever felt left out? What did you do about it?

How can you make someone feel included when they are alone?

Story Link

Click the  story link  to watch or listen to the story!

Early Childhood Special Education