Farm Town Fun!

The Provo branch is now in session!  

We have been studying all about farms!

We had a snortin' good time learning about pigs! 

Oink Oink!

And we even got to pet some real chickens!

E-I-E-I-O!

Grand Opening/Open House - Provo Preschool Branch!

Come join us on Saturday, August 14th, between 9AM - Noon, to see the new preschool, have a treat, and learn more about us and our wonderful curriculum!  All are welcome to attend, and bring a friend!

Registered students may also pick up their school bag & school packet, and have their picture taken for the classroom.

See you there!

Summertime Blues

Are your kids already claiming to be bored with their free time?  Don't let them resort to TV or Video games when they can't think of anything else to do!  Instead, let's combat those blues and keep educational activities in their daily routine!  Here is Patchwork Preschool's list of fun activities to do with your kids this summer:

• List 10 things you want to do this summer
• Draw a picture of something you want to do this summer. Show it to your parents and tell them why you would like to do it.
• Start a list to keep track of every book you read this summer
• Dictate a story about a turtle to your parents.
• Take a walk with your family and look for things that are less than 1 inch tall.
• Make a list of vegetables.
• Do something nice for your mother.
• Do something nice for your father.
• Take a walk around the block.  How many red objects can you find?
• Find some music.  Make up a dance to the music and teach a friend.
• Start a stamp collection. Cut the stamp off any envelope that will be thrown away.  Look for different ones every day.
• Act out a story using a puppet.
• Cut letters out of a newspaper and spell your family’s names.
• Circle all the words on the front page of the newspaper that begin with “a”.
• Take a walk with your family.  Look for things that move.  Talk about the way they move.
• Look for things that have circles.  Next time, try triangles, or squares.
• Write a letter to your teacher.  Thank him or her for helping you this year.
• Be an architect today and build yourself a secret hideaway.
• Make a list of BIG things.
• Finger-paint with chocolate pudding.
• Draw a picture of the main character of the book you’re reading.
• Take a walk and look for animal tracks.  Compare them to the size of your own feet.  Try to identify them.
• Make an original flag and fly it on Flag Day (June 14^th).
• On June 14^th, count the flags you see flying today.
• Summer solstice – June 21^st – What time does the sunset tonight?
• Find out on what day of the week you were born.  That’s your lucky day!
• Draw a picture of your favorite animal.  Give it a name.
• Stand in the sunlight and see how small you can make your shadow.
• Decorate your bicycle for the 4^th of July
• Read a book by Beatrix Potter
• Read from the tales of Pinocchio
• The Liberty Bell cracked on July 8, 1835.  Draw a picture of the bell.
• Ask your parents to help you make a family tree.
• Develop a new flavor of ice cream
• Look at yourself in the mirror.  Draw what you see.

Do you have any good ideas of your own?  Write a comment and add them to our list!

Like these ideas?  Stay tuned for more!

Contributed by Christine Clark - Chino HIlls, CA

Becoming A Statistic

Recently, Kids Count and the Annie E. Casey Foundation released their national findings in regards to reading proficiency among 4th graders.  Unfortunately, in the state of Utah, 69% of fourth graders do not read at grade level!  I found this statistic absolutely appalling!  How is it that children can reach fourth grade without sufficient reading skills?  


Reading abilities are absolutely critical in a child's education: they build the foundation for the rest of their academic success. Abel Ortiz with the Annie E. Casey Foundation states that "Up until third grade, children are learning to read. After third grade they read to learn, so if they don't have that basic skill it impacts them for the rest of their life."

So what is the first suggestion this study gives in order to remedy this terrible problem?  Improve early childhood education!  Which is exactly why, at Patchwork Preschool, we understand how important it is to incorporate a reading program into our daily curriculum - even as early as the 3 year old year.  

You may not be able to have a direct hand in what your child learns in the public classroom, but you can give them the gift of an early start in reading.  So don't become part of a negative statistic: read to your child at least 15 minutes a day or more!  And in addition, enroll your child in a great preschool where reading is a consistent and significant part of the program.   Afterall, reading skills and confidence in reading are too vital to ignore - why not help your child achieve that at an early age?


Read the full article on KSL.com here.


Contributed by Rebecca Nielsen - Provo, UT

Good books from A-Z!

Looking for some books to read with your kids?  Check out these books loved by Patchwork Preschool students:

A – Arnie the Doughnut                                                                                                      

B - Bear Wants More  

C - Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

D - Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late

E – Elmer

F - Fidgety Fish

G - Go Away Big Green Monster

H - How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food

I - It's The Bear!

J - The Jungle Baseball Game

K - The Kiss That Missed

L - Llama llama Red Pajama

M - Muncha Muncha Muncha!

N - The Nose Book

O – I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean

P - The Polar Express

Q - The Quiet Book

R - Room on the Broom

S - Spookley the Square Pumpkin

T - Tickle the Duck!

U - The Umbrella  

V - The Very Hungry Caterpillar

W - The Wheels on the Race Car

X - Do Like a Duck Does (This title doesn't start with X, but what title does?  It's about a fox, which ends with X!)

Y - In my new Yellow Shirt

Z - If I ran the Zoo


Contributed by Laura Serratos - Boerne, TX

Don't Forget Your Mom This Sunday!

This Mother's Day, don't forget to treat your mom like a Queen!  Make sure you remember to give her a nice thoughtful card and an extra special hand-made gift that let's her know how special she is!  Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers out there!

Contributed by Rebecca Nielsen - Provo, UT

Book Spotlight: Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

At Patchwork Preschool, we know that every kid loves a chance to be in charge and feel grown-up.  That's why children relate so well to "Pigeon" and his child-like tactics used in persuading the reader to let him drive the bus!  With simple, yet expressive illustrations, comical situations, and a very strong-willed pigeon, you'll be asked to read this one over and over as your child feels empowered by the ability to be in command and the authority to finally say "NO!"  Patchwork Preschool gives this book 5 stars - Do you like it too?

Contributed by Rebecca Nielsen - Provo, UT