Ms. Hoeschen’s Little Bears
Welcome to Transitional Kindergarten! I’m Jessica Hoeschen and my name rhymes with ocean! With 23 years of teaching experience and a deep passion for establishing a strong educational foundation for every one of my students, I am thrilled to join this amazing NCSA community and start the year with my Little Bears. I can’t wait to meet them and their families!
In my classroom, I foster an environment that encourages a love of learning and nurtures creativity, curiosity, and confidence. Throughout the year, I bring enthusiastic energy through a variety of thematic units, tailoring lessons to cater to individual and whole class interests – particularly in art and science. I love to make learning fun with hands-on, visual, and movement-based lessons to catch and maintain the attention of every learner in my classroom. I cherish my students and I let them know they are important by discovering what makes each one thrive – not only in a classroom setting but also emotionally and socially – fostering friendships and kindness. My motto in class is “Treat others the way you would want to be treated”, so I place an emphasis on kindness and respect for themselves and others.
What is Transitional Kindergarten?
TK is the first of a two-year Kindergarten program that primarily focuses on developing the social-emotional skills and self-awareness of each student, so that they may enter into the Kindergarten year as self-directed and enthusiastic learners. The TK year includes an emphasis on oral language development, literacy immersion, and number sense, and it provides collaborative experiences that promote cooperation, self-confidence, self-regulation, and healthy attitudes about school and learning. Developing the confidence and vocabulary to operate within a community, fostering a love for new knowledge, and adjusting to the routine and expectations of a classroom setting, the TK year is about the social growth of the child, as much as it is about the academic growth. Nonetheless, a rich exposure and practice of foundational knowledge in language, math, science, and art will also be enjoyed through hands-on games, experiences, and activities. What an exciting and sweet year ahead!
Daily/Weekly Activities- To Name Just a Few:
Gathering
Songs & Poetry
Nature & Garden
Process Art
Science/Sensory Exploration
Pre-Math Skills/ Number Sense
Pre-Literacy Skills/ Letter Sense
Large & Fine Motor Development
Imaginative Play
Storytelling/Puppetry
Music, Movement & Art Classes
Units of Study:
- Self & Community
- The Five Senses
- Family & Traditions
- Seasons
- Plant & Animal Life Cycles
- Forest Life
- The Water Cycle
- Folktales from Around the World