Classrooms - 4-Year-Old Kindergarten

Our 4K classroom is multi-sensory and hands-on. Centers and activities are changed frequently. Forming a wonderfully nurturing team with me are three aides: Mrs. Durant, Mrs. Miliacca, and Mrs. Voss.

Generally speaking, the basic core curriculum for 4K is to help each student learn the alphabet and recognize and understand the value of numbers zero to twenty. Many children come to 4K knowing not only that core information but more, and that readiness is recognized in my classroom. My personal goal as an educator has always been to help the children achieve their academic potential while sharing the love of God throughout the school day. While learning in an atmosphere that surrounds the children with Jesus’ love, many children leave 4K able to “sound out” short three and four letter words while developing a rich appreciation for fiction and non-fiction books.

A different Bible event is shared weekly; monthly the class learns a new Bible verse. The children regularly sing in school chapel services as well as Sunday morning worship services. Each week the children are introduced to a Word of the Week. Math manipulatives are used daily, and many “hands on” problems are explored in early addition and subtraction, patterns, sorting, measuring, and graphing. Music is often used for enjoyment as well as transition. Fine motor skills are developed using various media and frequent art projects. Science is often shared through centers located around the room and through observation of our cheerful pet parakeet, Snowflake.

The children also benefit weekly from two specialized music classes, two computer classes, and a Spanish class. An Accelerated Reader Program is used extensively to promote reading readiness. Parents read a book selection to their child; then, during computer class, an adult reads quiz questions about the book. Parents receive a weekly progress report.

The Parents and Teachers of Lutheran Schools (PTLS) group supplies some monies toward field trips. We take an off-campus field trip almost every month. Children enjoy the field trips. Another special thing in the 4K classroom are our “bags”. One such bag, the Bird Bag, has only bird stories and some magnetic words to make sentences. At least nine times a year, each 4Ker will bring home a bag for a full week. This provides a happy lap time with the preschooler and furthers developing readiness skills. Other “bag” titles include the Frog Bag, Bear Bag, Dog Bag, Dinosaur Bag, Horse Bag, Bunny Bag, and Mouse Bag. Other “bags” are always being developed.

Communication between home and school is important and begins in August with a home visit by the teacher. Parents and grandparents are always welcome in the classroom! They provide useful help with tasks and get an insight into what is being taught. Each week a folder is sent home with work, projects, and notes. Each quarter the student’s family receives a report card detailing growth and skills development. Parents are free to contact Mrs. Spaeth in person, before or after school, by phone at home or at school, or by e-mail at spaeth@graceoakcreek.org

Mrs. Margie Spaeth graduated cum laude from the University of Wisconsin—Whitewater, receiving a BS in Education, and has also taken thirty-two postgraduate credits. Mrs. Spaeth has been teaching for over twenty-five years; she is a member of the Lutheran Education Association and the International Dyslexia Association. Since 2001, Mrs. Spaeth has enjoyed using her home to tutor dyslexic children, using both after school hours and summer months for this activity.

Mrs. Spaeth has been recognized in significant ways. She received a Target Store Teacher Scholarship and was also recognized as a Senator Herb Kohl Teacher of the Year. The National Lutheran Elementary School Endowment Fund has provided Mrs. Spaeth grants for the New Beginnings Program; this is a series of parenting classes for teenagers that Mrs. Spaeth, in collaboration with health professionals, has taught for the past six years.

Mrs. Spaeth is married and has three adult children, each of whom attended Grace Lutheran School. Mrs. Spaeth is an active member of Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church. She is involved in small group Bible study, an inner city prayer group, and in teaching 5th and 6th grade Sunday school classes. Mrs. Spaeth loves to visit her children, garden, walk, swim, and read for relaxation.