- Age Group: 3-4 Year Olds
- Class Size: 12 Children
Room 5 is a 6:1:2 integrated preschool classroom for 3 and 4-year-olds. We have both nursery school students and program students in our classroom. There are 4 staff members in Room 5; a Special Education teacher and three teacher’s assistants.
All year long we work on fun and exciting ways to increase our reading/writing, math, academic, attending, social, play, and independent life skills. Each student is able to have his or her school experience involve programming that is specific to his or her needs to make the experience in Room 5 the most meaningful to him or her through one-to-one sessions or small group sessions that have goals that target child-specific needs.
Room 5 uses the Learning Without Tears curriculum to help increase literacy, pre-writing, and other fine motor skills and the Touch Math curriculum to help increase different math skills.
Recently in Room 5....
2/13/2026 Cookie Fun!
Room 5 was filled with energetic, excited kiddos ready for their mid-winter break! To celebrate Friday and Valentine’s Day, the Room 5 team set up a fun baking activity. Heart shaped cookies! Mixing, stirring, and rolling out dough is great motor skill practice and taught valuable life skills that our students can use in the future. Surely some parents out there will want to receive cookies from their kids once they’re all grown up! We’re so proud of our students for following directions and working with their teachers and peers. Plus, they got to enjoy some sweets as a reward! Thank you, Room 5, for giving our students a fun AND helpful activity.
1/5/2025 Happily Back to School
Walking into Room 5 on the first day back after a two-week break, we were greeted by the best surprise: every child sitting together at the table, calm, settled, and smiling. Breaks can sometimes bring a bit of regression for our students, so seeing them return with such ease and joy was incredibly heartening. It was a quiet reminder of how safe, connected, and happy they feel here—and a wonderful way to begin the days back together.
This cute peanut asked for a picture. When asked if he wanted to be doing something in the picture, or just look cute, he said, “just look cute!” 💛
A visit from SANTA! 12.19.25
We were so fortunate to have a visit from Santa and Elf! With a gift for each child, they gave everyone a chance to sit on Santa’s lap and hear a joyful Ho, Ho, Ho!
We’re thankful to Steve Oill, Diane Rusch for their roles! We also appreciate Toys for Tots Capital Region for the amazing help they gave Santa, and Samantha Bailey Photography for her fundraiser for Crossroads by taking orders for photos with Santa!
12/1/2025 A Visit from Moonbeam and Carol
As part of our Giving Tuesday celebration, we were thrilled by a visit from Moonbeam, a flat-coat lab, and Carol, her owner.
Moonbeam, aged four, is certified as a Therapy Dog by Therapy Dogs International, and her training shows. Gentle and sweet, she loves children, and our students responded with delight to her kisses and wagging tail.
This was our first visiting pet this year and we can’t wait to see Moonbeam and Carol again, soon.
Goodbye Circle, a Daily Routine 11/12/25
Room 5’s goodbye circle is such a sweet way to end the day!
Each student is sung to, and takes a turn sitting on the teacher’s lap to clap along and move their name from “At School” to “At Home.” This comforting routine helps children practice transitions, recognize their own names, and end the school day with a warm, joyful connection.
10/7/25 FireSafety
Ms. Sara “What an exciting day we had in Pre-K! Today, we were lucky to have some real-life heroes—firefighters—visit our classroom! 🚨
The children were absolutely fascinated as they got to see and touch the special gear firefighters wear to stay safe. From helmets to jackets, oxygen tanks to boots—it was amazing to see it all up close! The firefighters explained how everything works and even let the kids try some things on (so cute!).
There were lots of big smiles, curious questions, and “oohs” and “aahs” all around. It was a fun and memorable way to learn about safety and the important job our firefighters do.
We’re so proud of how attentive and respectful your little ones were😊”
9/29/25 Room 5 in September
We’ve been welcoming fall in Room 5 with lots of hands-on fun! From crunchy leaves to cozy sweaters, students are exploring all the colors, textures, and magic of autumn. These activities help build language, fine motor, and sensory skills — all while celebrating the season. We’re excited to see each child enjoy fall in their own unique way!
8.18.25 Celebrating Summer with Sweet Skills in R 5!
To mark the end of our Summer Session, the students in Room 5 had a delightful hands-on experience in the kitchen—baking cupcakes! This tasty treat-making was rich in multi-sensory learning opportunities that blended math, language, social, and life skills.
Each student took turns measuring ingredients, pouring, stirring, and carefully timing the oven. Once the cupcakes were baked to perfection, they got creative with frosting and decorations, adding their own personal touch to each one.
This activity encouraged:
- Math skills through measuring and timing
- Language development through following instructions and communicating
- Social interaction through teamwork and turn-taking
- Life skills through cooking and self-expression
It was a joyful way to wrap up the season and celebrate the progress our students have made. We’re proud of their growth and excited for what’s ahead!
Room 5 Settles In After Break 7.8.25
After the two-week break, students in Room 5 are back and diving right into their routines! With focus and interest, they’re engaging in independent play—exploring materials, making choices, and showing off the growth they’ve made. It’s wonderful to see their confidence and curiosity in action as the summer session begins!
Shape Time Success! 5.21.25
In our classroom, students are gathered in a group much like traditional circle time — but today, the focus is all about shapes! With a combination of teacher guidance and a fun video, the children are learning to recognize and create shapes through movement and imitation. It’s wonderful to see them modeling the teacher and the visuals, actively participating, and building both cognitive and motor skills through this interactive learning experience.
3.28.25 Learning Through Play in R.5!
We had a great time playing with Little People, animals, and puzzles during our Play Centers today! Social skills are essential for children of all ability levels, and in our integrated classrooms, students learn with and from each other through play. Watching them engage, share, and build connections is a wonderful reminder of how important these early interactions are.
Healthy Hands On! 3/3/25
Room 5 has been exploring the world of health! Here, we show you our students learning about medical and dental care through hands-on play. Our pictures show them using play tools like stethoscopes, thermometers, and toothbrushes with great focus and curiosity. These activities help familiarize them with healthcare routines in a fun and engaging way!
Snow Much Fun! 2.18.25
The students in our room love to get outside as much as the weather allows, and recently we took advantage of a sunny, warmer day to enjoy the snow. We bundled the kids up and headed outdoors for some winter fun playing in the fresh snow.
From rolling in it to make snow angels, to tossing little handfuls of snow into the air, the students embraced the chilly weather with big smiles. Outdoor play is such an important part of their day, giving them opportunities to explore, move, and work together.
We love seeing them enjoy the magic of winter!