Shooting Stars Classroom (Preschoolers)

Children Ages 3–5 Years

The Shooting Stars preschool classroom serves children ages 3–5 years. Teachers plan a variety of individual and group activities to stimulate your child socially, intellectually, and creatively. The Shooting Stars curriculum, environment, and experiences are based on the children’s developmental needs and interests.

Daily Activities

The teachers in the Shooting Stars preschool classroom provide a warm, safe, and consistent environment for your child to spend his/her day. Throughout the day, your preschool child will:

• Be offered breakfast, lunch, and a snack.
• Participate in after meal clean-up.
• Brush their teeth after breakfast.
• Participate in a skill activity.
• Participate in small and large group activities including story time, calendar and music and movement activities, as well as various other activities.
• Play outside for at least an hour daily, weather permitting.
• Rest or nap on cots during Quiet Time.
• Reflect on the reflection for the day.

• Have time for free play / center time. Your child can choose:

  • Play and create with playdough.
  • Easel paint.
  • Play and explore on the computer.
  • Science.
  • Build with blocks.
  • Participate in a number of literacy (reading and writing) activities.
  • Create art.
  • Play various instruments.
  • Work on a fine motor skill via an activity.
  • Put together puzzles.
  • Explore and play with manipulatives.
  • Dramatic play.
  • Put on a puppet show.
  • Play at the sensory table.

Shooting Stars Preschool Lead Teachers

Taylor Raum

Taylor earned her degree in Early Childhood Education at Hawkeye Community College.

She lives in Traer with her husband and children. In their free time, she and her family enjoy spending time on her husband's family's cow farm or with family in Lake of the Ozarks. Taylor and her husband both enjoy golfing and having family game nights.

"I am looking forward to getting to know all of you and excited for what this year and every year will bring!"

Hailey Bathen

Hailey graduated from Hawkeye Community College in 2023 with my Associates in Early Childhood Education. She grew up not far from here in the small town of La Porte City on her parents’ farm and moved to Cedar Falls in 2021.

In 2022 I adopted my cat Addie and my dog Knox from the Waterloo Humane Society. In her free time she enjoys camping, boating/kayaking, sewing, spending time with friends and family, taking her dog on walks, and curling up with cozy blankets to read a book.

"I have been working in childcare since 2018, and am so happy to be part of the Hawkeye Child Development Center Family. I am looking forward to getting to know you and your child."