This week we continued to work on farm activities. We finished up painting with various vegetables and began painting farm animals.
We painted with green peppers, potatoes, carrots, and broccoli.
We painted "mud" on pigs (shaving cream, glue, and paint).
We marble painted on cows.
We painted with a feather on a duck.
On Friday morning we had an exciting morning on the playground. We found two baby turtles! We were so excited to find them and we brought them inside and put them in our empty aquarium. One of them was not moving so much, but within a few hours it really perked up! The two tiny adorable turtles were running around the aquarium and seemed to be enjoying the food we gave them. We kept them all day and had a lot of fun watching them. At the end of the day we decided to let them go and bring them back out to the swamp. Since we weren't going to keep them forever (Miss Stephanie wasn't sure what she would do with two grown turtles at some point) we didn't want to get them used to living inside. We didn't think it was fair to let them get used to living inside and then let them go in the wild, so we let them go on Friday. They were lots of fun though!
Enjoy lots of pictures from our activities this week and especially the turtles at the end!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
More fun on the Farm
We continued with our farm activities this week.
Don't forget to finish your family projects if you haven't done so yet!
Don't forget to finish your family projects if you haven't done so yet!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
More fun at the Farmer's Market
This week we added two new centers to our Farmer's Market theme.
We have onion bulbs in the sand table. We have practiced digging holes, planting the bulbs, and covering them back up. We are learning to be quite the gardeners!
We also have vocabulary cards in Literacy Lane with many of our vocabulary words for this unit. We have been practicing writing our words on different signs to place around the room.
We are getting really good at picking out our vegetables and purchasing them in the Pretend Play area.
Don't forget to turn in your Family Projects on Monday or Tuesday! Working on these projects as a family is a great opportunity to build vocabulary and work on creative and problem solving skills together.
Here are our pictures:
We have onion bulbs in the sand table. We have practiced digging holes, planting the bulbs, and covering them back up. We are learning to be quite the gardeners!
We also have vocabulary cards in Literacy Lane with many of our vocabulary words for this unit. We have been practicing writing our words on different signs to place around the room.
We are getting really good at picking out our vegetables and purchasing them in the Pretend Play area.
Don't forget to turn in your Family Projects on Monday or Tuesday! Working on these projects as a family is a great opportunity to build vocabulary and work on creative and problem solving skills together.
Here are our pictures:
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Shopping at the Farmer's Market
This week we began our Farm theme. We are talking about all of the things that come from a farm. We are learning that farmers not only take care of animals, but they also grow vegetables too. We learned that they eat some of what they grow, but that they also sell it.
We have a Farmer's Market set up in the pretend play area. We are practicing buying and selling fruits and vegetables when we are in there.
In the construction zone, we have a whole vegetable garden. We can pick the vegetables we want to harvest and take care of our garden. We also have some farm animals and we are building barns for them with the blocks.
In the small toys area we are playing with puzzles about farm animals and fruits and vegetables.
Stay tuned next for even more farm themed centers!
When you are out shopping this week, check out the produce section in the grocery store and talk about the different vegetables. You can also involve your child in the checkout process (adding up the total, giving money, receiving change...or paying with credit!) to help us understand how to work the cash register at our Farmer's Market.
Check out the slideshow of our farm fun this week:
We have a Farmer's Market set up in the pretend play area. We are practicing buying and selling fruits and vegetables when we are in there.
In the construction zone, we have a whole vegetable garden. We can pick the vegetables we want to harvest and take care of our garden. We also have some farm animals and we are building barns for them with the blocks.
In the small toys area we are playing with puzzles about farm animals and fruits and vegetables.
Stay tuned next for even more farm themed centers!
When you are out shopping this week, check out the produce section in the grocery store and talk about the different vegetables. You can also involve your child in the checkout process (adding up the total, giving money, receiving change...or paying with credit!) to help us understand how to work the cash register at our Farmer's Market.
Check out the slideshow of our farm fun this week:
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Goodbye Circus
When we got back from spring break this week, we said, "Goodbye" to the big top. It was sad to say goodbye to the animals and clowns, but most of us really enjoyed having our regular toys back!
Here are some pictures of our fun this week!
Here are some pictures of our fun this week!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Circus Trains
This slideshow shows all of the Circus Trains that were made for our Family Project. The kids were SO excited to bring their trains in and show them off to their friends. Working as a family on these project not only creates family time, but it also encourages dialogue about the subject.
Have a wonderful week off!
Have a wonderful week off!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Revised Family of the Week
Check out our new Family of the Week schedule if you are new to our class!
Click here or on the link at the right.
Click here or on the link at the right.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Welcome to the Big Top!
This week our classroom has been transformed into a Big Top Circus! We have been having a great time learning about all the pieces that make a circus happen. We are using mature play to interact at our centers. We are pretending to be clowns and ringmasters. We are selling and buying cotton candy and popcorn. We are building circuses with the blocks and the animals are putting on shows. We are using vocabulary and making signs to put around the room. The Big Top is ablaze with activity! The MWF and AM classes came home with clown hats. Check out the weekly newsletter to hear how we had to listen to a story to put them together. Check out the slideshow below to see some examples of our fun and our learning.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Feelings
As you know, we have been learning about feeling words recently in class. This week we played with some balls that have different faces on them. We took turns throwing them to each other and telling a time that we feel that way. It was fun to come up with different situations for the different emotions. This is a great skill to continue practicing at home. Use a variety of emotion words around your house. Knowing different feelings words allows kids to express themselves more clearly which often leads to less frustration!
Enjoy some pictures of our game!
Enjoy some pictures of our game!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Washing our Hands
One of the things we have been focusing on in class recently is washing our hands correctly. Many of us just get some soap on our hands and immediately run them under the water. Miss Stephanie tells us that is not the right way to wash our hands! She says that is not actually getting them clean!
We have been working on the correct way to wash our hands:
-Turn on the water (it should be warm)
-Get your hands wet
-Get soap on your hands
-Rub your hands together all over (front, back, fingers, thumbs)
-Count to 10 while rubbing
-Rinse them under the water
-Dry your hands
(Hands should really be washed for longer than 10 seconds, but we are taking baby steps. 10 seconds is better than just running them under the water quickly and being done!)
Miss Stephanie really wants us to practice this at home and sat school to help keep us healthy!
Check out the video below!
Check out two videos of friends washing hands to help remind us what to do!
We have been working on the correct way to wash our hands:
-Turn on the water (it should be warm)
-Get your hands wet
-Get soap on your hands
-Rub your hands together all over (front, back, fingers, thumbs)
-Count to 10 while rubbing
-Rinse them under the water
-Dry your hands
(Hands should really be washed for longer than 10 seconds, but we are taking baby steps. 10 seconds is better than just running them under the water quickly and being done!)
Miss Stephanie really wants us to practice this at home and sat school to help keep us healthy!
Check out the video below!
Check out two videos of friends washing hands to help remind us what to do!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Happy Valentine's Day!
This week we participated in many Valentine's Day activities. The most fun was the party! On Thursday afternoon and Friday we enjoyed passing out treats that we brought for our friends. We practiced recognizing our friends names while passed out the valentines we brought. We also practiced saying "thank you" to everyone who gave us a treat.
Thank you to everyone who brought in treats and juice for us to share at snack time. We enjoyed all the yumminess!
Enjoy the slideshow of pictures.
Thank you to everyone who brought in treats and juice for us to share at snack time. We enjoyed all the yumminess!
Enjoy the slideshow of pictures.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Feelings!
This week we have been talking about feelings. Each class brainstormed different emotions and we came up with examples of when you feel that emotion. We came up with some pretty creative responses! During the week we made sure to use emotion words as much as possible. This is something you can do at home.
For example:
"Oh. I see you are frustrated because you cannot keep playing with your toys right now."
"I get grumpy too when I don't get what I want."
"It looks like that boy on TV is scared because the lights went out."
Have fun talking about feelings!
For example:
"Oh. I see you are frustrated because you cannot keep playing with your toys right now."
"I get grumpy too when I don't get what I want."
"It looks like that boy on TV is scared because the lights went out."
Have fun talking about feelings!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Birthday Fun and Story Retelling
This month we have been celebrating a lot of birthdays! We have one January birthday in every class and at least one half birthday in every class! We have celebrated the July half birthdays this month so we have all been enjoying yummy treats.
Last week and this week we have been practicing retelling the story I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly individually. We have the pictures and the book to help us retell the story. The MWF class will be practicing that this week. We have had a lot of fun reading this story and especially saying, "She swallowed the spider that wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her"!
Here are pictures from our activities:
Last week and this week we have been practicing retelling the story I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly individually. We have the pictures and the book to help us retell the story. The MWF class will be practicing that this week. We have had a lot of fun reading this story and especially saying, "She swallowed the spider that wiggled and jiggled and tickled inside her"!
Here are pictures from our activities:
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Family of the Week Update
We have had many new friends join us in the last couple of weeks. I have updated the Family of the Week Schedule and it is posted on the right sidebar. Please check it out so you know when your turn for Family of the Week is coming up. Your child will bring home the Family of the Week bag with a note inside the week before his/her turn. There is also a note on the right sidebar for ways you can participate. I also list the upcoming Family of the Week in the weekly newsletter.
Don't forget to check it out!
Don't forget to check it out!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Writing and Stories
This week we started a unit on "I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly". We had a lot of fun reading the story and talking about the different animals she swallowed. We also spent time listening to the story and helping Miss Stephanie put animals on the flannel board in order when the animal we were holding was read. On Thursday and Friday, Miss Stephanie became the old lady and we had to feed the old lady the animals!
Also on the slideshow are pictures of everyone practicing their daily message this week. Every day, we do daily message at circle time. Miss Stephanie says a message like "Today we will read a story". Then she writes one line for each word on the board. She points to the lines and reads it again. Then she writes the words on the lines as she says the message. Then we all read it again. Last, everyone gets their own dry erase board and marker to write the message. Some of us write the message letter for letter, some of us write with letter like symbols and others of us are still scribbling. When we are done, however, we all read back the message we have written.
Here are the pictures!
Also on the slideshow are pictures of everyone practicing their daily message this week. Every day, we do daily message at circle time. Miss Stephanie says a message like "Today we will read a story". Then she writes one line for each word on the board. She points to the lines and reads it again. Then she writes the words on the lines as she says the message. Then we all read it again. Last, everyone gets their own dry erase board and marker to write the message. Some of us write the message letter for letter, some of us write with letter like symbols and others of us are still scribbling. When we are done, however, we all read back the message we have written.
Here are the pictures!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Thursday and Friday
There is no school for preschoolers on Wednesday January 13th.
On Thursday January 14 and Friday January 15 there are some changes with transportation.
AM-The morning classes will have busing into school but WILL NOT have busing home. Please be at school to pick up your child with your sign by 11:50.
PM-The afternoon classes WILL NOT have busing into school but will have busing home. If your child normally rides the bus home, we will plan to send him/her home on the bus unless we hear otherwise.
If your child is normally on the bus and you are either picking up or dropping off you will do that in the bus lane in the front of the school. If you participate in the parent pick-up and drop off you will continue to do what we always do.
If your child will not be riding the bus, please remember to call transportation.
If you have any questions please let me know!
On Thursday January 14 and Friday January 15 there are some changes with transportation.
AM-The morning classes will have busing into school but WILL NOT have busing home. Please be at school to pick up your child with your sign by 11:50.
PM-The afternoon classes WILL NOT have busing into school but will have busing home. If your child normally rides the bus home, we will plan to send him/her home on the bus unless we hear otherwise.
If your child is normally on the bus and you are either picking up or dropping off you will do that in the bus lane in the front of the school. If you participate in the parent pick-up and drop off you will continue to do what we always do.
If your child will not be riding the bus, please remember to call transportation.
If you have any questions please let me know!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Donors Choose Link
Welcome back! You will notice on the right sidebar there is a link for a DonorsChoose.org proposal. DonorsChoose.org is a wonderful website for teachers to request materials for their classrooms. Anyone can view the proposal and make a donation of any size. We have been very lucky to receive materials for our classroom from DonorsChoose.org in the last several years. Our large rug, costumes, and construction toys all came from DonorsChoose.org. Our new proposal is for more materials for the block area.
Here is the link.
Thank you for taking the time to check it out!
Here is the link.
Thank you for taking the time to check it out!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Busy Week
This week we had a super busy week at school. Monday night we had our cookie decorating with families event. I didn't even take any pictures! I am sorry about the chair situation and not having enough chairs for everyone to sit and relax. We live and learn! I hope that you enjoyed coming out and decorating a cookie with your family.
We also had pajama day at the end of this week. On Thursday afternoon we watched "Up" in our classroom with just our little group. Friday morning and Friday afternoon we watched "Surf's Up!" with Miss Jen and Miss Erin's classes in the room next door projected on the wall. It was like being at the movies. We all had fun in our pajamas and enjoyed seeing each other's pajamas! Friday afternoon we also celebrated Ella's birthday.
Make sure to read your newsletters and the attached schedule about changes to transportation on January 14th and 15th.
Have a safe and relaxing holiday break!
We also had pajama day at the end of this week. On Thursday afternoon we watched "Up" in our classroom with just our little group. Friday morning and Friday afternoon we watched "Surf's Up!" with Miss Jen and Miss Erin's classes in the room next door projected on the wall. It was like being at the movies. We all had fun in our pajamas and enjoyed seeing each other's pajamas! Friday afternoon we also celebrated Ella's birthday.
Make sure to read your newsletters and the attached schedule about changes to transportation on January 14th and 15th.
Have a safe and relaxing holiday break!
Friday, December 11, 2009
This week and last!
I just realized that I never posted pictures from last week! So you will get two slideshows this week. First, we have pictures from last week when the TTH class and M-F AM class made crayons and then used them. There are also some pictures of our stoplight activity.
This week we started the book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. We did several fun activites to go along with the story. But before we did that, we went on a picture walk. I went through the book with the class and didn't read any of the words. We talked about the pictures and what we thought could be happening in the story and why. This is a great skill to develop because it will help with inferencing skills later.
For example:
-Me "What do you think is happening here?"
-Child "The mouse will eat a cookie."
-Me "Why do you think that?"
-Child "Because the boy is holding a cookie in his hand and the mouse is getting it".
-Me "Oh! I see that too. I also see that in this next picture there are crumbs on the ground. That must mean he ate it".
This is just an example of questioning skills to use when reading with your child. I took some dictation during our activity (one sentence per page) to allow each child to inference what could be happening in the picture.
Below is a slideshow of some pictures from work time this week. There are also some videos of our snack song! You will notice that before we sing the "Open Shut Them" song, we do the "Gobble Gobble Crunch Crunch" with "silly 3s"....holding up the thumb, first finger and middle finger. That is actually the number 3 in sign language.
Using those fingers is very important for hand stability when learning to write. Anything you can have your child do using those three fingers will help with writing. They can use them to pick up popcorn when you are having a snack or use them to pick up little toys when playing...you can make a game out of it...no body can eat snack without using only those fingers! We practice opening and closing them every day before snack.
This week we started the book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. We did several fun activites to go along with the story. But before we did that, we went on a picture walk. I went through the book with the class and didn't read any of the words. We talked about the pictures and what we thought could be happening in the story and why. This is a great skill to develop because it will help with inferencing skills later.
For example:
-Me "What do you think is happening here?"
-Child "The mouse will eat a cookie."
-Me "Why do you think that?"
-Child "Because the boy is holding a cookie in his hand and the mouse is getting it".
-Me "Oh! I see that too. I also see that in this next picture there are crumbs on the ground. That must mean he ate it".
This is just an example of questioning skills to use when reading with your child. I took some dictation during our activity (one sentence per page) to allow each child to inference what could be happening in the picture.
Below is a slideshow of some pictures from work time this week. There are also some videos of our snack song! You will notice that before we sing the "Open Shut Them" song, we do the "Gobble Gobble Crunch Crunch" with "silly 3s"....holding up the thumb, first finger and middle finger. That is actually the number 3 in sign language.
Using those fingers is very important for hand stability when learning to write. Anything you can have your child do using those three fingers will help with writing. They can use them to pick up popcorn when you are having a snack or use them to pick up little toys when playing...you can make a game out of it...no body can eat snack without using only those fingers! We practice opening and closing them every day before snack.
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