We had another busy week this week! Some of the things you will see in this slideshow:
-Pretending during Work Time
-Painting
-Play Dough
-Enjoying the sensory experience of jumping on bubble wrap-Miss Stephanie jumped too!
-Pretend Play
We have had so much fun with the bubble wrap! You should try at home!
Some of the words we have been talking about this week:
-fall
-tree
-leaf
-rake
-pumpkin
-jack-o-lantern (a pumpkin with a face!)
This weekend you can talk about trees and leaves at home! Try going outside collecting different types of leaves and talk about how they are the same and different!
The most exciting news this week? We got our DonorsChoose.org project funded! We will be getting a classroom iPad in the next couple days! Miss Stephanie has already picked out and bought apps to use as communication tools, speech practice, and listening activities. We are so grateful to all the people that donated to help us get this tool just for us!
Friday, October 12, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Classroom Fun and Bubble Wrap Fun!
Check out some of what we did this week!
You will see that we have bubble wrap in the science area this week. Why bubble wrap!?! Well, first, because Miss Stephanie LOVES bubble wrap. But second, because it is a great fine motor activity. We have been practicing popping the bubbles with just our 3 fingers instead of our whole hand. It helps us develop strength and dexterity in our fingers! You can read about some other fine motor activities to do at home here!
What else you will see in this video:
-playing in the centers
-matching letters of the alphabet
-drawing on the Smartboard
-making patterns
I hope you have enjoyed the Deaf Awareness Week information! You can see them here as well! Feel free to share with your friends!
You will see that we have bubble wrap in the science area this week. Why bubble wrap!?! Well, first, because Miss Stephanie LOVES bubble wrap. But second, because it is a great fine motor activity. We have been practicing popping the bubbles with just our 3 fingers instead of our whole hand. It helps us develop strength and dexterity in our fingers! You can read about some other fine motor activities to do at home here!
What else you will see in this video:
-playing in the centers
-matching letters of the alphabet
-drawing on the Smartboard
-making patterns
I hope you have enjoyed the Deaf Awareness Week information! You can see them here as well! Feel free to share with your friends!
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Pete the Cat-Rocking My School Shoes
Today we had a new visitor in our classroom!
Pete the Cat came to visit! We came in this morning and Pete the Cat was sitting right there on Miss Stephanie's chair! Not only did he visit us, but he brought us a new book! Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons. We got to read it during Circle Time!
In our class, we LOVE Pete the Cat. We love Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes and Pete the Cat Rocking His School Shoes. We thought Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons was hilarious today! He found out he has a belly button! Miss Stephanie even told us that there is a new book coming out at the end of September! Pete the Cat Saves Christmas! We are so excited for it!
Miss Stephanie even just ordered a bunch of Pete the Cat books from Scholastic because we tend to love our Pete the Cat books to death around here!
Last year, Miss Erin and Miss Stephanie recorded Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes and did a post about it here. We have another Pete the Cat post here.
Here is our NEW Pete the Cat video:
You can also see some of our favorite videos with Eric Litwin, the author himself, reading the stories:
Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes
Pete the Cat Rocking In My School Shoes
AND you can download Eric Litwin reading the stories right here on the Harper Collins website. It can also help you learn how to sing the songs! Four Groovy Buttons has quite the beat! You can learn it on this site.
Fun in the Class and Smartboard Team Work
Sorry this post is a little late! But here are our photos from last week! Here is some of what you will see in the video:
-making patterns with unifix cubes
-Sorting hot and cold weather clothes on the SmartBoard
-Playing during work time
-Helping Mr. Rich our audiologist set up equipment
-A video of H, J, and G working on the Smartboard together!
Check out our photos from last week!
-making patterns with unifix cubes
-Sorting hot and cold weather clothes on the SmartBoard
-Playing during work time
-Helping Mr. Rich our audiologist set up equipment
-A video of H, J, and G working on the Smartboard together!
Check out our photos from last week!
Friday, August 31, 2012
Important Links
Make sure to check out some important links on the "Links for Parents" section to the right.
You can find:
-U-46 Lunch menus to see what we will have for snack (breakfast) and/or lunch each day
-U-46 calendar
-Link to place Scholastic orders online with our class activation code (Don't forget, for every online order, you get a $5 for a free book and we get $3 for a free classroom book!)
You will also find some other great resources to browse at your leisure!
First Two Days of School
We had a FABULOUS first two days of school. It was great to see new faces and reunite with returning ones.
Some of the things we did over the last two days:
-draw our faces
-learn about the different areas of the room
-meet our speech teacher Ms. Kate
-the M-F kids met the auditory teacher, Ms. Bridget, and counselor, Ms. Dana
-played outside on Friday
Some of the things we will do next week:
-Learn more about the different parts of the room
-Start our therapies
-make handprints and write our name and draw a picture of ourselves to save and see how it compares to the end of the year
Check out our slideshow of some pictures from the last 2 days!
Some of the things we did over the last two days:
-draw our faces
-learn about the different areas of the room
-meet our speech teacher Ms. Kate
-the M-F kids met the auditory teacher, Ms. Bridget, and counselor, Ms. Dana
-played outside on Friday
Some of the things we will do next week:
-Learn more about the different parts of the room
-Start our therapies
-make handprints and write our name and draw a picture of ourselves to save and see how it compares to the end of the year
Check out our slideshow of some pictures from the last 2 days!
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Back to School 2012
Welcome Back and Welcome To Independence Center for Early Learning!
I am excited to begin another school year working with you and your family as part of your child's team. I use this blog as an opportunity to share with you what happens in our classroom. I will post weekly slideshows so you can see what we are up to. You can also share the address with your family members so they can see what your child is up to in preschool! In addition to the pictures, I will often post videos of songs and stories that relate to our unit. I often also post "homework" that you can do with your child that relates to our classroom theme. This gives you a chance to talk to your child about what he/she is doing in the classroom. This is great for developing language skills and making connections.
In addition to my posts, I also have links on the right side of the page. These are great resources for you. Some are websites for kids and others are resources for parents.
I look forward to sharing your child's preschool experience with you this year!
Sometimes the slideshow doesn't appear right away. If that happens, you can hit the F5 button on your keyboard and wait a few minutes. It should appear shortly. If you experience any difficulty, let me know!
Open House is Tuesday, August 28th 3:00-5:00.
The first day of school is Thursday, August 30th!
**You can check out the district calendar on the right under "Links for Parents"
**You can check out the district calendar on the right under "Links for Parents"
Monday, May 21, 2012
End of the Year Sing
Last Tuesday we had our annual all school End of the Year Sing. The kids did a fantastic job performing for all of the families that came to visit us. The gym was packed! We know some family members were not able to make it to the sing, so we hope you enjoy watching the videos on here.
AM Class
PM Class
AM Class
PM Class
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Life Cycle of a Ladybug-We have ladybugs!
This week has been really crazy as we finish up end of the year stuff and worked on our super secret Mother's Day projects! But I do have video of our ladybugs to show you! We have spent a lot of time using the magnifying glasses to look at our ladybugs as most of them have come out of the pupas as ladybugs!
When they first come out of the pupa, they are orange-ish. After a little time they start to turn more red and you can see their spots.
The little ladybugs have been running all over their habitat. We will let them go this week. You will notice at the bottom of their habitat, there are raisins. Since we don't have access to aphids, ladybugs natural food, they like to eat rasisins.
Check out a video of the Eric Carle story: The Grouchy Ladybug. Your child will love the retelling!
When they first come out of the pupa, they are orange-ish. After a little time they start to turn more red and you can see their spots.
The little ladybugs have been running all over their habitat. We will let them go this week. You will notice at the bottom of their habitat, there are raisins. Since we don't have access to aphids, ladybugs natural food, they like to eat rasisins.
Check out a video of the Eric Carle story: The Grouchy Ladybug. Your child will love the retelling!
Friday, April 27, 2012
Lifecycle of Ladybugs-Larvae Update
Last week you read about our new classroom friends. Our larvae continue to grow! We have been surprised every day this week with how much bigger they look! Many adults around here (including Miss Stephanie) have been surprised that lady bugs look like this when they are babies. We've all probably seen this little bugs outside and had no idea they were going to turn into lady bugs one day!
You can watch a video about the lifecycle of a ladybug here by clicking this link.
When you watch the video, you will see what happens to lady bug spots as a lady bug gets older.
YOUR HOMEWORK
-Watch the video with your son/daughter and listen for what happens to lady bug spots as they get older.
-Draw a picture of what lady bugs look like before they get old and then what starts happening to them when they get older.
-Bring it in on Monday!
Check out what our larvae look like this week!
You can watch a video about the lifecycle of a ladybug here by clicking this link.
When you watch the video, you will see what happens to lady bug spots as a lady bug gets older.
YOUR HOMEWORK
-Watch the video with your son/daughter and listen for what happens to lady bug spots as they get older.
-Draw a picture of what lady bugs look like before they get old and then what starts happening to them when they get older.
-Bring it in on Monday!
Check out what our larvae look like this week!
Look at us cleaning!
We wanted you to see how hard we work in our room to clean up after ourselves. One day this week we had quite the mess of corn on the floor from the messy table. The boys had the idea (all on their own) to get the broom and "the black thing" to clean it up. They were hard workers and picked up (almost) every piece of corn! We like to have fun and get creative....but we also know it is important to put our classroom back the way we found it every day!
Monday, April 23, 2012
Ling Sounds Sound Check
Check out a new link on the right in the "Listening and Speaking" section for kids with hearing aids and cochlear implants.
You can print your own "Ling Sounds" information and sound check for at home. We use this at circle time at the beginning of the day to make sure everyone's equipment is working properly!
From the website:
The sounds ah, ee, oo, sh, s, and mm indicate a child’s ability to detect all aspects of speech as these six sounds encompass the frequency range of all phonemes {speech sounds}.
This check can be used to determine what sounds the student is able to detect, discriminate, and identify.
Click on this link to download your own listening check sheet!
Another printable activity: flashcards and activities to practice the Ling Sounds
You can print your own "Ling Sounds" information and sound check for at home. We use this at circle time at the beginning of the day to make sure everyone's equipment is working properly!
From the website:
The sounds ah, ee, oo, sh, s, and mm indicate a child’s ability to detect all aspects of speech as these six sounds encompass the frequency range of all phonemes {speech sounds}.
This check can be used to determine what sounds the student is able to detect, discriminate, and identify.
These are the Ling Sounds
Another printable activity: flashcards and activities to practice the Ling Sounds
Friday, April 20, 2012
Slippery Fish on the Smartboard
One of our favorite songs in class is "Slippery Fish". We have been singing it in both English and Spanish. This week we have been practicing the different words in both version and trying to say them clearly.
We have some videos for you of us interacting with the song on our Smartboard!
AM-One of my deaf students playing with the Smartboard and reenacting the song. He is practicing how to say the words.
PM-Three of my afternoon students listening to the song on the Smartboard and moving the ocean creatures around to follow along with the song...in Spanish!
You can hear the song here and sing along with it in English:
Here is the Spanish version:
We have some videos for you of us interacting with the song on our Smartboard!
AM-One of my deaf students playing with the Smartboard and reenacting the song. He is practicing how to say the words.
PM-Three of my afternoon students listening to the song on the Smartboard and moving the ocean creatures around to follow along with the song...in Spanish!
You can hear the song here and sing along with it in English:
Here is the Spanish version:
Our New Classmates-Life Cycle of a Ladybug
You may have heard that we have a bunch of new classmates....
of the insect variety!
They arrived on Thursday and we have been excited about them ever since. The afternoon class still doesn't not know what they are! The morning class did get let in on the secret though.
Both classes drew in their journals when we first saw our new friends. They drew pictures of what they insects look like now. The afternoon class also predicted what they thought the bugs were going to be when they got older.
Some guesses:
-big ant
-butterfly
-snake
-dinosaur
-big spider
-caterpillar
-ladybug
-beatle
The afternoon class drew pictures of their predication in their journals as well.
They were told today that if they went on the classroom website this weekend, they would be able to find out what our new classmates will be when they grow up!
We are going to learn about the stages of a.....
of the insect variety!
They arrived on Thursday and we have been excited about them ever since. The afternoon class still doesn't not know what they are! The morning class did get let in on the secret though.
Both classes drew in their journals when we first saw our new friends. They drew pictures of what they insects look like now. The afternoon class also predicted what they thought the bugs were going to be when they got older.
Some guesses:
-big ant
-butterfly
-snake
-dinosaur
-big spider
-caterpillar
-ladybug
-beatle
The afternoon class drew pictures of their predication in their journals as well.
They were told today that if they went on the classroom website this weekend, they would be able to find out what our new classmates will be when they grow up!
We are going to learn about the stages of a.....
ladybug!
Check out the clip below to see pictures from our ladybug fun! You will see:
-Us seeing them in the tube they arrived in (they are tiny!) Right now some are in the egg stage and some are in the larval stage. Those are called larvae. They crawl all around.
-Us drawing pictures of what we see in tube (PM) or in the ladybug habitat (AM)]
-Us (PM) drawing pictures of what we think these little bugs will become!
Make sure your child has a chance to see the blog post this weekend so he/she can come back on Monday and share that he/she knows what they will become when they are done with their lifecycle!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Exploring Different Objects
Check out the most recent slideshow of some of the interesting things we have been doing over the last few weeks.
Things to notice:
-Exploring rocks with our eyes (using magnifying glasses) and touch (using our hands). We tried to come up with as many different ways to explain what we noticed as possible and write them down. You can see our list below.
-Exploring lids and their containers. We did an activity matching up containers to their various sized lids. We talked about why we thought different lids would fit with different containers based on size, shape, and way the lid was put on (push it on or twist it on).
-Coming up with our own ideas about what to put in the messy table and getting the materials out by ourselves.
"What do you think?" is one of the most often used phrases in our classroom. It has really helped us come up with our own ideas and brainstorm all kinds of new ideas. Try it out at home when your child comes to you with a question. We have gotten some pretty intelligent and creative answers!
Here you can see the morning class breaking out into singing the alphabet song during snack time all on their own. Miss Stephanie grabbed the camera really fast!
Things to notice:
-Exploring rocks with our eyes (using magnifying glasses) and touch (using our hands). We tried to come up with as many different ways to explain what we noticed as possible and write them down. You can see our list below.
-Exploring lids and their containers. We did an activity matching up containers to their various sized lids. We talked about why we thought different lids would fit with different containers based on size, shape, and way the lid was put on (push it on or twist it on).
-Coming up with our own ideas about what to put in the messy table and getting the materials out by ourselves.
"What do you think?" is one of the most often used phrases in our classroom. It has really helped us come up with our own ideas and brainstorm all kinds of new ideas. Try it out at home when your child comes to you with a question. We have gotten some pretty intelligent and creative answers!
Here you can see the morning class breaking out into singing the alphabet song during snack time all on their own. Miss Stephanie grabbed the camera really fast!
Monday, April 9, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
President Obama Uses Sign Language
Regardless of political affiliation, it is neat to see the President of the United States using sign language. Check out this blurb and the video!
From the site:
http://www.signingtime.com/blog/2012/04/president-obama-converses-with-deaf-student-in-sign-language/
From the site:
Stephon stood just a few feet away from Barack Obama. The president, busy shaking hands, looked right at him. “It was like he was waiting for me to say something,” he said later. So the 26-year-old Prince George’s Community College student took his cue and spoke to President Obama in his first language: American Sign Language.
“I am proud of you,” Stephon signed.
The president, almost involuntary, instinctively, immediately signed back, “Thank you.”
Another deaf student then signed to the president, “I love you.”
The president smiled back at her and shook her hand.
http://www.signingtime.com/blog/2012/04/president-obama-converses-with-deaf-student-in-sign-language/
Friday, March 23, 2012
The Three Little Pigs-Movie Style
This week we finished up our 3 Little Pigs focus by acting out the stories for the video camera. We have been acting them out on our own during work time. We have enjoyed reading different versions of the story too! We didn't rehearse at all! We just did our best to tell the story from remembering what we read as we went along!
AM Class-Check out our version of 3 Little Pigs in sign and voice!
JTT MM CK KG
IE CK JT DA
T/Th Class
PM Class: KP EK CH NP MD
JP PG JR MV
JC AC MP MJ
MJ SL CP MM
AM Class-Check out our version of 3 Little Pigs in sign and voice!
JTT MM CK KG
IE CK JT DA
T/Th Class
PM Class: KP EK CH NP MD
JP PG JR MV
JC AC MP MJ
MJ SL CP MM
Story Retelling on the Smartboard-Three Little Pigs
As you saw in our last blog post, we have been talking about The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf. We had a story on the Smartboard that we used to retell the story during work time. This week some of us used the microphone to record ourselves retelling the story. Miss Stephanie has included just a few examples of us retelling the story so you can get an idea of how it works.
Story retelling is a great skill to practice at home! After you've read a story, ask your child, "Tell me about it" and see what he or she remembers. Your child can flip through the pages of the book or retell from memory. You can talk about what happened first, next, and then last.
Check out 2 of my deaf and hard of hearing students retelling the story! They recorded the story in the microphone. In addition, I took notes of their words and signs. We may have a hearing loss, but we love to talk!
JT
KG
Check out two students from my afternoon class retell the story!
CH
MV
And one of my T/Th students!
OP
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Fun in the Room
Check out our slideshow of some of the fun we had in the room!
At the beginning of the slideshow you will see us exploring with magnifying glasses. We saw a roly-poly bug in our classroom and several of the kids had the idea to run and get magnifying glasses to look at him more closely. Then we brought him outside and set him free.
At the beginning of the slideshow you will see us exploring with magnifying glasses. We saw a roly-poly bug in our classroom and several of the kids had the idea to run and get magnifying glasses to look at him more closely. Then we brought him outside and set him free.
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