Great First Month!!!

This week we did a lot of work with counting and writing numbers one through ten.  The children also learned a new word "estimation."  One morning they were asked to look in a jar and try to estimate how many magnets were.  Each child had to write their initials and how many they thought were in the jar.  After they all guessed we counted out how many magnets there were.  The children used the tweezers to pick up and count foam squares and put them in the proper number cups.  The tweezers are good for the children because they help strengthen small motor muscles in the hand.  We also had a have-to job where the children had to count shapes and write down how many there were.  In that have-to job they also practiced simple addition problems.  Check it out on the board!

We also learned the letter "F", how to write it, and the sound it makes.  They completed the letter "F" page in the HWT books making sure that they started forming the letter at the top!  Before being able to move their clip on the job chart they each had to tell me a different word that started with the letter "F."

The children were each given a weekly job this week.  Each of them have a particular responsibility around the classroom.  Every Monday we will rotate their popsicle sticks and they will get a new job.  They will have an opportunity to get to do every job.  Ask your child what job they have for the week!

Thank you to Chloe's grandfather for getting really neat rocks for Chloe and     Chloe for sharing them with the class.  The children loved looking at them and picking out their favorites.  After bringing some books in with pictures of rocks, the children looked through them for particular ones.  We also put out clipboards with blank paper.  Some children drew the rocks while other children traced them.  They were very interested in the colors, textures, and different sizes of all of them!

In addition to the have-to jobs and the morning meeting work the children also still have plenty of time to play!  They enjoy choosing centers with their friends and getting busy.  Here are some pictures of your children hard at work throughout the morning.

MUSIC

The children explored the C major scale this week using solfege and hand bells.  At first we listened for high and low sounds, and put the bells in order.  Then we sang along with the bells using solfege syllables and used the body scale to clarify ascending scale patterns by starting with "Do" at the toes.

Here are some great pictures from the picnic.  It ended up being such a beautiful day and the children really seemed to enjoy themselves!

Week 3 in Prek!

This week we focused on patterns and the letter "L".  The children used the Handwriting Without Tears wooden big line and little line sticks to make the letter during morning meeting.  They also got a friendly reminder from Mr. Top that the proper way to form all letters is by starting at the top.  They absolutely love talking about Mr. Top and baby top (Mr. Top's son who is the smaller smiley face in our workbooks).  We then went on to practicing making the sound and thinking of words that begin with the letter "L".  They met Mr. Lovely Lemon Lollipop (an Alpha Time character, which is our phonics program) and heard all about his adventures making lemon lollipops.  They got to color in Mr. L and continue practicing finding "L' words with their have to jobs all week.

The kids have loved making patterns this week! Every morning when doing the calendar we have to figure out which day it is and what color the number will be written in.  Our pattern on the calendar is blue, blue, black and the children say it out loud until we get to the day it is and what color we will make the number.  In addition to that pattern the children have been using the unifix cubes to make patterns.  Also one morning as the children walked in they were asked to find a pattern on the white board and complete it.  The children really seem to be grasping the concept of what a pattern is and using it in other areas.  Some children are beading necklaces using a pattern while others are creating art projects using patterns.

Some children have also been wanting to work on addition and subtraction problems.  We have made optional math packets for all the children and given them a choice to work on them. Some children ask for them daily while others are not quite interested in that yet, which is okay too.  The children have been using manipulatives to figure out problems that are a little more tricky.  For example, if the problem is 7-3, they count out seven circles and then take away three to find the answer.

We have also been sharing our All About Me books with the class.  The children are so excited to come up and share about their family and interests.  After they are done sharing they put their book in the library for others to look at during quiet reading time.  The children are really cute about it and love to look at the other children's books on their own time.  We have finished sharing the ones we have in the class so if your child's book is done at home please bring it in!

MUSIC

This week in music class the children made up their own rhythms using apple and pear.  They also have been learning the Hello, Bonjour song.  They have been enjoying learning and singing the song as they enter music everyday.  They also have been doing a lot of music and movement while listening and following to the beat of the music.  They either use their body or instruments to move with the beat of the song.










Below is a video of the children dancing to their favorite movement song animal action!  They are told to move like different animals while singing along to the catchy chorus. 

A Very Productive Second Week!

We had a very productive second week of school.  The children are really beginning to feel comfortable in their environment and have the routines pretty much down.  Since they picked up the flow of the day so quickly, I felt it was an appropriate time to make the classroom rules with the children.  As a class we brainstormed what we felt were proper ways to behave on a daily basis whether it be towards one another or just in general in the classroom.  Each of the children will sign the poster board which states all the rules and it will be displayed in our classroom as a reminder that we all agreed to them.  

We practiced our math skills as well this week.  The children each got  a piece of paper that had a number on it and dots that matched the number displayed.  They were paired up and with their partner had to collect the appropriate amount of things.  For example, if the card had the number 8 on it, the pair would have to collect eight of the same object in the class.  Some children collected markers, others glue sticks, and some books.  They then shared what they collected and we counted out loud to make sure they got the appropriate amount. 

Another have-to job we did this week, which most of you probably saw, were self portraits.  I read the book I Like Myself by Stephanie Beaumont which is about all the things that makes each of us special as an individual.  Then I gave them markers, a piece of paper, and a mirror and had them draw a picture of themselves. The children took this job very seriously.  Some of them held the mirror very close to their face to make sure to get every detail of their face.  As you all saw they came out very cute!  The children will do another self portrait at the end of the year.

The children were introduced to the Handwriting Without Tears program this week.  I started off by putting out the wooden lines and curves to allow them to explore with making letters.  Each letter can be made with either the curves or lines or both.  They enjoyed making letters in their name and trying to create words.  The next day I introduced them to Mr. Top, who is just a paper smiley face.  Mr. Top reminds the children that when forming letters it is important that they start at the top!  After listening to a little song about it and giving some examples of letter formation, they each got their individual workbooks.  They were given some time to look through the book and color in some pages.  Every week we will have a letter of the week and the children will have to practice the proper way to write it while also learning the sound and words that start with it. 

Along with all the have-to jobs the children also enjoyed playing with one another at the different centers.  The children loved making pictures with the water colors and playing house in the dramatic play area.  We also have been doing a lot of music and movement where the children get to express themselves through dancing!  

First Week of Prekindergarten!!

The first week of school went great! All the children seemed to be really excited about being at school and surrounded by their peers.  They are doing a nice job of adjusting to the routine of the day and learning new rules and new expectations.  They understand the job chart now and have taken a liking to it.  Some of the children like to move from center to center just so they can move their clip.  We also have a few children who make sure that everyone is in the place there clip says they should be.  


In PreK, students do "have-to" jobs. These jobs help to prepare students for Kindergarten and gives the teacher an opportunity to assess student progress.  These jobs range from writing, math or science activities to cooking, art and building jobs. Some of the "have to" jobs we have done so far are to write how we felt about our first day of school, signing in independently, estimating how many apples were in a basket, and grabbing and counting alphabet letters. 

The classroom has been filled with joy, laughs, messes, learning, exploring, new friends, and exciting adventures. All 13 children have adjusted to their new classroom with ease and comfort.  We have united as a Prekindergarten family!

We asked the children what there favorite thing to do at school was and this is what they said:
"Play with S.K." -JL

"Paying in the block area with A.N." -PR

"Play with the cars" -AW

"Play ballet" -HK

"Build necklaces" -OL

"Play in the kitchen" -CK

"Go to the bean table" -SK

"Make stuff like zippy cups" -AN

"Doing art" -AS

"I like the art area" -EH

"I like the water table" -IG