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!