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!