First Week Frenzie!

Our Classes are Fabulous and Fun!  We have picked right up where we left off and are cruising through our learning and adventures.  Below are some fun pictures for you parents wishing you were a fly on the wall!  Your children are brilliant and I am so blessed to have them in my class! :)

The first day back the children were greeted with  a ball of ordinary play dough...What could be exciting about that?  How about the hidden treasures inside!  You should have seen their faces as they found google eyes and pipe cleaners!  The creativity started to roll!   We had everything from monsters (do you think that had anything to do with our classroom decor?) to sisters that we were missing.

I love to make Koolaid play dough for class!  It smells wonderful and is so easy!
Here is my all time favorite recipe from way back when I taught at Weber State:

KOOL AID PLAYDOUGH

2 Cups Flour
1/2 Cup Salt
2 pks dry koolaid (to give color)
3 TBL. oil
2 Cups Boiling water.
Mix the Dry ingredients in a large bowl.  Add oil to water.  Then slowing add water/oil mixture while stirring. Knead until all mixed.  Be CAREFUL!  It is HOT!

Red Day!  This is probably my favorite day when everyone comes wearing red.  They are look so cute!

We had red play dough in the sand and water table along with farm animal.
The favorite activity of the day was CRAYON MELT.  We used an old warming plate similar to the one above, placed our color book page on it and colored.  The children were fascinated with the science and feel of the melting crayon.  BTW, we are looking for more of these warmers. Ask your parents or probably grandparents if the have one.  We would LOVE it!

We are learning a song that we can sing along with our color book.  I used it while teaching kindergarten.  It has been handed down from teacher to teacher for years.  I don't know who wrote it or where the tune came from...You'll have to have your child sing it to you...

Color Song verse 1
I had a red apple to nibble and munch, nibble and munch, nibble and munch.
Some purple grapes in a great big bunch.
One fine morning.

We also learning how to spell and write the word "red"

I like Red: sung to London Bridges
I like red, I like red, R-E-D, R-E-D.
Fire trucks are red,
Stop signs are red.
R-E-D, R-E-D.

THE LETTER M!

M the moose munches!  We love love love THE AMAZING ACTION ALPHABET!
We also have an ABC Book we started today.
It says, "Letter Monster Letter Monster Munch Munch Munch, What letter is for your lunch?"
The kids love placing sticker monsters on the letter M and practicing writing them in their book.
We also made M&M cookies, Painted with M&M's, stamped Monster Masks with Marshmallows and discovered what we could do with rain cutters, blocks, and Marbles!

Snail Races!  In one class, we were visited by some snails...

What a busy week!  I will post about purple day soon!

On your mark, get set, GO!!!

Here we GO!

Finally!!!!

It was so good to see you all at your back to school appointments!  I always love the awe in the children's eyes when they see our room!

September is FULL of fun and learning.

Please read through our September Lesson Plans here.

Most of the time as parents when we ask our kiddos the age old question of "what did you do/learn today?" The answer is always disappointing.

Hopefully by reviewing the lesson plans, you will be able to ask specific questions about their day and stimulate great discussions about what happened in Pre-K.

Remember a child's work is PLAY!  Every activity we do at ABC School has several objectives behind it.  I love this poem, but it is one I have used for years but am unable to find the author.  If any of you know who it is, please let me know! :)

NOTHING

Author Unknown
When children come home at the end of the day,
The question they're asked as they scurry to play Is,

"Tell me what you did today?"
And the answer they give makes you sigh with dismay.
"Nothing, I did nothing today!"
Perhaps nothing means that I played with blocks,
Or counted to ten, or sorted some rocks.
Maybe I painted a picture of red and blue
Or heard a story of a mouse that flew.
Maybe I watched the gerbils eat today,
Or went outside on the swings to play.
Maybe today was the very first time

That my scissors followed a very straight line
Maybe I lead a song from beginning to end,
Or played with a special brand new friend.
When you're in pre-school
And your heart has wings,
"Nothing" can mean so many things!!

Daily Schedule

Here is our daily schedule.  Please note the following colors for your child's time:

9:00-11:00  RED CLASS

11:15-1:15  YELLOW CLASS

1:30-3:30    BLUE CLASS

9:00, 11:15, 1:30

Welcome, Manipulatives

This is a time for children not only to separate from parents, but to increase large and small motor use, math & reading skill, and to interact one on one with the teacher.  During this time social interactions are encouraged and children are free to go to and from activities as they please.

9:15, 11:30, 1:45

Circle Time

Circle Time is set up for group instruction.  We will be singing, reading stories, and discussing topics related to the weekly objectives.

9:30, 11:45, 2:00

Centers

Center time is used to enhance all areas of your child's development and needs.  Weekly assessments and goals will be met through art, math, science, social interaction, diversity and other activities.

10:15, 12:30, 2:45

Snack Time

Snack time provides a relaxed environment for social interaction.  Parents will be asked to provide a health snack on a rotating basis.  You will find your child will be excited to have his/her turn to bring the snack and have the focus of that time on them.

10:30, 12:45, 3:00

Calendar Math & Literacy

Through the use of calendars we will work on letters, numbers, shapes, sequencing, pre-reading skills and name recognition

10:40, 12:55, 3:10

Outside or Free Play

Outside time provides the class with large motor activities.  While outside we will discover nature, explore possibilities, and assess each child's needs and interests.  As children are able to move about, this provides an opportunity for more one on one attention

10:50, 1:05, 3:20

Story Time, Units, Music, Clean-up

Units will include various areas of interest and seasonal activities for the children.  During this time stories will be read to enhance the learning environment and stimulate a life long love of reading.  On occasion, special guest visitors and parent show & tell times will happen.

11:00, 1:15, 3:30

Dismiss

Please be on time to pick your child up.  When parents are consistently on time to pick up a child, the child will be more eager to come to school the next time.

Monster Glyph

Look how fun this Monster Glyph is that the students will be making at back to school.
They will place their monsters on the wall to display.

I will post pictures when we are done! I purchased the cute border from http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Flapjack-Educational-Resources and edited it.

Thanks to Kindergarten Rocks for the cute idea.  Here is one of her finished products.

2012 School Supplies

Please bring your child's school supplies to his/her back to school appointment.


2 rolls of paper towels
1 box of 4-5 oz cups (please no 3 oz)
8 glue sticks
2 4oz ELMERS Washable WHITE school glue
1 large Clorox Disinfecting Wipes for messy desks
1 box of baby wipes for messy fingers
Backpack large enough to hold a 9x12 inch folder
Emergency Form


*Helpful Hint: Some children are reluctant to leave these “treasured” school supplies when they come to school.  Please get your child excited to leave these items at school by explaining that these items are for them to use while they are at school and that Teacher Andrea will have a special place to keep them safe. Thank you!

We Will Have a MONSTERous Fun Year!!

I am SO EXCITED FOR THIS YEAR!

I have missed you all so much!  We do have
a few new students coming this year...WELCOME!

Calendars and Newsletters will be posted each month so you can refer back to the post if you misplace something! ;)
I will also try to post random happenings in the classroom.

I can't wait to see you next Wednesday.

Please read through our September Newsletter by clicking on this link before back to school so I can answer any questions you may have.