Learning about Winter...

Today we:
- practiced writing our first (and last) names.
- picked up 'snowballs' (pom poms) with tweezers for small motor (we also sorted, counted and made applesauce with them).
- worked hard at centers - during centers I focused on rhyming in my one-on-one time with each student.
- discussed months, days of the week, patterning, and counting in our Calendar Time.
- read our Sound Chart and sang our Sounds Song
**DON'T FORGET TO PRACTICE THE SOUND CHART WITH YOUR CHILD EVERYDAY**
- read Little Snowflake's BIG Adventure by Steve Metzger.
-made our own snowflakes out of cereal boxes.
*during their creating time, some started singing our preschool theme song quietly to themselves (the words are: It's a great day, it's a beautiful day. It's the kind of day that makes ya wanna say: I'm glad I'm alive, I'm happy to be me. And that's the way to be... Ya!)after a couple quiet times through almost all were just BELTING it out for all the world to hear (I mean, really going for it)! It was one of those moments were I sent silent thoughts to each of them to "please, please, please remember these words. Remember them when you are a teenager, remember them when you are old, remember them when the hard days come, because they will pass but you were, and are, always meant to be YOU and that is a GREAT thing." I thought of how I watched my 6th grade students, when I taught middle school in Ogden, sometimes get lost and forget who they were, and go down sad paths. I thought of how much I want to TEACH them while they are here that they are so valuable to this world. Anyway - that's what I thought at approximately 10:45 this morning.
Back to what we did :)
- played outside if we wanted or colored inside if that suited us better.
- introduced the number 0 by playing a game "What's in the box"
- then, worked on understanding that number, and writing it.

It was certainly a great day... a beautiful day (and I remembered it is GREAT to be me)!
Thank you!!!

HAPPY 2012!

Welcome Back!

Today we:
- colored our new name plates.
- worked with 'bendy sticks' for small motor development.
- worked hard at centers!
** Santa Claus was so good to our little preschool - we had many new toys to play with including A LEGO TABLE (which all the children started out at- but Kye and Liam never left, a new set of MAGNET DOLLS, a new floor rug for cars, a new TRAIN SET, and a PUPPET THEATER!!! Yippee!!! (I think all my gift-givers know just how much i love teaching preschool and they are helping me be 'in it for the long haul'.)

- we talked about the month of January and what we (usually) do in winter.
- worked on our calendar.
- a highlight was talking about New Year's Eve and the count-down to 2012. We practiced counting down by using our NEW felt boards. Each student got numeral flashcards and a felt board and we each worked to find the numbers 10 down to 1. (We are working hard to recognize each number.) We then were able to glue the numbers on our paper
** a note: I did not tell the students how to glue them, they just got to choose.
After they were done gluing they got to come 'hand print' the front - while the paint was drying we ate snacks and talked about New Year's Resolutions.
- played outside!!!
- worked with the letter Ii (different from their homework - letter Jj)
- learned some new songs (days of the week, letter sounds, number rap).
- and ended the day making flowers, ladders, and such with bendy sticks!

It was a wonderful start to a new year!
Thanks!
Jen

Christmas Party (with a purpose)!

What a special day. I've been looking forward to this day for a bit, not for the reason most teachers are, but for the moment I could see a Great-Grandma's surprised face as 7 wonderful four/five year-olds present her with a present THEY made.
It started well, the children all arrived happy and eager for their FRIGID walk up the street to Ida Mae's house. Most carried gifts, some (Taryn and Cole) held hands the entire way "cause that's what friends do" - well, at least for now :)
We rang the doorbell, as giddy as 4 year-olds can be, and walked back to her room with smiles and presents in tow. You should have seen Ida Mae's face as these little one's stepped into her room!!! (PS. What kind of teacher doesn't document that moment? One that can't figure out her camera. GRRRR!)
We sang "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" then took turns presenting her with cards and gifts. Her thanks was certainly thanks enough for our feet didn't touch the ground the entire way home.
I thank you for letting us have that moment as a preschool class (one I hope they will remember for a long, long while).

We also:
- finished our Christmas Counting Book and sent it home.
- decorated Christmas Cookies.
- finished cards for our presents to mom and dad (sent home also).
- received gifts.
-warmed up with hot chocolate!

Thanks for a wonderful first half... looking forward to much fun and learning in 2012!

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!

I am so glad that you all said YES to extend the hours. A note will be sent home on Tuesday about new times (because if you're anything like me you KNOW you will remember and then 5 minutes later you're wondering what you were SUPPOSE to remember). So... note home, it is!

Today we were busy; we:
- worked on a counting book
- played/worked in centers
- began work on Tanegrams (putting shape blocks together to create something)
- read Moostletoe
- made gingerbread houses
- enjoyed circle time (learning about patterns, review counting, etc)
- learned a new song to help us remember the days of the week. Here it is:
(To the tune/chorus of: 'Clementine' I think that's the name?? I'm pretty musically challenged but that doesn't EVER stop me from singing my heart out with our little ones)
Lyrics ( get ready... these are crazy tough!)
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

**Today we also started on our service project. (Originally I had planned to donate the blanket to a shelter, but thanks to my sweet husband, I had a different idea.) We'll be giving the blanket to Ida Mae, a GREAT-GRANDMA up the street who can't get out so much anymore and could use the kindness and a visit from our little ones. ** See NOTE below**. Anyway, we worked hard tying knots on the throw blanket for her.

PERMISSION REQUEST:
We will be walking up to IDA MAE's on Tuesday as part of our party (around 10 a.m.) to give her this gift (and return back to school around 10:45.
Do I have your permission to do that?
**Don't forget to have them dress warm for the walk**
***If it's terrible weather I will take it to her later, but I'm sure she'd much prefer to see some MUCH younger faces!

Thanks for a great day!

Our Magic Carpet took us to Denmark Today!

**Happy Birthday Celebration for Cole!

Today we:
- made Cole a birthday book.
- danced, sang, and rang bells for movement and rhythm.
- discovered TWO mystery numbers today (4 & 5).
- read, Santa Are You Grumpy? and discussed how doing nice things for others can help them turn their day around (un-grump-ify them).
- we enjoyed Danish Christmas traditions. We learned that in Denmark they have rice pudding on Christmas Eve - and if someone finds an almond in their bowl, they will have good luck the coming year - so we all looked for our "good luck" hidden in our pudding (even if we didn't want to eat it).
- we also learned that in Denmark they think of the birds on Christmas (they have a lot of stories about people and animals being out in the cold and lonely so maybe it has something to do with that??). So we made 'bird treats' out of cheerios for each child to string on a branch and care for the birds around their home this Christmas.

It was a GREAT day!
Thanks!
jen

Christmas Around the World!

Today was the beginning of some serious Christmas FUN around here. We departed on our magic carpet for Mexico and learned a bit about how they celebrate Christmas in the country just below us.

We had such fun making pinata's and stuffing them with candy - I'm guessing the children will be ready soon to start busting them open - ENJOY!

We also:
~worked on the formation of letter Hh.
~worked hard during centers (today the girls were girls = barbies and marriage, and the boys were boys = crash up cars and blocks). So cute to watch!
~enjoyed rhyming with Rudolph - a fun rhyming activity they will each get to bring home soon.
~read Counting Christmas by Kathryn Katz
~worked hard on our Christmas counting book.
~and of course... loved making pinatas and learning a little about our world.

Looking Forward:
Cole's Birthday Celebration is Thursday.
Show n Tell also Thurs.

** A note about next week**
Will you please send your children in clothes that DON'T matter next week - your washer will thank me for the warning (that's sounds like we'll be rolling in mud - not that bad, but lots of sticky, painty activities). Thanks!

December 20 - Our Christmas Party
December 22 - no school (Winter Break)
**school resumes Jan 3rd.

What is She Thinking???

{So a change has been on my mind for a while now.}
I want to know what you parents would think about extending our preschool day by 1/2 hour... So we would start at 9:15 and end at 11:45, making it a 2 1/2 preschool day. I would also consider 9:30 - 12, for our little morning snoozers (sadly, my little ones do not qualify for the latter as they continue to torment me with their 5:30 and 6 a.m. wake up screeches! Gotta love it!).
Let me explain a bit more: I have felt for a while that I'm having to hurry the kids along most of the time to complete all that we need to get done in school - so a simple stretch of the time would allow me to teach and work with each child and also allow the children to settle in and not be rushed for time.
~We would begin the new schedule in January (if everyone feels good about it).
~There would be no extra cost each month as I would not be planning anything more, just stretching the length of each activity.

What do you think?

Please, comment here or to me in person. I'm anxious to hear what your thoughts or concerns are.
Thanks for considering!