Hello Fall!

THIS WEEK...
     This week we are finishing up our study of shapes and colors.  We read the book "My Many Colored Days" by Dr. Seuss and used our listening and comprehension skills to make our own version of the book.  We also read the book "Mouse Shapes" by Ellen Stoll Walsh.  We used a shape-a-scope (toilet paper rolls) to look for shapes in our classroom.  We then reported on the shapes we found.  We also made a mouse using a variety of shapes. 
     The students have been so busy engaging in creative learning in our classroom.  They are exploring all the materials and coming up with new and inventive ways to use them.

REMINDERS...
- 9/28 Scholastic Book Orders are due.  Thank you to the families who have already ordered.
- Spirit Cup Fundraiser has started.  Flyers went home earlier this week.  Please consider buying a pack for your family, for a gift (Christmas will be here soon), or asking some friends and family to buy a pack.  The classroom with the highest sales gets $100 to buy classroom supplies.  If we have 100% participation in our room, we get to go to UDF for ice cream!

HOMEWORK...

 - Bring in something that comes from a tree.  (Leaf, stick, nuts, something made from wood, apple or other fruit, etc...)

COMING UP NEXT...
- We are beginning our study of trees next week.  We will be talking about different types of trees, leaves, and things that comes from trees.
- We will be starting letter of the week next week.  We will starting with the letter M. 

Falling Into Learning





Shaving Cream Color Mixing

     As the weather turns cooler and fall is right around the corner, we are also "falling" into a great routine in our room.  The children are becoming more independent throughout the day.  Most of the children are able to complete the arrival and sign in routines with little assistance.  The children are also learning the classroom routine and are able to tell what comes next in the day with the help of a visual schedule.  Some of the children are also beginning to learn our circle time songs and are starting to sing along! 

     This month we have been learning all about colors and shapes.  We've been talking about primary colors (red, blue, yellow) and what happens when we mix them together.  This week we read the book "Mouse Paint" by Ellen Stoll Walsh.  Each of our projects this week involved identifying and mixing colors.  The children have really enjoyed the color mixing work on the art shelf.  Next week we will be talking about shapes.

Mouse Paint Color Mixing

REMINDERS...

* Scholastic Book Orders are due on Thursday 9/27.  Remember, you can also order online. 

     https://orders.scholastic.com/J6YFH

* Have you turned in your Family Photo Album page?

* Have your turned in all your paperwork?

*Join the Sharpsburg PTA - they do a lot of great things for our school!

HOMEWORK...

*Bring in (empty) toilet paper rolls Monday or Tuesday.  We're going to use them for a fun project.

COMING UP NEXT...

*9/27 - Curious About Rhymes Night at Sharpsburg Primary @ 5:30

*In October we will be learning about trees.

*10/10 - School Picture Day

Color Mixing Work

Mouse Paint



Finger Paint (or brush) Color Mixing



Mouse Paint Book

Finger Painting

Finger Painting

Fabulous First Week

     Wow, we made it through the first week of Preschool.  We started out week by exploring the classroom in a scavenger hunt.  The children were given pictures of different classroom materials and had to locate them.  The children also completed their first portfolio entry.  Each child was asked to write his/her name, age, and draw a self portrait.  We will look back at these pages at the end of the year to see how far we've come.    We have also been talking about our classroom rules and learning all the routines and expectations.  All of the children are adjusting quickly and doing great!
    

     The children have been very interested in working in the block area.  They have built many towers, roads, and other great structures this week.  Other children have been busy in the dramatic play area, sensory table, and playing learning games.  It's been a busy first week!

     On Thursday, we were visited by our Speech-Language Pathologist - Ms. Jutte, our Occupational Therapist - Mrs. Graves, and out Physical Therapist - Ms. Lisa.  The therapists will be in the room each Thursday to work with children individually and in groups.  They have a lot of fun activities planned for this year.

REMINDERS...

•  If you have not turned in paperwork or school supplies, please do so as soon as possible.
• T-Shirt orders are due this week.
• Have you turned in your Family Photo Album page?  The children love looking at these photos all year long. 

HOMEWORK...

    In previous years, our preschool homework has been mostly paper and pencil based.  This year I am going to be trying a strategy for homework.  I have been creating parent-child activity bags.  In the upcoming weeks, I will begin sending the bags home with students on Thursdays.  The bags will contain an activity (with instructions) for your and your child to complete together.  These activities are designed to reinforce the skills we are working on in the classroom.  There will occasionally be a paper and pencil homework assignment, but I plan to mostly use the activity bags.  More information soon!  I also hope you are practicing letter names and sounds with the flash cards that were in your welcome goody bags.

COMING UP NEXT...

     Our surprise class pet will be arriving this week.  We will be making predictions about the type of pet.  Once our pet arrives, we will be talking more about it and deciding on a name.

Support Our Classroom

Times are tough and money is tight everywhere but you can still help earn money for our school and classroom.  Below are some ways you can help...

• Box Tops for Education - www.boxtops4education.com
• Bring in your used printer cartridges, I can turn these in for recycling at Staples and earn store credit to purchase classroom materials.
• www.Donorschoose.org - Support our classroom grant projects
• Order books from Scholastic.  I'll be sending Scholastic order forms home each month.  Scholastic has loads of great books and materials for children.  Every time you order books from Scholastic, we earn points to purchase materials for our classroom.

I'll be updating this post as more opportunities are available.  Thanks for supporting Sharpsburg!