Homes for People

This (short) week, we began our study of homes.  We read the book "Homes A to Z" and learned about many different types of homes that people live in.  We used paper shapes to make our own house on paper.  We also have many new materials out in our classroom including a doll house, barn, and animal sorting work.  The children have been very interested in the new materials.  In addition to letter of the week, we have begun reviewing the letters we have already learned using large picture flash cards.  We say the name of the letter, it's sound, and name the picture on the card.  You can also help your child practice letter names and sounds with the flashcards your child received at the beginning of the year.  If you did not receive any and would like a set please let me know.  The letters we have learned so far this year are: M, T, A, S, P, and C.  Next week we will learn about the letter I.

If you're wondering why your child doesn't bring a lot of art work home, there are 2 reasons...
1) We save a lot of your child's art work and projects and put them in his/her portfolio.  You will be able to look at your child's portfolio at conferences and it will be sent home at the end of the year.  Portfolios help us see the progress your child is making over the course of the school year.
2) We focus more on the learning process and not on the product.  Each child has his/her own way of showing what they are learning.  We encourage the children to explore classroom materials in their own way.  One child may cover the whole page with paint and next may only make a few brush marks.  It's about the process (of learning and exploring), not the product!    


REMINDERS...
- If you received an ASQ questionnaire, please return it on Tuesday.
- Parent-teachers conferences are tonight and next Wednesday 11/14.  I'm looking forward to talking with everyone.
- No School on: 11/12, 11/21, 11/22.  (November is going to fly by!)
- Scholastic Book orders for November and December will be coming home next week.  Books make great gifts!  If you order online, you get a $5 coupon for your next order and the classroom gets a $3 coupon.  Thanks to the parents who have been ordering.
https://orders.scholastic.com/J6YFH

HOMEWORK...
- C worksheet
- Counting doors and windows page
- Send in a picture of your house (you can use google maps to find one on the Internet)
- Hands on Homework Activity Pack (please remember to send back to school with all pieces by Tuesday of next week.)

Pumpkins in Preschool

     This week... We learned about pumpkins.  We talked about where pumpkins grow and how they grow.  We learned that pumpkins come in many colors other than orange.  We also learned that if you have a big enough pumpkin, you can scoop it out and use it as a boat!  Wow!  We read the book "Seed, Sprout, Pumpkin Pie" and "We're Going on a Ghost Hunt."  The children tore strips of paper and glues them onto a paper plate to make a pumpkin.  Tearing paper is a great way to develop fine motor skills necessary for writing.  We also had a small Halloween Part on Wednesday.  I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween.
     Our letter of the week this week is P.  Next week week we will talk about the letter C.  We will also begin our new theme next week: homes and houses.  We will talk about homes for people and animal homes. 

HOMEWORK...
*P worksheet
*Send in a picture of the front of your house.  We will use these as part of our homes and houses theme.
* Hands On Homework - Starting this week, each child will have a bag with a learning activity in their backpack.  I will rotate the activities each week.  Please help your child complete the activity in the bag and send the bag with all of the activity pieces back to school by Tuesday of the following week.  It VERY IMPORTANT that you send the activity back to school each week so that other children will have an opportunity to use the activity.  If you have any questions about Hand On Homework, please contact me. 
     All of the activities teach different skills.  If the activity seems to difficult for your child, see if there is another way you can use the material; such as naming the colors, sorting the pieces, or counting them.  Most importantly... have fun learning with your child!

Happy Birthday
10/27 - Citlalli
11/17 - Joseph

REMINDERS...
11/6  - No School, teacher in-service day.
11/8 and 11/14 - Parent-teacher conferences.  Conferences are scheduled to last 15 minutes in order to make time for all parents.  Please arrive on time so we have plenty of time to discuss your child's progress.  Thanks!
11/12 - No School, Veteran's Day

A Special Thank You...
  To the PTA for some of the leftover pumpkins from Pumpkin Night last Friday.  Each child was able to paint and take home their own pumpkin.  The children really enjoyed painting the pumpkins.  We will also use one of the pumpkins for a fine motor activity (hammering golf tees into the pumpkin).  Thanks PTA.  Please consider joining Sharpsburg PTA.  The dues are only $5!  The dues help support the great things PTA for our school.  If you're interested in joining, please send you name, child's name, and phone number with $5. 

Lovely Leaves

     This week we talked about leaves.  We read the book "Fall Leaves Fall."  The children used scissors to snip strips of paper and then glue them onto a leaf cut out to make a leaf mosaic.  We also used different colored leaf cut outs to make an AB pattern hat.  Learning to copy, extend, and create patterns are important skills for both reading and math.  Help you child practice making patterns with things at home such as Lego's, shoes and socks, and silverware. 
     Our letter of the week is S.  Some of the children are beginning to write legible letters during our "erase and trace" chalkboard activity.  Next weeks' letter is P.
     We also did a little yoga for the first time this week.  We read some pages of the book "My Daddy is a Pretzel" and did a few yoga poses and some breathing excises.  The children enjoyed trying the yoga poses.  We will introduce more as the year goes on.
     This week we built and drew Mat Man for the first time.  Mat Man is part of the Handwriting Without Tears program that teaches handwriting, builds fine motor skills, and teachers letters.  If you have questions about Mat Man, feel free to ask me at conferences or check out their website:  http://www.hwtears.com/hwt/parents
    
    

REMINDERS AND OTHER NEWS...
*If you signed up to supply treats for our Halloween Party on Wednesday 10/31, please send treats in on Monday or Tuesday next week. 
*If you signed up to attend the Halloween Party, you must have fingerprints on file at the Board Office.  Fingerprints need to be renewed on a yearly basis.  If you do not have up to date fingerprints, you will not be allowed to attend the party.  This is a district policy. 
*Parent-teacher conference confirmations will be sent home next week.  If you did not sign up for a conference time, one will be assigned for you.  I look forward to the opportunity to talk with each parent about their child's progress! 
*Today is the last day to order books from Scholastic for this month.  Thanks to the parents who have ordered!
*Some members of our classroom have allergies and sensitive respiratory systems.  In order to keep everyone in our classroom healthy and comfortable, please have your child refrain from using cologne or perfume before coming to school.  While fragrance sprays are appealing to some people, they can make others with allergies sick.  We appreciate your support and efforts to keep everyone healthy and happy at school. 

HOMEWORK...
*Letter S worksheet
*Pattern page.  Make your own patterns by coloring the blocks, using stickers, or writing letters.
*Next week will begin our Hands on Homework Program.  I will be sending home a game or activity each week.  It is VERY IMPORTANT that you send the game back to school (with all the pieces) by Tuesday of the following week so that other children will have the opportunity to use the game.  Each week, your child will receive a different game or activity for you to do together.

Awesome Apples

     This week we studied apples as part of our tree study.  We tasted red, yellow, and green apples and recorded our favorites.  We also cut out a rectangle and circle to make a tree and then crumbled tissue paper to make apples.  All of the children worked together to make applesauce.  The children picked an apple, peeled it, put it in the pot, and mashed it.  Today we tasted the applesauce.  Mmmmmm!  Our letter of the week was A.  We continue to practice erasing and tracing letters on a chalkboard using a small wet sponge and chalk.  This week we also started working on a picture dictionary.  The children will have the opportunity to write the letter of the week and glue in pictures that start with the letter.  At then end of the year, the children will take the dictionary home. 
     Cutting is a skill that requires a lot of fine motor control.  Many of the children have a hard time with cutting.  Each child was given a pair of scissors at the beginning of the year.  Please help your child practice his/her cutting skills at home.  Some fun things for children to include; cutting straws, play-doh snakes, and small strips of paper. 
     Next week we will learn more about leaves. 

HOMEWORK...
* Cutting page
* A worksheet
* Trace, color, and name the shapes

REMINDERS...
* Sign up for parent -teacher conferences.  Conference times will be assigned on a first come - first served basis.  I will send home conference confirmation letters after forms are turned in.
* The weather has been quite cool in the morning and warm in the afternoon.  Please consider dressing your child in layers.  This way, your child can stay warm on the playground and remove layers as the day gets warmer.
* Some members of our classroom have allergies and sensitive respiratory systems.  In order to keep everyone in our classroom healthy and comfortable, please have your child refrain from using cologne or perfume before coming to school.  While fragrance sprays are appealing to some people, they can make other with allergies sick.  We appreciate your support and efforts to keep everyone healthy and happy at school. 

Chicka Chicka BOOM BOOM!

This week we read the book "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom."   We talked about the coconut tree in the book and we made a class coconut tree.  The children helped glue paper on to make the trunk and cut out leaves and coconuts.  They also used letter stamps to put letters in the tree.  We made our own version of the book by dictating or writing what we thought might be coming up the coconut tree and then drawing a picture.  Some of the children are already able to write letters and some friends are just starting to make letter like formations.  A great place to practice letter writing is in the bath tub with bath tub crayons.  This week we learned about the letter T.  We talked about words that begin with the /T/ sound and practiced writing the letter T.  Next week's letter is A.  If your child enjoys worksheets, there are many available for you to print online.  One website I like is http://www.first-school.ws/  There are many great websites full of fun learning activities for preschoolers. 

Next week, we will continue our study of trees by learning about apple trees.  We will be tasting apples, painting with apples, and making applesauce!  Thank you to the families that have brought in apples.  We still need a few more (any color) if you would like to send in more. 

We will have a Fall Party on October 31st.  Please see the information sheet in your child's folder.  Remember, if you plan to attend any classroom celebrations, you MUST have current (within the last year) fingerprints on file.  Fingerprinting is available at the Board of Education. 

HOMEWORK...
- T worksheets
- Send in apples, pumpkins, or gourds
- Have your child practice putting on and zipping their coat independently.  We'll be starting the coat and zipper club soon.  Children who can put on and zip their coats will be a part of this club and will get to add their name to the poster!

Reminders
- The weather is getting cooler.  We will be playing outside whenever the temperature is above 32 degrees.  Please help your child dress appropriately for the weather, including a coat.  You may send a pair of gloves and a hat to keep at school if you want.
- Along with the cooler weather comes sickness.  Please help your child learn good hygiene at home - hand washing, cover your cough, and blowing your nose.  If your child is sick, please keep him/her home so the germs aren't spread to everyone else in the class!

Important Upcoming Dates

There are many important things happening in upcoming weeks...

• 10/25 - October Book Orders due.
• 10/26 - PTA Pumpkin Night - more info soon.
• 10/31 - Class Halloween Party - more info soon.
• 11/5 - PTA meeting at 4:00.
• 11/6 - No School for students.  Teacher In-Service Day.
• 11/8 - Parent Teacher Conferences.
• 11/14 - Parent Teacher Conferences.
• 11/16 - PTA Donuts with Dad.

Trees are Terrific

This week we began our study of trees.  We read the books "From Acorn to Oak Tree" and "The Giving Tree."  We took a walk around the block to look at different types of trees.  We also learned the parts of a tree.  The children uses hand and arm prints to make a tree.  We also did a sorting activity on the Smart Board to learn about things that live in or grow on a tree.

Several of the children are already able to identify their name in print and some children can even spell their name!  Way to go!  Please help your child learn to identify his/her name and learn the letters of their name. 

We also started "letter of the week" this week.  Our first letter is "M."  We are learning how to write M by erasing it with a sponge on a chalkboard and then tracing with chalk.  We are also learning to identify words that begin with the sound /m/.  We will be doing lots of letter name and sound activities each week to prepare the children for reading.  Next week's letter is T.

We will continue our study of trees for the rest of the month.  We will be talking about apples and apple trees and also learning about coconut trees when we read the book "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom."

HOMEWORK...
*Bring in an apple or apples.  Bring in any color or size apple.  We needs all types.  We're going to be doing several projects including making applesauce.  If your child goes to the store with you, count how many types of apples are available and let us know how many you saw!
*Letter M worksheet. 
*Help you child identify his/her name in print.  You can do this by writing a few names on slips of paper and having your child find his/hers.  Then mix up the names and do it again.  Also, help your child learn the letters in his/her name.  Say the name of each letter as you point to it and have your child repeat after you.