Babies to Bears

This week we talked about baby animals.  We read the books "Is Your Mama a Llama" and "Whose Baby."  "Is Your Mama a Llama" contains some great rhyming words.  We played a animal baby matching game.  The children each looked at animal baby cards and then found the matching animal mommy.    We are learning the names of many animals and their young.  Our letter of the week is: F.  Next week's letter: O. 

Next week we will shift from babies to Goldilocks and the 3 Bears.  We will be reading a few versions of the story and re-telling the story with props.  On Thursday, we will eat "porridge" (oatmeal) for snack.  In February we will be studying weather and seasons.

We have a Xavier student volunteer on Tuesday mornings (Ms. Kelsey).  She was also with us part of last quarter.  She will be playing learning games with the students while she is here.  Ms. Kelsey is studying education and Spanish.  She will also be teaching us some Spanish while she is here.  In the next few weeks we will also have a Xavier Education student on Thursday mornings. 

REMINDERS...
*Book orders due 1/25.  Remember, when you order online, you get a coupon for a free book and so does our class. 
Order online at:  https://orders.scholastic.com/J6YFH
*Norwood Preschool t-shirt orders due 2/4.  Order forms were sent home earlier this week.  I know I'm ordering one and I hope you will too!
*Parent-teacher conferences are 2/6 and 2/12.  If you did not return the sign-up form, a conference time will be assigned for you.  I will send out conference confirmation sheets next week.  I look forward to talking with each of you about your child's progress. 

HOMEWORK...
*Letter F worksheet
*Hands on Homework Activity bag.  I have added some new bags to the rotation.  I hope your child is enjoying and learn from these activities.  Please be sure to return the homework and all the pieces so another child can enjoy the activity the next week.

Babies

This week we continued our study of babies.  We had a baby bath set up in the sensory table.  The children really enjoyed washing the baby dolls and playing with the bath toys.  We also did a finger painting and added baby powder to our paint. We listened to lullabies and acted like babies.  Each of the children go to pick an action for the class and we all acted like babies!   I also finished up assessing skills for report cards.  The children are making good progress.  On Thursday we listened to the Mat Man song, used wooden shapes to build Mat Man, and then drew him on paper.  Mat Man teaches many skills including body awareness and fine motor skills.  We do Mat Man activities once a month.  The children's Mat Man drawings are put in their portfolios.  Each quarter, I review the children's portfolios as a way to check their progress. 

How did your child do with the rhyming worksheet last week?  A few of the children are beginning to demonstrate early rhyming skills.  If your child isn't ready to find rhyming pairs yet, practice saying rhyming words together.  Read books that rhyme (Dr. Seuss has many), and recite nursery rhymes.  Point out and repeat the words that rhyme.   

HOMEWORK
*K worksheet
*Hands On Homework activity
*Read your letter book

REMINDERS...
*No School on Monday 1/21.
*Have you sent in a baby picture of your child yet?  The children really enjoy looking at them and we will continue to use them throughout the month.
*Parent-teacher conferences on 2/6 and 2/12.  Sign ups are in your child's folder.  Please fill out the sign up sheet and return it to school next week.  Conference times will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis.  You may also email me your conference time preference.
*Progress reports will be in your child's folder on Thursday of next week. 
*Book orders are 1/25.  We've earned some great free books this year.  Thank you to the parents who have ordered books.  Remember, when you order online, you get a coupon for a free book and so does our class!  Here's website link to go directly to online ordering: https://orders.scholastic.com/J6YFH 
*Do you have empty printer ink cartridges at home?  If so, send them to school with your child and I will recycle them at Staples.  Each cartridge earns $2 and I use the store credit to purchase more ink and other classroom supplies.

Babies, babies, babies

This week we continued learning about babies.  We read the book "Peter's Chair" by Ezra Jack Keates.  We are talking about things that babies can do and things that big kids can do.  We also sorted pictures of things babies use and things big kids use.  The children also cut and glued fabric onto a picture of a baby and told why the baby was cold.  Today we tasted different kinds of baby food and tried to guess what they were.  We then graphed our favorite flavor.  I have also been assessing skills for report cards this week.  Many of the children have made good progress since last quarter.  Some skills to practice at home include naming letters and their sounds, counting objects, and name writing.  We are continuing to learn about rhyming words.  Check out the local library for some great rhyming books.

Next week we will continue to learn about babies.  We will start talking about animal babies next week.


COMING UP...
*No School 1/21
*Preschool report cards sent home on 1/24

HOMEWORK...
*d worksheet
*Rhyming worksheet
*Hands on Homework Activity
*Read letter book

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2013!  I don't know about you, but Winter Break flew by for me!  During this quick week, we talked about what we did during our Winter Break and also began talking about babies.  This month we will be talking all about babies - both human and animal.  We wrote down the things we already know about babies.  At the end of our unit, we will do this activity again and compare the things we knew when we started and talk about the new things we learned.  Our letter of the week this week and next is D.  Keep reviewing the letter names and sounds at home with the flash cards your child received at the start of the year.    

Coming Up Next...
*We will start Student of the Week this month.  Please see your child's folder for more information about this special opportunity. 
* In February we will be studying weather and seasons. 
*In March we will be visited by some animals from the Cincinnati Zoo!  We will be asking each child to send in $3 to cover the cost of the Zoo visit.  More information soon. 

Reminders...
*Help your child dress appropriately for the weather.  We will play outside any days the temperature is 32 degrees or above.  If your child needs coat, gloves, or hat, please contact me.
*Keep your child at home if he/she is sick and remember to call the school office at 924-2560 to let them know.  You can also email me at plunkett.k@norwoodschools.org
*New safety procedures are in place in our school.  Parents MUST ring the bell at the front door and state their child's name, grade, and teacher before they are allowed to enter.  Parents must then go to the office.  As always, parents who wish to enter the classroom when students are present must have finger prints on file at the Board of Education.  Thank you for helping to keep our school a safe place. 


HOMEWORK...
*Send in a baby picture of your child (under 1 year) with his/her name on the back.  We will be using these for several activities.  We will return the picture when we are finished.

No pictures this week, sorry :(

Happy Holidays

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Winter Break.  See you in the new year!  School resumes Wednesday January 2nd!

Crazy about Christmas

This week we have been preparing for Christmas.  The children are working on a special gift for their parents.  We have also been making other craft related to Christmas.  The children sewed (laced) a stocking and glued on cotton balls.  After they sewed the stocking, they were given a candy cane to put in the stocking (but most of the friends ate their candy cane).  Lacing or sewing is a great way to develop fine motor skills and concentration.  It's easy to make your own sewing activities.  All you need is some paper, a hole puncher, and some string.  There are also all kinds of cross stitching supplies available for kids that develop fine motor skills.  The children also made a candy cane with pipe cleaners and beads.  We practiced our pattering skills when making the candy cane.  It took a lot of concentration to thread the tiny beads onto the pipe cleaner, but everyone worked really hard at it!

Our letter of the week is R.  We will not have a letter next week and will resume letter of the week after the winter break with the letter D.  We will also be working a lot on rhyming skills after the break. 

Next Thursday, 12/ 20 will be our holiday party.  Parents are invited to join us for the last 30 minutes of the day to help make and decorate gingerbread houses.  Please read letter sent home today for more information about the party.  Remember, you MUST have fingerprints on file at the Board Office to attend any classroom activities.  

REMINDERS...
*The flu and other illnesses are going around school.  If your child is sick, please keep him/her home.  We want our classroom to be a healthy place.
* Help your child dress appropriately for the weather.  We will play outside any day the temperature is above 32 degrees. 

HOMEWORK...
*Letter R worksheets
*Hand On Homework Activity Bag - remember to return by Tuesday next week.
*Read Letter Book

Sixty Degrees and Snow!

This week we started learning about winter by reading about snow men and making some snow man crafts.  We made snow fluff by mixing corn starch and shaving cream together.  It was very messy but a lot of fun and it really felt like snow (except it wasn't cold).  The children enjoyed sculpting it and making various shapes with the snow fluff.  Hopefully we'll have real snow soon!  The children also used their cutting skills to cut out a snow man.  We also learned size words and position words while making the snowman.  We also made a snow man using mini marshmallows.  Each child cut out a melted snow man and came up with a reason why the snow man melted. 

This week's letter: N
Letters we've learned so far: M, T, A,S, P, C, I, B.


REMINDERS...
*Sign up to bring in supplies for Gingerbread Houses.
*Christmas Party will be on 12/20 at the end of the preschool day.  Don't forget to get fingerprinted if you plan to attend.

HOMEWORK
*N worksheet
* Hand on Homework Activity Bag.  I hope you and your child are enjoying these learning activities together.  Thank you for sending them back each week so other children have the opportunity to use them too.
* Letter books will start going home this week.  These books are a way to review letter names and sounds and build vocabulary.  Please read the book with your child, asking him/her to name the pictures.  Please send the book back to school the following week.