Construct, Create, and Build

This week we started making construction vests.  The children painted paper bags with bright colors.  Next week we will add tape to the vests.  Miss Maria (our Xavier student observer) taught a lesson this week.  The children enjoyed the story she read and building a crane with shape cut outs.  We also used marshmallows and toothpicks to build.  The children are getting very creative with our building projects! Many of the children have been very interested in puzzles this week.  Working puzzles helps children develop problem solving, visual discrimination, motor planning, and fine motor skills.  They also develop concentration and coordination.  Next week we will finish up out study of construction and start some end of the year projects. 

REMINDERS...
*Make sure to enroll for Kindergarten or Preschool next year.  Call 924-2506 to make your appointment. 
*Warm weather is here - please help your child dress appropriately for the weather.  Remember, it's usually very warm in our classroom.
*No cologne, body spray, or perfume please.  This is for the health of everyone in our classroom.  Some members of our classroom have allergies and others are sensitive to strong smells.  Thank you for  your support.


HOMEWORK...
*V worksheet
*Hands on Homework Activity Bag
(next week will be the last week for homework)

Busy Builders

     This week continued our study of construction.  The children built with pipe cleaners and used pattern cards and shapes to build different animals.  The children also used cut out shapes to build Mat Man.  Check out this link for some online Mat Man activities: http://www.hwtears.com/gss/learning-lounge/matman.  Mat Man is part of the Handwriting Without Tears program we use to develop pre-academic skills.  Next week we will continue learning about construction.  The children will be making a safety vests out of paper bags! 

     This week's letter: U.  Letters for the rest of the year: V, Z, Y, Q.  After we finish letter of the week, we will be reviewing the letters we have learned this year.       


REMINDERS...
*Warmer weather is finally here (hopefully to stay).  We will be spending more time outside.  Please remember that your child needs to wear closed toe shoes with a heel strap.  Sneakers or gym shoes are the safest and most comfortable shoes for preschool.  Children who are not wearing safe shoes, will not be allowed to play on the playground (this is a school policy). 
* Last chance to order books through Scholastic.  Book orders were sent home earlier this week.  Thank you to the families that have supported literacy development at home and school by ordering books.  Here is the website to order books online:  https://orders.scholastic.com/J6YFH
*Have your registered/enrolled your child for Preschool or Kindergarten for next year?  All returning preschoolers must re-enroll each year.  You will also be asked to sign up for a screening appointment.  We will be screening all children before the school year starts to help us plan instruction based on the needs of our students.  If your child is going to Kindergarten next year, you will need to enroll him/her also.  Call 924-2506 to set up an enrollment appointment. 

HOMEWORK...
*U worksheets
*Hands on Homework Activity Bag
*Homework will be finished at the end of this month.

Build, Create, and Construct

     Welcome Back!  I hope everyone had a safe and fun Spring Break.  There are only 7 weeks of school left this year!  Wow, I can't believe how quickly the year has gone. 
     This week we started our study of construction.  We talked about different words that all mean "build."  The children used different building materials in the classroom to build something.  The children used small colorful wooden blocks, bristle blocks, Duplos, Lego's, tinker toys, and unit blocks.  The children then described what they built and we took a picture of their creations.  We also built with Popsicle sticks.  Throughout the month, we will be exploring the construction process and building many things in our classroom.
     This week we also had a visit from Firefighter Josh.  He talked to us about fire safety and showed us his gear.  He talked about smoke detectors.  Ask your child to help you find the smoke detectors in your house and when you find them, test them to make sure they are working.  Then talk to your child about what to do if there is ever a fire in your house (get out)!  
     We will also have a visit from a police officer and nurse this week.   

HOMEWORK...
*X worksheet
*Hands on Homework Bag
*Check for smoke detectors in your house

REMINDERS...
*Have your registered/enrolled your child for Preschool or Kindergarten for next year?  All returning preschoolers must re-enroll each year.  You will also be asked to sign up for a screening appointment.  We will be screening all children before the school year starts to help us plan instructions based on the needs of our students.  If your child is going to Kindergarten next year, you will need to enroll him/her also.
* PTA meeting on 4/15.

Eric Carle Art Projects

     This week we read the books "The Mixed Up Chameleon,"  "A House for Hermit Crab," and "The Very Busy Spider" by Eric Carle.  We are learning the names of a lot of new animals from the Eric Carle books we are reading.  The children used water color paints to paint a chameleon.  We used paint, glitter, buttons, and sequins to decorate hermit crab's house.  We also spent some time talking about our class pet - a hermit crab and the shell he lives in.  We investigated several different shells and described them.  We talked about if they would or would not make good homes for our hermit crab.  When we read "The Very Busy Spider" the children were able to feel the raised lines of the spider's web in the book.  Then, we looked at and touched a version of the book that had Braille lettering.  We talked about how some people are blind and cannot use their eyes to read.  The children closed their eyed and used their fingers to "read" the words printed in Braille. 

     We have also been using different painting techniques to paint tissue paper.  We will use this tissue paper to create a collage using the same steps Eric Carle uses to illustrate his books.   

     Next week, the children will be able to see and touch some new animals from the Cincinnati Zoo!  We will be learning about how animals move from the Zoo animals and the books we will read.       


REMINDERS...
*Preschool Parent Info Night on Monday 3/18 @ 6:30 @ Williams Elementary.  You can pick up an enrollment packet and schedule an enrollment appointment at the meeting.  All children who will be attending preschool again next year MUST re-enroll.  You can also make an enrollment appointment by calling 924-2506.  If you haven't decided if your child will be moving on to Kindergarten or staying for another year of preschool, please let me know ASAP.

*Kindergarten Parent Info Nights are also taking place this month.  If your child will be going to Kindergarten next year, you will need to register him/her at your home school (based on address).

Each Elementary will be hosting a parent meeting prior to Kindergarten registration. Information about the New Kindergarten year will be provided.

Norwood View - Thursday, March 7, 2013  6:30 pm - Norwood View Library

Sharpsburg Primary - Wednesday, March 13, 2013  6:30 pm - Primary Cafeteria

Williams Avenue - Thursday, March 14, 2013  6:30 pm - Williams Auditorium

*If you haven't placed your March Scholastic Book order yet, you have 1 more day to order online.  I will be finalizing the order on Friday.  Here's the link to our class page: https://orders.scholastic.com/J6YFH 

*Zoo Visit on Thursday 3/21. 

*Spring Pictures on Thursday 3/21.

*Spring Break 3/25-3/29.

*Mark your calendar... We will have Preschool Water Day again this year.  This is a wet and fun filled outdoor play day that takes place at the end of the year.  Parents will be invited to join us for the last hour of the day.  Water day will take place on Thursday May 16th this year.  More information in April.

HOMEWORK...

*Have your child re-tell the story of the Very Hungry Caterpillar with the picture book we made earlier this week.  Help your child name and count the fruits in the book.  You can even help your child write the names and the number on the pages.  Re-telling familiar stories with repetitive text is a great way to build literacy skills.

*W worksheet

*Hands on Homework Activity Bag

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

     This week we began our Eric Carle author study.  We looked at several different Eric Carle books and talked about things that were similar.  Most of the characters is his books are animals.  All of the books we looked at had animals in them.  This week we read "The Very Hungry Caterpillar."  We also used props to re-tell the story.  We talked about how a caterpillar goes through metamorphosis and changes into a butterfly.  The children made a caterpillar on a pipe cleaner and learned a caterpillar song:
     I'm a caterpillar, wiggle with me.
     I'm a caterpillar, wiggle with me.
     I'm a caterpillar, wiggle with me.
     Wiggle with me my friends.

  Throughout the month we will be following the same process as Eric Carle to create a final art piece.  We watched a short video of Eric Carle painting and cutting tissue paper to create the caterpillar.  We will be painting layers of paint on tissue paper, then cutting it out to create a tissue paper collage.  
   I am also completing report card assessments over the next two weeks.  Many of the children are making great progress.  Keep up the hard work at home! 

Coming up next...
    In April we will be studying construction and building as well as have visits from several community helpers including a police officer, fire fighter, and nurse. 


REMINDERS...
*Preschool Parent Info Night on Monday 3/18 @ 6:30, Williams Elementary. 
*Kindergarten Parent Info Meetings and registration begin this month. 

Each Elementary will be hosting a parent meeting prior to Kindergarten registration. Information about the New Kindergarten year will be provided.

 

Norwood View - Thursday, March 7, 2013  6:30 pm - Norwood View Library

Sharpsburg Primary - Wednesday, March 13, 2013  6:30 pm - Primary Cafeteria

Williams Avenue - Thursday, March 14, 2013  6:30 pm - Williams Auditorium

 

*Class pictures on Thursday 3/21.  If you want to order pictures, payment must be turned in before pictures.

*Zoo Visit on 3/21.

*Report cards sent home 3/21.

*Spring Break 3/25-3/29.

* Remember to check your child's folder each night.  There are a lot of impotant papers going home about upcoming events and meetings.

 

HOMEWORK...

*E worksheet

*Hands on Homework Activity Bag

 

 

Wild Winter Weather

     Here in Ohio, you never know what kind of weather we will have from one day to the next, but it has provided a lot for us to talk about this month.  We have had sun, wind, rain, snow, and clouds, sometimes all in one week.  It's been a great month to study and learn about weather!  This week the children cut out and decorated a kite.  I'm amazed at how much progress the children have made with their scissor skills!  We also cut out snowflakes from folded coffee filters and uses Popsicle sticks to make snowflakes.  All this talk of snow, but still no snow day :(.  Lastly, we used a mixture of shaving cream and glue to make "snow" sculptures.  This week's letter - G, next week - E.
 
     Last week I went to a training called Handwriting Without Tears.  I learned about fine motor development, writing, literacy, math, and developing social skills.  It was a great training and we are already integrating some new things I learned into our classroom.  There are great parent resources for parents at the website: http://www.hwtears.com/gss or www.getsetforschool.com .  This program includes Mat Man and other fun activities to develop pre-academic skills.  Check out the website for more information and an online Mat Man game. 

     Next week we will begin an author study of Eric Carle.  We will be reading many of his books and creating art using the same process as Eric Carle.  Take a trip to the library or book store to read some Eric Carle Books. 

*Preschool Parent Info Night has been changed to Monday March 18th, instead of March 19th.  We look forward to seeing you there.  Please read the flyer in your child's folder today for more information.
* If your child will be going to Kindergarten next year, please be sure to attend an information at your child's home school.  Flyers were sent home last week and are also available in the school office.
*Warm weather will be here soon (hopefully) and we will be spending more time outside.  We would love to have some bubbles for the children to use on the playground.  If you would like to supply us with some bubble, you can send them with your child at any time.
* As we move into the last quarter of the school year (already), we are running VERY low on snack supplies.  We do get 1 snack from the cafeteria each day, we try to offer the children 2 healthy choices each day.  We are in need of fruit cups, applesauce cups, yogurt or Gogurts, and raisins or other dried fruit.  If you would like to supply these snacks, please send them with your child at any time.  Thanks!

HOMEWORK...
*G worksheet
*Hands on Homework Activity Bag

Wacky Weather

What wacky weather we have here in Cincinnati.  50 degrees one day and 30 the next!  We continued to learn about weather this week.  The children cut out a handle for an umbrella and painted the top.  We also learned that rainbows appear when the sun comes out during rain.  The children cut out and colored a rainbow.  We will continue our study of weather next week.  In March we will be doing an author study of Eric Carle.  We will be reading many Eric Carle books and learning about how he illustrates his books as well as other projects related to Eric Carle. 


REMINDERS...
*Have your turned in $3 for the upcoming Zoo visit?  We need the money by 2/28. 
* Coughs and colds are still going around.  If your child is sick, please consider keeping him/her home to prevent spreading the germs to other children and teachers. 
*We are still accepting Yearbook Orders.  If you plan to order, please send in your money and order form ASAP. 
* Preschool Info Nigh in March - you will also be able to make an enrollment appointment at the meeting.  If your child will be attending preschool again next year, you will need to re-enroll him/her.
*Kindergarten Info Nights in March.  If your child will be 5 by September 30, 2013 he/she is eligible to go to Kindergarten next year.  Please attend the Parent Meeting at your child's home school.  Flyers were sent home last week and are also available in the school office. 
*Spring Break 3/25-3/29.

HOMEWORK
*Hands on Homework bag.

No pictures this week... short week.