Construction Zone is nearly over, next week Animals in Winter for Dramatic Play!

There was much discussion as to how to put up the caution tape.  Friends improvised with tape and it worked.

Caution tape means be careful!

A Jackhammer!

Table Choices-Blocks, reading, drawing and puzzles

Conferencing with Young Readers

Each week, students meet with a teacher to read a self-selected book.  The emphasis is on developing strong oral language skills, as well as independent reading skills.  When a team is conferring, the other students recognize that they may not interrupt the session and are thus encouraged to seek help elsewhere, either from a friend or a different adult.  

During a reading conference, the adult supports the child to read their book with ever increasing independence.  Reading the pictures, making connections between the book and themselves and learning to tell the story are just some of the objectives of the conferences.  

In dramatic play, children use their hand/eye coordination to pound "nails" into wood.

Here friends use "bolts" to connect foam block.  

The sand table holds smooth stones, glitter sand and construction-themed materials for interesting play.

Just in case some families were wondering why their child came home with styrofoam clinging to them...

Yes, that foam was EVERYWHERE, but it sure was fun.

Thank you Mrs. P for the clean up.  We need a Shop-Vac!

Vision Screening has Begun!

Our school nurse has conducted hearing screenings in the past week and has begun screening our friends vision.  

Books we're reading!

Color Groups-Art, Fine Motor, Writing and Counting this week

Students explored chalk on damp paper for improved vibrancy.

Students sorted by various attributes and used pinchers to place the rubber creatures into the different sections.  Mr. Kempton was our parent helper.

Sustained Silent Reading this week

Snack-Self-help skills, social skills and general life skills!

Group games

Whether at a party or a play date, preschoolers love games. No longer toddlers, they have a growing interest in playing with other kids.  Children learn to take turns, encourage others and follow rules.

Creating a map

These students were inspired by the blueprints we've been exploring in our Construction Zone Dramatic Play area.  One child asked to make their own "map" and two other students joined in.  We practiced using a straight edge and they chose to design a Playscape area.  The child above is drawing a new slide.

This child is adding a pond to the design.

Designers at work.

Camping as a reward

Gazing into the flames.

Resting by the fire.

Blowing on the flames to keep that fire hot!

Afternoon Frolic in the Snow!

Attention Families of Prekindergarten Children who wish to have their child play in the SNOW

January 9

If there's snow and it isn't too cold, your child has the opportunity to go outside and play in that delightful white fluff.  Please remember that they'll need to have waterproof boots/snowpants/jacket/hat/gloves or mittens in order to participate.  It's best to please PUT YOUR CHILD'S NAME ON THEIR CLOTHING.  We do our best to keep up with the 80 or so articles of clothing.  Also it's difficult for children to spend the morning or afternoon in their boots, so you might consider sending sneakers/shoes for them to change into once inside the classroom.  If your child doesn't want to go outside or doesn't have appropriate clothing they'll remain indoors.

Looking forward to more snow-filled adventures!

Yours Always-Martha

OH, LET IT SNOW!

Our Names

It is typical for children exiting Prekindergarten to be able to write their first names.  In this program, we use "Handwriting without Tears" when we teach children to write their names.  Children first should understand that their name has meaning-it is themselves.  Later, children learn to recognize their names in various places and to teach this we typically use word/picture matching.  Then children learn to identify letters as being different from a word or a number and then we begin to teach them how to write their names.  Stamping letters develops skills such as one to one correspondence, Line orientation is not a goal at this age, but concepts such as top, bottom, curve, little curve, big curve, straight, down, jump up, first, next, last, then etc. are important to know in order for form letters correctly.  Check out our bulletin board in the hallway this month "Oh, Let It Snow" with our name "snow people."

CONSTRUCTION ZONE-Creative Expression

We are exploring construction this month in preparation for our "Animals in Winter" unit in February.  Children are engaging in extended planned cooperative role-play with peers.  

Our class is thankful to Mr. Spencer for donating these lovely blueprints for us to use.  

Children are using eye-hand coordination to manipulate small objects and larger ones.

We've been categorizing groups such as tools.  Thank you Mrs. May for the super cool and real-looking power tools!

Golf tees and mallets for hammers and nails.  The foam is recycled from the computer lab (packaging for the new computers) and they work well as blocks and for hammer time.

A friend using a saw.

Drills, jigsaws and nuts and bolts offer children an opportunity to experience a true workshop!

This picture was taken a few weeks ago in our blocks area, but I thought the buildings were quite spectacular as they offered dinosaurs protection from a near-by volcano.

This child looks like he knows what he's doing!

How to get that piece of wood in there, that is the question.

Working together to get it done!

Comparing the tape measures.