"Almost all children respond to music. Music is an open-sesame, and if you can use it carefully and appropriately, you can reach into that child's potential for development." Dr. Clive Robbins

Friday, September 30, 2011

Color my World

IMPORTANT NOTE:  I want to be sure you are all getting these posts.  These are very important I communicate with parents.  I will give reminders about show and tell, field trips coming up, etc.  After each outline of our activities I give Calendar items and also a homework challenge.  By knowing what we are doing in class you can help your child learn faster and remember the things we learned by reviewing or talking about it at home.  I know this is so important.  If you got this please let me know by replying back or leaving a comment that you got it.  I will be calling all those that didn't reply to make sure they know about bringing a t-shirt on Monday or Tuesday.  

Theme:  Color my World
Monday and Tuesday Oct 3 & 4  Letter R; Number 6
Seat Work—Color Stamps and markers
Practice writing names
Weather/Calendar
Introduce Theme and Letter and Number of the Day
Counting
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments—Lukey’s Boat w/ instruments and stop and go sign
Social—Little Johnny Brown
Counting—Two little Black Birds
Music Appreciation/Readiness—Introduce Staff and magic notes
Small and Large Movement Skills—De Colores w/ Scarves
ABC/Reading
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Creating Project (arts and crafts)—Making Preschool T-shirts
Free Time-choose activity inside or outside before snacks
Snacktime—Fresh Purple Plums
Reading Time
Writing assignment (numbers and/or letters)
Group Motor Activity—Color Chair Game
Math/Science Skills—Uno Attack
Storytime
Goodbye Song
Wed and Thur Oct 5 & 6
Seat Work--Lacing
Practice writing names
Weather/Calendar
Show and Tell-Bring something with your favorite color on it.
Introduce Theme and Letter and Number of the Day
Counting
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments—Lukey’s Boat w/ Instruments and Stop and Go Sign
Social-Bluebird Game
Counting—Two little Black Birds
Music Appreciation/Readiness—Sing w/me 123
Small and Large Movement Skills—Sing a Rainbow
ABC/Reading-Baa Baa Black Sheep w/ colors and letters
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Creating Project (arts and crafts)—Make Drums
Free Time-choose activity inside or outside before snacks
Snacktime—Rainbow Toast (1 TB milk/1/2 tsp sugar/food coloring)
Reading Time
Writing assignment (numbers and/or letters)
Group Motor Activity—Jumprope game
Math/Science Skills—Sorting by color boxes
Storytime
Goodbye Song


Announcements:
·         I sent home calendars in your child’s backpack.  We have a field trip coming up to the pumpkin walk so be sure to check that out.  I will be needing one parent volunteer per class who can come and help drive and be with us at the pumpkin walk.  Please let me know if this is something you can help with.
·         This week is Show and Tell!  Have your preschooler find something to bring that has his favorite color on it
·         We are making drums this week with the oatmeal containers that we have been collecting.  I have 11 right now and need just 3 more.  Not only oatmeal containers work but I had some vital wheat gluten that was a little smaller that will work, I had a mom bring an empty container of Dishwashing soap packets.  That will be great.
·         Don’t forget your t-shirts on Monday or Tuesday.  We are creating our own preschool shirts this week.  Any color will work but lighter colors will work the best.  I’m just doing white for my t-shirt and my girls.  But Yellow, Blue, Red, Green would look really nice.  If you have problems securing a shirt please let me know and we will work something out. 

Homework Challenge:  Sorting can be lots of fun for a preschooler and great practice for math skills.  During play and work challenge your preschooler to sort things in different category.  We are focusing on colors this week so you could have them sort their socks, toys, or food by colors.  You could have them help you set the table or empty the dishwasher and practice sorting the silverware into piles of spoons, forks and knifes.


Saturday, September 24, 2011

Exploring Space!

Exploring Space (put up pictures in the room of the solar system)  Letter T and #5

Seat Work—puzzle rotation
Practice writing names
Weather/Calendar
Spotlights on preschool children-About one a month
Show and Tell- once a month
Introduce Theme and Letter and Number of the Day
Counting
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments- Blue Jell-O Sticks w/ instruments
Social—“Star Wars” Draw pictures as you listen
Counting—Count off Blast off-& Stars shinning
Music Appreciation/Readiness—Piano High and Low Sounds
Small and Large Movement Skills--
ABC/Reading—Planet Names w/ Letters 
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Creating Project (arts and crafts)-Constellation Creations
Free Time-choose activity inside or outside before snacks
Snack time—Space Drinks  have the group help make these
Reading Time
Writing assignment (numbers and/or letters)
Group Motor Activity—Planets and Moon tag
Math/Science Skills—Demonstrate Planets orbiting the sun by acting out with planets
Storytime—Space Stories
Goodbye Song

Seat Work—ABC find the matching letter
Practice writing names
Weather/Calendar
Spotlights on preschool children-About one a month
Show and Tell- once a month
Introduce Theme and Letter and Number of the Day
Counting
Music Circle Time (use puzzle to determine what goes next)
Hello Song
Instruments—Twinkle Twinkle Little Star w/ Bells
Counting/Math—It’s a Small World (compare planets in size)
Music Appreciation/Readiness—Blue Jell-O Sticks w/ instruments
Social & Small and Large Movement Skills-He’s Got the Whole World in his hands-ball passing
ABC/Reading—Alphabet Rumba
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Creating Project (arts and crafts)—Draw your own world
Free Time-choose activity inside or outside before snacks
Snacktime & Math Skills—Saturn Rings (roll the dice to see how many we get)
Reading Time
Writing assignment (numbers and/or letters)
Group Motor Activity—Moon walking (pretend we are weightless)
Math Skills—Space Memory
Storytime—Space Stories
Goodbye Song
Homework Challenge:  Now that it’s getting darker earlier it’s a great time to take the kids outside before bed and do some star gazing.  Teach them how to find the big dipper and the north star.  You can do some star counting as well.  See how high they can count.  
Calendar:  At the end of the week I hope to get you all a new October Calendar.  We have a fun month planned.  Don't forget to secure a T-shirt for next week.  All the kids will be making their own T-shirt that we will wear on field trips.  I found some old undershirts from my boys I'm going to use for my girls.  I also saw they sold plain t-shirts at Michaels (use your coupons for even better price) you may find something at a second hand store as well.  

Friday, September 16, 2011

Things that Go!

Sept. 20th Week 4- Things that Go
Seat Work—Scissor work
Practice writing names
Weather/Calendar
Introduce Theme and Letter and Number of the Day
Counting
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments—Little Wheel a Turning—add louds and softs
Social—Wheels on the Bus—have each child think of another vehicle and a sound it makes
Counting—Blue Jello with instruments
Music Appreciation/Readiness—PP—FF dynamics
Small and Large Movement Skills—Row Row Row you boat w/actions and round
ABC/Reading—ABC cards hidden--have each song represented on a letter
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Creating Project (arts and crafts)-Make Banana Boats with banana’s peanut butter raisins and construction paper with a toothpick
Free Time-choose activity inside or outside before snacks (Vehicles w/playmate)
Snacktime—Eat our boats after taking pictures
Reading Time
Writing assignment (numbers and/or letters)
Group Motor Activity-Red Light Green Light
Math/Science Skills—Sort vehicles in three piles: land, air or sea.  Count each pile
Storytime
Goodbye Song
Wed and Thursday—Box 200 Active Play
Seat Work—more scissor work
Practice writing names
Weather/Calendar
Introduce Theme and Letter and Number of the Day
Counting
Walk to Park for Preschool Olympics
Obstacle Course (Kick a ball around cones, Walk on line, 5 jumping jacks, crab walk back.)
Bowling
Spoon w/ “egg” Relay
Hot Potato
Simon Says
Snacktime water and sliced fruit
Corners
Doggy, Doggy, Where’s Your Bone?
Activity Mats
Capture the Flag
Walk back to Preschool
Storytime
Goodbye Song
Announcements--This week is our first field trip.  We are going to a close park to do some fun active games. You are more then welcome to come and join the group to help out. Here are times we will be leaving and coming back for each group.  
Fantasia Group--Leave at 9:15 come back at 10:15
Cadenza Group--Leave at 10:50 come back at 11:50
Symphony Group--Leave at 9:30 come back at 11:15
Home Challenge--Our days are getting numbered when we can get outside and play.  I challenge you to take your preschooler to the park and have each of you take a turn to make up an obstacle course on the playground you can take turns doing it and if they enjoy the competitive side, take a stop watch and time them to see if they can beat them self.  Please let me know if you have any concerns about your child or any questions.  I feel like all the kids are doing really well and I'm enjoying each of them!

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Animals in my World

Sept. 13th and 14th Week 3- Letter A and Number 3
Seat Work-Which one is different?
Practice writing names
Weather/Calendar
Introduce Theme and Letter and Number of the Day--Letter A #3
Counting
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments-Assign instruments w/ animals play with Old McDonald had a farm
Social-Carnival of the Animals-Act out different animals
Counting-Number Games-Parachute
Music Appreciation/Readiness—Blue Jello
Small and Large Movement Skills-Fun on the Farm-Parachute
ABC/Reading-Home on the Range-inner listening skills
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Creating Project (arts and crafts) – Make Kazoo’s
Free Time-choose activity inside or outside before snacks
Snacktime-Ants on a log—Help kids make them. 
Reading Time
Writing assignment (numbers and/or letters)
Group Motor Activity—Duck Duck Goose
Math/Science Skills—Sorting Animal Types w/ Figurines
Storytime
Goodbye Song
Seat Work-Trace the Circles
Practice writing names
Weather/Calendar
Spotlights on preschool children-About one a month
Show and Tell- once a month
Introduce Theme and Letter and Number of the Day
Counting
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments—I’m going on a bear hunt-add instruments for sound effects
Social-The Farmer and the Dell-Game
Counting-Jingle-Bell Bounce w/ Parachute
            10 little monkey’s jumping on the bed
Music Appreciation/Readiness-Two and Three’s on Piano
Small and Large Movement Skills-Frog Hopper-Parachute
ABC/Reading-Baa baa Black Sheep-give each a different letter
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Creating Project (arts and crafts) – Animal Mural-Paints
Free Time-choose activity inside or outside before snacks
Snacktime-Animal Crackers
Reading Time
Writing assignment (numbers and/or letters)
Group Motor Activity—Animal Game (w/ pictures and sounds)
Math/Science Skills—Learning about different animals from box
Storytime
Goodbye Song
Calendar Announcements-  Next week we will have our first Field Trip.  We will be walking to a grass field a block away and having Preschool Olympics on Sept 21st and Sept 22nd.  If you would like to come and help you would be more then welcomed.  Please have your children wear good shoes they can run in, sunscreen, and perhaps a hat.  Here is the times we will be at the park.  The park address is 150 W 400 N.     
Fantasia Group will be at the park:  9:30-10:15
Cadenza Group will be at the park:  11:05-11:50
Symphony Group will be at the park:  9:30-11:00
I will be giving a calendar with all the rest of the months themes and activities on it.  This will have when show and tell will be, when spotlights are and what are art project will be.  Next month I will give this at the beginning of the month.  =)  
In October we will be making Preschool T-shirts.  Start looking for a blank T-shirt that will fit your child for this project.  It can be any color.  You might look at a second hand store. We will be decorating them Oct 3rd and 4th.  
Homework Challenge:  Animals are an important part of our world.  Read some books about animals and  give your child an opportunity to play with an animal this week.  Some children who never get exposed to dogs, cats or other pets are very fearful of them.  The more they have positive experiences with animals the less fearful they become.  You may want to go to the willow park zoo or even a pet store to get some exposure.  Another way is to ask a neighbor with a pet if you can visit and play with their pet.  Just be sure you are careful and supervise the experience.   

Monday, September 5, 2011

Fall Openings

One of the families I was going to teach moved and it's not going to work for them to come to preschool here anymore so, I have a few openings so if you know anyone looking for preschool I would love for you to spread the word.
M & W 3-4 year old class at 9:00-10:30 am--2 openings
M & W 3-4 year old class at 10:35-12:05 am--1 opening
T & Th 4-5 year old class at 9:00-11:30 am --1 opening

We had a great week and I am enjoying your children so much.  They have been so great.
Thank you so much for the toilet paper rolls, oatmeal containers, and the prescription bottles.  We have just enough TP rolls but we could use a few more of the the oatmeal containers, and prescription bottles so we would love for you to keep collecting them.  Thanks a bunch!

Friday, September 2, 2011

I'm a VIP Week


Tuesday Sept. 6th and Wednesday 7th 
Theme: I’m a VIP- 
Letter S and Number 2
Seat Work-Writing lines
Practice writing names
Weather/Calendar
Birthday Spotlight!
Introduce Theme and Letter and Number of the Day
Counting
Music Circle Time (puzzle with songs on back to choose)
Small and Large Movement Skills—Head Shoulder’s Knees and Toes
            Open and Shut Them
Instruments—Group and solo time
Social—Our Favorite Things
Counting—Five Little Speckled Frogs
Music Appreciation/Readiness-Teach Two Black Keys on the piano
ABC/Reading-- ABC-sing back to me.  Line up the music letters and sing a
musical phrase and have them sing and point it back
Singing—Pick a song
Creating Project (arts and crafts)—Hand and Finger Painting  
 Free Time-choose activity (Building Blocks) inside or play outside
Snacktime—Fresh Fruit/Spotlight treat
Reading Time
Writing assignment (numbers and/or letters)—Lesson 2 & 3
Group Motor Activity—Red Light, Green Light
Math/Science Skills—Math Patterns
Storytime
Goodbye Song

Sept 8th I’m a VIP—Letter S and Number 2

Seat Work—What’s different?
Practice writing names
Weather/Calendar
Introduce Theme and Letter and Number of the Day
Counting
Music Circle Time
Small and Large Movement Skills—If your Happy and you know it (add different emotions sad, 
angry, excited, lonely, scared)
Instruments:  Drumming unaccompanied
Social—Mirror Dancing first with teacher and then partners
Counting—Hickory Dickory Dock
Music Appreciation/Readiness—Hide Letters around the room and put in order
ABC/Reading—Alphabet Rumba
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Creating Project (arts and crafts)  -Stencils and Cutting out favorite things
Free Time-choose activity inside or outside before snacks
Snacktime—Baby Carrots
Reading Time
Writing assignment (numbers and/or letters)
Group Motor Activity--Tag
Math/Science Skills—Uncle Wiggly
Storytime
Goodbye Song
Calendar Items:  No School on Monday--Labor Day
On Tuesday and Wednesday we will be using Finger Paints--They are washable but you may want to send your child in an outfit that can get dirty.  I do use aprons but they it doesn't cover everything. 
Home Challenge:  We are learning the letter S this week.  Point out S's while you are driving in the car or at the store, on the cereal boxes.