"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, February 24, 2012

Colors and Shapes

Seat Work
Practice writing names
Weather/Calendar
Introduce Theme and Letter and Number of the Day-letter Z and number 21
Counting
Music Circle Time

Hello Song
Instruments-Deep in the Heart of Texas
Social- Bluebird Bluebird--have each person choose a new color to make our bird
Counting--The ants go Marching
Music Appreciation/Readiness-Three Blind Mice
Small and Large Movement Skills-The Green Grass grows all around
ABC/Reading-Passing an egg with a letter in it—When the music stops the person with the egg opens and identifies it.  Then they choose another letter with help of teacher –Pass the egg to my friend….And don’t let it stop.  A letter is inside, an alphabet letter.  Oh Pass the egg to my friend and now we can stop.
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Creating Project (arts and crafts)--Write name with yarn
Free Time-choose activity inside or outside before snacks
Snacktime-Graham Crackers and milk
Reading Time
Writing assignment (numbers and/or letters)
Group Motor Activity-Jumprope spin
Math/Science Skills-Bean counter-Have students group their beans in groups of 10
Storytime
Goodbye Song
Seat Work
Practice writing names
Weather/Calendar
Introduce Theme and Letter and Number of the Day-letter Z and number 21
Counting--
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments--We like the shapes--Play instruments with these shapes
We like the shapes, we like the shapes.
We can paint them all right here.
We like the shapes, we like the shapes.
We can paint them all right here.
This one has four sides and it is called a square.
The square's four sides are all the same. (All the same)
This one is a circle and it is so round.
The circle always looks like this. (Like this)
This one is a triangle. It has three sides.
We draw a triangle like this (Like this)

Social--Baa Baa Black Sheep
Counting-Counting to 10 and then back to one
Music Appreciation/Readiness-Three Blind Mice
Small and Large Movement Skills-Bluebird Bluebird
ABC/Reading-Rainbow Song--identify what letter starts each color
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Creating Project (arts and crafts)-My favorite color/food project
Free Time-choose activity inside or outside before snacks
Snacktime- Fruit
Reading Time
Writing assignment (numbers and/or letters)
Group Motor Activity-London Bridges
Math/Science Skills-Old Maid
Storytime
Goodbye Song


Announcements:  FYI: Our art projects this week will be saved here for our end of the year binder.  We have been collecting these throughout the year it will be nice for them to have a memento to help them remember preschool and what they did.   Thursday March 1st (this week) we will be having a short day.  Preschool will go from 9:00- 10:30 am.  I would like to get March Calendars out next week.  Our computer with most of my preschool information is being fixed right now so if we can get it running I will hopefully have those out soon.  Next week is Show and Tell.  We will be talking about Families next week so I would like them to bring something that represents their family.  It could be a favorite activity you do together, a picture of your family, or anything else that would represent their family.  

Homework Challenge:  I have noticed some of the children are struggling with identifying ABC’s  so this week I thought it would be good for families to do something at home this week with letters.  (Here is a few ideas)  If you have suggestions of something you have done please share it by replying on the e-mail or posting a comment on the blog.  Thanks!
1.  One fun game you can do at home is to play the alphabet game while you are eating breakfast with the cereal boxes, or while you are reading a book.  It’s hard to do this in the car because you can’t be sure your child actually saw it.
2.  Get out your ABC puzzles, blocks, magnets, any toys that emphasis letters and play with your child and help identify letters with them
3.  One fun game is the alphabet word game where you find a word in a magazine or newspaper starting with every letter in the alphabet.  You could even cut it out and paste it on a paper.  If you do this I would love to see it, have them bring it to school to show their class mates.    

Friday, February 17, 2012

I love America

Wednesday and Thursday

Seat Work
Practice writing names
Weather/Calendar
Counting
Introduce Theme and Letter and Number of the Day  Letter Q and Number review 1-20
Phonogram Cards
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments-Deep in the Heart of Texas
Social-Patriotic Song and bean bag pass-tell something they know or like about the USA
Counting--Hickory Dickory Dock
Music Appreciation/Readiness-Hand Bell Song
Small and Large Movement Skills--”The President” --Learn fun Dance
ABC/Reading-My Bonnie
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Creating Project (arts and crafts) Q Tip Firework Craft
Free Time-choose activity inside or outside before snacks
Snacktime--carrot sticks
Reading Time-One lesson from Teach your child to read
Writing assignment (numbers and/or letters)--Write on our white board Q’s and numbers
Group Motor Activity-Ball Frenzy
Math/Science Skills-”The Grouchy Ladybug” with clocks
Storytime-Presidents Day Book
Goodbye Song


Announcements:  Don't forget next week is Presidents day so no preschool on Monday and Tuesday.  On March 1st it was the consensus of the group to have preschool on Thursday and get out early.  So mark on your calendar March 1st time will be 9:00 - 10:30 am. (I'll remind you when it gets closer)  Thanks for your understanding in the unexpected teacher meeting.

Home Challenge:  The Tuesday and Thursday Class made letter for their grandmas and/or grandpas on Thursday.  Check their backpack for a letter with a stamp already on that they chose.  Please take the time to write their address on with your child and also help them write the return address with them.  It might be fun to take a trip to the post office to mail the letter or put out in your own mailbox.  For the Monday and Wednesday class since we were short on numbers and we ran out of time we didn't make letters so take the time this weekend or next week to draw a picture for a Grandparent and send it in the mail.

I just want to thank you for all being such wonderful parents!  I am always so pleasantly surprised at the creativity and time you spend to prepare for show in tell, spotlights, and then just last week for valentines day.  It really makes the kids excited and brings a fun element at preschool.    

Friday, February 10, 2012

Be mine, Valentine

Monday and Tuesday
Seat Work
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—L.O.V.E.
Social—Who will be my Valentine?
Counting—Hide and count Hearts song
Music Appreciation/Readiness—Where’s all the C’s?
Small and Large Movement Skills—Skidamarink
ABC/Reading—Heart Bean Bag Toss
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Creating Project (arts and crafts)—Valentine Sacks
Free Time-choose activity inside or outside before snacks
Snacktime—Trail Mix
Pass out valentines
Reading Time
Writing assignment (numbers and/or letters)—On Writing Slates
Group Motor Activity—Playing Pretend:  Let’s be Galloping Horses, Waddling Ducks, Robots, etc. 
Math/Science Skills—Inch by Inch
Storytime—Valentine Story
Goodbye Song

Wednesday and Thursday
Seat Work
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—Deep in the heart of Texas
Social—I’m in the mood
Counting—This Old Man
Music Appreciation/Readiness—Do Re Me
Small and Large Movement Skills—Mirror Dancing w/ Partners and scarves
ABC/Reading—Egg Pass with ABC’s hidden inside
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Creating Project (arts and crafts)—Grandma Grandpa Letters
Free Time-choose activity inside or outside before snacks
Snacktime—Ant’s on a Log
Reading Time
Writing assignment (numbers and/or letters)
Group Motor Activity:  Walk, Skip, Jog, Hop around the house
Math/Science Skills—Who Sank the Boat
Storytime
Goodbye Song
Announcements:  We will be exchanging Valentines Monday and Tuesday.  Monday group needs to bring for 6 children and Tuesday needs to bring for 8 children.  We will make fun sacks to keep all the valentines in that day.  We had many parents who were able to come and be with us and I really appreciate all your help.  It was a great experience for the children to interact with the older adults and the adults just enjoyed the children so much.   For those of you in the Tuesday Thursday class I need to make an adjustment for March 1st.  I need some of your feedback to what you would prefer.  I have to be at a teacher training meeting at 11:00 am.  So I am wondering what would work better for your schedule, to do a short day on March 1st and go from 9:00-10:30am  or come from 9:00-11:30 on Friday March 2nd.  Please e-mail or reply to this post your preference and I'll let you know next week what is decided.  Thanks!  

Home Challenge:  Start a Valentine Tradition this year or keep an old one to help Valentines be special at your house.  You can heart attack your child’s room by putting hearts all over there door or help your child do it for an older sibling, grandparent, or dad.  Have a special meal for valentines where the whole family is together, or simply get together to play a family game.  Sometimes the simple traditions that you can easily keep are the best! 

Friday, February 3, 2012

Friends of all Kinds

February 6-9th  Friends of all Kinds
Seat Work
Practice writing names
Student of the Day/Weather/Calendar
Introduce Theme and Letter and Number of the Day-Letter Y & Number 19
Counting
Spotlight Samantha!
Show and Tell—Bring something that is grown
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments-We are different (choose instruments and teach lyrics)
Social—Show Differing Ability Posters while listening to “Not That Different”  What’s it like to be disabled (Experiment being hard of hearing, blind, and unable to walk) then discuss what we all have in common. 
Counting-“Every Star is Different”  -Put a number of stars on while singing the
song and then have a volunteer count and tell how many stars are on the board
Music Appreciation/Readiness—Fix the Order and What’s Missing
Small and Large Movement Skills—I’m a Little Teapot
ABC/Reading—My Bonnie—stand up and down on B sounds
Singing—Student of the Day Chooses Songs
Creating Project (arts and crafts)—Make Valentine Cards for Field Trip
Free Time-choose activity inside or outside before snacks  (Ability Puzzles and Lincoln Logs)
Snacktime--pudding
Reading Time
Writing assignment (numbers and/or letters)
Group Motor Activity—Make an obstacle course indoors or outdoors
Math/Science Skills—Guessing Number game.  I’m thinking of a number….
Storytime—Why am I different?
Goodbye Song
Wednesday and Thursday
Seat Work
Practice writing names
Weather/Calendar
Introduce Theme and Letter and Number of the Day Letter Y & Number 19
Counting
Get ready to go on Field Trip
Music Circle Time at Sunshine Terrace:  Theme Silly Songs
Hello Song:  Jennifer
Instruments:  Jennifer
Social—Parachute w/ Circle to the Left
Counting—I’m a nut (count how many nuts we have)
Music Appreciation/Readiness
Small and Large Movement Skills—Hokey Pokey
ABC/Reading—Alphabet Rumba—Find the resident with your matching letter
Snacktime—Fruit Leather
Reading Time
Writing assignment (numbers and/or letters)
Group Motor Activity—Soccer Time
Math/Science Skills—Phone Number Practice
Storytime—Some Kids Use Wheelchairs, and Someone Special Like You. 
Goodbye Song
Announcements:  February Tuition is Due Monday or Tuesday.  Don’t forget to have your child where their preschool t-shirt on Wednesday or Thursday.  If you buy a t-shirt this month I will be picking them up on Tuesday afternoon I will put their new t-shirt over the shirt they wear to school. 
Homework:  We are talking about people of different abilities and challenges this week.  It would be great if your family could have a discussion about people you know or have seen in the community that have a disability.  Emphasize that people with differing abilities can do many of the things everyone else can do, and we shouldn’t focus on their disability.  They may already know someone in their neighborhood or family who has a challenge; encourage them to be friendly and kind to them.  Hopefully by talking about this our children will not be afraid to be friends and play with other children who have a disability.   

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Extra Announcements

Dear Parents:

  • This week usually would be show and tell but we are waiting till next week.  So plan on Monday and Tuesday having your child bring one thing that can grow or was grown.  Be as creative as you would like.  Examples:  A seed, Fruit, veggie, flowers, plants, pet, etc.  
  • Next week we are going on a field trip to Sunshine Terrace.  I have arranged to do a combined music therapy group with the residents there led by Music Therapist, Jennifer Birchell.  Wednesday group will meet as usual at 9:00 do our morning greeting and seat work and leave here at 9:30 am.  We will be going to Terrace Grove Assisted Living Center in my van.  The only change for Wednesday is we will be home at 11:00 am.  So plan on picking up your children here at my house at 11:00 am.  If any parents would like to come your welcome.  Thursday group will be going to the Sunshine Terrace Nursing Center.  We will do some preschool activities before and after the field trip so same drop off and pick up time apply.  Thank you to David's mom for helping us by driving!  Have your child wear their preschool t-shirt.
  • The t-shirts we made were fun but I didn't like how the iron on worked so I have had Badger print some shirts for next year and they should be ready for this field trip.  If anyone has lost their shirt or would just like a new one this is what they look like and they cost $7.00.  I have x-small and small and they look like this.  If you do want one, you can simply add it to your February Tuition.
  • Valentines Day is coming up!  We will be exchanging valentines on Monday the 13th or Tuesday the 14th.  Monday's Group has 6 total children and Tuesday's group has 8 total children.  Please just have your child or you write on his valentines From:  __________ and his or her name.  That will make it easy for them to exchange.  If you would really like to have a list of the kids in our classes let me know and I will give you their first names in an e-mail.  We will be decorating valentine sacks for them to keep their valentines in.  It will be a fun day!  
  • Thank you so much for your trust in me with your children.  I really enjoy them all and love to see them having fun and learning at the same time.       ----Miss Heather