"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

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Home and Families


Home and Families Letter X, Z; Number 30-40
Self Directed Play & Clean Up; Little People and Lincoln Logs
Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Week
Seat Work
Reading and Writing
Show and Tell- Bring something that symbolizes what you like to do as a family
Music Circle Time--
Hello Song
Instruments-Hey Ho Nobody Home
Social—I love my family-share there show and tell and write a class song w/items
Counting—This old man
Music readiness/rhythm-Humpty Dumpty
Small and Large Movement Skills—I’m so glad when daddy comes home
Cognitive (colors, shapes, letters)—Scat the Cat
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Snack & Story Time-Animal Crackers; The Three Little Picks
Free Time & Group Motor Activity:  Duck Duck Goose
Creating Project (arts and crafts)-log home w/ popcycle sticks; Folded Home
Math/Science Skills:  Memory
Goodbye Song

Self Directed Play & Clean Up
Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Week
Seat Work
Reading and Writing
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments-Three Blind Mice
Social-Who Stole the Cookie?
Counting-Beehive
Music readiness/rhythm—ABC musical snake
Small and Large Movement Skills-Bluebird
Cognitive (colors, shapes, letters)-Home on the Range (reading and listening)
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Snack & Story Time-Homemade Scones
Free Time & Group Motor Activity-
Creating Project (arts and crafts) Draw “My Family”
Math/Science Skills:  Telephone Manners and dialing your number
Goodbye Song

Announcements:  Show and Tell this week.  I would like to do it Monday and Tuesday this time.  Would you have your child find something that symbolizes something they like to do with there family.  We will be writing a class song with all of there things.  When I made the calendar at the beginning of the year I did it off of my children’s school calendar.  I had taken off March 14th because that day they had off for parent teacher conferences but I was incorrect and it is March 7th.  I will need to switch those days so I can attend my children’s conferences.  I apologize for the inconvenience of this.  Also thank you so much for my Monday classes being so understanding about this week.  It really made a big difference in me getting better quicker to take that day off.  Thank you!  This month we are suppose to go on a field trip and I am working on getting a hold of the facility and hope to have everything in place when I give out calendars.  If not I will put down tentative plans and then better details when I get the information.

Home Challenge:  We are talking about home and family this week.  Does your child know what city they live in?  Do they know what your house number is?  If they know I will have them write their house number on their homes they create for arts and crafts.  If they don’t that is fine you can talk to them about what your house number is and show them on your house where it is and then they can write it on their creation at home.  

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Shapes and Colors


Colors and Shapes Letter Q Numbers 20-30 count by 5’s
Self Directed Play & Clean Up
Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Week
Seat Work
Reading and Writing
Spotlights on preschool children-About one a month
Show and Tell- once a month
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Cognitive (colors, shapes, letters)-Shape Song (tune of Farmer in the Dell)
Instruments-Can you play the square the square
Social/Verbal-Shape Movements w/ partners
Counting-1 2 buckle my shoe
Music readiness/rhythm-Humpty Dumpty w/ instruments
Small and Large Movement Skills-De Colores w/ Scarves
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Snack & Story Time-Oranges
Free Time & Group Motor Activity
Creating Project (arts and crafts)-Playdough; Pearler Bead Creation
Math/Science Skills-Uno Attack
Goodbye Song

Self Directed Play & Clean Up
Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Week
Seat Work
Reading and Writing
Spotlights on preschool children-About one a month
Show and Tell- once a month
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments
Social-Bluebird
Counting-2 little black birds
Music readiness/rhythm-3 blind Mice
Small and Large Movement Skills-Rainbow Song
Cognitive (colors, shapes, letters)-Baa Baa Black Sheep
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Snack & Story Time-Popcorn
Free Time & Group Motor Activity
Creating Project (arts and crafts)-Noodle Necklaces; Water Color Scene
Math/Science Skills-Bubble Gum
Goodbye Song
Announcements:  Next month is right around the corner!  I'm hoping for some warm weather.  Continue to send your children with coats and warm clothes so they are comfortable outside during playtime.
Home Challenge:  This week we are working on Colors and Shapes.  Most of the children do really well with naming them.  I challenge you to talk about not just the name of the shape but how many sides does it have, which side is shorter or are they all the same size.  Find different shapes in your environment to make more connections with them.  Colors may seem really easy lets take it to the next level.  What letter starts with the color Red.  What happens when you mix red and yellow?  We will be talking about these at preschool but it's great to reinforce them at home.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

I love America


No Class on Monday-Happy President’s Day
Theme for the Week:  I love America  Letter- J; Number-Review 1-20
Tuesday:
Self Directed Play & Clean Up
Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Week
Seat Work
Reading and Writing
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments:  Yankee Doddle Dandy with Kazoo’s and a drummer on the beat
Social:  I love my Family—Lyric writing with children’s responses to what they enjoy doing with their family?
Counting-Stars Shining
Music Appreciation/Readiness:  Slow and Quick song—Teach some of the Italian words we use in music such as Largo, Allegro for slow and fast
Small and Large Movement Skills:  Yankee Doodle Dandy and stop and sit down on cue to the music
Cognitive: Right Hand, Left Hand song—This is my right hand, I’ll raise it up high.  This is my left hand, I’ll touch the sky.  Right hand, Left hand Roll them around.  Left hand Right hand, Pound, Pound pound.
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Snack & Story Time:  Muffins
Free Time & Group Motor Activity:  Jumping Jacks
Creating Project (arts and crafts)—Creating our flag
Math/Science Skills:  Monkey Math
Goodbye Song

Wednesday and Thursday:
Self Directed Play & Clean Up
Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Week
Seat Work
Reading and Writing
Spotlights on preschool children-Olivia
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments:  Deep in the heart of Texas-first clap, then stomp and then with rhythm sticks
Social-Pop goes the Weasel—Have each child after their turn choose another child by name to be the monkey—Take turns with the Pop on the instrument
Small and Large Movement Skills/Impulse Control:  You’re a Grand Old Flag w/ scarves
Counting:  By n By
Music Appreciation/Readiness:  Red White Blue—w/ xylophone and beat
ABC/Reading:  USA instrument find Put a Letter on Three different instruments and have the student find the letter and play the instrument—Can you play the ____ the  ______ the _____ Can you play the _____ great play it with me me.  Play this way and that way and this way and that way.  You found the letter _____ You are so great!
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Snack & Story Time:  Pretzels
Free Time & Group Motor Activity—Duck Duck Goose
Creating Project (arts and crafts)  Straw Drawing; Flag Streamer
Math/Science Skills:  Simple Addition Game
Goodbye Song
Announcements:  No School on Monday.  Sadly we will be losing a student this month because they are moving in our 4-5 year old class on Tuesday and Thursday.  I know some of you were interested in this class because it is a little longer class it’s from 9:00-11:30.  Please let me know if you would like to switch or if you know of anyone who is looking for a preschool.
Homework Challenge:  Rediscover things your child can do on their own.  Let them know you notice how well they can put their own clothes on, or make their bed, or help set the table.  Be specific in your praise.  Whatever it is try this week to tell them how much you appreciate the things they can do.  This helps them know they are important and loved.  It will also remind you how much they have grown.  It’s a good practice to emphasis the things they can do and not the things they are working on.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Be Mine


Be Mine Valentine:  Letter Y Number 20
Monday and Tuesday
It’s Field Trip Day for Monday Group!—see e-mail for times and details
Seat Work
Practice writing names
Weather/Calendar
Introduce Theme and Letter and Number of the Day
Counting
Reading Time
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-show book then teach the actions
ABC/Reading—Mom and Dad sittin' in a tree
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Creating Project (arts and crafts)—Straw Paintings
Free Time-choose activity inside or outside before snacks
Snacktime—Applesauce
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

Seat Work
Practice writing names
Weather/Calendar
Introduce Theme and Letter and Number of the Day
Counting
Reading Time
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 (Fuggi Fuggi)
ABC/Reading—Egg Pass with ABC’s hidden inside
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Creating Project (arts and crafts)—Decorate Valentine Sacks
Free Time-choose activity inside or outside before snacks
Snacktime—Cut Carrots
Pass out Valentines
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 Wednesday and Thursday.  See calendar for the number of valentines you will need.  We will make fun sacks to keep all the valentines in that day.  We had many parents who were and are going to be able to help with the field trips this month.  Thank you so much  It was a great experience for the children to interact with the older adults and the adults just enjoyed the children so much.  I’m sure it will be the same this week!
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 1, 2013

Friends of all Kinds


Friends of all Kinds:  Letter B; Number 19
Self Directed Play & Clean Up
Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Week
Seat Work
Reading and Writing
Show and Tell- once a month—Tuesday is Show and Tell because of field trip-Bring a favorite book
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments-We are different-teach lyrics and choose instruments to play with
Social-Show Differing ability posters while listening to “Not that Different”
Counting-“Every Star is Different”  Put a number of stars on the board while singing then have a volunteer count and tell how many stars are on the board.
Music Appreciation/Readiness-Fix the Order and What is Missing
Small and Large Movement Skills-I’m a little teapot
ABC/Reading-My Bonnie-Stand up and down on B Sounds
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Snack & Story Time-Ants on a Log
Free Time & Group Motor Activity-Inside Obstacle Course
Creating Project (arts and crafts) –Make Valentine
Math/Science Skills-Number Counting Puzzle as a group
Goodbye Song

Wednesday and Thursday
Self Directed Play & Clean Up
Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Week
Seat Work
Reading and Writing
Show and Tell- once a month-Show and Tell for Wednesday-Bring a favorite book
Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments-Play Play Play
Social-Button you must wander—identify who has the button by saying classmates name.
Counting-Two little Black birds
Music Appreciation/Readiness-Find that note—music listening aural skills
Small and Large Movement Skills- Row Row Row your boat
ABC/Reading-Alphabet Song-hide the letter and sing louder as they get close to the letter
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
Snack & Story Time-Fruit Snacks for field trip/Animal Crackers
Free Time & Group Motor Activity-Snowball throwing targets
Creating Project (arts and crafts)-Foam Penguin Project
Math/Science Skills-Guessing Number Game.  I’m thinking of a number
Goodbye Song

Announcements:  February Tuition is Due Monday or Tuesday.  If you pay with cash I would like you to still put it in an envelope but I would also like you to initial that you gave it to me and I will also initial so we have a record.  Thank you.  Field Trips will be this week for Thursday and then next Monday.  Don’t forget to have your child wear their preschool t-shirt and leave a car seat.
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 should not 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.   We will be visiting some local nursing homes and they will be seeing many residents varying in ability.  This can be scary for children so if you can prep them by discussing that many of them will be in wheelchairs.  We will be calling them our grandfriends.  This may help in knowing what to call them.  I love the wisdom and experience these friends can give us all.