"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

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Exploring Space

Monday and Tuesday
9:00  Self-Directed Play Time and Clean up
9:10  Seat Work (writing name, worksheet)
9:20  Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Day
9:25  Reading Time/Phonograms (letter sounds)
9:30  Music Circle Time (Small and Large Movement, Instruments, Counting, Music Appreciation/Readiness, ABC/Reading, Singing) 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  The Sun , Mercury, Venus, Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn
10:00  Outside Play (Dress appropriately for weather)
10:10  Snacktime/Storytime (story read by teacher while eating snacks) Saturn Rings-roll dice and see how many to get at a time
10:20  Creating Project (arts and crafts)—Constellation Creation
10:45  Math/Science Skills Demonstrate Planets orbiting the sun by acting out with planets
10:55  Clean up and Goodbye Song

Wednesday and Thursday
9:00  Self-Directed Play Time and Clean up
9:10  Seat Work (writing name, worksheet)
9:20  Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Day
9:25  Reading Time/Phonograms (letter sounds)
9:30  Music Circle Time (Small and Large Movement, Instruments, Counting, Music Appreciation/Readiness, ABC/Reading, Singing) 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

10:00  Outside Play (Dress appropriately for weather)
10:10  Snacktime/Storytime (story read by teacher while eating snacks) Space Drinks  have the group help make these
10:20  Creating Project (arts and crafts)—Sun Paint Project
10:45  Math/Science Skills
10:55  Clean up and Goodbye Song
Announcements:  Because of the rain the Thursday Class did not go on the field trip so we will attempt to go this Tuesday.  The weather forecast looks good.  I will be handing out October calendars on Tuesday and Wednesday so look in backpacks for these.
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.

Friday, September 20, 2013

Things that Go!

Sept. 23-26, 2013—Things that Go!  Field Trip Day
9:00  Self-Directed Play Time and Clean up—Cars and Trucks
9:10  Seat Work (writing name, worksheet)
9:20  Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Day
9:25  Reading Time/Phonograms (letter sounds)
9:30  Music Circle Time Hello Song
Instruments—Train Song w/ Shakers
Social—Wheels on the Bus—show book and then get imput for song and actions
Counting—Blue Jello w/ instruments
Music Appreciation/Readiness—PP—FF dynamics
Small and Large Movement Skills-Row Row Row your Boat
ABC/Reading—What letter is Missing?
Singing—Child Chooses Songs

10:00  Outside Play (Dress appropriately for weather)—
10:10  Snacktime/Storytime (story read by teacher while eating snacks) --Banana Boats
10:20  Creating Project (arts and crafts)—Car Art (Painting)
10:45  Math/Science Skills—Sorting Vehicles by Land, Air or Sea
10:55  Clean up and Goodbye Song

Field Trip Day
9:00  Self-Directed Play Time and Clean up—Cars and Trucks
9:10  Seat Work (writing name, worksheet)
9:20  Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Day
9:25  Reading Time/Phonograms (letter sounds)
Leave for Field Trip—Playing Active Games at the Park
Return at 10:55 to get backpacks ready to go
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.  We are going to have 3-4 year old group go on Monday.  We have music therapy students that come on Wednesday for Music Time and so I’m going to switch the day we go to our field trip.  I only use washable paints, if your child comes home with paint on their clothes I’m really sorry, if you put spray and wash on it should come out in the laundry.  I will try to remember to warn you if we are painting on the calendar and on the weekly notes.  3-4 year olds will be painting on Wed. and 4-5 year olds will be painting on Tues.
Home Challenge-- The weather has been so beautiful,  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.
I am just wrapping up the student assessments and will be e-mailing each of you about it and what I would like to work on with them this semester.  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 14, 2013

I'm a VIP (Very Important Person)

September 16-19th-I’m a VIP (Very Important Person)-Letter D; Number 2
9:00  Self-Directed Play Time and Clean up—Letter Peg board, puzzles
9:10  Seat Work (writing name, worksheet)
9:20  Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Day
9:25  Reading Time/Phonograms (letter sounds)
9:30  Music Circle Time
Small and Large Movement Skills—Head Shoulder’s Knees and Toes
Open and Shut Them
Instruments—All Night All Day w/drums
Social—Our Favorite Things
Counting—Five Little Speckled Frogs
Music Appreciation/Readiness-Teach Two Black Keys on the piano
ABC/Reading—Slap D
Singing—Pick a song
10:00  Outside Play (Dress appropriately for weather)
10:10  Snacktime/Storytime (story read by teacher while eating snacks)-crackers and cheese/”Sometimes” by Baker
10:20  Creating Project (arts and crafts)—Handprints & Footprints
10:45  Math/Science Skills—measure how tall each child is, use rulers to measure other objects in the room
10:55  Clean up and Goodbye Song
9:00  Self-Directed Play Time and Clean up
9:10  Seat Work (writing name, worksheet)
9:20  Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Day
9:25  Reading Time/Phonograms (letter sounds)
9:30  Music Circle Time
Spotlight Chace Today
Small and Large Movement Skills—If your Happy and you know it (add different emotions sad,
angry, excited, lonely, scared)
Instruments:  In my little hand
Social—I’m in the mood for?
Counting—All Night, All Day w/ number letters on drums
Music Appreciation/Readiness—Fat Snake
ABC/Reading—Alphabet Rumba with A, C, and D
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
10:00  Outside Play (Dress appropriately for weather)
10:10  Snacktime/Storytime (story read by teacher while eating snacks)-Chace -Snack for Wednesday, pretzel and marshmallow people/”I was so Mad” by Mayer
10:20  Creating Project (arts and crafts)-My Name Plate-Foam craft
10:45  Math/Science Skills—Count who many fingers and toes you have subtract various body parts
10:55  Clean up and Goodbye Song
Announcements:  Next week is our first field trip.  We will be doing active games at a grassy area close to our preschool.  Please have your children wear good shoes to run and play in.
Homework Challenge:  This week we are talking about how each person is important.  One of our crafts this week is creating something with our name.  Can your child identify their name yet?  They may only be able to find the first letter of their name but you can practice by finding all of the "C"s on a cereal box or in a book you are reading if your child's name started with that letter.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Colors and Shapes

Colors and Shapes-- Letter: C Number: 1
9:00  Self-Directed Play Time and Clean up—Shape Puzzles and Connecting Blocks
9:10  Seat Work (writing name, worksheet)
9:20  Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Day
9:25  Reading Time/Phonograms (letter sounds)
9:30  Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Cognitive (colors, shapes, letters)-Shape Song (tune of Farmer in the Dell)
Instruments-In my little hand…
Social/Verbal-Shape Movements w/ partners
Counting--1 2 buckle my shoe-use rhythm sticks
Music readiness/rhythm-ABC letter game, Humpty Dumpty w/ instruments
Small and Large Movement Skills-De Colores w/ Scarves
Singing—Child Chooses Songs

10:00  Outside Play (Dress appropriately for weather)
10:10  Snacktime/Storytime – Make homemade pretzels into fun shapes
10:20  Creating Project (arts and crafts)-water color paintings
10:45  Math/Science Skills-dice game with colored blocks—
10:55  Clean up and Goodbye Song

Colors and Shapes-- Letter: C Number: 1
9:00  Self-Directed Play Time and Clean up-- Shape Puzzles and Connecting Blocks
9:10  Seat Work (writing name, worksheet)
9:20  Weather, Calendar, Counting, Letter and Number of the Day
9:25  Reading Time/Phonograms (letter sounds)
Spotlight Keone today!
9:30  Music Circle Time
Hello Song
Instruments—Can you play the _______? Find the right instrument shape
Social-Bluebird
Counting-2 little black birds
Music readiness/rhythm-ABC hide it
Small and Large Movement Skills-Rainbow Song
Cognitive (colors, shapes, letters)-Baa Baa Black Sheep
Singing—Child Chooses Songs

10:00  Outside Play (Dress appropriately for weather)
10:10  Snacktime/Storytime-- Fresh Purple Plums  Keone is treat in 4-5 year old class
 10:20  Creating Project (arts and crafts)—Make a Train with Shapes
10:45  Math/Science Skills—Monkey Math
10:55  Clean up and Goodbye Song
Announcements:  Thank you for all those that brought your stickers.  We are going to be using these all year round in our crafts and our reading chart.  
Homework Challenge:  This week we are working on our colors and shapes.  I have been working on an assessment which gives me a baseline to what our preschoolers know right now.  Most know there shapes and colors well.  So this week is fun because they are already familiar with it.  One shape that is difficult for preschoolers is the difference between squares and rectangles.  So I challenge you to help your student find some squares and rectangles in your house.  So they can see and feel the difference with you.