"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, October 26, 2013

Halloween

Monday and Tuesday
Field Trip days—Wear warm clothes and music train t-shirt.  If you can put the t-shirt on the outside of a long sleeve shirt.  Bring a car seat or booster as well.  I will park my van in the driveway and I would like you to put your child’s car seat/booster seat in my car and make sure it is buckled in if necessary.  I do have a parent coming with both groups but any parent is welcomed to come with us to help.

Wednesday and Thursday-- Come in Halloween Costume—It’s a Halloween Party! Bring 8 treats to share in our costume parade.

Basic Outline:
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
Hello Song
Instruments—The Addams Family with bells
Social—“What are you going to be on Halloween Night?”
Counting—Spider has 8 legs
Music Appreciation/Readiness—Major and Minor sounds
Small and Large Movement Skills—Monster Mash
ABC/Reading—Musical Chairs w/ ABC’s & This is Halloween
Singing—Child Chooses Songs—Teach Have you seen the Ghost of John/ I’m a mean old witch
10:00  Outside Play-Bean Bag Toss
10:10  Snacktime/Storytime (story read by teacher while eating snacks)
10:20  Creating Project (arts and crafts) decorate your own Halloween sugar cookie
10:45  Halloween Parade
10:55  Clean up and Goodbye Song
Announcements:  Don’t forget on Monday and Tuesday we are going on a field trip so where music train t-shirts under a long sleeve shirt to stay warm.  Wednesday and Thursday come in costumes for our Halloween Costume Party.  Also bring 8 treats to share with classmates.
Home Challenge:  Routine is very important in a preschooler’s day.  A routine will help your child feel safe and secure in his environment.  But in setting a routine remember that it serves you and your child and it can change daily depending on your and your children's needs.  I have a great book that helps prepare children emotionally, physically, and mentally for kindergarten.  The book is called On Becoming Preschoolwise,  By Gary Ezzo. In making a schedule for your day he suggests, “Taking a sheet of paper and dividing it into half-hour our hour increments.  Start planning each day keeping in mind that the weekends are less structured than weekdays.  (They give sample schedules in the back) Know that once you get your children’s schedules under control, you will easily find time to manage the rest of your day.”  Some of the activities that are suggested for preschooler is room time and playtime activities including painting, drawing, coloring, puzzles, and more.  There is also school time, sit alone time, rest time, reading time with mom, and even electronic play.    When you have multiple children it can be hard to give each one individual time with mom and dad.  He gives great suggestions on how to manage the time.  Once children have a little more structure and individual time with mom and dad behavior improves because they know what is expected of them during the day.   You can also have time to do what you need to get done as well.  If you want to borrow this book let me know.  You may also find it at the local library.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Fall Fun

October 21-24 2013 Fall Fun; Letter sound: qu, Number: 7
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
Hello Song
Instruments-Harvest Drumming –“Law of Harvest”
Social-It’s Autumtime—talk about the changes of the season
Counting-Hickory Dickory Dock
Music Appreciation/Readiness- Dynamics!
Small and Large Movement Skills- Harvest Dance:  Follow the Dance Leader
ABC/Reading-ABC hide and seek
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
10:00  Outside Play (Dress appropriately for weather)
10:10  Snacktime/Storytime preztle sticks (story read by teacher while eating snacks)
10:20  Creating Project (arts and crafts)-Leaf Rubbings
10:45  Math/Science Skills-Uno Attack
10:55  Clean up and Goodbye Song
Wed 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
Instruments-Echo Drumming
Gross Motor-Leaves are Falling w/ scarves
Music Appreication/Reading-ABC Snake-Fat Snake
Counting-Hickory Dickory Dock
Singing-Music Choosing
10:00  Outside Play (Dress appropriately for weather)
10:10  Snacktime/Storytime Scones (story read by teacher while eating snacks)
10:20  Creating Project (arts and crafts)-Paint Pumpkins
10:45  Math/Science Skills-Monkey Math
10:55  Clean up and Goodbye Song

Announcements:  On the calendar I have that we are doing pumpkins on Monday and Tuesday but we are going to switch these to Wed and Thursday. This week we will have child help design a part of the jack-o-lantern.  We will only use markers and then I will do the cutting at a later time.  The pumpkin walk has been a Cache Valley tradition since 1983.  I’m excited to participate by designing and carving pumpkins that will be used along the walk ways.  I am going to make a sign to put by our pumpkins that acknowledges each of our preschool children.  I was planning on just using first names but if anyone is uncomfortable about that please let me know and I will leave your child’s name off the sign.

Homework Challenge: This week we are identifying the changes of the fall season.  I challenge you to go on a walk or drive and ask your child to notice anything that shows what season we are in.  Such as the leaves that are changing colors, leaves on the ground, frost, plants that are dying, apples on trees, even Halloween decorations can be a sign of Fall or Autumn.     

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Flavorful Food

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
Hello Song
Instruments—All Around the Kitchen
Social- Muffin Man
Counting-Blue Jello’s
Music Appreciation/Readiness—ABC sing with me
Small and Large Movement Skills- Dance Director
ABC/Reading-- I like to Eat…Apples and Bananas
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
10:00  Outside Play (Dress appropriately for weather)
10:10  Snacktime/Storytime a snack from all food groups!—Read Hungry Caterpillar
10:20  Creating Project (arts and crafts)  Good Group cut out project
10:45  Math/Science Skills-Uno Attack
10:55  Clean up and Goodbye Song
Announcements:  Next week is a short week because of Fall Break (UEA).  No class Wed. or Thurs.
Homework Assignment:  We did playdough last week and all the kids really enjoyed this.  I have a great recipe for homemade playdough that I encourage you to make.  It keeps great in a air tight container.  I had a batch that lasted one year!  Here is a link to the recipe.  
One other challenge is to work on rhyming with your child at home.  Taking one sound such as "s" as the starting sound and practice rhyming with ee, at, een, o.  You can do the same with "m" to make different words.  Other ways to practice rhyming is reading Dr. Seuss and nursery rhymes and other literature that rhymes.  

Friday, October 4, 2013

Color my World

October 7-10. 2013  Color My World-- Letter: O Number: 7
Monday and Tuesday
9:00  Self-Directed Play Time and Clean up—Blocks and Lacing
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)-
Instruments-In my little hand…
Social/Verbal-Shape Movements w/ partners
Counting--1 2 buckle my shoe-use rhythm sticks
Music readiness/rhythm-Teach humpty Dumpty find the rhythm with egg shakers
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 – Fruit
10:20  Creating Project (arts and crafts)-Octopus Water Coloring
10:45  Math/Science Skills-dice game with colored blocks
10:55  Clean up and Goodbye Song

Wednesday and Thursday
9:00  Self-Directed Play Time and Clean up—Blocks and Lacing
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—Lukey’s Boat w/ instruments and stop and go sign
Social-Bluebird
Counting-2 little black birds
Music readiness/rhythm-ABC which one is missing?
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—Colored Fishes
 10:20  Creating Project (arts and crafts)—Playdough Fun
10:45  Math/Science Skills—Monkey Math
10:55  Clean up and Goodbye Song
Announcements:  Check our facebook page because I posted some pictures this week and will try to get some of our 3-4 year old class this week.  They have been keeping me super busy so I can't think about the camera during class.  =)  I'm done with assessments and will be spending time typing out individual e-mail about goals for each child so look for that within the next week.
Homework Challenge:Homework Challenge:  Now that we are starting to put on jackets, and shoes and socks I have found it is a lot harder to get my own kids out the door because of the time it takes to put everything on.  Does your child know how to put their own coat on?  Can they put their own shoes on?  Your challenge this week is to take a little more time when it's time to go somewhere and have them put their own jacket and shoes on.  If they can already do this it's time to start learning how to tie shoes.  This can be frustrating so try to make it fun and do it when your not rushed.  Here is a video I really liked about how to teach your kids  http://youtu.be/eN9LcG_4B74 This is the wrap around way you can also teach them the bunny hole way but I personally have a hard time teaching this way because the ears get tangled for the kids.