"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, November 23, 2013

I am Thankful!

Thanksgiving:  Letter:  J  Number 11
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 Instruments
Social—Over the River and Through the Woods—Let each share something they are grateful for and what they like about Thanksgiving (pass bean bag and when music stops they share something—play “Thankful” by Josh Groban
Counting-10 little Indians
Music Appreciation/Readiness—Blue Jellos
Small and Large Movement Skills—Five Fat Turkeys- Five Fat turkeys were sitting on a fence.  The fist one said, I’m so immense The second one said, I can gobble at you The third one said I can gobble too the fourth one said I can spread my tail the fifth one said, Don’t catch it on a nail A farmer came along and stopped to say Turkeys look best on Thanksgiving Day (use hand to point to all the turkeys)
ABC/Reading-A Hunting We will Go (Rhyming with different animals)
A hunting we will go, A hunting we will go, Heigh-ho the dairy-o A hunting we will go.
Singing—Child Chooses Songs

10:00  Outside Play (Dress appropriately for weather)
10:10  Snacktime/Storytime (story read by teacher while eating snacks)-Graham Cracker and Milk
10:20  Creating Project (arts and crafts) Handprint Turkey’s  Cut out hands and write what they are grateful on each feather.

10:45  Math/Science Skills—Thanksgiving Bingo
10:55  Clean up and Goodbye Song

Announcements:  We have preschool only on Monday and Tuesday this week.  This Monday will be the last day our music therapy students will do music with the kids.  They have done such a great job with our 3-4 year old students.  I will give out December Calendars after Thanksgiving.  We have a field trip coming up so check your calendar for details.
Home Project/Assignment: I hope you have a great Thanksgiving.  Get your children involved with your thanksgiving dinner by letting them help in the kitchen, help set the table, or make a simple table decoration.  There are some fun ideas at: http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/thanksgiving_crafts.htm

Saturday, November 16, 2013

I love Music!

Letter of the Week: I
Number of the Week:  Review 1-10
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
Hello Song
Instruments—Teach 3/4 time with My Bonnie
Social—I’m in the mood
Counting-Count the Beats in music. Ravel-3/4 and Vivaldi 4/4
Music Appreciation/Readiness—Sing Sing Sing w/ round
Small and Large Movement Skills-Ding Dong I’ve got the rhythm
ABC/Reading-ABC Sing to me
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
10:00  Outside Play (Dress appropriately for weather)
10:10  Snacktime/Storytime (story read by teacher while eating snacks)-Pudding and Pretzels
10:20  Creating Project (arts and crafts) Make Kazoos
10:45  Math/Science Skills-Counting Magic Puff Balls
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
Hello Song
Instruments—Doodling with instruments
Social-Little Johnny Brown
Counting-5 monkeys with hand
Music Appreciation/Readiness—Make Music with our notes
Small and Large Movement Skills—Horsey Horsey
ABC/Reading-Bingo w/ letters
Singing—Child Chooses Songs

10:00  Outside Play (Dress appropriately for weather)
10:10  Snacktime/Storytime (story read by teacher while eating snacks)-Oranges
10:20  Creating Project (arts and crafts)-Make Mine Music
10:45  Math/Science Skills-5 Little Monkey’s Jumping on the Bed
10:55  Clean up and Goodbye Song-

Homework challenge:  With the Tuesday and Thursday we have been working in the Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons by Engelmann.  I love this method of teaching children to read.  I highly recommend that all my parents buy this book and use it at home to reinforce the reading at home.  We will begin using the book in the Monday and Wednesday Classes starting in January.  I didn’t feel like they were quite ready to begin it yet but by Jan. I think they will be.  Most of the kids are doing really well with the reading and are catching on fast.  You can get the book at The Book Table or online.  I know they have the book at most libraries so if you want to check it out first before you buy it that may be a good option.
I will be sending an e-mail with a survey to see if you have any suggestions or things you would like done at preschool.  We have been going for a few months and I would like some feedback to know if I can make this a better experience for you and your student.  You can return this via e-mail or print it out and return in person.  Thank you!

Sunday, November 10, 2013

My Amazing Body

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 Hello Song
Instruments-Instrument Pass and Play
Social—My Body (Tune of where is Thumbkin)  This is my body…It’s the only one I’ve got…I’m going to take good care of it…Yes I am….  Pass Bean Bag and who every gets the bag at the end of the song tells us one thing we can do to take care of our bodies.
Counting-10 little fingers
Music Appreciation/Readiness-Musical Snake
Small and Large Movement Skills-Head Shoulders
ABC/Reading—Alphabet Rumba
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
10:00  Outside Play (Dress appropriately for weather)
10:10  Snacktime/Storytime  Fruit Leather (story read by teacher while eating snacks)
10:20  Creating Project (arts and crafts)—Body Tracings
10:45  Math/Science Skills
10:55  Clean up and Goodbye Song

Wednesday and Thursday--Spotlight Jessica Today!
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—choose favorite instrument to play Trish Trash Polka
Social—Body Floor mat and brush teeth
Counting—Hickory Dickory Dock
Music Appreciation/Readiness—Introduce Treble Clef
Small and Large Movement Skills—Do your ears hang low
ABC/Reading—Alphabet Rumba
Singing—Child Chooses Songs
10:00  Outside Play (Dress appropriately for weather)
10:10  Snacktime/Storytime Muffins (story read by teacher while eating snacks)
10:20  Creating Project (arts and crafts)-Sillouettes and Playdough
10:45  Math/Science Skills
10:55  Clean up and Goodbye Song
Announcements:  Flu and Cold Season is hitting.  If your child is running a fever, has been throwing up within 24 hours of preschool, or has a green runny nose please keep them home so we don’t spread the sickness.  My kids may get sick and if this happens I will provide a separate place for them to be during preschool and still have preschool.  If I get the flu I will contact you and cancel preschool.  (this won’t likely happen, but just in case)
Homework Challenge:  I have been working with our students on correct pencil grip.  This is a challenge for many of the students.  If they are reinforced at home to hold their pencil, crayon, marker or whatever correctly then I know the habit will be made much faster.  The middle finger and thumb form a vise for holding the pencil.  The index, or pointing, finger rests between the middle finger and the thumb.  Fingers need to be close to the point of the pencil.  All knuckles, including the thumb, should be bent and the fingers and thumb rounded to the same degree.  Here is a picture of a good pencil grip.  Try to keep fingers relaxed so there is no strain on the hand or fingers.  pencil_grip3

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Saturday, November 2, 2013

When I grow Up!

Monday and Tuesday
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—Musical Jazz Improv. Solo and group play.
Social—“Who are the People in your neighborhood”  -Let each student identify one person that helps our community run each day.    Key C—C, G, am G, G, Am, A, D
Counting-10 little monkeys jumping on the bed
Music Appreciation/Readiness:  Grand Staff- introduce lines and spaces
Small and Large Movement Skills- Leaves are Falling
Mailing Letters - sung to "The Mulberry Bush"
This is the way we mail a letter,
Mail a letter, mail a letter.
This is the way we mail a letter,
So early in the morning.
ABC/Reading—BINGO w/ Rhythm Sticks
Singing—Child Chooses Songs

10:00  Outside Play (Dress appropriately for weather)
10:10  Snacktime/Storytime (story read by teacher while eating snacks)
10:20  Creating Project (arts and crafts)  Coloring  and cutting out Occupations
10:45  Math/Science Skills
10:55  Clean up and Goodbye Song
Wednesday and Thursday
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-I’ve been Working on the Railroad-Instrument Exploration
Social—The Farmer in the Dell
Counting—I have 10 little fingers
Music Appreciation/Readiness—Musical Up and Down w/ Scarves
Small and Large Movement Skills I'm a Firefighter - sung to "I'm a little teapot"
I'm a firefighter
Dressed in red,
With my fire hat
On my head.
I can drive the fire truck,
Fight fires, too,
And help to make things
Safe for you.
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)
10:20  Creating Project (arts and crafts)  Write, Stamp and Mail letters
10:45  Math/Science Skills
10:55  Clean up and Goodbye Song
Announcements:  It is getting pretty cold so be sure to send jackets/coats with your kids for outside play.  I am a firm believer that outside play is crucial at this age.  I don’t have them play outside for long but it gives them time to get their wiggles out and have unstructured time play and create within their own space.  Gloves and hats may also be appropriate to send in their backpacks if they want to bring them.  It is a good idea to label the clothing so I can get it home to the right child.  I’m sorry the weather didn’t cooperate for our field trip this week.  I did hear from the children that many of you were able to go with your family so that is great.  It’s a fun tradition in Cache Valley. I put some fun pictures of Halloween on facebook you might want to check out.   
Home Challenge:  We have learned quite a lot of letters. The 3-4 year olds are just being introduced to the letters and might not be able to identify them all but I would like them to be able to identify at least the first letter of their name by now.  If this is still a challenge you may want to encourage this at home.  For the 4-5 year olds, I don’t think it is too much to say they should be able to identify all the letters that we have worked on so far.  Some can also identify the sound(s) they make.  Here are the letters that we have learned so far you may want to see what letters they can identify at this point and work on the ones that they can’t do.  (A,C,D,F,G,O,S,Q,B)  Magnetic Letters, alphabet puzzles, alphabet computer games, stamping, stickers, reading books and identifying letters on the page are all ways that you can encourage and support their learning.  Another fun way you can have a letter for a week is write the letter on a small paper and have your child carry it around with them everywhere they go.  They have to babysit their letter.  Throughout the day ask how their “A” is and where it is? Do this until that letter is solid.