Our class has had a great start! The children have learned the routines and are becoming more comfortable in school. Friendships are forming and all the children are actively participating in all aspects of the program.
We started the year reading books the children are familiar with to help them learn the story-time routine. We also introduced simple stories to help build their attention span. Some of the books we read are: Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See, From Head to Toe, I went Walking, Big Fish Little Fish, and Hide and Snake.
Since October is the apple picking season we are also learning all about apples. We talked about what the children knew about apples and then we read The Apple Tree, Counting Apples, and Ten Apples up on Top. We ate apples at snack time; we made apple sauce. We collaged an apple to decorate our classroom tree and each child made their own apple tree. We learned apple songs and finger plays too.
We made our first class book titled Friends which is circulating right now. This book is meant to help the children learn the names of their friends and their teachers. We are in the process of making our second class book titled Look at me! This book will be going home with the children the first week of November. For inspiration we used the books We Are All Alike… We Are All Different! I Like Me, and The Colors of Us. These books helped the children see how different we are from one another and yet at the same time how much we are alike. To help us with the All About Me unit we will read books like The Body Book, The Busy Body Book, I Call My Hands Gentle, Hands Are Not For Hitting, My Hands, and My Feet.
Next we will learn about the changes that occur during fall. We have adopted a tree next to the Tire Park. We will visit the tree once a week and observe what is happening to it. We touched its bark took pictures and will keep track of this tree throughout the year. We will be exploring pumpkins and this will lead us into a farm unit. At the same time we will be learning about our senses, and friendship. The children will guide this curriculum by the interest they show in these topics.
On Wednesdays we cook our own snacks. The class is enjoying cooking with Alma and Nicole; we are exploring with cookies. We hope you get to taste the one we have been sending home. So far they made oatmeal, chocolate chip, and pumpkin cookies. We are keeping track which one the children like and dislike with a cookie chart. We will be making bananas, peanut butter, sugar, and gingerbread cookies. If you
know of an easy recipe for other types of cookies please share it with us. We would love to make them in the class.
On Tuesdays we have dance with Mary, our music and movement teacher. The class is divided into two groups. Each group spends half an hour in the big room with Mary. They really enjoy the music and movement class. Please be on time especially on this day. We would like to alternate the between the two groups. Also, make sure the children are wearing clothes that are loose fitting and shoes they can take off and put on easily by themselves.
In case you wonder this is the schedule we try to follow every day:
AM 3s Daily Schedule
9:00 Arrival
9:00-10:10 Centers
10:10-10:20 Clean-up
10:20-10:35 Circle-(attendance, news of the day, morning message, weather/calendar, song/finger-play)
10:35-10:45 Line up/Bathroom
10:45-10:55 Snack
10:55-11:10 Story Circle
11:10-11:50 Outside Play
11:50-12:00 Dismiss to Home or Full-Day
We have been learning about colors at the easel and at the art table during finger painting. The children have mixed red and yellow, blue and red, and blue and yellow to make new colors. They love to discover the formation of a new color. We are also making color collages.
Playing with dry and wet sand, cornmeal, water, and red sand is a big hit! These materials provide opportunity for activities such as emptying, pouring, and funneling which engage the children’s minds and offer fundamental math
and science concepts as well as prepare them for everyday tasks. Many children find it a soothing place to play. In the future we will play with salt and colored rice and clay in the tactile table. I noticed how much this class enjoys playing with our home made play-dough.
Another loved activity is singing. We hope you are enjoying the lyrics we sent home of the songs the children learned so far. This class has learned many new songs in this short while. Since then we learned If You’re Happy and You Know It, Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar, Five Little Pumpkins, and The Monkeys and Mr. Alligator.
As we all know, part of the day is spent outdoors. The children must be dressed for the weather. We do go outside in the winter. The children especially enjoy playing in the snow. Snow pants, snow boots, and mittens are an absolute must to stay dry and enjoy the outdoors. Mittens not gloves need to be attached to jackets with clips or by string so when taken off, as they invariably are, will not be lost. Please help by updating your child’s extra clothes for the cold weather. Please label all clothing! We cannot always remember whose sweater or hat belongs to whom. Also please send spoons, forks, and napkins as needed for lunches-we do not supply these on a regular basis. It is a good idea to always provide your child with a fruit and/or a vegetable.
I would like to thank all the parents for sending the class book back to school and bringing your child to school on time every day. Also, your fruit and vegetable donations for snack are appreciated. Thank you for entrusting your children to us. I also would like to thank Vicki for volunteering in our classroom. Your expertise is always welcome.
We have a great team working hard together to make this the best possible experience for your children. I am thankful for this year’s team. Without their support, staying in for a few extra minutes when needed, and working cooperatively the classroom would not be running so smoothly. Lastly, remember a child’s work is play. Your children are learning a lot as they are working and playing each day.
We look forward to sharing their growth with you!
Maria, Alma, Nicole, and Vicki
We have been singing this song while we wait for friends to come out of the bathroom.
The Monkeys and Mr. Alligator Song
(You can start by counting how many children or people are listening to the song or with any number below 10)
Five Little Monkeys swinging from a tree (pretend you are swinging from a tree)
Teasing Mr. Alligator
You can’t catch me (place thumbs by your ears and wave fingers up and down)
Along came Mr. Alligator hungry as can be
Snap (snap at one child using both hands)
Ask children how many monkeys are left (count together)
Keep repeating the song until there are no more monkeys left.
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