Some January Photos!

We made "snow" using baby oil and flour.  They measured, estimated and got messy learning!

They just looked so cute all bundled up!  Thanks for remembering those essentials.  They go out if it is above 30 and not raining.

We have been working with rhyming.  As long as the understand the concept of rhyming, "nonsense" words are fully acceptable.  Soon they will learn to differentiate nonsense from regular words.  Right now it's all about the concept.  Try it at home.

Painting snow scenes.

We have been focusing a lot of shapes.  They can practice with rulers and it is easier for them to draw Straight lines. PLUS, they get very creative making square people and line designs.  VERY COOL.

Did You Know???

Maria Montessori was a wonderful advocate for natural learning environments.   This is a wonderful list that is AGE appropriate if we just trust in our children and be patient teachers.  They CAN do it.  

FROZEN OVER???

I hope you are warm and toasty at home.  I decided to put some indoors fun ideas for you all to do while the weather continues to be frightful!

1.  Play bingo with letters or numbers, clap out words as we are practicing syllables or make rhyming games up.

2. Make some "snow".  How?
8 cups of flour and 1 cup of baby oil
Mix.  That's it.  It is awesome fun and your hands smell lovely. :)

3. Make Frozen Bubbles! Check the link below
http://www.housingaforest.com/frozen-bubbles/

4.  Create your own game.  Have the children come up rules that you write down and try to follow.

5.  Paint with ICE!  Add food coloring to water and freeze in small cubes with Popsicle sticks.  When they are frozen they become automatic paint "brushes".  It has a water color effect.

6.  Stained Glass Windows.  Tape clear contact paper onto the window.  Allow children to tear different color tissue paper and stick to the contact paper.  Encourage them to be creative!


GOOD LUCK and Have fun .

TB

New Photos (Mostly December)

Peppermint play doh was such a hit I made a little bag for each child.

Making Trees and below we decorated our felt tree.

We are all learning at different paces. 

No direction, just shapes.  Look at their creations.

We made a patterned chain that was 106 loops long!

Learning about Andy Warhol and Pop Art.  It was tougher than it looks!

All pretty and dapper, ready for the Christmas Program.  They did so great.

Making Mommy and Daddy special cards and gifts. 

Polar Express Day:  We did Math with marshmallows and made a shape train.  We also wrote some fun words from the movie.  Don't forget the hot chocolate, it was super yummy.

Here is a bunch of books I read to the class over the month. 

Our Christmas party was a success thanks to all the grown ups who volunteered to come in and help with crafts and games. 

We are just flying through the school year.  I can not express how amazed I am with each and everyone of these children so far this year.  The new year brings new excitement and new topics for learning.  I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and Cheers to a WONDERFUL, BLESSED NEW YEAR!

Mrs. Boyle :)

NEW photos... long over due!

62 blocks high!

NC the friend of the week in November

Super cool Scientist of the week EH talking about BLUBBER!  We learned blubber keeps animals warm and helps them float!

BP brought in his tortoise to finish up our story La Tortuga.  We measured his shell and we will remeasure in the spring!

KD another friend of the week.

Sparky is certainly growing quickly!

The Month Of December has come and nearly GONE!!

Prek 4 has been so busy I don't even know where to start!

In Reading we have been working with the main story of "The Elves and the Shoemaker".  The focus has been top, middle and bottom adding to prereading and writing skills.  I have begun working with smaller more focused groups on things from letter identification to decoding 3 letter words.  ALL students have learned alliteration, rhyme and just this week SYLLABLES.  Ask them to demonstrate throughout break.  They love showing how smart they are.

Math has been a building block.  Some are ready to try some basic addition which will begin after break.  Others are working on writing and identifying as well as connecting the number to a group of objects.  Counting is different than identification.  Most of these guys can COUNT to 100 without a problem.  We even started counting by 10's for fun.  HOWEVER they must know numbers 1-10 and be able to write and hopefully spell those numbers by the end of the year.

We have had a couple of Scientists these last few weeks.  I will post them and their photos in the next post.  We have also had a few instagram assignments.  The last one was on Christmas traditions in their homes.  We have been talking about different traditions around the world during this time of the year.  We have talked about Christmas in Germany, Mexico, Italy and the US along with St. Lucia in Sweden and the Jewish tradition of Hanukkah.  They loved seeing all the different foods and photos of events that happen during this time.

Over break, I ask that you spend a little time practicing names and letters Aa-Hh both printing and identifying.  They should be doing these pretty well at this point.  If you have specific questions, please email me.  Watch their grips and letter formation as these can be difficult habits to break, so I need your help at home as well.  :)

I hope by now you have all seen our first touchcast.  Tomorrow, I will be filming another.  They are fun insights into the classroom. I love sharing what we are doing.

FINALLY, ENJOY YOUR BREAK WITH YOUR GIFT FROM GOD! They are amazing little people and I LOVE everyday that I get to spend with them.  I love seeing them grow and learn.  I hope you are seeing amazing growth too.  Thank you for letting me be a part of their lives.

Merry Christmas and God's Blessings for a new year!

Love,
T B :)

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