3 S's.... Snow, Solar System and Science!

Don't just toss out old cards... let them create something.

too cold outside? Bring the snow inside!

simple chalk on black for a snowy effect

What to do with old wallpaper??? Create their own Solar systems.

Scientist of the week showing an oil/water/solid experiments

Scientist of the week showing how to make cornstarch ooze

Creating his own planet using a circle template and watercolor paints

Pretend snow can be cotton balls or oatmeal in a large table

Bringing some sunshine into the room.

BLAST OFF!!!

We have begun our journey through the Solar System.  Ask your child what they learned about Earth and the Sun.  Daily, we will review the planets and interesting little facts about them.  So far they can tell you how many moons Earth and Jupiter have, What Saturn's rings are made of, What color Neptune is, what planet is closest to the sun and that the sun is a hot hot hot star!  They are doing amazingly well with the terminology.

Here is a little song:  We are going on a rocketship, straight up to the moon. 4,3,2,1 BLASTOFF ZOOM!!! Ask them to sing that with you.

Within the unit we are working on writing skills as well as counting.  They are using the felt board, matching games and much more to enforce their academics in an engaging way.  Our current letter focus is on Ii, Jj and Kk.  Ask them to point these letters out at home in magazines or on the computer. They love to find letters and call them out all over the room.  Many are even sounding out words to see what letter they start with.  Please encourage that at home as well.

Keep your child dressed warmly.  If you have not sent a blanket back since Christmas, please do so asap. I am sending them home this week to wash.  The cots we received have been an awesome addition to rest time.  Most find them so much more comfy!

Until next week, stay warm and may God continue to bless you and your child!
Tanya

Photos of things we have been up to...

SNOW....well, sort of!

It SHOULD be snowing, but alas, it is not.  We won't let that get us down.  We are still talking all about snow. We will watch some timelapsed video of major snow fall observing clouds and what the snow does to trees and bushes.  We will be creating snow and designing our own hats and mittens as well. Here are some fun things you can do at home.
http://ucreatewithkids.blogspot.com/2011/01/tutorial-cotton-rounds-snowman.html

http://mymontessorijourney.typepad.com/my_montessori_journey/2011/01/felt-snowflake-building.html

a messy yet fun one!
http://itsybitsylearners.blogspot.com/2011/01/winter-preschool-theme-painting-snow.html

At the end of the week, we will start the Solar System. We will be talking about all the planets, the sun, stars and the moon.  These is going to be a cross curricular unit and will last through the end of January.  The field trip at the end of the month ties into this unit.

Remember to ask them questions pertaining to their units. Ask them about some silly poetry Mrs. Tanya read or to tell you what do the clouds look like when it snows.   They are just 3,4 and 5.  Many times it's not natural for them to vividly describe their day.  It is up to you to ask the right questions.

FINALLY, we welcome Lily, Nicolas and Alex to The Academy Prek class.  Lily will be with Mrs. Kim and Alex and Nicolas will be in my room.  We hope to be joined by a few more this year. 

God Bless and stay warm!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Welcome back.  I hope you all had fun playing in the snow and spending a lot of time together.  I know we did at my house.

Tomorrow we return back to the same routine.  This can be hard, especially on the younger ones.  Please help them by remembering their nap stuff if they are full time and get them to school on time.  Being tardy on the first day back makes things rough. 

Remember to have them in their snow/warm winter gear as they will be going outside as long as it is above 30 and not raining.  This is good for the children.  Not only do they burn some much needed energy, but this also helps in killing off some germs.  Speaking of germs, remember to practice coughing in the elbow or in a tissue and BLOWING and WIPING noses in tissues. 

Upon return, we will be focusing on poems, snow and the solar system.  January will have many engaging events in store.  We have our new Science program which starts Jan. 12th with Samantha.  We will also have lunch with our senior friends from Central Baptist on Jan. 10th.  We have a day off on the 17th to celebrate the wonderful works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  We will also be taking a whole school trip to the Adler Planetarium on Jan. 25th.  More details on that will come home later this week.   On January 30th, we will celebrate the beginning of Catholic Schools week with an all school/family mass.  It is a Sunday followed by an open house.  Please plan not only on coming, but bringing an interested family. 

As always, be safe, be warm and God Bless!

Tanya

December has come and is nearly over!

First off, I apologize for NOT blogging much this month.  We have been extremely busy.  Things are winding down just in time to wind back up for YOU at home with your sweet little one. 

We have finished our unit on The Elves and The Shoemaker.  The kids all loved it.  Our next unit is Jingles, poems and other rhymes.  We have already begun practicing rhyming words.  Try asking your child to make rhyming words at home.  We count nonsense words as well as conventional words.  Try to stress the end sounds so they don't get confused.  For example say tED not Ted.  Rhyming is with ending sounds.  You might hear Ten as a rhyming word, just remind them of the ED not EN sounds.

Stories and songs with Santa was a blast.  I was so excited to see all the new faces and my old favorites too.  The children seemed to have great fun.  This Tuesday, the 21, we will have our PJ and Polar Express day.  All children are invited to stay the whole day to join in on the fun!  After that, they are all yours until January 5th. 

I will blog once over vacation.  I will remind you all of upcoming January events.  The biggest news for the children is that Scientist of the week will begin the second week of January.  Our first scientist is Samantha W with her dad.  We can't wait to start this project. 

Until next year, I wish you tons of happiness and love over this holiday season.  Be safe and warm.  I can't wait to see you all back at school in 2011!!!
God Bless,

Tanya

Welcome to December

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  I know my family enjoyed it!

December will bring many things to our little shining stars.  We have begun our unit on The Shoemaker and the Elves.  Our new focus color is green and we are working on circles and squares.  We will begin doing some basic abab patterns because there seems to be so many patterns around at this time of the year.  Ask them to show you different patterns.  You can encourage colors, but also cans, blocks, shapes, sizes like big little big little etc. 

Advent has begun.  Each Monday, we will have a prayer service and "light" one candle in the school hall.  Yesterday, I sent home a colored wreath for you to do with your child.  The candles go purple on weeks 1&2, then pink and the last candle is purple.  Try to connect school and home in the manner as well.  Also, regarding church, don't forget to bring your "MASS PORTS" to church during Advent.

The children are starting to spend more time in their new "groups".  We hope that the classroom is ready the week of December 13 sometime.  We have already seen the huge benefits of these smaller groups for the children.  Remember, I will continue to do the Rowland program with all the older 4s and 5s while Ms. Kim will work with the 3's and young 4s.  This will be daily for about 20 minutes.  The gym classes will be seperate, but Spanish, Art and Library will continue to be together. 

We just celebrated Victoria F's birthday. Our next is Olivia on Dec. 9.  If your child comes home with extra snacks or with their snacks not eaten, that is because someone has brought in a birthday snack. 

As always, stay warm and be happy!
Tanya