Show and Tell

We had so much fun sharing something that was special to us.  Each student had the opportunity to sit in "the teacher's chair".  We are learning to be good listeners to our friends.

 

Big B, little b. What begins with B?

This week we will be learning to write the letter B (both uppercase and lowercase).  We are spending a lot of time learning the sounds that each letter makes and talking about words that begin with the letter B.  Did you hear?  We are learning the alphabet in sign language too!

We are continuing our unit on primary colors.  Last week we discussed the color red and learned a poem that helps us remember how to spell this color.  This week we will be learning about the color blue (Miss Platt's favorite color!)  We are creating our personal primary color book in class.


Throughout the school year we are collecting artifacts that the students create.  We are keeping them in your child's personal folder to show progress over time -- we already have three items in our folders!

Our first class book is making it's way to your home.  Look out for our first book we created on Christopher Columbus and Dreams.  You even get an opportunity to spend with Jericho, our mascot for the day!

Show and Tell

Timmy wanted to show you something he found today that was special to him.  It starts with the letter B!  Can you see what it is?

A butterfly!

Photography

Buddy Reading

Check out the patterns!

We love our classroom computer.

Dramatic Play Center

Writing Center

Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492.  This week we have been learning about Columbus Day.  We created an art project that included coloring, cutting, pasting, and counting.  We identified shapes and colors too!

If you do not see your child's photo here and would like to, please let me know.  I did not get everyone's photo permission slip back.

Big A, little a. What begins with A?

This week we will be learning all about the letter A.  We will be spending a lot of time learning how to write this letter.

Some suggestions for home to build the strength in your child's fine motor skills so we can hold the pencil and scissors with ease:

• Playing with clay (clay is tougher than Play-doh)
• Using chopsticks or tweezers
• Stringing beads
• Peeling off stickers (make a sticker book) 
• Practice buttoning and zipping jackets and pants

If you notice that your child is not holding the pencil with a pincer grip, try using a golf pencil (the really small ones).  Another suggestion, roll up a tissue.  Tuck the tissue under your pinky and ring finger.  This leaves your other three fingers free to hold the pencil, while cushioning your other two fingers.

Alphabet Links:
Bembo's Zoo
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

September Newsletter

*Click on image to view larger.

Goodbye September, Hello October!

This week we began a unit on feelings.  In pre-kindergarten, it is an important skill to be able to communicate with your peers how you are feeling.  Perhaps someone has something that you want or maybe someone said something that wasn't so nice.  It is important that we express our feelings and use our words to work out the situation.  We read three different books focusing on feelings: Silly Sally, How Are You Peeling: Foods with Moods, and The Way I Feel.  First, we brainstormed different feelings we have had or moods we have heard other people say.  Then, after reading these stories we came up with many more feeling words!

We created our very own Israeli flag and marched proudly, waving our flags with the rabbi to celebrate Simchat Torah!  The rabbi spoke with our class about this special day, we sang songs, and celebrated with a special snack.  This week we used water colors to create our own Shabbat Placemat, which we can finally celebrate this upcoming week.  In class, we have been having a lot of fun with bean bags.  We learned a new song in which we shake and balance our bean bags.  We even had a bean bag parade!

This week we are going to begin centers, just like they do in kindergarten!  Our centers will focus on themes we are currently learning about, as well as the letters of the alphabet.  Each week we will be learning a new letter: how to write the letter both upper case and lower case, the sounds the letter makes, and identifying the letter in poems.  We will be opening up our computer center and a listening center too! Our first full week of school is going to be very exciting!

Please note: the field trip this Wednesday is from 10:30-12:30.  There was a typo in our newsletter.   Picture day is on Monday!
Also, beginning Tuesday, October 6th, we our not allowing any toys to be sent from home to school.  Please keep all blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, and action figures at home.  We will allow toys to be brought in for special events which you will be notified in advance.