4-18-12

~Pre-K "A" Parents~

Today, the Pre-K and Kindergarten teachers participated in a workshop at school, learning more about teaching the creative writing process with young children.  The woman ( a former elementary teacher and published children's author) who was leading our workshop did a writing lesson with our class today for us (the teachers) to observe and learn.  Our Pre-K students were well-behaved and did a wonderful job with the task (Writer's Workshop) she gave them to do!  You would have been so proud!

THANKS TO ALL THE PRE-K PARENTS WHO HELPED TODAY WITH TRACING AND CUTTING OUT LETTERS; MAKING BUTTERFLY BOOKS; CUTTING OUT LAMINATION, ETC.  WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR HELP!!!

STAR OF THE WEEK~

Today we learned more about our friend, Mary!  Her favorite color is light blue; favorite restaurant is Panera; and favorite activity is riding her bike.  Mary also shared her photos and her soccer medal.  Thank you for letting us get to know you better, Mary!

   

4-16-12

FREE CHOICE FUN!~

Kaitlin puts together a puzzle at the Discovery Station.

 Anna and Jack are busy builders in the Construction Zone.

 M.J., Owen, and Theo put together a puzzle.

 Check out how we hung the umbrellas on our letter "U"--upside-down!!!!!

 During Free Choice time, children will have a turn to put the 8 photo cards in order which tell the story of the life cycle of the butterfly.

 LIFE CYCLE OF A BUTTERFLY~

Today children had the opportunity to create one of the 4 parts of the life cycle of a butterfly to help decorate our Dramatic Play Butterfly Garden.  These materials will be available at the Creation Station this week for children to create any of the parts of the life cycle.

M.J. cuts out a green leaf and glues on it a mini white marshmallow--"The Egg"--the first stage of the butterfly's life.

Mary glues pom pons on a craft stick and adds eyes and a pipe cleaner antennae--"The Caterpillar"--the 2nd stage of the butterfly's life.

 Sophie puts ripped paper into the "finger" of a rubber glove--CHRYSALIS--the 3rd stage of the butterfly's life.

 The children at this table colored and cut out butterflies--BUTTERFLY--the 4th stage of the butterfly's life.

Our Dramatic Play Butterfly Garden will continue to be a work in progress!

4-10-12

NEW WORK STATIONS~

At the Alphabet Station, children match the words to build the sentence they see on the model.  

At Games Galore, children play a bingo-style game.  During his/her turn, the child rolls the die and reads the number which appears.  Then, the child finds that number on his/her "board" and reads a word from that row.  If he/she reads the word correctly, then he/she highlights that word.

At the Overhead Station, children can do a word find--a Spring word find; a word find with girl classmates' names; or a word find with boy classmates' names.

 The Very Hungry Caterpillar~

Yesterday we read The Very Hungry Caterpillar and then retold the story on the flannel board.

 After the story, we completed the sentence on the page in the photo below with illustrations and words.  These are displayed on a large caterpillar outside of our classroom.

 

 

 NEW POPCORN WORD~

 FREE CHOICE LEARNING AND FUN!~

 A new activity at the Alphabet Station is called "Write The Room".  Using a clipboard, a chart with every letter on it, and some special "reading glasses", children search the room to find words and add them to their chart.

 Retelling The Very Hungry Caterpillar in the Book Nook.

 Our Dramatic Play Station has been changed into a "Butterfly Garden".  Next week, the children will have the opportunity to use their creative skills to add some scenery to our Butterfly Garden.  Stay tuned!

 We had lots of building going on today in the Construction Zone.

 STAR OF THE WEEK~

Our new Star of the Week is Seth!  Seth's favorite colors are green, red, and yellow; favorite restaurant is Panerra; and favorite place to visit is Uncle Jim's.  Seth also shared a special treasure of his--a soccer trophy.  Thank you for helping us get to know you better, Seth!

 IMPORTANT PRE-K WORK~

Children drew 2 things to draw on this page that end with the /X/ sound.

 Our handwriting lessons today included..........