Monday, October 2, 2017

Week 5: Sept 25 to 29, 2017

Week 5:  Sept 25th  to 29th

Hello parents!

This was a hot week!  Despite being the end of Sept, we hit temperatures in the high 80s and low 90s, and the kids felt like it was summer.  We had a lot of post barn dance energy to work out with this usually warm weather, but it was great!

Monday: We began the day with Spanish Class with Sra. Rosa, reviewing greetings and numbers.  The work cycle involves spelling works for those making strong sound and letter connections.  They will all receive their list and if they complete their activities they get to test their knowledge and move onto the next level.  If they manage to finish before Thursday, they are invited to test their knowledge with the older students in the lower elementary- a motivating factor for some of our competitive students.  Many of pre writing students enjoyed the new cutting works, while the younger students found the new works: ocean works, giant leaf rubbing, 3 piece apple, layers ocean puzzle, and whale size discrimination puzzle.  We also are now responsible for our class laundry, and the children enjoy all the folding work that it involves.   We ended the day with a chapter from Charlotte’s Web.  She’s writing that Wilbur is terrific!  

Tuesday:  Morning circle we review the rules to use the hallways to check out library books.  Work cycle is spent with the older children working on their sound associates or spelling works.  Some students have shown interest in our cursive sandpaper letters, so they are experimenting with cursive writing either in their spelling books, their journals or on the dry erase boards.  Its motivating some of our pre-writers to try writing classmate’s names on dry erase name tag work.  Some pre-writer and early writers also enjoy building words with rainbow writing.   Math bead works were also explored through number association and pyramid building.  Many of our young children discovered the apple tree bead grasping work, the punch press on the letter writing tray, and the full hand hammer press work.

Wednesday: Today is the 20th day of school and it is super hot outside!  After a long morning recess, we reviewed exchanges at circle time as we tied a blue ribbon on the next set of ten sticks.  Work cycle was short but productive.  Many students are still focusing on their spellings and sound associations.  Others are exploring the ocean work options.  Music class with Mr. Wolfe was with filled with sound movement games and singing.  Afterwards we dismissed for another long recess to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather.  Other exciting news is that one of our students learned how to successfully tie her shoes.  So at outside transition she was able to practice tying not only her shoes, but Ms. Becky’s and any other students that needed or wanted help.  What a big help!  
  A student requested a reading of the Sign Language Alphabet: Handsigns, by Kathleen Fain.  So as we read the story,  we did the handsigns and sounded out the letters.  On a side note, did you know that Helen Keller met Dr. Montessori and inspired her later works on visual sensory education? 
 

Thursday:  The day began with circle time, where we reviewed the globe, introduced the term “continents” and named them.   We also briefly talked about how maps are drawings of the globe on a flat surface.   One of our students shared his periscope with the class, and we talked briefly about how that works.  Morning work cycle was dominated by math works, by some geography works, and by the everyday life experience from our younger students.  Favorite works today include: dish washing, free reading, sandpaper letters, cursive writing, addition games, bead chains introductions, stamp games, decimal family, and bank game.  Some of our younger children should great control over their choices and body movements today, so that is worth mentioning too.  This afternoon, two students opted to test their spelling knowledge with the lower elementary students, which was very brave.  Two more  students opted to be tested in the classroom, which is also brave as it was their first spelling knowledge test.  I am very proud of those four students for their personal time management and ability to complete all their spelling assignments.

Friday: At circle time we noticed we were at the end of our calendar so we need to discuss what happens at the end of a month (we enter the next month: Oct).  We explain what that means on how our classroom calendar is set up.  We also briefly talk about the changing weather (our first cooler day of the week- its finally starting to feel like fall).  And we finish up by talking briefly about the Nine Nights of Navaratri, a Hindu festive that celebrates the mother god with foods and dancing.  Work time was filled with cutting works, cursive works, and math work.  Art was also revisited.  The children also enjoyed a short midday recess due to the pizza for lunch, but then got out earlier for end of day recess. 

That pretty much sums up this week!   We hope Friday’s fall weather continues into next week.  Until next blog!
-Ms. Becky and Preschool Staff.

Important dates:
Oct 4th- Picture day
Oct 6th- Progress Reports get sent out.
Oct 9th – No school (Native People Day/Columbus Day)
Oct 25th- International Day








































































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