Sunday, October 29, 2017

October 29th, 2017


Our Week in PreK:
We had a busy and exciting week in the PreK classroom as the children reviewed some familiar concepts and got ready for the end-of-week Halloween celebration. 

The students were showing us some interesting ideas related to the concepts of buildings including complex and creative structures with lots of features.  We have used their ideas to create some new plans for small group explorations next week where the children will be able to investigate their own ideas about what types of building materials and structures they want to learn more about.

Block house with ceiling lights installed

"Mixed Media" home.

Collaboration in the block area.


 The children worked all week on their Halloween decorations for the classroom, which to them were much more exciting than the decorations the teachers hung up on Wednesday afternoon!  Their feelings of ownership over the classroom are very important at this age.  The students illustrated things such as "spooky carrots" and "haunted houses" to show what they have been thinking about as they got ready for the big day.  We provided mirrors and mark-making tools so that the students could make silly or scary faces and draw what they saw.  The writing center was the most popular choice center all week as the class worked together to prepare the classroom for our celebration.


Of course, the children had so much fun at the Halloween celebration on Thursday.  We played some fun games in the classroom - a million thanks to our room parent, Amani, who worked to put together some amazing activities for the children! 

A Halloween Obstacle Course

Slimy sensory box

Pop! Goes the Pumpkin!

Pin the Spider On The Web

Witch's Hat Hoop Toss

Halloween Dance Party!

 Here are some more photos from our week together:
Emergent writing at the students' dry erase board.

Making marks in a new sensory bin.


Next Week: 
The PreK students will begin some new small group work exploring what types of structures they can build, and what materials they can build them with.  We will work in math groups to explore concepts of numeracy up to 8, and introduce the concept of tally marks.  In our handwriting groups, we will learn about the letter "P" using multisensory activities including play-dough, chalk writing, and block building.

After-Care:
Last week, as the students prepared for Halloween, the aftercare children talked about other celebrations around the world including Chinese New Year, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Chanukah.  Next week the group will talk about animals and build some homes for them.

Circle Solutions:
We have been focused on the idea of responsibility and will continue to talk about it this week during our circle sessions.

Reminders:
Please be sure to pack your child's library books and bag each Sunday.  Thank you!

Upcoming Events:
Tomorrow, Monday October 30th, is an early release day.  Thank you for making arrangements for 11:30 dismissal!

We will be attending a very special puppet show in the theater, along with the rest of the elementary school, between 10:40-11:20 on October 30th.  We will walk back to the classroom just in time for dismissal. For this reason, we will not eat lunch at school tomorrow.  Please be sure that your child eats his or her lunch after dismissal as we ordinarily eat lunch at 11:00.  Thank you!

On Tuesday, October 31st, we will have a House Event in the morning.  Please be sure to wear your house colors!  The children will be working with chalk, so it's a good idea to avoid wearing white or light colors on this day.  On days that we have Assembly or House events, we all leave the classroom at 7:50 in order to arrive when the event starts at 7:55.  If you arrive to school after 7:50, please join the ES students on the field and help your child find his or her house team.  Thanks!

Parents' Corner:
This article was shared by our school's Director of Teaching & Learning, David Chadwell, with all teachers this past week.  I hope you will also find it interesting to read about your child's brain development at different stages of life!

Sunday, October 22, 2017

October 22nd, 2017

Our Week in PreK:
This week we continued our small group explorations of animal homes and doors / locks.  The students enjoyed looking into the concepts of nests and animal homes as well as exploring which ideas related to doors were most interesting.  We learned about the letter E and constructed some two-dimensional shapes ourselves.

The animal homes group learned about different types of animal homes through acting out where animals live with Ms. Dolly, our ES Drama teacher.  They also had the opportunity to create nests using mixed media, which was a challenge for them.  Some students opted to use pipe cleaners while others wrapped and tied string to create their nests.  This open-ended activity allowed for problem-solving rather than following a scripted set of directions to make a birds' nest; everyone's finished product was beautiful and unique!





This week we practiced our new "superpower," writing, in many ways.  The children are learning that their powers get stronger when they practice, so we used play dough, blocks, magnets, crayons, and pencils to practice the letter E.  We try to remember that "E has 3" little lines!



The children were very excited to begin thinking about Halloween towards the end of the week and wanted to begin creating their own decorations.  They took some mirrors and used their own reflections as a guide to create spooky faces including vampire faces (with sharp teeth) and monster faces (with scratches).  It's only natural that the PreK students will be excited for the Halloween celebration next week!


After learning about the characteristics of shapes last week, the students had a challenge to create their own shapes this week.  They had to remember how many corners and sides each shape had: a triangle, then a rectangle.  They had a lot of fun and demonstrated their learning using the language of sculpture!
We worked on exploding dots during small group time and enjoyed spending some time with our new friend Ms. Selena.  Here is a video clip of a student practicing with his "exploding dots" machine at our end of the day meeting on Tuesday on the document camera.
It was quite fun to watch the students move from concrete representations of the concept (using counters) to abstract (using drawings) to even more representational (using "code" of 0 - 1) over the course of the week.  Of course, for the students, the most important thing was to have fun with the machines and whiteboards!  
Here are some more photos from our week together:
Exploring light and shape.

Board games are extremely popular and allow students to collaborate, take turns, and use sophisticated social language.

Pretend play has been a popular exploration time choice this week.  "Sleepover" game!

Our classroom job of "photographer" gives us a student perspective of the day.  Everything looks good from here!

Next Week:
In our upcoming week we will continue our small group investigations into animal homes and doors.  The students will discuss three-dimensional shapes and their properties.  Our letter focus for the week is the letter D and we will explore it with a variety of multi-sensory activities.

Reminders:
Please be sure to pack your child's library books and cloth bag each Sunday for library class.  Thank you!

Upcoming Events:
Halloween!
All students come dressed to school as long as their costume will not interfere with their learning. Students in PreK put their finishing touches before the photo booth class photo & other classes after 10:30 AM depending on their photo booth time.  Room parents will arrange for a couple of parents to help with this and support the Halloween booth photo during the grade/class times if asked.

Costume Guidelines
In order for CAC to have a safe and fun Halloween everyone should check is my costume safe? We appreciate the variety of costumes and/or original designs.

  • Remember come to school wearing your costume. Put make up, hairspray, etc… on at home.
  • Prop headwear (hats, caps, masks, etc.) may be worn, but not during class time
    • PreK teachers and room parent will assist students in getting their "finishing touches" on before the class photo, and you are welcome to join us at 2:00 in the classroom to help the students get their costumes finalized again before the Halloween Parade.  
  • Leave valuable items at home
  • No dangerous props ( knives, swords, toy guns, etc.) or high heeled shoes
  • Headphones are okay
  • Practice our core values 
    • Respect - commenting positively on other’s costumes
    • Responsibility - for wearing costumes according to our guidelines
    • Creativity - for creating and planning your costume
    • Courage - for participating in our celebration

Circle Solutions: 
This week we will be focusing on the monthly core value of responsibility.  What does responsibility look like in PreK?  What does it sound like?  How can we be responsible in our classroom and at home?

Parents' Corner:
Thank you, parents, for attending our first parent community meeting on Thursday.  It was great to discuss the curriculum with you and hear your feedback about what you have seen at home, as well.  So far the feedback on the meeting has been very positive and we have some great suggestions for topics to discuss at our next meeting.  Looking forward to next time, on Monday, November 20th at 5:00pm.

Our article this week is a discussion of praise vs. encouragement.  Rudolf Dreikurs taught, “a child needs encouragement like a plant needs water.” Praise has been proven to be detrimental to risk-taking and a growth mindset, while children who are encouraged choose more challenging tasks in the future.  The difference is subtle, but important.  When offering feedback to a child, think:

  • Am I inspiring self-evaluation or dependence on the evaluation of others?
  • Am I being respectful or patronizing?

  • Am I seeing the child’s point of view or only my own?

  • Would I make this comment to a friend?



Sunday, October 15, 2017

October 15th, 2017

Our Week in PreK:
The children were engaged in lots of fun learning this week as we began some new units of inquiry.  We talked about two-dimensional shapes, in addition to certain aspects of buildings and structures.

The children worked in small groups to talk about animal homes, after demonstrating some interest in nests last week.  They brainstormed some ideas about where animals live.  Next week, they will have the opportunity to work with Ms. Dolly to engage in some dramatic play while they act out animals living in various homes.

Some other students took a walk around the school to look for different types of doors.  This is a natural extension of our previous unit where they learned about and became comfortable with our school and with traveling around campus.  The students identified different types of doors and began posing questions, including about the types of signs that label doors (for example, bathroom signs, elevator signs and numbers).  We will continue this investigation next week.

We began talking about different types of shapes.  The students identified different attributes of triangles, rectangles, and circles.  We did a freeze dance where students danced around the room and froze next to a shape, then did a certain movement depending on whether they stood next to a circle, rectangle, or triangle.

The PreK class began working with a new super power: writing!  We introduced the Handwriting Without Tears program this week by talking about our first "Frog Jump Letter," the letter F.  The students learned that letters start at the top, and worked on the letter F using wooden blocks and our magical chalkboards.  They know that writing is a very special tool that we will be learning how to use to communicate with friends, family, and other special people.  They're excited to use their new super power!


Here are some more photos from our week together:



Thank you to families for coming to our family picnic!  We hope you enjoyed the "Yummy Restaurant" pancakes.

 Fun times at recess.


Students began re-enacting some school behaviors (sitting in circles, raising hands and taking turns to speak) to have "meetings" during exploration time this week.


Hammers and nails were a popular exploration choice.

Taking turns with a memory game.

Which tower is taller?



Next Week:
The students will continue working in their small groups as they explore the concepts of animals homes and doors.  They will also have the opportunity to work on our whole-school global math topic, exploding dots.  Dr. Selena Gallagher, our school's challenge and enrichment specialist, is excited to come in and work with the PreK class during small group time along with the teachers while we explore exploding dots.  The students will also learn how to construct two-dimensional shapes.  We will work on the letter E using our Handwriting Without Tears materials.

Reminders:
Toys from Home (repeat announcement)
So many children are eager to make connections with friends by sharing their toys from home.  However, we are finding that these toys are increasingly becoming a distraction from the carefully chosen materials and activities in the PreK classroom, rather than a way for students to create relationships with each other.  Toys from home are not encouraged as they interfere with students' abilities to engage with learning tasks throughout the day.  We appreciate your help in this request that supports all student learning.  If, for some reason, a toy must come to school, we ask that it be small enough to fit in your child's backpack.  If it is challenging or distracting for your child to keep it there, a teacher will hold on to it for safekeeping until the end of the day.  Please know that even when toys are in backpacks or with the teacher, most children at this age will be focused on their special toys from home and will have a hard time focusing on their peers and on our learning goals for the day.

Please note that any child who has a transitional object, such as a special stuffed animal, should not be discouraged from bringing this to school when needed.  This is different from bringing a toy from home to play with or show friends as it supports the child's emotional wellness during transition times. Please let the teachers know about this need if you have not done so already.

Upcoming Events:
Our first Parent Community Meeting will be on Thursday, October 19th at 2:30 in the PreK classroom.  Please be sure to bring any questions you have about the curriculum or classroom.  We will not be following the format of Back to School Night where the teacher presents information to parents; rather, everyone will be encouraged to participate so that we can all support and learn from each other.  Ms. Trillian is an expert at early childhood education, but you are all experts at parenting your own children and you have a lot to offer these conversations!  Looking forward to seeing you there.

Circle Solutions:
Next week we will be discussing emotions during our circles.  What do different emotions look like? What do they feel like?  Sound like?  How can a person help someone if they're having a big emotion?

Parents' Corner: 
The Significant Seven.  H. Stephen Glenn identified seven skills important for developing capable young people.  While we do not necessarily use this language in our classroom from day to day, these skills are recognizable in the provocations and engagements we provide for students, and conversations we have with them, and the planning we do to support future learning.  We see these skills growing in our PreK class every day.  How do you see and respond to them in your children at home?
PERCEPTIONS OF CAPABILITIES 
"I am capable of facing problems and challenges and gaining strength and wisdom through experience."
PERCEPTIONS OF SIGNIFICANCE
"My life has meaning and purpose - who I am and what I have to offer is of value in the scheme of things."
PERCEPTIONS OF INFLUENCE
"My actions and choices influence what happens."
INTRAPERSONAL SKILLS 
The tools to respond to feelings effectively- self-assessment, self-control and self-discipline.
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS 
The tools to communicate, cooperate, negotiate, share, empathize, resolve conflicts, and listen effectively when dealing with people.
SYSTEMIC SKILLS
The tools of responsibility, adaptability, and flexibility necessary to deal with the environmental family, social, legal, and other systems in which we live.
JUDGMENT SKILLS 
The tools to set goals and/or make decisions, judgments, and choices based on moral and ethical principles, wisdom, and experience.

Sunday, October 8, 2017

October 8th, 2017

Our Week in PreK:
We began a new unit this week, Structures Near and Far.  We have been providing varied experiences for the children including books, group conversations, and new materials to work with while we watch to see where their interests will take them.  More focused small group work will start next week.

We discussed the features of homes and buildings at our meeting, and the children described some of the parts of buildings they know.  They identified windows, doors, locks, roofs, bathrooms, and chimneys as being a part of a building.  We took a walk to see if we could locate these building features around our school and check them off on a simple checklist.  The children enjoyed seeing their ideas used purposefully in print, and were able to interact with them by checking off the features once they found them on campus.



The PreK students enjoyed a simple lock and key activity during explorations time which supported fine motor strength and coordination as well as number sense.



We read poetry with our buddies outside on Thursday morning.







The children also continued to demonstrate an ongoing interest: dinosaurs.  This week they are talking about dinosaur eggs and nests.

"The dinosaur ate the eggs!"


Dinosaur eggs in a nest during outside play (with a parent dinosaur keeping them warm).


Next Week:
In our upcoming week the students will begin work on small group studies including investigations of animal homes, and an inquiry into doors, locks, and enclosures.

We will begin a new math unit where we talk about the attributes of two-dimensional shapes including triangles, squares, and circles.

Reminders:
Toys from Home
So many children are eager to make connections with friends by sharing their toys from home.  However, we are finding that these toys are increasingly becoming a distraction from the carefully chosen materials and activities in the PreK classroom, rather than a way for students to create relationships with each other.  Toys from home are not encouraged as they interfere with students' abilities to engage with learning tasks throughout the day.  We appreciate your help in this request that supports all student learning.  If, for some reason, a toy must come to school, we ask that it be small enough to fit in your child's backpack.  If it is challenging or distracting for your child to keep it there, a teacher will hold on to it for safekeeping until the end of the day.  Please know that even when toys are in backpacks or with the teacher, most children at this age will be focused on their special toys from home and will have a hard time focusing on their peers and on our learning goals for the day.

Please note that any child who has a transitional object, such as a special stuffed animal, should not be discouraged from bringing this to school when needed.  This is different from bringing a toy from home to play with or show friends as it supports the child's emotional wellness during transition times. Please let the teachers know about this need if you have not done so already.

Upcoming Events:
We have a D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read!) Assembly on Tuesday, October 10!  Please support by packing a book with your child on Tuesday morning.  The entire elementary division will begin the day with 15 minutes of quiet reading.  Parents are welcome to join, bring a book too!

Promoting Writing With Your Child
Christy Curran, a literacy consultant with extensive experience as a classroom teacher and coach, is returning to CAC. She will be leading a Coaching Institute with CAC teachers and coaches from other international schools in the region, teaching model lessons in classrooms, and running workshops for teachers and parents. We hope you can join us Wednesday, 11 October, 2:00 to 3:00pm in the 1st Floor Common Room for a presentation on Promoting Writing With Your Child. We are excited to have her back! Christy has worked at the internationally renowned Teachers College Reading and Writing Project as a staff developer.

Global Math Week
From the 15th to 19th October the CAC elementary school will be celebrating Global Math Week, the world’s biggest community mathematics event. The aim of the event is to unite one million students around the globe in a shared experience of joyful uplifting mathematics. During this week at CAC, there will be a number of different mathematical activities going on for students and families to enjoy. These include:

  • During their math class that week, students will participate in the Global Math Week focus activity - Exploding Dots!
  • A Math Trail will be set up around the elementary school grounds. Students and families can complete the tasks during recess or after school and submit their responses each day. At the end of the week, a display will showcase the most creative solutions.
  • A Problem of the Day will be posed to challenge our most dedicated mathematicians. Parents are allowed (and encouraged) to help!
  • A Parent Workshop will provide an opportunity for parents to share in the joy and fun of Exploding Dots alongside their children and will share some tips for keeping the math fun going home.

The ultimate goal of Global Math Week is to change the way the world sees the math. We want to help our students appreciate math as joyful, relevant, meaningful and creative. Join us in celebrating the wonder of math! Global Math Week Parent Workshop: Tuesday 17th October, 8:30 - 9:30am
Global math team: Selena, Mel, Phil. C, Penny, Julie

To support global math week in PreK we are asking families to please donate egg cartons. Please send them to school with your children and we will use them for our activities.  Thank you!

Mark your calendars!  PreK Parent Community Meetings have been scheduled for the year! Based on your feedback, the two most convenient times are before 3:05 pick-up, and in the evenings at 5:00-5:30.  We hope you will join us for community conversations about curriculum and child growth and development facilitated by Ms. Trillian.  Our first meeting will be on October 19th at 2:30-3:00.


Parent Community Meetings
Thursday, October 19
2:30-3:00
Drinks provided
Monday, November 20
5:00-5:30
Pot luck - bring a light snack
Tuesday, January 23
2:30-3:00
Drinks provided
Thursday, March 1
2:30-3:00
Drinks provided
Wednesday, April 11
5:00-5:30
Pot luck - bring a light snack
Sunday, May 13
2:30-3:00
Drinks provided

After-Care:  
Last week the children finished their colors exploration with a week of rainbow activities.  Next week they will work on activities related to animals.

Circle Solutions:
Next week we will begin talking about this month's school-wide core value focus, responsibility.  Are you interested in borrowing one of our library books that focuses on the core values?  Please contact the teacher to sign one out, and you can read it at home with your child.  Click here to see the available core value books.

Parents' Corner:
Does it ever feel hard to manage all of the things going on in your professional and personal life, with being the parent you want to be?  Click here to read this week's article: 7 Ways Busy Parents Can Help Their Children Feel Special.