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.
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