Welcome Back and Welcome Mrs. Wagoner!

Tuesday, January 15, 2015

Happy New Year!  It was so wonderful to see all my little friends today at school.  I was excited to hear how everyone’s holiday break was and what all they got for Christmas.  It sounds like everyone had a great two weeks off.  I know it was a bit rough getting up for school today and adjusting back to our routines and schedules.  My own three children were wiped out yesterday after returning to school from Christmas Break.  Don’t be surprised if your little one takes an extra good nap today or crashes early tonight. 

As you all know Mrs. Linneman started her practicum work today.  She stopped in for a few minutes before she headed off to the school she will be working at.  Mrs. Wagoner has taken Mrs. Linneman’s place and will be with us on Tuesday and Thursdays.  We are excited to have Mrs. Wagoner in our classroom and join us this semester on our crazy fun school adventures. 

Today we became re acquainted with the classroom, rules, and routines and of course our friends.  With the start of a new month we had all new things to checkout, learn and explore in the classroom.  The sensory table has been replaced from Christmas things to a table full of rice.  New toys were found throughout the room to play with as well as we found some big Duplo blocks to build with and new puzzles to try and books to read.  We also had white play dough to try our hand at rolling out and making star designs. 

We started learning about the number 6, the shape of star, the color white and a pattern of red and blue mittens.  We will spend most of January reviewing our letters and catching up on our letter books.  We started a new Bible story learning about the bright star, the wisemen and the three gifts they brought Baby Jesus.    Please read below about our day and enjoy the pictures. 

Jesus Time: Today we learned about the wiremen, the bright star and the gifts that were brought to Jesus.  Below is the story that was told to my friends….

Gifts for Baby Jesus

Matthew 2:1-12

Soon many of the people who came to register in Bethlehem went home. Mary and Joseph moved into a house. One day they had visitors who came from far away in the east. These visitors were wise men. They had followed a bright start to find little Jesus. They bowed down and worshiped God's only Son and gave Him expensive presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

During center time we painted a picture of a present with watercolors to help us remember that Jesus was given gifts for his birthday.  We also talked about the gifts we sometimes receive when it is our birthday.

Number:  Today we were introduced to the number 6.  We practiced counting six fingers.  In which we discovered we now have to use both hands to count to six!  We practiced clapping our hands 6 times, nodding our heads 6 times, stomping our feet six times, jumping up and down six times and rubbing our tummies six times.  We also counted six snowmen. 

During Center time we looked at the number 6 and inside the number 6 were 6 smaller sixes that we then placed a star sticker on to help us remember what the number six looks like. 

Shape:  The shape of the star is what we will be learning about during the month of January.

Today during centers we used star stickers to place on our number 6 to help us remember what a star looks like.  We also practiced singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.   

Color:  We will be studying about the color White during January.  During Morning Meeting we identified objects that could be white and put them on our color board.

Music and Movement: We had fun singing Jesus Loves Me, Twinkle Little Star as well as Clapping our Hands, Dancing to the Silly Dance Contest and Washing in the Washing Machine.

Outside Time:  With the frigid temperatures upon us, we will probably not be going outside very much in the next two months.  If we hit a warm day we will go out.  For now we are having fun playing in the commons with our other friends from the PDO Classes.

Patterning:  We started a new pattern today of Red mittens and Blue Mittens.    

Science and Sensory:  The sensory table was filled with a lot of brown rice. We had fun feeling the rice, picking up the rice, dumping and pouring the rice from scoops to buckets and back into the table.  It was so much fun to watch the children feel and explore in this area today.  We also talked about the cold weather and when we hear snow fall to the ground we decided it would be soft and not loud. 

Pre-Writing Skills:  We will really start to work on this area a little more this semester. 

Today during center time we practiced drawing a straight line to OLAF everyone’s favorite snowman.  Some of my friends were able to complete this task without any help and some needed a little assistance. 

As a reminder many things will come home over the course of the month but something’s will not as this will be put in your child’s portfolio that you will get at the end of the school year!

Enjoy the pictures from our day!

Free Choice Play

We started our day out exploring new toys and see old friends.  We had a lot of fun playing and exploring with our friends.  We listened to music themed in a winter collection mostly classical music with some piano music mixed in.  

Sensory Table Fun

Play Dough Fun

We had new white play dough to play with today.  We had fun making different star shapes and rolling out the dough. 

A little Creative Art

The chalk board and dry erase board are always available to my friends to allow them to write and draw till their heart is content. 

Puzzle Mania

We had fun trying to figure out the new puzzles that were laid out on the table. 

New toys to play with and explore

Mrs. Wagoner and Sophia working on counting how many lacing beads Sophia had strung on the string.  We are so happy to have Mrs. Wagoner in our classroom this semester. 

Morning Meeting

Happy New Year what a great way to start the second half of the school year with these lovely friends! 

We read this book about all the fun stuff we can do in the snow.  

Transition Time

This month we are placing mittens and on and around a snowman.  We continue to work on identifying our name and recognizing different colors. 

 I forgot my phone when we went to the commons today so I don't have any pictures of our time in the commons sorry. 

Center Time

We did a prewriting activity drawing a straight line to Olaf.  This is a great way to work on holding a writing instrument and work on working from left to right. 

. Number Six

Today we became familiar with what the number 6 looks like and we practiced putting star stickers on the number 6.  We also practice counting 6 number six's!  We also practice identifying the different colors of stars we used.  Using stickers allows us to work on our pincer grasp and our sensory skills as the stickers are sticky!

. During center time my friends are able to continue exploring the classroom and are called over to see me when it is their turn to complete a center. 

. Friends working together to stack the rings 

. Maybe a future veterinarian

Mitten Bingo Dauber 

Bingo daubers are a great way to work on our pre-writing skills as well as self control and fine motor. 

 Playing with our favorite toys and new ones that could become favorites

. Landry was so proud of himself he walked over from the housekeeping area to the table to show me his "lunch"

Puzzle Sorting

Sophia and Susanna worked on their letter recognition skills as they put the puzzle pieces back together.  

. Water Color Painting 

We had fun using the water colors to paint a present for Baby Jesus 

 Music and Movement

We had so much fun singing and dancing today.  What a great time we had during Music and Movement clapping our hands, 

We read another book about a fun day in the snow!

Transition and Lunch Time!

. What a great first day back after Christmas Break.  We had a great time playing, learning, exploring and welcoming Mrs. Wagoner to our classroom.  Have a wonderful Evening and I look forward to seeing you all later in the week!