SNOW IS IT COMING OR NOT??

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Is it going to snow, was the question of the day!!  We read books about the snow watched a video about The Snowy Day.  We talked about things we need to wear in the snow and cold to keep us warm and what types of fun activities we can do in the snow.  Of course our number one answer was build a Snowman!  Do you want to build a Snowman?!?  We spend a lot of our time in our classroom making ourselves aware of the things around us whether it is a holiday, season or special event.  I firmly believe this gives our small friends a sense of time and allows us to open up a dialog of many different topics and allows us to use our imaginations and explore what is around us.  Talking to your child about what you like to do or not do when it is a cold outside is a great way to help them understand the world around them.  Today one of our transition activities was when a friends name was called they had to tell me one thing that they would wear outside when it was cold.  I got lots of different answers that were so great to witness and hear. 

COUPLE OF REMINDERS

WE ARE A COMPLETELY PEANUT FREE CLASSROOM PLEASE REMEMBERS TO NOT SEND PEANUT BUTTER WITH YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL. 

LOTS OF MY FRIENDS FOLDERS ARE OVERFLOWING WITH PAPERS.  PLEASE BE SURE AND LOOK THROUGH YOUR CHILD’S FOLDER AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY IMPORTANT PAPERS.  LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS ARE COMING HOME THROUGH OUT THE YEAR.    SO PLEASE CHECK THEM DAILY THERE IS ALSO SAMPLINGS OF WHAT WE DO IN THE CLASSROOM. 

REGISTRATION

IS TAKING PLACE CURRENTLY FOR ALL CURRENTLY ENROLLED STUDENTS.  IF YOUR CHILD WILL BE ATTENDING ZION’S EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM (FORMERLY PDO) OR ZION’S PRESCHOOL PROGRAM I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO REGISTER NOW.  OPEN ENROLLMENT WILL BEGIN FOR THE PUBLIC ON JANUARY 20.  OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD CLASSES FILL UP QUICKLY AND TO BE GUARANTEED TO GET THE DAYS AND CLASSES YOU WANT YOU NEED TO ACT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.  I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE REGARDING THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.  OUR OPEN HOUSE WILL BE ON SUNDAY JANUARY 24 FROM 1;00-3:00 THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO TAKE A TOUR OF THE EARLY CHILDHOOD WING AND MEET ALL OF OUR FABULOUS TEACHERS. 

I HOPE YOU ENJOY VIEWING THE BLOG TODAY AND SEEING ALL THE EXCITING THINGS WE DID TODAY.  AS ALWAYS YOU MAY EMAIL ME AT HHORN@ZIONHARVESTER.ORG WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.

Free Choice & Centers #1

We enjoyed a variety of activities this morning in the classroom while we listened to different Disney Soundtracks.  We had an extra long free choice and center time today as we were all playing so well and we so engaged in what we were doing.  It so great to see this group of friends play together they are learning so much as they are sharing, playing and sometimes disagreeing.    

Lacing Buttons

This is an activity that we have brought back out to work on.  We have long pieces of string that we practice putting big buttons.  This helps us with our fine motor skills and we try to get the string in the button and have it meet up with the other buttons on the string.  

Fun Playing with the Different Toys in the Classroom 

Sensory Table Fun

This week will be a no play dough week, but with that being said we have plenty to keep our sensory skills in tact.  Our sensory table is filled currently with rice which we are thoroughly enjoying.  We are being able to work on our scooping, pouring and digging skills as we play in the rice.  As much fun as we have playing with play dough some of our friends do not do any of the other fun activities in our classroom if the play dough is out and today I had a few friends who moved around the classroom playing with lots of different things that they would not do if the play dough was out .  

The Letter R is the letter of the week and we did the next page in our Alphabet Books.  I had the question brought to me  why we do each letter and if my friends are really getting anything out of a letter of the week if they can't read.  Absolutely, they may not remember the letter but they are being exposed to what the letter looks like, the sounds it makes and all different types of words that start with that particular letter. Many of the students are starting to recognize some of the letters in their names so this is also helping with learning our letters.  It is never not beneficial to not expose a child to letters and to foster that love to learn to read or to read

More Play around the room

Amelia made an Alphabet Train on the magnet board and in the process was able to point out a letter or two she knew.  

Block building saw lots of towers today!

Lots of drawing with Markers thanks Juilja for the donation of some more markers to our classroom.  

Working on the chalkboard side with the chalk 

Puzzle solving

Reading

Books are always available to read in the classroom.  I strongly encourage my friends to look at books and to have books read to them.  Mrs. Wegener spends lots of time reading to friends here and there through out the day.  We also try and read at least three books during our time together in full group settings.  I encourage you to read with your child 20 minutes a day if you can.  

                    Lots of reading of books took place today.  Anywhere seemed to be a good reading spot!  

My friends imaginations are exploding and it is so fun to see happen.  Today they made a "reading train"  All Aboard the Zion Reading Train.  

 Counting the Number 6

Today we had six different winter stamps and we had a piece of paper blocked off into six boxes and we had to stamp each winter stamp six times in the box.  This helped us count to 6 six different times.  We also we able to work on our pre-reading skills as we were identifying different winter stamps.  WE stamped snowflakes, mittens, penguins, stars, snow globes and Mickey Mouse dressed for winter.  We also were working our fine motor skills as our stamps were kind of small and placing it in the correct box.  

Star Bingo Dauber

Today we used the bingo daubers to decorate a star.  Bingo Daubers help us with our fine motor control and are ability to stay in one area.  We use bingo daubers every week and this will be a section in our portfolios that will come home at the end of the year.  It is always neat to see the progression from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.  

 Morning Meeting 

Happy Chilly Tuesday! 

Today our calendar color was green and we talked about the numbers 1 and 9 

We put Mr. Weather Frogs boots on because the weather man says it could snow today.  

Our Theme Boards for January

 

We counted 6 blocks to make a tower. To help us with the studies of the number 6 

Our pattern for the month of January 

Our Color Board for the month of January 

We sang our ABC's and learned about the letter R 

We read a book about what we do when it snows outside.  

We are really getting good at this prayer.  

Transition Time

We continued this month placing stars on our blue paper.  We are having to wait our turn, listen for our name, follow directions, place our star sticker on the paper and then find a place to stand in line.  

We are doing great standing in line! 

Our beautiful Star board! 

SNACK TIME 

Make sure snacks are peanut free and is something your child enjoys eating.  Each child also needs to have a drink during snack time.  I have lots of friends who have not had drinks during snack.  

Jesus Time

Today we learned that another Angel came to tell Joseph that it was OK for Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus to go back home to the town of Nazareth that King Herrod was gone and would not hurt them.  We continue to review the Christmas Story each day during Jesus time and then add on our new part we are learning.  I am AMAZED at how well the students are remembering of the story it warms my heart to hear them "help" tell the story.  We also sang the B-I-B-L-E and Jesus Loves Me.  

Music and Movement 

We didn't go to the commons today it was just too too cold so we did some extra music and movement in our classroom.  

Circle Time

We watched a video about The Snowy Day by Ezra Jacks.  To help us get ready for our potential snowy day.

  

We then read a story about Max and Maggie the mice who built a snowman.  

We have had fun learning our Six Little Penguins Flannel Board Story this month.  

Centers #2 and Free Choice 

We enjoyed listening to some classical music during our centers.  A calming presence was felt over the room as our friends moved about doing their centers and playing.  It was hard to tell them it was time to clean up for lunch.  

Painting a Winter Picture

Today my friends chose to either paint a picture of Peppa Pig or Elmo dressed for winter weather.  After they are dried, cut out and mounted to paper we will paint them in a snow storm of their own.  Water color painting is a great way for us to work on holding a writing tool, learning our colors and painting inside the lines.  

Penguin FEET

Last week we used squishy balls to paint a snow storm, this week we painted our feet to look like penguins that we placed in our snow storms.  They are turning out to look really cute.  These will be displayed in the Church Welcome Center this coming weekend to help us celebrate National Lutheran's Schools Week Next WEEK.  Some of us were excited to have our foot painted and others of us were not to sure what to think.  A great sensory project for us as well.

Patterning 

Today we stamped a pattern of snowmen and polar bears.  The pattern was started and then we needed to finish the pattern with Mrs. Wegener.  Patterning is something else we expose to the students on a daily basis.  Many of our friends are able to complete a simple pattern at this time.  This will be another section in our portfolios that you will see a progression of your child's work when they come home in may.  This activity will come home this week in your child's folder.  

Reading, Drawing, Playing, Building and Exploring!  

Sparkly Snowflakes 

We had fun working our pre-writing skills and fine motor skills as we got to use the glue bottles today to trace a snowflake and then used silver glitter to make them sparkle.  We will be adding these to our snowflake walls this week.  Be sure and check them out! 

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Music and Movement Part 2

We did the Silly Dance Contest and The Washing Machine Song.

We read a book about Frosty the Snowman and his new friends 

Transition

We placed more stickers on our Star Paper.  

We had an awesome day in our classroom and each day I grow to love them more and more!  I am enjoying watching them grow physically, emotinally and spiritually!  Have a wonderful evening and stay warm.