Village Preschool Had a Farm...EIEIO!

We had such fun this week with the visit from two different farms. On Thursday, the 3 year-old class had a visit from Stable T Farm. The farmers brought a pig named Dora, along with goats, a rabbit, a duck, and a chicken. The children were able to pet the animals and were also able to talk with the farmers and ask questions. Did you know that a pig can be domesticated? (That isn't a word that the children learned, but they did learn that the farmer and his wife keep Dora the pig as their house pet!) Imagine that!

On Friday, the 4 year-old class had a visit from A-Z petting zoo. This farmer set up a small fenced in stable and the children were able to pet and feed goats, a cow named Daisy, a donkey, and an alpaca! Each child got a cup of feed for the animals, and we soon learned that it was like candy to them - the children were very popular with the animals! Some children decided they'd rather look from a distance, which was just fine, too. We talked with the farmer about how the alpaca has a long neck like a giraffe. It was probably more noticeable because he had recently been sheared! At the end of our day on Friday, the children made a recall list of things they remembered or things that they learned about the animals.

At the water station this week, we washed farm animals.  We also spent time drawing pictures about the farm during work time.

During small group time in both the three and four-year-old classes, the children worked with the geo-boards. These wooden boards have nails in them, and the children are given rubber bands to stretch over the nails. Some realized quickly that they could make shapes, and when we added pumpkins and farm animals to the tables, the children spent a lot of time making their own stables. Not only were the children using the small muscles in their hands to stretch and place the rubber bands, they were using eye/hand coordination, as well as their imaginations! So many fun stories came from this activity. In fact, when it was time to go to work time, many of the children chose to stay at the tables and continue playing with the geo-boards!

Finally, on the playground this week, the 3 year-olds had taken out the large wooden blocks and had started to make a pile of the blocks on the stage area. When it became clear that the intention was to make a giant pile of blocks and try to climb on them (eek!) we asked the children if they could think of something they could do with the blocks that would be more safe for everyone involved. It doesn't always happen like this, but on this day, the children began working together to take down the pile, and to create something new - a boat! It was such fun watching the amount of teamwork that went into what happened next, that we knew it needed to be captured in photos. At one point, one of the boys said, "look! we are working together as a team!" Yes they were, indeed.

We hope you're all enjoying this amazing fall weekend!

Firetrucks and more!

Wow. It's been way too long since the blog has had an update! We've been busy doing all sorts of fun stuff in room 102. Two weeks ago, we had a visit from the fire department! The three year olds had the chance to see the firetrucks up close, and even climb on board, if they wanted to do that. Many children decided to look from afar, rather than going into the truck, and the firefighters were able to tell us all about the parts of the truck. In our classroom, the children created firetrucks - both as a large group collaborative activity, and then in our small group.

The four year olds got to see the firetruck up close as well, and then Firefighter Chad came into the classroom for a short fire safety talk. We made a list of the things we already knew about firetrucks and firefighters, and a list of questions we wanted to ask Chad. It was a fun way for us to see what the children knew, but it was also a way for us to plan, based on the children's knowledge and interests. We noticed they were very interested in the subject of fire and rescue, and so on Monday of this past week, we read the book Preschool to the Rescue. While we were reading, one of the children asked if we could play "preschool to the rescue" on the playground - and so we made a list of things we might need for outside. We found pool noodles (for fire hoses, of course!), large pieces of red and orange colored material, which was used for the fire. We also used the water feature on the playground with the "hoses". The children loved this, and it was another fun way for us to build on their interests. Be sure to look at our new door for photos of the firetruck visit.

 
We also spent time this week working on fine motor skills. We used the small muscles in our hands to place pegs into a pegboard. We worked with snap beads, and also with shaving cream. In EPD this week, the children looked at "I Spy" books and tried to create their own "I spy" pictures as well. We've been making many collaborative classroom books - stay tuned for more information on the blog, as well as on our bulletin board, about how we incorporate early literacy skills into our daily routine. You all have some very talented authors and illustrators - ask them what an author or an illustrator's job is - we bet you'll get some interesting answers!

Field Trip and Other News

The last week has been full of all kinds of exciting things for room 102. Our 4-year-olds went on their first school bus ride to their first field trip - the Beanstalk Garden. We aren't sure which was more exciting for them - the bus ride or the garden! We had a great time learning about different fruits, vegetables, and herbs. We were given the opportunity to taste the different veggies and herbs. Because we'd learned quite a bit about gardening, we also spent time in the classroom this week planting different seeds. You might see our strange looking gloves hanging in the window as you walk into preschool! Do you know what else you can find in a garden? WORMS! During our Friday EPD class, Stacey brought in nightcrawlers for the children to measure, to compare with rubber worms, and to touch. Many of us overcame our fears by touching the worms! Later this week, we'll be scientists when we place gummy worms into water and see what happens. We'll be making predictions, and using our eyes and our noses, too!

first school bus rides are pretty fantastic.

we got to touch, smell, and even eat the herbs and veggies growing at the garden.

can you spot what's swimming in the pond?

In our 3-year-old class, we had a visit from Pete the Cat! Pete helped us rock in our school shoes! We danced and sang, and talked about all the fun things we can do at school. We strengthened the small muscles in our hands this week when we worked with scissors, first cutting playdough, and then cutting strips of paper. We also have waterbeads in our sensory tub, which start out as small and hard, but change in the water. The children helped put the water in the tub, and were able to talk about the beads as they absorbed the water. "It feels squishy!" and, "They are getting bigger and fatter." are just some of the things that they noticed.

ask your child to sing about "rockin' in school shoes"

we learned that our thumbs go in the smaller hole in the scissors, and always stays on top while cutting.

water beads in the sensory tub

On Thursday and Friday of this week, we'll have some very special visitors. Here are some hints for you and your child: it's red and black, it has wheels, and it has a siren. We might also meet the people who come with the surprise...they might be wearing helmets, if that helps you know for sure. Our riddles are pretty tricky! Finally, thanks so much to all of you who have written a little something for us about your child. It could be a letter, or even just a few bullet points. We're getting to know lots and lots about your children, but this is an opportunity for you to share anything important or special with us. Your letters truly are appreciated as we get to know and focus on the whole child.

News and Updates!

We've been getting messy in room 102! Last week, the four year old class experimented with corn starch and water. Each child got a cup of water to add to the large cookie sheet covered with corn starch. When we added water, we mixed with our hands. The children were surprised that sometimes the mixture seemed "hard" or "like playdough" while sometimes it seemed "squishy" or "like water". If you want to try this at home, we'd suggest starting with about a cup or so of cornstarch in a contained area, such as a cookie sheet or a pie pan. Let your child add water, a small cup at a time, until the consistency is a little bit thinner than a playdough. This mixture does not keep well like playdough does, but because the cornstarch thickens the mixture, you can always add more if it seems thin. Not only is this a great sensory material that can be used to strengthen the muscles in small hands as they play, but this is a great way to get your child talking about texture, weight, liquids, and solids.

The three year olds have been busy with colors. We began by reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear, and had different colored counting bears at the workbench for counting and sorting by color. We even made our own "class book" using the Brown Bear theme. This book will help us learn the names of our friends and will stay on the bookshelf so that every child has a chance to look at it. This week, we'll be reading White Rabbit's Color Book and mixing colors using water color paints, paints at the easel, and liquid watercolors in shaving cream. Each of these activities have given the children a chance to experiment with color in different ways, using their senses as well as working on holding paint brushes. The three year old class has also been singing "Hey Good Buddy" which is a song that helps the children learn which sign belongs to each child, and helps them learn the names of new friends as well.  Ask your child to sing the song for you!

Reminder - The four year old class will be taking their first field trip this Friday, September 26th, to the Beanstalk Garden. We'll be leaving Village first thing Friday morning, and will be returning before the 11:30am pick up. If you'd like to know more about the Beanstalk Garden, please go here! We appreciate you all being on time Friday morning, so we can get started on our adventure. Also, please be sure to dress your child for Friday's weather, and know that we'll probably be walking, so comfortable shoes would be great.

How To Contact Us!

Eeeek! We meant to post this last week. Should you need or want to get in touch with us, please use these email addresses. Remember, you can always email or call Terri if you know your child won't be at school, or if you have any questions. But, if your question directly pertains to our classroom, please don't hesitate to email us directly.

Beth: bethyrich@aol.com
Kate: katewillaredt@yahoo.com
Stacey: selattar@att.net

September 8-12

We had a lot of fun this week in room 102! We spent much of our time continuing to get to know each other and our classroom. In both the three and four-year-old classes, we read the book Everything Has a Place by Patricia Lillie. With the threes, we went on a backwards scavenger hunt, if you will, and tried to find the places for many different items in our class. The children had fun looking for the photos of the toys on the shelves. All of the children are becoming very familiar with the different areas of the classroom as well (art, quiet, writing, block, house, and discovery) and we will soon begin making "plans" for what area they will go to first during work time. This planning helps children become more intentional with their play.  In our four-year-old class, the children came up with other ideas for things that have a place: "a donut goes in a mouth" and "a spider goes in a spiderweb" were just two of their many funny ideas. The children drew pictures of things that have places and we made a class book that will stay on our bookshelf for all of the children to enjoy.

We spent some time painting, building with all sorts of materials - from magnets to blocks, experimenting, and continuing to explore our room through play. Here are some photos of our week...enjoy!

working with magnetic blocks

painting with liquid watercolors, baking soda, and vinegar - it was fizzy!

we experimented with sinking and floating

we sorted colored bears at the workbench

we made 'people" with playdough and Mr. Potato Head pieces

we explored crayons in the art area

we made a "roller coaster" using the stools from our writing area!

A Few Words About "Kindergarten Readiness"

No, no! It's not that time yet! Most of you are not even thinking along these lines at all, we bet - especially in the first weeks of preschool!! Rather, this post is about all the ways that your children are becoming "kindergarten ready" in preschool without even knowing it!  One of the things we like to tell parents is that it is kindergarten's job to be "ready" for your child. However, we know that this is a topic people want to know about, so here is what we teachers think are the most important skills: 

Although there are some schools, sadly, that expect 5-year-olds to already possess certain literacy and math skills, most are more concerned with a child having:

·      Problem solving skills.

·      The ability to get along with others.

·      The ability to work on his/her own without disrupting the classroom.

·      The ability to self-regulate.

·      Self-help skills (zipping, toileting, dressing one’s self).

·      Knowing vital safety information such as their own last name, parents’ names, address and phone number.

When asked, “What skills do you hope children will have when they leave for Kindergarten?” Village preschool teachers answer…

“A positive perception of one’s self as a learner – with the ability to follow directions, attend to a task, ask for help, and take initiative in solving social and cognitive problems.” And, “A sound foundation for the continuing development of literacy, math, logic, artistic, and cultural understandings.” 

 

Kindergarten Readiness is…

A child who listens…

·      To directions without interrupting

·      To stories and poems for five to ten minutes without restlessness

A child who hears…

·      Words that rhyme

·      Words that begin with the same sounds or with different sounds

A child who sees…

·      Likenesses and differences in pictures and designs

·      Letters and words that match

A child who understands…

·      The relationship inherent in such words as up and down, top and bottom, little and big

·      The classifications of words that represent people, places and things

A child who speaks and can…

·      Stay on topic in class discussions

·      Retell a story or poem in correct sequence

·      Tell a story or relate an experience of his own

A child who thinks and can…

·      Give the main ideas of the story

·      Give unique ideas and important details

·      Give reasons for her opinions

A child who adjusts…

·      To changes in routine and new situations without becoming fearful

·      To opposition or defeat without crying or sulking

·      To the necessity of asking for help when needed

A child who plays…

·      Cooperatively with other children and shares, takes turns, and assumes his share of group responsibility

·      And can run, jump, skip, and bounce a ball with comparative dexterity

A child who works…

·      Without easily being distracted

·      And follows directions

·      And completes each task

·      And takes pride in his work

A child who can use…

·      Writing instruments and paint brushes

·      Scissors

A child who is self-sufficient and can…

·      Take care of their own toilet needs without assistance

·      Put on and take off own coats, winter clothing, and boots