January/February Ms. Jen & Mr. Donner

   Hello Parents!

Welcome to our classroom blog.  Your children are hard at work and have much to be proud of.  Included in this month’s photos, are pictures of the shelves and materials.  This will give you a glimpse into the environment and work your child chooses from each day.  Notice the Brown Stair, Red Rods, Pink Tower, Practical Life area, Number Rods (red and blue rods) Moveable Alphabet, and Sandpaper Letters. 

I have also included a photo of our rhyming work (objects paired: clock/lock, shell/bell, bed/sled, fox/box, cake/rake).  Our Salt Crushing work is including in the photos and a video of how the work is done is also featured here:  “Salt Crushing“.  Other new works at the moment are Color Mixing and Pom Pom Making.  

The water color painting that you see the children working on individually is in preparation for our auction painting.  The children enjoyed using the brand new water color brushes as they painted the large canvas of the high quality watercolor paper.  They felt like the true artists that they are.  

We hope you enjoyed the ceramic hearts the children brought home around Valentine’s Day.  This was a big project as well as a rewarding one.  Everyone was very excited to bring their hearts home.  

On Friday the 12th, each child had a turn being the “post-person” as they delivered their Valentines to each child’s mailbox (the heart decorated bags).  The K friends helped the younger friends with this task.  We also made cupcakes.  Photos are included of both of these activities.

During circle time:

We have been receiting a poem at school that the children love.  It’s a silly little one that goes like this:

          Poor Little Bug on the Wall

           Poor little bug on the wall

           No one to love him at all

           No one to blow his nose

           No one to tickle his toes

           Poor little bug on the wall

           (instead of bug, try motorcycle, ice cream, race car, unicorn, etc.)

We have also been reading a lot of Shel Silverstein and his poems are a hit!  We mostly read from A Light in the Attic.  Some of our favorite poems are:  Crowded Tub (so cute), The Sitter, Shaking, Something Missing, Messy Room, Wavy Hair, Longmobile, Bear in There, Hot Dog, The Meehoo with an Exactlywatt (this is the ultimate fave), Spelling Bee, Gooloo (this is a sad one), Have Fun, and The Lost Cat.  Chances are, your child will be able to recite these poems with you as you read them.  Here is a link to the poems (although the illustrations are absent):

https://onlinereadfreenovel.com/shel-silverstein/31424-a_light_in_the_attic.html

Another daily favorite at circle time is the book Children from Australia to Zimbabwe.  We read about a country a day and learning what life is like for a child there.  We also talk about the total population and topography.  (See photo of the book in the slideshow.)

Play Deck:

The children have been having a grand old time playing in the snow on the play deck (see photos).  They appreciate the mittens and snowpants, thank you!  Weather appropriate clothing is always necessary.  We go outside every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday morning and every afternoon at 2:15.

Reminders:

–Conferences are coming up on Friday 3/12 and 3/19.  Please remember to sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050b49afae28a13-jennifer7  (Conferences will be held via zoom.)  Please also fill out the Pre-Conference Notes here:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ltIyng3SI4tNnoHO0Qi21dUBVoUOV429A4rDcfDHPZA/edit It will help me prepare for our Parent/Teacher Conference.

-A second Observation Day is scheduled for 3/15.  Please sign up here:  https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJElfuytrTosGtyJk258nQCt9TKMWCA3zP-k

Here is the video for “Salt Crushing“.

Thank you for all that you do as parents!  Our work with your children is a delight!

Jen & Justin