Exploring our Environment and Materials

The environment in our Pre K class is meant to inspire and engage the students. It is set up to be intentional and purposeful, where the space encourages collaboration, communication and exploration. The environment is cared for by the students and the teachers, and can help shape the children’s identity as a learner.

The materials selected in our classroom hub are also intentional and purposeful, with the potential to create, wonder, explore and discover. As we think about the materials, we ask ourselves what our students might be capable of and how they will approach them.

Here are some of the ways the students have been exploring our environment and the materials in our hub.

Friday Update August 25

It was so wonderful seeing so many of you Wednesday night!  Thank you for coming!  I know you have had lots of information thrown at you during the past couple of weeks.  Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need any clarification.  The kiddos will LOVE to hear your messages of inspiration (we will read them out on Monday  If for some reason you did not get to do one, let me know and I can send the paper home in your child’s zippy pouch or you can write one when you are here at school.

The students are doing a fabulous job, are figuring out our routines, and are becoming pros!  Here are just a few things that were happening this week.  We…

*brainstormed lots of ways we can be KIND and RESPECTFUL to our friends.

*talked about how we can get to know each other (our names, REALLY looking at each other, talking about how we are the same and different…) and we drew our self portraits (see last blog post for details. J)

*we started talking about our families.

*we graphed the number of letters in our classmates names.

*learned the words and moves for many songs

*read the book “Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie jar, Chrysanthemum (and talked about how important and special all of our names are,) some Lio Lionni books (another favorite author—and a favorite book “A Color of His Own,”) and many more Robert Munsch and Mo Willems books, among others..  

*spent time in the maker space, reading corner, train area, puzzle corner, block area and dress up in the big hall.

*decided what we wanted on the front covers of our identity/creative writing books

*used ten frames and a 100 chart to count and check 1 to 1 correspondence with objects

*investigated clay using real art tools

*continued to explore the classroom and materials in it

*presented what we have been exploring to each other and talked about some plans for projects that the students would like to start on Monday

*found so many ways to fill each others’ buckets!! J

REMINDERS

*MANGO AND OREO COOKIE- Please let me know if you would like to take them home for a weekend or holiday. (I have a care letter of instructions for them and I will put together a schedule for having them.) I just noticed that when all of our things were moved from the other classroom to the new hub the hinge on their travel cage broke so I will be looking for a new cage as soon as I can or try and have our awesome guys at school try and fix it.) I will let you know when that is done.  You are also welcome to send in cucumber, romaine lettuce or carrots for them to eat.

*Please return lunch menus, even if your child is having lunch from home so the cafeteria knows what they need to prepare.

*Please send in a FAMILY PHOTO if you haven’t yet—each child is talking about their family and we want to put them up in the room—it doesn’t need to be a special photo—feel free to send us one off of your phone J I can print them out if you need me to. J

*If you think of it, send in fruit, crackers, granola bars any morning—we have some very hungry kiddos when they arrive at school J Thank you to everyone who sent it snacks!  They are much appreciated!!!! Week 3 August 21 to 25

Identity-Looking at our Faces

We began our conversations about identity with the question “How can we get to know each other?” during our morning connection time. “We have different names!  Let’s make sure we still know everyone’s names now that we have been in school for more days,” Violet said. Each person in our circle introduced themselves again. “We have different names and we all look different!” Olivia told the group. “Yeah, look at our different hair!” added Marcus. “And our eyes are different too. We are not the same so we need to know who everyone is.” A few of the students wondered what was the same. “Of course we all have eyes, ears and a mouth and nose on our head,” said Scout. “I wonder how we are all special and how we are all different,” I said to the class, and there were some very thoughtful expressions.

The students looked into each other’s eyes, into the mirrors and then tried to draw themselves.

Friday Update August 15 to 19

What a fantastic first full week we have had!  We spent most of the time learning the routines of Pre-K; finding the bathroom, where to line up after recess, how to get to the cafeteria, where all the supplies belong and how to clean up the room! Your little ones did a great job. Our cuties probably went home really tired!  It takes awhile to get used to the day!

We have also spent a lot of time reading books together, singing, dancing, visiting Mango and Oreo Cookie, exploring the different areas of our hub and the big hall, and playing games.

There has been quite a few students out sick this week throughout SAS.  We hope that everyone who has been ill is h=back healthy and happy on Monday, and don’t forget to remind your kids about how important it is to cover their coughs and sneezes and wash their hands!                          

REMINDERS

* Don’t forget to check your child’s “zippy pouch” daily as it may contain important information.


*Please leave bus tags attached to backpacks.

*Lunch menus should be returned to school each week. 

*PHOTO DAY on WEDNESDAY!!!!  Have your child dressed for school photos this Wednesday, August 24^th. (Free Dress-not uniform.)  The cuties have their photos taken at 9:30am, so they should still hopefully look similar to how they left you in the morning. J  Instructions to keep them looking darling are very welcome J 

*BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT on WEDNESDAY!!!  6:00 to 7:15

We start in the bottom level of the high school library for introductions to the entire ECC and short messages from our superintendent Dr. Chip Kimball and our ELC Deputy Principal Ms. Jo.  We will then walk back to our classroom where we will introduce each other to start building our classroom community and I will have you write a letter of inspiration for your child.  (I will explain that evening. J)

FRIDAY FOLDERS

Each Friday (except for today—still early) your child will bring home a Friday Folder (a blue bag).  It is your child’s “homework” to share the contents of the Friday Folder with you.  The contents usually spark a memory that will get your child talking about school. Enjoy sharing the contents, keep them at home (unless otherwise specified), and return the Friday Folder to school on Monday.  This way we can begin filling it again for the following week.  

A message from Manaswi, our ELC PTA Representative about becoming a room parent.  We would love to have you!! J

A brief description of room parent duties: 

Volunteering as a room parent is a great way to get involved and be a part of your child's school life! Room parents act as a liaison between the PTA, class teacher, and parents to help coordinate class-related activities, as well as PTA sponsored class parties and school-wide events throughout the year.

Link to room parent signup genius:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0b4da9a92aa7f85-k5room

Have a fantastic weekend with your little ones!  We can’t wait to see them back here on Monday!!!!! J

Week 2 August 15 to 19