Week of 3/16/18
Dear Parents,
The children always are excited when we bake in the class. So this week a baking lesson was put out on the shelf. Since this lesson requires the child to read a recipe it was given to the kindergartners and a couple of other children who are comfortable reading. We first made the recipe as a group so that the children could watch the process. We went over the importance of washing our hands, keeping hands away from our body and not touching anything but the baking work to keep them clean. Thursday was the first day it was available for individual work. The children were very excited to see it on the shelf!
The recipe I have on the tray is an oatmeal cookie recipe. The ingredients are simple, oatmeal, honey and sun butter. For now the ingredients are premeasured and the children will eventually be responsible to measure out what they need. The same recipe will be used for a while so the children can become familiar with how to make it. The child who is working with this will read each step of the recipe and follow it. The only thing the teachers help with is the use of the toaster oven. A child who is choosing to bake can include a younger child in the process and guide them through the lesson. The children are responsible for cleanup afterwards and the food they make will be used for snack the next day.
Friday is the day everyone will get to taste the recipe!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Ms. Rachel , Ms. Erin & Ms. Britanie
Week of 3/9/18
Dear Parents,
At the end of each day we read a chapter book in class. I usually let the children vote on what book we will read next. The book they chose was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. After close to 2 months of reading, this week we finally finished Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! The children seemed to really love this story. Every day before we started a new chapter we would talk about what happened in the previous chapter. Many of the children would want to share what they remembered and expressed excitement for what was to come. Some children were disappointed when we had to stop reading and they would ask questions about what would happen.
Our new chapter book we started this week is Charlotte’s Web. Some children are familiar with this story and some have said they don’t know it. We did discuss how if we know what is going to happen that we should keep it to ourselves so we don’t ruin the story for others. So far we have met Fern and Wilbur. Some children are asking who Charlotte is. They are very curious as to what will happen!
Don’t forget to sign up for conferences. If you have not signed up by noon on Friday, March 9th please contact the front office directly. Conferences are next week Monday, March 12 and Tuesday, March 13.
Have a great weekend,
Rachel
Have a wonderful weekend!
Ms. Rachel , Ms. Erin & Ms. Britanie
Week of 3/2/18
Think of some habits you want your child to learn and continue to use through adulthood. Is being punctual one of them?
Imagine that you have an event to attend and you arrive late. You don’t have the time to hang your things up, sign in, and find your seat or to greet and get to know the people around you. How would you feel? Imagine what the 3-6 year old child feels when they arrive into a class that has moved out of the morning arrival, where children have time to greet one another, find a space to hang up their things and time to choose a material and space to work. Often they don’t realize they are late until they see their fellow classmates at work and concentrating. It is hard for the child arriving late to come in and not want to greet their working friends. Young children can be easily distracted and a child arriving late, especially a friend, will most likely disrupt (not on purpose) the children who have already settled into their lessons for the day. A child who arrives late also loses out on time to work with the materials in the class. Some children may not like the attention they may get when arriving late as the children look to see who is arriving.
Some ideas to help the morning routine go easier so you can arrive on time to school are to have you or your child pick clothes out the night before school. Have lunches packed the night before school. Make sure all your clocks are set to the same time. Have your child help with things in the morning. They are capable of getting dressed mostly on their own, help feed any pets, and get their lunches and backpacks ready to go. This may free up some time for you. Mornings also may be easier and less stressful if a schedule is made and followed. You can sit with your child and plan out your morning routine together. If you discuss and plan your morning routine with your child then they will hopefully learn this important life habit and practice it into adulthood.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Ms. Rachel , Ms. Erin & Ms. Britanie