Wednesday, April 27, 2016

I love you, Lord

The students have been prepping for the school musical in music! They are getting excited to perform these songs on the 13th. Last week the students had an in house field trip from the Alaska Zoo! They were able to bring out the red-tailed hawk. The students loved being able to see this animal up close and find out more information on it. 



Morning Stories:
Llama Llama Home with Mama by Anna Dewdney
Jumpy Jack and Googily by Meg Rosoff
Pete the Cat and his 4 Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin
Chick n Pug by Jeniffer Settler
Circus Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

Planning and Recall Time:
The students were able to spin a bottle for planning and recall this week. Once it was spun wherever the colored cap landed, the student was able to plan or recall.

Sensory Table:

This week the students were able to use beans in the sensory table. With the beans there were several different colored cups, tweezers and pipecleaners. The students had to match the proper pipe cleaner with the cup that it belonged in. We had the students pretend the cups were birds and the pipe cleaner pieces were worms. 

Bible Time:
The students were able to hear the bible story about faithful Stephen this week. God gave Stephen a glimpse of the glory of God in heaven. What a blessing! But we are no less blessed. Even though we are sinful, God has opened heaven to us through our faith. One day we will get to experience the joys of heaven. Until that time, we are able to share our faith and the good news of heaven with those around us on this earth. The students focused on Matthew 28:20, "[Teach] them to obey everything I have commanded you." They were able to learn one of the songs that we are singing in chapel this year: I love you, Lord. The students enjoy being able to sing along with the older students during the songs that they recognize. 

Movement Time:
The students were able to work with a rope circle this week. The students really focused on the terms outside and inside. They were able to perform locomotor movements inside and outside the circle or on the lines that represent the circle. They were able to review several concepts from the throughout of the year.

Music Time:
The students have been focusing the songs for the musical in May. They are able to better understand the words and learn the actions. They have practiced with the grade school students several times and will continue to do so while they prepare for the performance May 13th at UAA. 

Small Group Time:
The KDI (Key Developmental Indicator) for this week is tools and technology. The students will be focusing more specifically on tools.
Monday- the students were able to use funnels and scoops to help full and empty tubs. The students were able to work with one another and independently. 
Tuesday- they were able to create ramps. The students were able to take blocks and other items to create their own ramps. They had to decide what tools were necessary to help create their ramps.
Wednesday- the students were able to use a turkey baster and eyedroppers to manipulate water. The students were able to see the use of these tools and the necessity to use a small eyedropper or a big turkey baster for certain liquids.

Thursday- the students will be stepping outside the tools and technology KDI for this day. They will be performing an experiment that we were unable to perform previously due to the weather. They will be using mentos with diet coke to see what will happen when they are combined.
Friday- they will be using magnets and sensory tubs. The students will have to use their bar magnet to find the hidden items in the tubs.

Afternoon Story:
The Berenstain Bears: Come Clean to School by Mike and Jan Berenstain

Afternoon Table Activities:
The students are able to choose from snack, the sensory table and one of the activities listed below.

Monday(Math)-matching numbers with the correct amount of dots, puzzles with mathematical concepts.
Tuesday(Fine Motor)- sorting pie with tweezers, stencils with colored pencils.
Wednesday(Manipulatives)- board games: LCR, Candyland and Pictureka)
Thursday(Art/Literacy)- dot markers, I Spy books and water colors
Friday(Sensory)- kinetic sand



Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Let The People Praise Him

This week the students have continued to work on songs and actions for the Spring Musical coming up on May 6th. We will be having this event at UAA once again. The students are enjoying the songs and actions. We are able to practice with the grade school for this performance which they always enjoy!
The hair salon came back to our
classroom this week!
Morning Stories:
All God's Critters by Bill Staines
Does a Kangaroo have a mother too? by Eric Carle
The Plans I Have For You by Amy Parker
10 Pigs on an Epic Bath Adventure by Derek Anderson
Olivia by Ian Falconer

Planning/Recall Time:
The students are using beanbags this week. They are able to 'pass and pass the beanbag, pass and pass it round, pass and pass the beanbag (student's name) plans now!' 

Sensory Table:
The students were able to play in an ocean themed sensory table this week. They had sea shells, dolphins, whales and seals in the table along with bubbles and blue coloring for the water. They enjoyed being able to use these items. The students have expressed a lot of interest in animals lately - especially underwater animals!

Bible Time:
This week the students have been hearing about the coming of the Holy Spirit. They have been able to learn more about how the Holy Spirit works in our hearts to help us understand and believe in God our Father. They were able to review a song they learned in Music Time a few weeks ago. 'Alleluia Alleluia, Praise be the Lord!' They enjoy being able to sing this song with actions and body movements. In a few weeks the students will be able to see a video from my mission trip to Africa where we taught this song as well. The students are using the same actions as the children in Africa did. I think they will enjoy being able to see children in a faraway land singing the same praises to the Lord. What a blessing that we can share a connection with those in a far off place.

Movement Time:
The students were working with zigzag lines this week! They were able to hop, skip, side-slide, run, and tip toe on these lines! The students are focusing more on the line than the speed. I wanted them to perform these actions without falling off of the tape. They are doing very well and practicing adding more speed once they feel confident. 

Music Time:
Once again the students are working on their songs for the Spring Musical on May 6th. The students will be performing these songs with the grade school students as well. This performance will take place at UAA at 6:30pm. They are very excited to sing these songs for you and show you the actions that they will be doing with them.

Small Group Time:
The KDI (Key Developmental Indicator) for this week is writing. 

Monday: The students were able to use colored pencils to trace and write their first name. They had to focus on how to hold the pencils and to push down hard enough for the pencil to show.
Tuesday: They were able to use markers to trace and write their last names. This was something that was new for most students. We have worked on first names but not as much on their last names.
Wednesday: The students were able to finish up working on their alphabet. They worked on writing letters L-Z. 
Thursday: The students were able to work freely on their letters. They were using crayons to do this. They had to focus on their hold of the crayon and which letters they wanted to practice.
Friday: The students were able to specifically work on the pressure of the pencil and how hard they needed to push for the pencil to show on the paper.

Afternoon Story:
Clifford's Birthday Party by Norman Bridwell

Afternoon Table Activities:
The students are able to choose from the various table activities, snack or the sensory table.

Monday(Math): numbered popsicles, numbered pipe cleaners with beads
Tuesday(Fine Motor): making necklaces with beads, stickers with colorful paper.
Wednesday(Manipulatives): mini legos, marble run and large foam blocks.
Thursday(Art/Literacy): folktale mini books, making hand prints on paper and clothespins with paper to match letters.
Friday(Sensory): shaving cream on tables with cars and sensory bottles.
The students painted with noodles last week!







Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Everywhere I go, I'm gonna let it shine!

This week the students have been able to enjoy the beautiful weather outside! They are able to use bubbles, chalk and also roll down the hill in our play area. They have also enjoyed learning how to play hopscotch! As we begin to end the school year, the students are finishing up some of the assessments and I am having parent-teacher conferences. Several of the students will be moving on to kindergarten next year! As hard as it is to see the students growing up and moving out of preschool, they will be such a blessing wherever they go to attend kindergarten!


Morning Stories:
Duck Soup by Jackie Urbanovic
Knuffle Bunny Too by Mo Willems
A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni
Millie waits for the Mail by Alexsander Steffensmeier
Animal Strike at the Zoo by Karma Wilson

Planning and Recall Time:
The students were able to use hula hoops this week. With the students we use 'acka backa' as our jingle while twisting the hoops with our hands. The students say 'acka backa soda cracker acka backa pow, acka backa soda cracker (students name) plans now!'  

Sensory Table:
This week the students have sand and rocks in the sensory table. They are able to use various types of trucks and cones to make a construction site in the sensory table. 
One of the art projects this week -
 the students were able to blow bubbles and then
placed a piece of paper over them!
Check out the finished product in the hallway!

Bible Time:
This week the students have been hearing about Jesus' Ascension. Jesus' disciples watched him disappear from their sight as he ascended into heaven. Yet they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. As our passage this week says, "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20) Jesus has gone into heaven, but someday he will come back. As we wait for Him to return, we can find comfort in our bible passage for the week. The students were able to learn 'This Little Light of Mine' as their song. They have been learning actions to go with the song this week.

Movement Time:
During movement time the students have been working with different types of lines, specifically curvy lines. The students are able to practice different locomotor movements while focusing on staying on the lines presented to them. The students always enjoy being able to practice this throughout the year. They challenge themselves throughout the lesson to try new things. 

Music Time:
This week the students have been practicing for the Spring Musical. They will continue to practice the Spring Musical songs each week until the concert. This week they were focusing on a song called 'Shadrach.' They were able to perform this song with actions and even had a practice with the grade school students for the performance. More information on the Spring Musical will be shared later in May. 

Small Group Time:
The KDI (Key Developmental Indicator) this week is counting. 

Monday: The students worked with a hand out of various items. The students had to count the items and then write the numbers that were present on the handout.

Tuesday: The students were able to complete a similar handout. This time the students were given the written number and had to place stickers to represent the number.


Wednesday: The students were given a dotted number. They were able to use finger-paints to fill out the number with dots and then were asked to identify the number that they were completing.


Thursday: The students were able to go on a numbered egg hunt in the classroom. The students were given certain numbers to hunt for.
Friday: They were able to use muffin tins (with numbers on the bottom of each section of the tin) and place buttons to represent the number at the bottom. 

Afternoon Story:
The Berenstain Bears and the Slumber Party by Jan and Mike Berenstain

Afternoon Table Activities:
The students are able to choose from table activities, snack or the sensory table.

Monday(Math): numbered popsicles and tracing of numbers.
Tuesday(Fine Motor): tweezers with straw pieces and the numbered muffin tins, beads and LCR.
Wednesday(Manipulatives): gears, floor puzzles and link n logs.
Thursday(Art/Literacy): tracing letters with whiteboard markers, contact paper with tissue squares.
Friday(Sensory): colorful rice tubs with letters and scoops





Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Down in My Heart

The students were able to enjoy their first full week in a long time. They were able to enjoy nice weather again this week and used chalk outside. The students continue to show interest in dancing to music throughout work time! It is fun to see their skills and confidence grow.

Morning Stories:
Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle
Construction by Sally Sutton
Bear Can't Sleep by Marni McGee
Dirt On My Shirt by Jeff Foxworthy
What was I scared of? by Dr. Seuss

Planning and Recall Time:
The students have been rolling a ball for planning and recall time. They were able to roll to one another and recall what they did during our work time throughout the week. 

Sensory Time:
They were able to play in water this week. There were frogs, lily pads, bugs and rocks for the students to play with. They enjoyed being able to play in a frog's home throughout the week.

Bible Time:
This week the students were able to learn how Thomas doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead. Jesus, our loving Savior appeared to Thomas and the other disciples to show them the truth. Sometimes we can be like Thomas, but we can find comfort in knowing that our faith is in Christ. This week the students were able to have a visit from Pastor Chris Ewings. He was able to share with the children more about this bible story. We looked at Mark 9:24, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief." They were able to learn 'Down in My Heart' as their song this week. 

Movement Time:
The students were able to have 'station play' a SPARK curriculum based lesson. The students were able to complete various games and at each station during movement. The students were asked to continue working on their underhand toss throughout the station play. They enjoyed being able to toss at a target, a partner and at their teacher! 

Music Time:
The students have been reviewing previous songs this week. They have been able to focus on keeping a steady beat while singing. They have also started working on their spring musical songs that they will perform with the grade school students at UAA.

Small Group Time: 
The KDI (Key Developmental Indicator) for this week is writing. They students are focusing on how to hold items while writing and showing their basic knowledge of the alphabet.

Monday: The students were able to work on using a pencil to trace and write their names. 
Tuesday: They once again looked at how to specifically hold a pencil and write their alphabet.
Wednesday: The students were able to spell their names and write letters using shaving cream.
Thursday: They worked on using a whiteboard to write various letters from the alphabet. 
Friday: The students used dry erase markers to trace letters from the alphabet.

Afternoon Story:
The Berenstain Bears, Kindness Counts by Jan and Mike Berenstain

Afternoon Table Activities:
The students are able to choose between the table activities, the sensory table or having snack.

Monday(Math): geoboards and pattern blocks
Tuesday(Fine Motor): pieces of straws with string and noodles with string
Wednesday(Manipulatives): screws, nuts and bolts with giant link n logs
Thursday(Art/Literacy): coffee filters with markers to create butterflies and animal magazines
Friday(Sensory): glurch and sensory tubs of corn


A special thank you to all of you who donated and helped with the Underwater Adventure! It was a wonderful turnout. I am very thankful that so many preschool families were able to come!