God is in Control

The students are focusing on their ABC knowledge this week. They are doing this throughout the day - not just during small group. The students have shown special interest in books this week and are choosing to spend their time enveloped in stories. What a wonderful thing to show interest in!

Morning Stories:
Click Clack Moo, Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
Pigs to the Rescue by John Himmelman
Pout Pout Fish in the Big Big Dark by Deborah Diesen
Pumpkin Countdown by Joan Holub
Pigeon Finds a Hotdog by Mo Willems

Bible Time:
This week they are focusing on Baby Moses. The students are able to hear the story and understand how different life was for children during this time in Egypt. They were able to have a visit from Pastor Chris Ewings who led them in the bible story. (He visits us every Tuesday to talk about the bible story)They are looking at Psalm 31:15a, "Our times are in his hands." We have been discussing that God is in control of our lives. He is able to keep us safe and provide for us each and every day. We have been singing Psalm 150 with the students as well. 

Movement Time:
They are still focusing on the different types of paths (wavy, zig-zag, straight). They are able to move their bodies in different ways on the lines - while making sure to stay on the paths. This is a fun way to get the kids moving. Last week there was tape to show the paths - this week the students are having jump ropes represent the pathways instead. This presents more difficulty and the students are no longer able to run on the path without focusing on the task as well. 

Music Time:
This week the students continue to focus on TEMPO. This topic is becoming more familiar to the students. They are able to understand that songs can be fast or slow. Songs can also go from being slow to moving fast and vice versa. They are learning a new song this week: Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush. The students are clapping throughout the song to keep a steady beat while understanding what the tempo is at the time.

Small Group Time:
This week the KDI (Key Developmental Indicator) is Alphabetic Knowledge: Children identify letter names and their sounds.
Monday: The students were able to explore in sensory bins to find the letters in their names. The students were able to just explore in the sensory bins or look for the first letter in their names as well.

Tuesday: They were able to do upper and lower case matching. The students took a piece of paper that had the upper case letters and place the lower case clothes pin to match. This was difficult for some of the students, we will bring this activity back again later in the year.

Wednesday: Students were working on writing their names this day. They had a blank sheet of paper and an example of their name to follow. Some students did not need the example - others did. Forming the letters proved to be difficult for some.

Thursday: Alphabet puzzles were the focus today. Some of the students have had difficulty putting puzzles together. In order to help one another and work together, the students were able to have a partner to work with them on the puzzles. There were several puzzles ranging from easy to difficult.
Friday: We are combining a fine motor and alphabet exercise. The students are taking eggs and matching upper and lower case letters once again. Repetition on the alphabet is a great way for the students to become familiar with the letters.

Afternoon Story:
Franklin's Secret Club by Paulette Bourgeois

Afternoon Tables: 
This week the sensory table had beans with various measuring cups and funnels. Reminder: the students can choose from the various items listed below, the sensory table or having snack.

Monday (Math): number popsicles, sorting pie, and counting bears.
Tuesday (Fine Motor): sewing cards, pencil and paper with stencils, and connectors.
Wednesday (Manipulatives): puzzles and snap and build game.
Thursday (Art): Cottonball painting and watercolors.
Friday (Sensory): None, there is a half day of school! Happy break!