How Deep the Father's Love for Us

The students have been busy and full of energy this week! What a wonderful way to start the celebration of Christ's coming. It is a joy to serve your children as their teacher. It is wonderful to see how much these children have grown in only a few short months. What a blessing! The students were able to have their normal rotations this week. They also had a field trip this week to see Madeline and the Bad Hat at the Atwood Concert Hall! 

Morning Stories:
Thud, Thump, Moo by Doreen Cronin
I wish you more by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Beep Beep Go to Sleep! by Todd Tarpley
Alexsander and the wind up mouse by Leo Lionni
Bark, George! by Jules Feiffer

Planning/Recall Time:
The students were able to see a map of the room (taped onto a cookie sheet) and used a magnetic letter (the first letter of their name) to place on the map of the classroom. 

Sensory Table:
The students were able to use beans, ladles, cups, spoons, and dishes to make 'hot chocolate'. In the sensory table were beans for the students and cotton balls. They were able to create the hot chocolate with the given items. A few students chose to make soup instead!

Bible Time:
This week the students were able to learn about the three men and the fiery furnace. The students were able to have a visit from Pastor Chris Ewings. He was able to have a devotion with the students about the Bible story this week. They were also able to learn a new song for Christmas. They focused on Matthew 4:10b, "Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only." They students were able to understand that in the Bible story, the people were worshipping other gods. Not the true God. We are to remain focused on Him and prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord. They continue to learn more verses of their song, "Sing Glory Glory" for the Christmas program.

Movement Time:
The students were able to focus on reviewing several locomotor movements this week. In the past, the students were learning about animal movements. This week we reviewed those animals movements, but also had the students reviewing some of the other types of movements they can do with their bodies. The students continue to practice doing these different types of movements. They can be difficult at times.

The students were having 'nap time' during work time!

Music Time:
The students are still learning about Pitch this week. They were able to focus on using their voices in different ways. The students learned a new song, "Hey, Hey - Look at me!" as well as review "How Deep the Father's Love for Us" which they will sing for the Christmas program on the 18th of December. They have been working on reviewing several different concepts as well. The students have been learning more songs and fingerplays this week. 

Small Group Time: 
The KDI (Key Developmental Indicator) for this week is under Mathematics- Number words and symbols: Children recognize and use number words and symbols. 

Monday: The students were able to use a chart. They recognized the numbers at the bottom of the chart and were able to place a certain number of bears in the column based on that number.

Tuesday: The students were able to use a coloring sheet of cookies. They were in charge of putting the proper amount of chocolate chips on the cookies as given by the number.

Wednesday: The students used the same chart from Monday. This time, the students were able to glue tissue squares to the chart to represent the number at the bottom!

Thursday: The students were given muffin tins. At the bottom of each muffin tin, there were numbers. The students had to place the correct amount of buttons in each muffin tin.
Friday: The students were able to match the number of dots with the written number using clothespins and a paper chart for the students to follow. 

Afternoon Story:
Franklin and the Bike Helmet by Paulette Bourgeois

Afternoon Table Activities:
This week the students could choose from the sensory table activity (making 'hot chocolate'), having snack, or one of the following items:
Monday (Math): measuring cups with beans, number popsicle stick game, and counting bears.
Tuesday (Fine Motor): beads with pipe cleaners to take home and a pie sorting game with tweezers
Wednesday (Manipulatives): alphabet letter game, tiny legos, and small colorful blocks to build.
Thursday (Art/Literacy): matching lowercase and uppercase with clothespins, books, and making a snowman with shaving cream, glue, and various items.
Friday (Sensory): kinetic sand (the kids loved it!), sensory bins with rice and the sensory table.