Praise the LORD, O my soul

What a crazy week! The kids are extremely excited about Christmas! It is wonderful to see the joy on their faces as we talk about the birth of our Savior. They get especially excited when they remember parts of the story and can help share in Bible time. This week we were able to practice for the Christmas program with the older students at school as well as at UAA. 

A student enjoyed using the shovels
to play hockey this week!

Morning Stories:
Christmas is Here! by Lauren Castillo
Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson
Catch that Cookie! by Hallie Durand
An Otis Christmas by Doren Long
If you take a mouse to the movies by Laura Numeroff

Planning Time:
The students were able to recognize their written name again, pulled from a mailbox. The students planned and then I wrote down what the students planned for the day. When we recalled, I checked off the items that students followed through with on from their plan.

Sensory Table:
The table was filled with rice this week. Students were able to use a toy version of the Nativity with animals and people to represent the story of Christmas.

Bible Time:
This week the students were able to hear the story of Jesus birth! We even touched on the visiting of the wise men this week. The students enjoyed being able to contribute to the telling of the story. We were able to focus on Psalm 103:1, "Praise the LORD, O my soul." Throughout bible and music time this week, the students were able to practice singing their songs for the Christmas program on Friday. We worked on "Sing Glory Glory", "How Deep the Father's Love", and "Joy to the World" (verse 1). The students have done a very good job of learning the words as well as the actions for the songs.

Movement Time:
The students were able to work on the star jump this week. They have been working on developing their skills to move their bodies a certain way. Last week we focused on single leg balance. The students continue to review this. The new star jump this week caused some difficulty for students. Moving your arms and legs at the same time can be difficult. They continue to practice. This is something we will introduce again after break so that the students can review a lot of the information we covered before break.

Music Time:
They have been learning more about pitch this week. The students were focusing on a new song, "We can make a new song!". They were also able to review previous lessons from music and also singing their songs for the Christmas performance. The students have been doing well focusing on a given concept and reviewing the songs. The actions are coming along and they now know them well enough that they can focus more on the words of the songs.

Small Group Time:
In small group this week the students have been focusing on Art for Christmas specifically. This is the KDI (Key Developmental Indicator) for Art: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through two- and three- dimensional art. 

Monday: The students were able to  decorate a paper ornament with glitter and stickers. This helped them work on fine motor and the art concept.

Tuesday: They were able to decorate a paper Christmas tree. The students used sequins and stickers to decorate. We also placed ribbon the tree. 

Wednesday: The students were able to use scrubbing brushes to create a wreath. The students then used their fingerprints to create berries on the wreath. We placed a bow on the finished product.

Thursday: They were able to finger paint today. We then turned our finger painting projects into presents with a bow on the top. 
Friday: No small group due to our Christmas practice.

Afternoon Story:
The Berenstain Bears and the First Christmas by Joy and Mike Berenstain

Afternoon Tables:
The students are able to choose between the sensory table, snack, and the following activities:

Monday(Math): geoboards, number puzzles, and counting bears.
Tuesday(Fine Motor): red and green pipecleaners to make candy canes with beads, tweezers with pom poms (muffin tins with numbered bottoms), and letter clothes pins (match upper and lower case letters)
Wednesday(Manipulatives): plastic blocks to build, marble run, and animals books.
Thursday(Art/Literacy): reflection art projects with paint, candy cane painting (shaving cream, red food coloring)
Friday(Sensory): No Table activities, we have a half day of school!

I pray you all have a wonderful Christmas break as you celebrate the birth of our Savior!