Alleluia

The students were able to focus specifically on letters this week. Not only did the students do activities with letters, but they were also able to take one of the morning stories we have and create their own picture! The students were very excited for these hands on activities about 'Swimmy!' They enjoyed being able to work with a new toy in the classroom - a workbench! They were able to create several different items with the workbench. The students have had a busy week so far!

Morning Stories:
Who goes there? by Karma Wilson
The adventures of Gary and Harry by Lisa Matsumoto
Swimmy by Leo Lionni
White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt
Who was here? by Mia Posada

Planning/Recall Time:
This week the students were able to 'receive' a telephone call and were able to share their plan or recall what they did during work time.

Sensory Table:
They were able to have water in the table this week. Each day has been a different color and some days bubbles are added! The students have enjoyed being able to use funnels, scoops and bottles to create 'juice'.

Bible Time:
What a wonderful occasion it is when someone becomes a member of God's family through Baptism! This week the students were able to hear the story about Jesus being baptized by John. Pastor Ewings came in to talk to the children about baptism. He explained to the children that members of God's family receive forgiveness of sins and inherit life and salvation. Even though Jesus was not sinful, his baptism marked the beginning of his teaching ministry. The students focused on Galatians 4:4, "When the time had fully come, God sent his Son." They also learned a song to go with their bible passage (sung to the tune of London Bridge) "When the time had fully come, fully come, fully come, When the time had fully come, God sent his Son."

Movement Time: 
The students have been able to focus on lines. They are able to use their bodies in various ways to move on the lines. The students have been asked to balance, hop, walk, and run on the lines. They are able to focus on using their bodies correctly while also focusing on staying on the lines.

Music Time:
They have been reviewing a previous lesson from the beginning of the year. The students are able to review "Hey Betty Martin" and focus more on rhythm once again. They have been looking to old songs to help them remember this concept and review the meaning of rhythm in music. 

Small Group Time:
The KDI (Key Developmental Indicator) for this week was Phonological Awareness: Children identify distinct sounds in spoken language. 

Monday: The students were able to go on a letter hunt in the classroom. They were asked to recognize the sound that their letter made. They were given an upper and lowercase letter to trace at the beginning of the lesson. After tracing their letters, they were able to hunt for a letter hard that resembled the letters that they traced. 
Tuesday: They were able to use letter cards once again. They had different letters than the previous day. They once again were asked to recognize the sound. This time the students were creating the letters using playdough. The students were able to place the playdough on the card or also make the letter off to the side on the table.

Wednesday: We were able to create one of the characters from our morning stories this week. Each student was able to create their own 'Swimmy' with watercolor paint. After painting, the students were able to cut out their Swimmy. 

Thursday: The students were able to review some of the letters in the name of 'Swimmy' and also decorate their fish while creating an underwater background.
Friday: We were able to read through the story and students raised a quiet thumb (this is our version of raising their hands) every time they heard the 's' sound. After completing this activity, the students were able to add their fish on the background and decorate even more.

Afternoon Stories:
Finders Keepers for Franklin by Paulette Bourgeois

Afternoon Table Activities:
During this time, students are able to choose between snack, the sensory table and the following activities:

Monday (Math): park the numbered car in its parking spot, 'Sort it Out!' books.
Tuesday (Fine Motor): giant beads and string, tweezers with pom poms.
Wednesday (Manipulatives): LCR, puzzles and Picturica.
Thursday (Art/Literacy): Stamps, books on winter, finger painting.
Friday (Sensory): corn sensory bins and sea shells with sand.

The students have a new
workbench in the classroom!