My spirit rejoices in God my Savior

The students have been busy this week (and for the weeks to come) preparing for the Christmas program that is December 16th. They are learning new songs and even sign language! I am so excited for them to be able to share the Christmas program with friends and family. It is amazing to see all of the things they are picking up on so quickly! It is a joy to see them working so hard to prepare for this program. I pray that you all enjoy seeing them perform, but also hearing them share the Christmas story with all of you!

Morning Stories:

A stick is an excellent thing by LeUyen Pham

The Twelve Dancing Princesses by Rachel Isadora

The Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas

The Box by Antoinette Portis

If you take a mouse to the movies by Laura Numeroff

Bible Time (One in Christ Curriculum):

This week we have had the opportunity to help the students focus on the coming of the Savior. As November comes to an end, the students are getting very excited for Christmas to come! Our story this week is to help them remember the importance of Christmas time. Not only is this a time for us to be with friends and family - but this is a time to celebrate the birth of our Savior! My spirit rejoices in God my Savior." What a joy it is to be able to share this wonderful story with the students. We remind them that this was a long awaited gift. The gift of our Savior is much more important than any gifts we can receive at Christmas time. He was born to save us - even though we did not deserve saving! What an amazing gift to share with our friends and families this holiday season!

Movement Time (SPARK Curriculum):

As we continue throughout the year, we will have times to help us review some of the things we have learned so far! This week the students are playing various games to help them remember the animal movements they have talked about this year. The students are able to demonstrate their knowledge of galloping, hopping, running, etc. They enjoy being able to play a variety of games while reviewing these actions. They have reviewed some of their favorite warm up songs this year as well!

Music Time (Sing and Make Music Curriculum):

For music this week and until the Christmas program, the students are learning the songs they will be performing. They have learned three verses of 'Away in a Manger'. They know sign language actions for verse one! They have also focused on the refrain of 'Go Tell It On the Mountain' and parts of 'Silent Night'. Unlike last year, the students will have lines to say during the performance as well. It is a joy to hear them telling the Christmas story!

Small Group Time (HighScope Curriculum):

The students have been focusing on the letter K this week! They have also been doing activities relating to phonological awareness.

Monday: introducing the letter K with a fine motor activity, placing alphabet stickers inside the upper and lower case K.

Tuesday: reviewing items that start with the letter K and what sound it makes. Identifying the sound while the teacher is reading a book.

Wednesday: rice tubs filled with letter, students were asked to find the letter K.

Thursday: tracing activity with not only the letter K but also working on their names.

Friday: identifying the sound of the letter k while the teacher is reading the book (part 2).

Planning and Recall Time:

Students were able to use the binoculars once again to plan and recall what they did in the classroom during work time.

Sensory Table:

Alphabet soup! Students were able to make 'soup' with water and letters. Scoops, bowls, spoons and ladles were available for them to use!

Afternoon Table Activities:

The students are able to choose from snack, the sensory table or one of the table activities.

Monday(Math): number puzzles, numbered popsicles and dominoes

Tuesday(Fine Motor): straws with string, connectors, clothespins with colors to match.

Wednesday(Manipulatives): small puzzles, lacing cards, and blocks.

Thursday(Art&Literacy): National Geographic for Kids magazines, watercolors and tracing cards.

Friday(Sensory): sensory bottles and farming tub with corn.

The LORD is our stronghold in times of trouble

This is our last full week of preschool before we have Thanksgiving break! We have been doing several different art projects to help the students enjoy their time before break begins. Next week we only have school Monday through Wednesday. We will be having a FUN week filled with games, activities, art projects and even a movie (hopefully)!

Morning Stories:

The bag I'm taking to Grandma's by Shirley Neitzel

Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems

Frog on a Log by Kes Gray

Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni

Looks like spilt milk by Charles G. Shaw

Bible Time (One In Christ Curriculum):

Often times we worry about things that God has promised to take care of. We find ourselves lacking trust in God to take care of us and our needs. The Israelites found themselves in a similar situation in our bible story this week. Our story this week is about the bronze snake (Numbers 21:4-9). The Israelites started to grumble and complain about the things that God had provided them. They wanted better food than what God had given them. In order to show God's power to the Israelites, he sent snakes among them. He wanted them to remember to rely on God. God told Moses to make a bronze snake to put on a pole. When the Israelites looked to the snake with faith in God's promise, they would live. The snake on a pole is very similar to Christ's death on the cross. We can look to him for forgiveness and life. Our passage this week is from Psalm 9:9, "The LORD is a stronghold in times of trouble."

Movement Time (SPARK Curriculum):
The focus for movement this week is leaping. The students have done several warm up songs from the SPARK CD to help get their muscles ready to move. They enjoy being able to not only learn about the importance of exercise in movement, but also in our free time when they are able to do www.gonoodle.com to get their bodies moving! This is a free website that has some age appropriate options for preschoolers!

Music Time (Sing and Make Music Curriculum):

This week they have been working on high and low pitches in music. They have also started working on their songs that they will sing for the Christmas concert on December 16th. We have been learning 'Away in a Manger' with sign language. They students have loved working on verse 1 so far! We are hoping to be able to add one or two more.

Small Group Time (HighScope Curriculum):

They have focused on the letter J this week in small group. Our KDI (Key Developmental Indicator) for the week is numbers.

Monday- introduction to the letter J and practicing how to write it out on a white board.

Tuesday- a number chart with counting bears/dinosaurs.

Wednesday- the same number chart, this time the students are gluing tissue square to represent the number on the chart.

Thursday- pipecleaners with beads and numbers to place the proper amount on each.

Friday- creating a jellyfish while practicing upper and lower case J.

Sensory Table:

This week the students are able to use tweezers, tubes and paper shavings in the sensory table!

Planning/Recall Time (HighScope Curriculum):

The students are able to once again use the binoculars to spot things in the classroom that they would like to use during work time.

Afternoon Table Activities:

They are able to choose from the table activities, snack or the sensory table in the afternoon.

Monday(Math)- numbered popsicles, puzzles and Jenga

Tuesday(Fine Motor)- beads with pipecleaners and lacing cards.

Wednesday(Manipulatives)- foam blocks and two tubs of rice.

Thursday(Art and Literacy)- creating a candy corn art project and watercolors.

Friday(Sensory)- sensory bottles and a tub of corn with farming items.

Love the Lord your God

This week we have been able to have parent teacher conferences. I pray that you were able to learn more about your child and how they are doing in preschool. God has truly blessed our class this year. It is a joy to see how much they have changed since August! They continue to grow each day as we learn more. God is good.

Morning Stories:

Don't Push the Button by Bill Cotter

Peter's Chair by Ezra Jack Keats

The Hat by Jan Brett

Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann

Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman

Bible Time (One in Christ Curriculum):

The students have been hearing the story of God giving the ten commandments. God gave the Commandments to us to show us the meaning of living a godly life and to show us that we need a Savior. God offers us forgiveness and restores us daily through the saving grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is the Holy Spirit working in us that enables us to grow in our faith. God has given us the ten commandments in love. In return we can show our love to him. As it says in Deuteronomny 6:5, "Love the Lord your God." What a wonderful blessing to know that God has loved us so much that he looks past the mistakes we make in life and shows us His grace. He loves us despite our flaws. It is amazing to see the amount of love He shows us. God is good.

Movement Time (SPARK Curriculum):

Our main focus this week in movement is skipping. The students have been learning this gross motor movement slowly. We have tried to make them focus on lifting their knees high and slowly moving around the room. Each day the students are able to attempt the movement faster and faster as they are comfortable. They have been able to do these activities while playing different games and using their knowledge of the dances in movement time on the SPARK CD.

Music Time (Sing and Make Music Curriculum):

This week, the students have been focusing on different types of sounds in music. They have new songs this week: "Hey Mister Big Drum', 'Little Ducky Dudddle', and 'Are you Sleeping?" Soon the students will be working on their songs for the Christmas program during music time. They will be working on a few different songs and recitations for the program. The program is in December.

Small Group Time (HighScope Curriculum):

The letter of the week is I. The students have used our Alaskan alphabet which tells us that iceberg begins with the letter I. The KDI (Key Developmental Indicator) the students are using this week is children explore and use different tools and technology.

Monday- the students were able to use glue and various shapes to make a big and little I.

Tuesday- they went on a letter hunt in the classroom for I.

Wednesday- the students were able to use various tools to create icebergs. They did this with shaving cream, glue and blue paper!

Thursday- they used several different tools to break the ice.

Friday- the students took ice chunks and used them to create a watercolor picture of things that start with the letter I.

Planning Time (HighScope Curriculum):

This week the students are able to use binoculars to do their planning and recall time. Students can look around the classroom at areas and items that they would like to play with during work time.

Afternoon Table Activities:

After the students are finished with rest time, they are able to choose from snack and one of the following activities:

Monday(Math)- number puzzles, tracing numbers with dry erase markers and memory math.

Tuesday(Fine Motor)- connectors, small puzzles and geoboards.

Wednesday(Manipulatives)- link n logs, fitting straws in holes of a container and a United State of America puzzle.

Thursday(Art and Literacy)- alphabet art with letter cards and finger painting.

Friday(Sensory)- shaving cream on the tables to make letters.