"Sew" Much Fun

     We had a very busy week this week.  On Tuesday both the morning and afternoon class had visitors to show them different ways to sew.  Claire's mom came to visit in the morning and helped each child stuff and sew their own pillow.  Then, several of the children decided they wanted to continue sewing.  Using scraps of fabric, they decided to make a doll.  The children and Claire's mom, worked together to sew a doll that is now in the book corner of our classroom.  In the afternoon, Jenna's grandma showed the children how to crochet.  The children watched her work on crocheting a blanket.  She also made a "book worm" for each of the children to take home.  A VERY big thank you to each of them for sharing their talents with our class.  The children are really enjoying learning about different ways clothes are made.  
  
     If you have a talent or skill you would like to share with the class, please let me know.  I'm also open to parents coming in to do a craft, activity, or experiment with the children.  If you have an idea for something you would like to do, please contact me.  I'm also looking for a parent to come in in the next week or so to work on a project with string and glue with each of the children.   Disclaimer: it will be messy and fun! 

    We read the book "Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons" this week.  This book has a great repetitive text.  The children enjoyed helping me read the book.  We also watched a video of another class telling the story, set to music.  The children glue buttons onto a paper shirt, counted the buttons, and recorded how many buttons they had.

     We've been singing an alphabet song called "Alphardy" by Dr. Jean.  The song is set to the Jeopardy theme song.  The song goes through the letters of the alphabet naming the letter, it's sound, and a word that begins with the sound.  There is also a book to go along with the song.  There are several printable resources available click here for printable Alphardy resources.  We are also using Visual Phonics when we sing the song (a set of hand cues to accompany each letter sound).  You can read about Visual Phonics by clicking here.  I participated in Visual Phonics training earlier this year and have been using the hand cues throughout the year.  I can see them working with the children as I go through letter sound assessments and the children are using the hand cues to help them remember the letter sounds! 

     Way to go Julian for his work with linear counting using the 8 and 9 square bead chains with labels.  Finn completed the hundred board this week.  Nice work!  All of the children are making great progress and have been working really hard!  

• Valentine's Day is coming up.  If your child would like to make Valentine's for the children in the class, please bring them in on Wednesday February 11th.  Cards and other non-food treats are preferred.  There are 19 children in AM class and 18 in the PM class.  If you want to send Valentines that include a treat, please follow the guidelines that were recently sent home or find them by clicking here.  

REMINDERS...

• Parent-teacher conferences- 2/12, 2/19, 2/20.  Conference confirmation forms will be sent home this week.  
• Progress reports will also be sent home this week.
• Preschool Parent Information Night - 2/26.  More information will be sent home soon.  Registration for new preschool students also takes place on this night.
• Please fill out and send in the orange form indicating your plans for the 2015-2016 school year.  If your child will be attending preschool again next year, you MUST send this form in to hold your spot.  

TREAT GUIDELINES

TREAT REMINDER…

        If you plan to send Birthday treats or treats for another occasion, please follow the guidelines below.  These guidelines are for the health and safety of all the children in our classroom.

•    Please make arrangements with me in advance regarding your plans to send in treats.

•    Non-food treats are preferred.  Suggestions: note pads, pencils, stickers, play-doh, other goodie bag type items.

•    Food treats need to be store bought and pre-packaged with the FULL ingredient list included with the treats.  This is the only way to guarantee that foods are safe for everyone and to ensure there has not been any cross contamination.  When homemade treats are sent, children with food allergies are unable to eat these treats and this can cause them to feel left out or different.  Occasionally, special arrangements can be made for homemade treats, but this must be pre-arranged.  

•    Our classroom is a NUT FREE classroom.  All snacks and treats must be free of nuts and nut products.

If you have any questions about these guidelines, please contact me. 

Thank you!

Happy New Year!

***I apologize for the delay in getting the newsletter out.***

Dear Preschool Families,
  Welcome to 2015.  I hope everyone had a happy and healthy break.  
     This month, we are studying clothes.  Last week, we discussed what we know about clothes and listed different types of clothes.  We read the book "The Mitten" by Jan Brett.  The children are practicing their re-telling skills with story telling props and the book.  There is also a mitten painting and cutting work as well as mitten matching and clothes-pinning.  Other new and popular works available include; mopping the floor, and color mixing (using an eye dropper to mix colored water in an ice cube tray).  The children are also creating a class sewing collage.  The children are taking turns stitching with yarn on a plastic canvas.   
     I have been observing and assessing the children for 2nd quarter report cards over the last few weeks.  Everyone is making great progress!  Report cards will be sent home the first week of February.  We can discuss your child's progress at conferences in February.  See below for more information about conferences.       

I am looking for a few parents to come in and demonstrate different sewing type skills.  If you can knit, crochet, cross stitch, use a sewing machine, or other sewing skill, I would love for you to come show the class your skill.  You don't have to give a lesson or presentation or even make anything specific.  I'm just looking for a parent (or other family member) to come in and demonstrate their skill during work time.  The children will be able to watch you sewing and ask questions.  If you would like to do something more, I'm open to that too.  Please contact me if you are interested.   

     Thank you to everyone who sent in their mid-year school supplies and wish list items.  If you haven't sent your supplies in yet, please do so as soon as possible.  

Parent-Teacher Conferences

*2/12 and 2/19.  Please sign up via the Sign-up Genius link or return the paper sign up page.
Click here to sign up for conferences


Parent Information Night
*Thursday February 26th.  More information will be sent home soon. 

2015-2016 Preschool
*You will be receiving a form in the upcoming week regarding next school year.  When you receive the form, please fill it out and return it to school as soon as possible.