A Peek Into Our Day



Week of November 18

We begin our Thanksgiving Unit and the Letter Tt. We will discuss being thankful and the First Thanksgiving. We will have our Thanksgiving Feast this Friday, at 11:00 a.m., in our classroom. All families are invited to attend. Please sign in at the office first before coming to our building.

I am keeping some of our centers the same as last week since nutrition goes along with being thankful for food. I have changed the sensory table to allow the children to wash dishes. I have added our kitchen area plates and soapy water so the children can pretend they are cleaning after Thanksgiving dinner.

Over the weekend, I created a Sign Up Genius for Adopt a Family Advent Service Project. If you did not receive the email, please look at the Sign Up Genius Tab and consider donating an item to our assigned family. Thank you to those who already signed up.

Monday: We are continuing to work on following directions when I address the whole group. Children should be able to follow three step directions by the time they enter kindergarten. We created a turkey headband that the children will wear Friday at our feast. The children had to locate the piece that I named, glue as I instructed, and then place it in the correct spot. For example, "find the yellow feather, add glue to the bottom/ straight edge, and place it on the brown circle". I repeat directions three times. This was a fairly simple project so it was a perfect one for following three step directions. 

If the weather cooperates, I hope to have a Fall Scavenger Hunt on Tuesday. We will walk around campus looking for signs of Fall.

Tuesday: Today we discussed the First Thanksgiving and how the Pilgrims and Native Americans lived. We learned that everything had to be built or grown by them. They could not go to Acme or Amazon for what they needed. The children decorated a cornucopia and learned its purpose.

We haven't completed a Clifford magazine for a few weeks. This week, we will do two. Both November editions focus on Thanksgiving.

Please check your child's schoolbag for stowaways! Many stuffed animals, toys, jewelry, lip gloss have been coming into school. The children are permitted to bring one, small stuffed animal for rest time. These additional items take up space in the school bag and are becoming a distraction during the day.

We did not have the opportunity to take our Fall Scavenger Hunt today. I was hoping to do it in the morning after snack, but it was still rather cold. I will keep an eye on the weather. 

Mrs. Golebiowski was not in school today. Miss Beth was her substitute. Many of the children recognized her from Eagles Club.

Wednesday: We created Thanksgiving cards for our families. Due to the absences lately, I am still conducting letter and number recognition assessments. I hope to complete them this week.

In Religion, we learned that God created light. 

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Week of November 11

This week we will learn about My Plate (Nutrition) and the Letter M. My Plate replaced the Food Pyramid a few years ago as a simpler way for children to understand the components of a healthy, balanced meal. We will learn the five food groups and discuss healthy food choices. This Friday is our field trip to the Delaware Children's Museum. The children will have an opportunity to explore the museum and participate in a classroom presentation, Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds. A perfect way to end My Plate week!

This week many of our center areas will focus on healthy eating and contain various nutrition games. In the Sensory Table, the children will investigate sinking and floating. The children will add weighted fish to a plastic boat in an attempt to sink the boat. 

On Tuesday, we will be building a balanced meal using the food group pictures that were due Monday. If you did not send them in, please do so for tomorrow.

Monday: The children were introduced to My Plate today. I read a book and we watched a YouTube video explaining its purpose. We played a food group matching game. Each child was given pictures of different foods and had to sort them according to their food groups.

Tuesday is the last day to purchase raffle tickets for a Barnes and Noble Gift Card. 5 chances for $1.00

Tuesday: Today we shared our food pictures that were sent in from home. The children had to identify the food group and glue the picture in the appropriate place on a diagram of My Plate. We learned that our plates should have as many colors as possible so that we eat a variety of foods. The children also learned that exercise is important. We discussed the fact that we have morning exercises and recess everyday.

This afternoon we read It Looked Like Spilt Milk by George Shaw. In the book, each dark blue page shows what appears to be spilled milk. The children guessed the spilled milk image on each page. We then created our own spilled milk images. The children were given a small cup of milk (white paint and water mixture) to pour onto blue paper. These will dry overnight and then we will decide what image was created.

Tomorrow is our Book Fair at Barnes and Noble in the Christiana Mall. Please consider visiting.

Wednesday: Today the children began a three day turkey project. The children painted a paper plate and bowl brown to become the turkey's body and head. In the afternoon, they traced six feathers on construction paper. Last time we traced corn, the children worked together as tracing buddies. This time the children held their own tracer. They did an amazing job!

Thursday: Thank you for all of the wonderful book donations from the Book Fair. I was so sad to not attend. I was looking forward to seeing everyone, but I ended up working at Eagles Club until 6:00. I knew that most of my friends would be home by the time I arrived. The children were very excited to see the new books and we can't wait to read them.

We completed the next part of our turkeys today. The children cut out the feathers that were traced yesterday. A few children are still struggling with scissor grip. I have to readjust their hands and remind them to have their thumbs up. Please be sure your child uses the correct grip before this becomes a difficult habit to break. On a positive note, I was really impressed with their ability to cut on the line. They also their speed improved. They easily cut out all six feathers with no complaints. The feathers were then glued to the brown plate. If we have time tomorrow, we will glue the face on the bowl.

Friday: Today is our field trip to the Delaware Children's Museum. We will have our Letter M Cooking before we leave for the trip. Please send in morning snack as usual in case they are still hungry after cooking. We eat lunch at 12:00 which is later than our usual time. Please refer to the letter that was in the folders on Monday for all details.

Remember to pack lunch for your child. Chaperones will carry the lunches on the bus. We are departing school at 9:30, the museum opens at 10:00. Our trip ends at 1:00. We will then depart the museum and we should return to school by 1:45. Chaperones are welcome to take their child home after the trip.

Thank you to everyone who was a chaperone! We appreciate your help!

Thank you Justin for providing out M Cooking activity. The Mini Milk Chocolate Chip Muffins were Mmmm, Mmmm, good!
                               
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Week of November 4

We will focus on the Letter L and our theme will be Learning Shapes and Colors. However, we will kick it up a notch. We will look for shapes in the world around us. The children can identify a square when shown one. But can they recognize that a book is the shape of a square? When it comes to colors, we will introduce the terms primary and secondary colors. We will mix our own secondary colors. In Religion, we will continue with Creation, focusing on Birds and Plants. At the STEAM table, the students will build shapes using marshmallows and toothpicks. At the easel. the students will be practicing writing fall words. This month we have brown playdough to build turkeys using the dough and feathers.

*** If you did not send in a white t-shirt, please do so ASAP. We will be decorating them as jerseys. I need to add the numbers to the back before the children can decorate the front. I will need a few volunteers to help us decorate the shirts with fabric paint on Monday, November 25th, 10:00 to 11:15. Let me know if you are available.

*** Next week we will learn about nutrition and My Plate. Please send in 5 pictures (one from each of the following food groups: Grain, Dairy, Protein, Fruit, and Vegetable). Please send the pictures in an envelope or zip lock bag, labeled with your child's name. The picture should be small, no larger than three inches.

Monday: We read the story Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh. The mice tried to elude the cat by using shapes to build structures. The children then were given various shapes to create their own designs. The children need to recognize the shapes all around them. A Christmas tree is a triangle and a rectangle. A cereal box is a rectangle. A clock is a circle.

Last week was an exciting week and the children were very hyped up for Halloween. There were a few unacceptable behaviors that occurred and were addressed, but I was understanding of the situation. These behaviors (lack of listening, arguing, hands on one another, refusing to clean up) unfortunately continued today. I had hoped that the weekend would provide rest and a break from the behaviors. These behaviors occur now and then in a typical classroom setting, but last week it seemed that every student had a part in the negative behavior which was quite frequent. And it happened in our special classes as well. We had a class meeting this morning and talked about getting back on track. I will be reaching out to parents, if needed. The next two months will prove to be challenging as we enter Advent and prepare for Christmas. 

Please do not send candy into school for snack. Thank you.

Tuesday: Today we had a scavenger hunt in our classroom. I have a color/ shape wheel. I spun the wheel and the children had to find something in the classroom with that color or shape. Our green, Learning Without Tears, workbook is where we learn to write letters and number properly. It also has a section where we learn to draw shapes. Today, we practiced drawing circles, squares, and triangles.

Wednesday: We read the next book in the Mouse series, Mouse Paint. This time three white mice have eluded the cat by hiding on white paper. They accidently knock over red, blue, and yellow paint while hiding. They end up mixing the primary colors to form secondary colors of orange, green, and purple. Today we began a color wheel and painted the primary colors on a paper plate wheel. Tomorrow and Friday, we will mix paint to form the secondary colors and then add them to the wheel.

The email containing the Chaperone Fee for the Delaware Children's Museuam trip was emailed this evening. If you cannot open link, please let me know. 

Thursday: We countinued with practicing how to draw shapes in our Learning Without Tears green book. We drew triangles and diamonds. The children felt like real artists today as they mixed paint together. They were able to see how different shades were created by how well they mixed or how much paint I gave them. If a little too much red dripped, the child would achieve a darker shade of orange. And our blue paint is rather dark, so very little was needed to acheive green or purple.

Happy Birthday, Efrain!

Thank you, Meara, for providing our L Cooking activity today. The Lizards snacks were lovely! 
          

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Week of October 28

This week will prove to be a busy one. We will focus on the Letter S and Saints and Scarecrows. The children are very excited for Halloween and our party on Thursday. I kept a few centers the same so the children could enjoy them a little longer. The costumes are still part of the kitchen area. We will be using pom poms to paint a candy corn craft. We are building scarecrows in the sensory table with baby clothes and shredded news paper. In Religion, we are continuing with creation.

We will keep an eye on the weather for our parade on Thursday. All families are invited to attend the parade at 8:30. The children will process out of our building and walk in a circle around the blacktop between the Gerres building and the playgrounds. We will pose for a group photo and then head into the Main building to parade thoughout the school. The parade gets crowded so please keep the children with the group and do not pull them out of line.

After the parade, the children will return to the classroom for a special Halloween snack. We ask that only the adults who have volunteered to assist with the party attend the events in the classroom. (Families are invited to our Thanksgiving Feast, Christmas breakfast, Easter Egg Hunt and breakfast, and End of Year Picnic. Halloween, Valentine's Day, and 100th Day of School parties are for students only.) After snack, we will play a few games and change out of our costumes. If your child's uniform fits underneath the costume, that would be best. We will enjoy pizza lunch in our classroom. Thank you to everyone who volunteeres to provide an item for the day or help with the games!!!!

Monday: Miss Koval was absent, so this allowed extra center time in the classroom. We also began Saint Presentations. The children who presented today did a wonderful job. A few were able to discuss more than their one fact!

Tuesday: We continued with the Saint project presentations today. During Shelf Work, we colored a scarecrow with markers and added items to decorate it such as straw paper, buttons, foam shapes.

This afternoon we did a gummy bear experiment. One gummy bear was placed in each cup: warm water, cold water, sugar water, and salt water. After rest time, we observed the change in the gummy bears. The gummy bear in the cold water expanded. The warm water immediately shrunk. Here is my sample of the experiment recording. You can compare your child's paper for accuracy. 

          

Wednesday: If it is raining tomorrow morning, the Halloween parade will take place in the Hall. We have reserved the Hall at 8:30 until 9:00. Please arrive at 8:20 since Mrs. Schock will have a class in there until that time. A few parents have agreed to walk us over to the Hall with large umbrellas to try and keep the children dry. We will not have Gym class tomorrow due to the Halloween party.

Pizza lunch will be provided as part of our Halloween party. If your child does not eat pizza, please send in a substition. Your child does not need a lunchbox tomorrow since snack and lunch will both be provided. However, please send a water bottle.

We will be attending the 9:30 All Saints Day mass on Friday with our seventh grade buddies.

Thursday: Thank you so much for all of your help with our Halloween celebration today. Thank you to those who helped to walk us to the Hall with large umbrellas in the rain. Thank you for coming to the gym to cheer us on during the parade. Thank you for those who assisted us with our games. And thank you for all of the donations of food and paper products. The children had a wonderful time and really seemed to enjoy the day. 

After our morning parade, we entered the Main building and paraded through each classroom. Grades 1 through 4 were interested in seeing what costumes the children wore. Fifth grade was overjoyed to see their buddies and gave hugs and high fives. My friends were a bit nervous to walk through the middle school, but soon relaxed and gave high fives to the big kids.

We returned to the classroom and had Halloween snacks. Then the children gathered in small groups with a parent volunteer to rotate through our games. We played Halloween hopscotch, Pin the nose on the witch, Halloween Bingo, Halloween Memory, and Spider Toss. The children worked up an appetite for pizza lunch. Due to the weather, the field was too muddy for us to play outside for recess. I pulled out the mats and allowed the children to watch a Halloween episode of PJ Mask while they relaxed. A few even fell asleep during the show.

Friday: We had our S Cooking today due to our Halloween festivities yesterday. Thank you Cassidy for provinding our S Cooking activity. The Spirits in the Graveyard were super!
                             

We attended the 9:30 Mass for All Saints Day. We sat with our seventh grade buddies.

Happy Birthday, Kennedy! Thank you for the Munchkins! 
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Week of October 21

Halloween has arrived in EC4A! This week we will focus on the Letter H and Halloween. We will have a fun week with crafts and experiments as we prepare for the holiday next week. I have completed most of the letter and number assessments. There are a few children I still need to assess number recognition. I hope to send the reports to you by the end of the week. I suggest keeping the report so you can compare it with November's assessment.

I have added a few simple costumes in the kitchen area for the class to enjoy. At the STEAM table, the children are creating Frankenstiens, jack o lanterns, haunted houses, and candies using unifix cubes (AKA snap cubes). At the Creativity Table, the children will design monsters. We will have two Science experiments this week and one STEAM activity.

Reminders for the week:
      - Thursday is Tag Day.

      - Friday is picture retakes (if students are retaking their school picture,
        they may dress down) and a visit from Ashland Nature Center.
        Pretzels for those who ordered.

      - Saint projects are due next Monday, October 28th.

Monday: Our STEAM activity today was investigating catapults. After watching a video on how catapults work, the children were given a catapult created with craft sticks, rubber bands, and bottle caps. The children were given wrapped starbursts and dot candies to catapult across the table. They experimented with how much pressure to apply in order to launch the candy further.

Today we Booed KB! This week all the classes in the Early Childhood Building are BOOing each other and leaving a bag of treats outside the door. Since we started the BOOing, we will get BOOed last on Friday.

Tuesday: Today was all about ghosts and monsters! We enjoyed two Halloween stories and two art projects based on those books. We watched a video of the book The Ghost's Dinner by Jacques Duquennoy. In the book, Henry the ghost invites his friends over for a dinner party. The ghosts turn colors based on the foods that they eat. For example, when they eat the pumpkin soup, they turn orange. The children made ghosts by coloring a coffee filter with markers. We then squirted the filters with water and watched the colors bleed.  The children also completed a coloring sheet where they had to color the ghosts based on the picture of food under the ghosts.

Our second book was Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley. Each page adds a feature onto the monster. I read the book first, then the children read along with me. The third time, the children created their own monsters as I read to them. We painted a paper plate green this morning. The children glued the facial features as I read this afternoon.

Wednesday: We completed our first journal writing activity today. The children answered the prompt, "On Halloween, I will be _______." The children drew themselves in their costumes. Then the children attempted to spell the word. When we complete journal activities, it allows the children to strengthen the areas they need. Children who recognize letter sounds will work with me to hear the sounds in the words we write. Typically, in the beginning, the children are able to hear the beginning and ending sounds of words. Vowels and middle sounds come with practice. Children who are not ready to hear sounds will practice their letter recognition by writing the letters I dictate. 

Thursday is Tag Day for those children who have paid on Smart Tuition to participate in Tag Days. The theme is Breast Cancer Awareness- Go Pink.

Thursday: The children created mummies today using white duct tape. Each child was given a black mummy cut out and a strip of tape. The children had to measure and cut the tape to fit across the mummy's body parts. 

After lunch we had a Science Experiment involving leaves and chlorophyll. We watched a YouTube video, "Why do leaves change color?". We added leaves to a glass jar with rubbing alcohol. The jar was placed in a bowl of hot water for an hour while we rested. We then added a coffee filter and watched as the pigment was pulled out of the leaves.

Thank you to Valeria for providing our H cooking activity. The Halloween Spider Crackers Snacks made us very Happy!
                                   

Friday: Ashland Nature Center came to our classroom at 9:30 this morning for a 30 minute presentation called, "Unhuggables". Miss Lauren brought live animals that would be considered unhuggable to our classroom and explained their importance in nature. We saw a toad, box turtle, snapping turtle, and a ball python.

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Week of October 15

Please scroll down and read Friday's update. We had a busy day on Friday and the children (as well as myself) were exhausted! I apologize for not updating on Friday. It was a fun day!

I hope everyone enjoyed the long holiday weekend. This week we will continue with the Letter P and Pumpkins. Last week we focused on the life cycle of pumpkins. This week we will have a little fun with pumpkins.

Tuesday: The Five Little Pumpkins rhyme is the focus of today! We began our day reviewing the song we learned last week. Then we participated in a STEAM activity. The children had to construct a gate that could hold five little pumpkin candies using blocks, manipulatives, or craft sticks. We substituted Dot candies for the pumpkin candy corn to be peanut safe. Due to the flat bottom, the Dots worked a bit better. 

During Shelf Work, the children created a Five Little Pumpkins craft by gluing craft sticks to form the gate. They also added pumpkin foam shapes, witches, and ghosts to the pictures. Our Clifford magazine was also about Five Little Pumpkins!

Wednesday: Due to K through 8th grade attending Church to pray the Rosary this afternoon, we were on a modified schedule. Art was a bit earlier than usual. We discussed how the leaves change colors during Autumn and fall to the ground. We read Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Elhert. During Shelf Work we created colorful Fall leaves with sand. Each child was given a leaf cut out to cover with glue. We used paint brushes to ensure good coverage. Then the children pinched and scattered colored sand over the glue.

In Religion, we are beginning a Unit on Creation. Over the next week few weeks our lessons will be devoted to an aspect of God's World. Next week, however, we will have a lesson on Halloween. Remember to practice with your child how to properly make the Sign of the Cross.

Also, we have been praying the Hail Mary each morning during October. The children are doing a great job with this prayer!

Thursday: Recognizing rhyming words can be difficult for young learners. However, it is a vital skill for beginning readers. This afternoon we played a game that involved matching rhyming words.

We practiced our cutting skills again today. The children cut out a square and circle for assessment. These will be compared to the ones we cut in September to monitor growth. I also began assessing numbers today individually.

Friday: We have reached the end of our pumpkin theme.The children have really enjoyed all of our activities, especially hammering golf tees into a pumkin. We completed our Pumpkins Grow mini books. Ask your child to read it to you.

Thank you to Meara for providing our P Cooking activity. The Pumpkin Pancakes were perfect!
                              
We had a fire drill this morning. The children did very well. We were returning from Computers so we had to take a different route to our safe place. I taught them that when I blow the whistle they need to stop and look at me. I use the whistle for emergencies only. When they hear the whistle they know there is something important we need to do or something important I need to say. 

Have a wonderful weekend!  
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​​​​​​​Week of October 7

On Monday, we will end our unit on Fire Safety. On Tuesday, we will begin the Letter P and our new two week theme of Pumpkins. In Math, we will be working with patterns. In the kitchen area, we will add wheelbarrows and foam pumpkins. At the Science table, we will investigate pumpkins and gourds. The children will participate in two STEAM activities this theme, one for Fire Safety and the other will involve Five Little Pumpkins. 

Thank you to everyone who volunteered to chaperone for our November field trip. I will submit the names to Mrs. Malatesta for approval. Once I receive approval, I will be given the link for the chaperone payment. We are in need of two more chaperones for the trip. Please let me know immediately if you are available.

On Friday, we earned our last two Mrs. Potato Head pieces! The children voted for their reward and Stuffed Animal Day won. We will have Stuffed Animal Day on Tuesday. Please send in a stuffed animal that will fit on your child's lap when seated at the table.
           

Monday: Mr. Taggart, a Wilmington Fire Fighter and parent of two current SJB students and one former student, visited our classroom this morning and taught us about fire safety. We completed our fire engine project. Last week, we painted a paper towel roll to make our engine. Today, we added a window, wheels, and a ladder.

Tomorrow is Stuffed Animal Day!!!!

Tuesday: Due to the upper grades attending Church to pray the rosary, we were on Rosary schedule today. This means that class periods were shortened. Since we are a self contained classroom this typically does not affect us, however, it does affect special classes. We had Library at a different time and change can be difficult for my friends.

Today we learned about the parts of a pumpkin: skin, seed, strand, stem, and pulp. We glued together the parts of a pumpkin and labeled them as well. We also created a paper bag pumpkin. The children stuffed a brown paper bag with recycling and then we placed a rubber band at the top. The children painted the bag orange. Those who did not have an opportunity to paint their bag today will do so tomorrow.

Wednesday is the Vision Screening. Please be sure that you return the permission slip.

Stuffed animal day was a lot of fun! Our stuffed friends tagged along all day, including to Library. However, they took a nap during lunch and recess. After rest, we had a stuffed animal dance party.
  

Wednesday: I have begun assessing the students' identification of letters and numbers. As I mentioned at Back to School night, I assess each month and will send a report home at the end of the month to inform you of your child's progress. In the four year old class, I expect that the child can name the letter when shown the letter as opposed to pointing to the letter that I name. Remember that I am not looking for mastery at this point of all letters. This is the first assessment and the children are adapting to the way I assess. I tell them we are playing games and try to keep it as stress free as possible. However, some children will figure out that I am assessing and will become cautious or anxious. On the other hand, some children will rush through the game to get back to playing. When you receive the report, do not focus on the total correct. Compare it to November's report and see that your child has retained identification of those letters/ numbers and added a few more. I am looking for growth each month and retention of mastered letters.

Our Religion lesson this week is learning how to make the Sign of the Cross. Please practice this at home and be sure that your child is using the correct hand. This is an item on the progress report that your child will receive in the second and third trimester.

The children who returned the permission slip participated in the vision screening this morning.

Happy Birthday to Cruz! Thank you for the yummy popsicles for snack today.

Thursday: We did not have P Cooking today. It will be next Thursday.

We completed our paper bag pumpkins by drawing jack o lantern faces on it. I continued assessing uppercase letters individually with the students.

Tomorrow morning we will have our STEAM activity with the fifth graders. The problem to be solved is how to help the firefighter climb the ladder. The students will use straws, string, and a firefighter cut out to create a pulley system. The children learned how pulleys worked on Monday. The cereal boxes will be used to create the ladder. (Thank you to everyone who sent in a cereal box.) Each child will be paired with a fifth grade student to complete the activity. Please be on time as we need to meet the fifth graders in the Maker Space Lab in the Main building at 7:50.

Friday: The children had a wonderful experience with the fifth graders. We first went to the fifth grade classroom and met our buddies. The fifth graders escorted us to the Maker Space on the second floor. First, the pairs designed the ladder. Then they engineered their pulley system. The fifth graders were very resourceful and creative with the pulley designs. And my friends were very interested and active in the whole process. 

What impressed me even more was the connection that quickly formed between the two groups. At lunch recess, we were playing on the little playground and the fifth graders came over to say hello. The children's eyes lit up and most of them spent the time talking to their new buddies.

Working with a partner or as a team is difficult for young children. We spend so much time encouraging them to be their best selves and try new things. The give and take that is required for team work is a foreign concept to them. Collaboration is a big component of STEAM activities. This afternoon I tried another partner activity with the class. I demonstrated how to use a tracer. We are making corn stalks for our bulletin board and each child needed to trace one yellow corn shape and two green corn shapes. I paired the children up and assigned one the job of tracing and the other the job of tracing buddy (the buddy who holds the tracing in place). Once the tracer was finished, they swotched roles. They impresses me again! They were able to work together and complete the tasks, but I also heard words of encouragement. Some even helped their partner who was struggling.

Happy birthday, Meara! Thank you for yummy cupcakes for snack.
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Week of September 30

We have a very busy week ahead of us! Our new theme is Fire Prevention and the Letter Ff. We will learn all about fire safety and the Mill Creek Fire Company will visit our school on Wednesday to show us the fire engine and the equiptment the fire fighter use. We also will prepare a class gift for Sr. JoAnn who is retiring. We will celebrate her retirement during Mass this Friday.

On Tuesday, we will change our seats at the tables for the month of October. I have been preparing the children for this event. I also assigned places on the rug to help minimize distractions and allow us to quickly find our places. For Fire Safety week, we will be washing fire engines in the sensory table with soapy water, buckets, and sponges. At the STEAM table, the children will build fire engines with Legos. The students will paint a fire engine at the easels. The Kitchen area is a Fire Station this week, with toy extinguishers and helmets. The children will observe and investigate rock collections at the Science table.

Permission slips for our Field Trip to the Delaware Children's Museum are in the folders Monday. If you are interested in being a chaperone, please send a note in the folder by Friday, October 4th. I can take ten chaperones and will draw names from a hat. I will inform you next week if you are chosen as a chaperone.

Thank you to everyone who sent in an empty paper towel roll last week. We are short several rolls. If you did not send one in or have extra in your recycling bin, please send them in.

Next week, we will learn about pumpkins. If anyone would like to send in a pumpkin or gourd for our class, please let me know.

Sign Up Geniuses for Guest Reader and Specials Volunteers were emailed Sunday night. I have attached them to my web page under the Sign Up Genius tab. Please let me know if you did not receive an email so I can correct my email list.

Monday: The four year old classes are creating a book of pictures to make Sr. JoAnn smile, which we will present on Friday. Each child drew a happy picture for Sister today.

Kids Stuff books or payment are due today. Also, please return the vision screening consent form as soon as possible.

Tuesday: We have been learning the role of a fire fighter. I read the children a book called, Firehouse Dog. The children learned what happens in a firehouse through the eyes of a Dalmation named Hooper. We learned the gear that a fire fighter wears such as a turn out coat. Tomorrow the children will have the opportunity to see this gear up close when Mill Creek Fire Company visits us after lunch.

When the children arrived this morning, they had to locate their new seat for the month of October. In the folder today, are apples with star stickers on them. These were our apples on the Good Deed Tree for the month of September. These stickers were earned when the children engaged in an act of kindness without being asked. Great job for the first month of school!

Wednesday: We created a firehouse Dalmation dog craft today. This activity required the children to follow directions and to copy a model. The children used my sample as a model to glue the pieces in the correct places.

We will be working with the fifth grade next Friday, October 11, on a STEAM activity in the Maker Space lab. For this activity, we are in need of empty cereal boxes. Please send any boxes you may have into school before Thursday, October 10. Thanks!

The children were very excited to see the fire engine today. We sat under the tree in front of the Vianney House and waited for the truck to arrive. Their eyes lit up as they watched it drive into the parking lot. They were very attentive as the firefighters explained how to exit a house safely, how to call 911, and how to stop, drop, cover your eyes, and roll. The firefighters explained their protective clothing as they dressed in their full gear. They even put on their mask and air tank. They want the children to understand that they may look scary when dressed in their gear, but they should not be afraid and hide from them. Often children are frightened and hide from fire fighters. A few of my friends were a bit nervous and came to stand with me. The fire fighters talked with the mask on and told the children that the mask makes them sound like Darth Vader.

Thursday: We began to create fire engines by painting a paper towel roll. These will need to dry before we glue a window, ladder, and wheels.

Tomorrow we will attend the 9:30 Mass. Each child will sit with a seventh grader. This Mass will be a bit longer than a usual school Mass. Our Student Council officers will be installed and we will celebrate Sr. JoAnn and her years of service at SJB.

Thank you to Evelyn and her family for providing our F Cooking activity today. The French Toast was fabulous! I was impressed by their cooking skills. A few cracked the eggs and they all enjoyed whisking the mixture. They are learning how to cut with plastic knives and they cut their own french toast into smaller bite sized pieces.

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Week of September 23 

This week we will focus on the Letter Aa and Apples. We will learn how apples grow, the parts of an apple, and how we can use apples. All of our activities will focus on apples. At the Science table, the children will weigh and compare apples to other items using a balance scale. In the Sensory table, the children will sort apples (red, green, and yellow pom poms) using tongs/ tweezers. The children will build trees that can hold apples at the STEAM table (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) using toilet paper rolls, green craft sticks, and mini apples or pom poms. The children will free paint apples at the easels. And I have added baskets of toy apples to the kitchen area. Our Math activities will be sorting apples by size (small, medium, and large) and counting. The children will add apples to an apple tree according to the number on the tree card. We will even do some taste testing on Friday.

Reminders for the week:
     - Monday is Independence Day! Beginning Monday, children are to walk into 
       school by themselves everyday.

     - Bishop Malooly will visit SJB on Tuesday. EC3 through 2nd grade will meet 
       in Church at 10:00. We will recite our Morning Prayer for him. We will not
       have Library due to the visit.

     - We will have a Special Snack on Wednesday. This is the class reward that
       the children voted on for building Mr. Potato Head.

     - Thursday is our first Alphabet Cooking for the Letter A.

     - Friday is our first Tag Day. Please pay your donation on Smart Tuition to
       participate. The theme is Blast from the Past and the children are
       encouraged to dress from any decade of their choice. I know this theme
       may be difficult for our students to comprehend, so any clothes that your
       child wishes to wear are fine.

       Pretzels will be provided by Home and School at snack for those who
       ordered.

       A paper towel roll is due today for an Art project next week. Please write
       your child's name on the inside of the roll.

       We will be taste testing apples and apple drinks On Friday afternoon.

Monday: We introduced the Letter A using wooden pieces from our Learning Without Tears Program. The children use the pieces to build the letter. Each child was handed two big pieces and one little piece to create "big line down, big line down, little line across". We looked at picture cards of A words and the children wrote the letter A on the Smart Board.

We discussed the parts of an apple. I cut open an apple and named the parts for the children: skin, flesh, seeds, stems, and leaf. One of the seeds had a small sprout emerging from it, which I thought was pretty cool! The children then colored an apple diagram based on the directions I gave them.

Independence Day was a success! All the children did an amazing job! Even the few that were a bit teary had smiles as soon as they walked into school and saw their friends. We enjoyed ice cream in the classroom after lunch recess.

Tuesday: We learned how an apple grows. Yesterday, I explained that apples begin as pink and white flowers on an apple tree. They could not believe it! Today, I showed them a book with real photographs of an apple tree. 

We had a STEAM activity where we built an apple tree. This is the activity on the STEAM table this week, but I wanted to present it to the group first. At first, the children struggled with how to build the tree. STEAM activities do require the children to think outside the box. One we built the tree, the children found that the thinner craft sticks gave the apples more support than the thick craft sticks. The pom poms were easily added to the tree. 

We attended Church at 10:00 for our visit with Bishop Malooly. Every year, the Bishop visits each diocesan school. We did not attend Library due to the visit.

Tomorrow we will have a special snack for our class reward. To celebrate our reward and our theme, I will provide apple cider donuts. I will also have goldfish crackers.

Wednesday: During Shelf Work, the children decorated an apple cut out with tissue paper squares. The children are learning to apply the correct amount of glue on the appropriate places on crafts. They also learned how to pin punch the letter Aa, which is a great fine motor activity. It was definitely challenging for some students, but I was impressed that they stayed focused on th task. 

We also completed our first ABC Pictionary page. This page will become part of our Binders. I explained to the children that this is when I teach them to write and draw, as well as learn their sounds. In one simple page, we address several topics. We first recalled words that begin with A. Then I demonstrated on the Smart Board how to draw an apple, an ant, and an acorn. While drawing words each week, I also end up giving mini lessons, if appropriate. For example, today while drawing an ant I explained that it is an insect and has three body parts and six legs. Finally, we wrote the word APPLE. Once the children are more comfortable with writing letters, we will write all three words and I will vary between uppercase and lowercase. They were attentive and eager to do this activity.

Tomorrow is Gym Day. Please remember to have your child's name on his or her shirt. Girls should have their hair pulled back.

Thursday: The children have been doing an amazing job of walking into school themselves! I know some may be teary or upset when they are leaving your arms, but they quickly recover. Once they enter the room, they are all smiles!

Friday is Tag Day. (dress down day) Children are permitted to dress down. Tag Days are Student Council's way of collecting donations for charity. This month's theme is Blast from the Past. If you have not already done so, please make your donation on Smart Tuition. Pretzels will be delivered to the classroom for snack time, for those who ordered. 

Letter of the Week Cooking began today! The children were very excited to cook. Thank you to Antonio and family for the Amazing Applesauce! The children loved cutting the apples into small pieces. The apples had to cook in the crockpot for four hours and then cool before we could mash them. We enjoyed the applesauce this afternoon. Some children were licking the bowl clean! All recipes will be included in the children's binders that will be sent home at the end of the year. 
                             

Friday: We created an apple pie craft which required the children to cut different shapes and then follow directions to glue correctly.  We have been working on writing our names the big kid way. Please remind your child to write his or her name this way. 

Thank you to the families who donated an item to our apple tasting activity today. We enjoyed taste testing red, green, and yellow apples. We completed a questionaire regarding the apples. We also tried apple juice and apple cider.

Have a wonderful first weekend of Fall!

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Week of September 16

Our new theme is All About Me and we will learn that we are all special and have unique talents. Each day a group of children will share their All About Me Bags and share with the class what makes them special. We will continue to practice writing our names the big kid way. In Math, we began sorting last week. We sorted Bingo chips by color. This week we will sort by shape.

On Friday afternoon, we finally had the opportunity to vote on the name of our class pet. Sweetie is the name of our red Betta fish! 
                         
       
Monday, September 23rd, is Independence Day. This is the day when caregivers are no longer permitted in the building and children walk to their classrooms all by themselves. Take the opportunity this week to prepare your child. Walk them inside the building and watch them walk to the door alone. Stand outside the main doors and watch your child. Praise them for a job well done! Many children have begun this process already and they are doing amazing. I am so proud of them!

Each child will need an empty paper towel roll for an activity at the end of the month. Please send one in by Friday, September 27th.

Next week, we will learn about Apples. If you are able to donate an item for taste testing on Friday, September, 27th, please email me:
                a gallon of apple cider    (someone volunteered)
                a gallon of apple juice   (someone volunteered)
                four red apples    (someone volunteered)
                four yellow apples
                four green apples    (someone volunteered)

Monday: We began our new theme by reading a beautiful book, Designed By God So I Must Be Special. The book discussed the five senses and how wonderful it is to experience God's world and be a part of it. We used markers to color a child shape. These unique self portraits will be decorated tomorrow using buttons, stickers, yarn hair, etc.

Tuesday: Today we discussed how each of us is unique and special. Using rocks as a comparison, we investigated how each rock was different (different shapes, colors, texture). God made the rocks just like he created us. We are also different colors and sizes, like the rocks. Each child chose a rock that he or she felt was special. This rock became a Prayer Rock. We wrote the children's names on the rocks and they added paint fingerprints. These rocks will decorate our Prayer Table to remind us all year how special we are and that God loves us.

The children have been doing a great job sharing their All About Me Bags so far. Each child sits on the bench and shares the contents of their bags. The class is very excited to see what makes their classmates special.

Wednesday: Last week we introduced writing our names the big kid way. Today we practiced tracing our names on laminated cards. We are encouraging the children to use proper pencil grip. Please watch your child at home to ensure that he or she is holding the pencil correctly. Many of the children have been switching from a correct grip to a fist like grip throughout an activity. Also, please watch scissor grip as well. We always say "thumb up!" to help them remember the correct grip.

Tomorrow is our Gym day so please remember to wear a shirt with your child's name written on it for class.

Thursday: Children love to pretend they are grown ups. I love observing them in the kitchen area when they are deciding who is the mommy, who is the doctor, baker, etc. We discussed what we would like to be when we grow up. I love hearing their responses! We read When I Grow Up by Al Yankovic. We created a "When I Grow Up" craft during Shelf Work.

Tonight is Back to School Night for EC3 and EC4 classes. This is for caregivers only. If you can not attend, please view my Back to School Night tab. These are my key talking points for the evening. If you have any questions, please let me know. We will begin at 6:30 in the classroom.

You will be receiving an email regarding class colors for school events such as Field Day and Spirit Rallies. This information is also on Mrs. Schock's web page. EC4A was assigned white. Please purchase a white t-shirt and send it into school by November 1st. We will be decorating it in school during November so it will be ready for the December Spirit Rally. Keep an eye out for sales at AC Moore. They often do three or four shirts for $10.00 which is great if you have multiple children.

Friday: We painted a fish using water colors today. We read the book Only One You by Linda Kranz. The characters in the book are fish, but the story relates to the children's lives. It was a great way to end All About Me Week!

EXCITING NEWS!!! Miss Kavanagh is now engaged! She is the para for EC3A and many of my students had her last year as a teacher. Her fiancee Nick proposed during lunch today in front of EC3 through sencond grade classes, allowing all of her current and former students to witness the event.

And...... we completed bulding Mr. Potato Head!!!! We will vote on a class reward party to be celebrated next week. Great job! They have worked really hard during Specials to earn this reward.
                                      

With all the excitement, I currently have six children sleeping during rest time! 

Have a wonderful weekend! Letter of the Week begins next week.

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Week of September 9

We will continue with the theme Welcome to SJB. We will reinforce the expectations of the classroom that were introduced last week. The children have responded well to their new environment. They quickly are learning the morning routine. They are unpacking their bags and placing their folders in the basket. They sign in on the Smart Board. The children are able to slide their first name into the apple on the Smart Board. They are beginning to interact with their new friends at the tables. It is nice to see them share the toys and have little conversations with each other.  

Rest time has gone well. A few are not sleeping, but they are quiet and allow their friends to rest. The children have been sleeping with their stuffed animals in an appropriate manner. The rule is that the stuffed animals must stay in the bag until rest time. However, a few children are walking into school in the morning carrying their toys. They refuse to place their toys in their schoolbag. Please be sure the stuffed animals are inside the schoolbag before the children enter school. 

Next week, our theme will be "All About Me". The children will receive a brown bag, All About Me Bag, to prepare for next week. Please keep the bags at home until your child's assigned day. 

This Thursday is Picture Day. All children will be photographed for the yearbook, even if you are not purchasing a photo package. Children may dress down in Sunday best clothes. Our class has Gym that day so please be sure your child wears sneakers or similar style or they will not be permitted to participate in class.

Monday: Every Monday, we have two special classes. Spanish in the morning and Music in the afternoon. We travel to the Main Building to see Ms. Koval for la clase de espanol. Mrs. Wagner comes to our class for Music. Due to two specials, we do not have Shelf Work (Centers) on Mondays.

We read Mo Willems new book, The Pigeon Has to Go to School. I love his Pigeon series because it invites the children to participate. In each of the books, the reader is tasked with keeping the Pigeon out of trouble. As the Pigeon speaks, the children instinctively respond. Last week, I read a few previous books at Guest Reader time so the children would become familiar with Pigeon's personality. During Group Time, we created a Pigeon craft. I placed all the cut outs that the children required for the activity inside their pencil boxes. The children had to listen carefully to the directions and locate which piece they needed from their box and glue it in the correct spot.

I introduced our Star Student activity today. I shared a poster with information about myself. Next week, Mrs. Golebiowski will be the Star Student. Then we pass it to the children. I will choose a ping pong ball (the balls are labeled with the children's names) from the jar to see who the Star Student will be each week.

Tuesday: We continued our discussion of our class rule, "Be Kind". I introduced our Tree of Good Deeds. When Mrs. Golebiowski and I witness a random act of kindness the children earn a sticker on their shape on the tree. For example, during September our Tree of Good Deeds has tweny-three apples, one for each student. We hope the children have a few stickers on their apples by the end of the month. In October, a new shape will be on the tree.

During Shelf Work, the children are practicing cutting curves by cutting a large circle. I am assessing shape recognition and pencil grip this week.

During our afternoon Group Work, we completed our first Clifford Magazine. Together we read the magazine. Then we watch the corresponding videos on the Smart Board. With each magazine, there is also an online game that we play on the Smart Board. There is a letter in the folders today explaining how to access online activities at home.

Wednesday: During Shelf Work, we continued to practice cutting a circle and assessing shapes. I wanted to devote two days to these activities. I love how eager my friends are to work with the teachers. On Tuesday, when I announced that it was time to clean up several children were quite upset that they did not work with us at the tables yet. They are so excited about school that even a simple activity such as tracing a triangle as I assess pencil grip brings joy to them. We finished assessing all the children today.

Tomorrow is Picture Day. Please order pictures online or send in payment tomorrow. Our pictures are scheduled for 8:30 in the morning. Please remember to wear sneakers of similar shoes for Gym Class.

Thursday: Today we discussed writing our name the "Big Kid" way. It is developmentally appropriate to teach children to first write their names using uppercase letters. When the reach the four year old class, they possess the fine motor skills to attempt lowercase letters. We talked about initials. We practiced tracing our first names. I encourage the children to write their own names, even if they can only write one letter. Please teach your child proper letter formation and to always begin at the top.

School pictures ran over a bit. We went back to the classroom to have snack and missed Gym Class. Instead, we went outside to the playground. The children were so patient and quiet during picture time. They needed to move around and release some energy. During lunch recess, the weather was very hot so we went inside after 20 minutes of running in the field. We rehydrated with our water bottles and watched an episode of Paw Patrol.

Friday: We read the book, If You Take a Mouse to School, by Laura Numeroff. In the book, Mouse packs a lunch and attends school with the boy. Mouse is busy all day with different activities. We discussed items that are acceptable for school. We discussed how to respect toys in school.

We continued to identify our initials. The children decorated a large cut out of their initial with various art supplies. We used a q-tip to apply liguid glue to the paper and then added the sequin, button, etc.

Have a wonderful weekend! Don't forget to send your child's All About Me Bag on his or her assigned day next week.  

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Week of September 3

Welcome to SJB! This will be our theme for the next two weeks. Whether your child is a returning student or new to our school, we are welcoming them to a new year at SJB. We will spend a majority of our time this week introducing classroom expectations and our class rule, "BE KIND". We will ease into our daily routine allowing the children to adjust to their new surroundings. I have a few projects planned which will provide me with the opportunity to assess the children's pencil and scissor grip, ability to glue and trace, color and shape recognition, and following directions. These assessments will aid in determining how to plan the next few weeks.

Snack: Remember to pack a morning snack each day inside the lunch box. Also, send in a water bottle that is separate from the lunch box for drinks throughout the day. If your child attends Eagles Club, please pack a snack and place the snack in the front pocket of your child's schoolbag. Please send two napkins in the lunch box everyday for snack and lunch.

Arrival: On the first day, you may walk your child into the classroom to help him or her navigate hanging the belongings in the cubby and placing the folder in the basket. On day two, parents walk children to the classroom door and allow the children to enter the classroom by themselves. We need to begin establishing our morning routine. Parents may walk their children into the building and to the classroom door until September 23rd, which is known as Independence Day in the Early Childhhod building. Doors open at 7:20. Our day begins promptly at 7:35, so please be on time.

Lunch: I will send home any food that your child brings from home and does not finish. I want you to be aware of what they are eating. Please be patient with us. Mrs. Golebiowski and I have twenty-three students and we will do our best to encourage eating. Mrs. Golebiowski will take those students who order through the hot lunch line. I stay at the tables opening lunches for those who pack lunch. In the beginning, the children are either too excited to eat or starved. Their bodies are adjusting to their new eating times. Please send two napkins in the lunchbox everyday for snack and lunch.

Rest time: I noticed that a few children brought pillows to school for rest time. In the four year old classes, we do not allow pillows. The cubbies are crowded with the blankets and change of shoes/ underwear. Your child may bring in a SMALL stuffed animal to sleep with. This will be kept in the schoolbag, not the cubby. If the stuffed animal becomes a distraction during rest, your child will have to return it to the school bag.

Outerwear: Please be sure everything is labeled with your child's first and last name. On rainy days, we ask that your child does not bring an umbrella into the classroom. Please have your child wear a raincoat or any coat with a hood.


Tuesday: Happy First Day of School! We began our day with Circle Time and introduced our "Super Star Helpers" classroom jobs. This took some time as I explained each job to the class. During Shelf Work, I introduced all the center areas. Our Special today was Library with Mrs. Oldiges and Mrs. Tobin. The children were excited to visit the Library and hear a story. Each week, the children will hear a story and complete a coloring activity that corelates to the story.

After lunch, I read Pete the Cat, Rocking in My School Shoes, by Eric Litwin. Then the children retrieved their new pencil boxes from their cubbies. I love new crayons!!! We colored a picture of Pete the Cat on a First Day of School certificate.

I am happy to report that the class earned thier first Mr. Potato Head piece! Every time I receive a good report when I pick the class up from a Special Class Teacher or the class does an amazing job as a whole, we earn a piece to assemble Mr. Potato Head. In Library, I was told that my friends did an "Excellent job!". Wow! I usually do not introduce our Mr. Potato Head reward system until week two. Earning a piece on Day One is a great accomplishment. I am so proud of my friends! Sometimes I draw a name to dress Mr. Potato Head and sometimes I choose a child who is doing an exceptional job. Many friends were on task all day, but we only could add one piece. Antonio was chosen and  he added a mouth. When Mr. Potato Head is completely assembled, we will vote on a class reward. Some examples include a dance party, special snack, stuffed animal day, extra recess, movie at lunch, etc. 

Wednesday: We continued to have fun with Pete the Cat. I read Pete the Cat and the Four Groovy Buttons. I even wore my own yellow shirt with four groovy felt buttons. As I read the book, I removed a button each time Pete lost a button. The children enjoyed helping me count down from the number four. Afterwards, the students glued a yellow shirt to a Pete the Cat cut out. Then we worked on number recognition as the students attached numbered button stickers to Pete's shirt. I provided the children with four button stickers and they had to put them on the shirt in the correct order. These will be on display outside our classroom.

We met Mrs. Newcomb, our Art teacher, today. The children walked across the hall to the Art room. They really love sitting in the big kid chairs!

During Shelf Work, we practiced proper scissor grip and cutting on a line. The children cut out strips of paper as we observed their techniques. We also decorated a special cover for our binders.

Thank you to everyone who chose a donation card at the orientation. I am overwhelmed by your generosity! Thank you so much for all of the donations. The kitchen items will be used when we do our weekly cooking. Many of the other items will be used for our STEAM activities. The chalk and bubbles will come in handy tomorrow when we have the black top for recess.

Reminder: Thursday is our Gym day! Mrs. Schock requests that your child wears a school shirt that is labeled with his or her name on the front. You may write this with a permanent marker. 

Thursday: We read one of my favorite books, The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt. This book is quite humorous and the children love it! It sparks great conversations about treating other kindly and learning that everyone has feelings. The children each chose a crayon to decorate. They had to cut out the crayon shape and then follow directions to add arms, legs, and a face to the crayon. These crayons will decorate a bulletin board inside the classroom. We cannot wait for you to see all our creations when you come to Back to School night. 

We completed our first Religion book page today. Each lesson comes with a parent letter. Since this is the first lesson in the unit, you will also receive a Unit One letter and a Lesson One letter. We complete one lesson weekly.

We attended Gym class in the Hall with Mrs. Schock. Each special teacher has a webpage on the site. They do not update as often as homeroom teachers. Please take a look at their pages.

We ate lunch in the classroom today. We had a lot of cleaning up to do after Shelf Work and were going to be late for lunch. Also, we are learning how to walk in a line which means it takes a bit longer to arrive at places. In the three year old classes, they walk in a single line. In the four year old classes, we begin having a boy line and a girl line. My friends are very curious and observing their surroundings as we walk. Somehow the girls keep veering into my boy line. The boys stop to look at everything. I decided that I wanted the children to enjoy their lunch and need have to inhale it. I turned on an episode of Paw Patrol and we had plenty of time to eat our lunches.

We added two more pieces to Mr. Potato Head! Natalie and Scarlett a chose eyes and an ear. We earned one piece for an excellent first gym class. The other I awarded for great listening during our crayon craft. We completed these as a group so the children really had to focus and follow directions.

Friday: We did not attend Mass today. We usually attend our first school Mass in November. However, this year we will honor Sr. JoAnn and wish her a happy retirement during the October Mass on the feast of St. Francis. I am hoping that the children will be ready to attend this Mass so EC4A can be part of the celebration. The school was on Mass schedule today so we had snack and Computer class a little earlier that usual. We met Mrs. Coffield, who is new to SJB this year.

During Shelf Work, I began assessing recognition of colors and shapes. In the afternoon, we completed our first page in our "Green Book". This book is part of our Handwriting Without Tears program to introduce letter writing. Today's page was to practice drawing lines and curves. 

Today we send home rest towels and sheets. Please wash them over the weekend and return on Monday. I have a added a few pictures on the Photo Tab. 

Have a great weekend! It was a fabulous first week with my new friends. Mrs. Golebiowski and I are pleased with the behavior and enthusiasm we have seen already. We cannot wait to do it again next week!