Hello Raspberry families,
Hope you are having a great 2018 so far! This month is just the right time to incorporate some hearts into our Raspberry classroom. Covering everything from heart-y social emotional learning activities to colorful art, number, and letter projects.
During the month of February, we will be focusing on Love, Friendship, China, Farm Animals, Doctors, Diamonds, the colors pink/purple, president’s day, the numbers 10 to 30, the letters Ww, Ee, Oo and Sight word list 1 and 2.
February won’t disappoint; it continues the learning with balanced theme activities and lots of LOVE in the air!
Monthly Curriculum
Theme: Love
Value: friendship
Color: Pink and purple
Multicultural Visit: Asia/china
Animal: Farm Animal
Community Helper: Doctor
Additional Theme: president’s day
Letters/Sounds: Ww Ee Oo
Shape: Diamond
Numbers: 20-30
Reminders
Peace Corner Photos – We are compiling family photos and notes for students to keep in peace corner to look at when they are having a tough day or missing their family. Please provide a family photo and note. Thank you!
As in every preschool classroom, these plans may evolve to better suit the interests of the children. I will be updating parents with pictures, videos, and write ups of what the children are learning and doing during the day. These will be posted to our Bloomz app.
** Week One
————————————————————
** This week we will focus on friendship, love, the letter Ww and numbers 1 to 20.
Math
– We will continue to work and use Montessori materials in circle time and math centers.
– We will count 1 to 20 objects as well as writing those numbers.
– We will make estimation jars for math center
————————————————————
Reader’s Workshop
This week in Reader’s Workshop, we will continue to learn about the structure of reader’s workshop (how to read during independent reading time, how to share about a book, and how to clean up when reader’s workshop is done) as well as the strategies of a good reader: look and Think
Writer’s Workshop
-This week in Writer’s Workshop, Students will practice putting sequenced ideas onto paper through pictures/ words.
– We will use our notebooks to focus on proper letter formation for W .
Phonics
This week students will learn the letters W and the sound it makes. We will also practice Words that start with W.
-We will practice Sight word list 1.
Mindfulness
This week students will practice deep breathing and understanding how this can help calm our bodies down. We will learn how to find and get into a mindful position.
Teaching for Understanding
– learn primary colors and what two primary colors make
– learn what it means to be a good friend.
– Explore concepts such as kindness, love, and respect.
Activities:
-Art: Teamwork open ended activity: primary/secondary painting activity
Valentine’s hearts
W’ is for worm spaghetti painting activity
Watermelon craft
– Sensory table activities: Worm noodles and alphabet activity / water activities
– Circle Time: filll up Bucket Friendship activity
– Science : experiment with walking water! (water absorption) We will make our predictions and write down our findings.
– I will incorporate literacy, math, songs, dramatic play, large motor skills, and much, much more!
Week Two
This week we will be focusing on China/Asia, farm animals, the letters ‘Ee’ and the diamond shape.
Math
This week, the students will continue to work on number order, number writing, and connecting numbers to corresponding quantities, focusing on numbers 10- 20.
Reader’s Workshop
We will read February themed books. Students will also learn that readers re-read old favorites, remembering to say more and more about the story.
Mindfulness
This week we will learn about how our bodies are connected to our emotions and thoughts and how we can help control that.
Phonics
This week students will learn the letters Ee and sounds that they make.
We will continue to practice sight word list 1.
Handwriting
We will focus on proper letter formation for Ee.
Teaching for Understanding
– We’ll be learning about China. We will locate the country on the map and talk about their location, climate, culture, language, historical landmarks, traditional dances and food.
– Well learn about the importance of farmers and farm animals in our environment
Activities:
** Science: indestructible egg activity/ planting and seeds
Art : stomping mud art using farm animals/ Asian fans /lanterns /dragon crafts
-And much more!
————————————————————
Reminders
– If you plan on parking in our lot, we ask that you please limit your stay to 10 minutes. Lingering in the lot makes it difficult for other parents trying to Pick Up/Drop Off their child on time.
– I know saying goodbye can be hard, but you can do it and so can your child!! Remember to keep a consistent routine throughout the year, prepare your child for your departure, validate their feelings, and remind them that you will be back.
– Hot lunch will continue to be $5 when ordered in advance, however if ordered the day of or by the week it will be billed at $6.
– Show and Tell is every Friday! Encourage your child to bring in a special toy of their choice to share with the class. Show & Tell is great because it’s fun for the kids and simultaneously enhances effective communication, strengthens their vocabulary , improves their listening skills, and promotes self confidence.
– Date Night is every other Saturday from 5:00pm-12:00am. $15/hr for an individual child or $17/hr for a pair of siblings (min. charge is $60). Dinner and a movie are also provided.
– We are now NUT FREE! We have a number of students in the school allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, in order to keep them safe we ask that you please do not send your child to school with any products containing nuts. If you would like a list of nut-free food suggestions let me know and I will get you a list!
– And lastly, a personal request from myself, please try to label all of your child’s items! Many families buy the same things and sometimes other students or teachers may move your child’s items mistakenly; labeling your things will greatly help avoid any mishaps!
If you have any other questions about the parent handbook feel free to ask myself, Gabriel, or Ms. Annie.
School Calendar 2018
February
Saturday – 3rd – Date Night with Ms. Jennifer
Saturday – 10th – Date Night with Ms. Jennifer
Friday – 16th – Chinese New Year
Monday – 19th – NO SCHOOL – President’s Day
March
Saturday – 3rd- Date Night with Ms. Jennifer
Monday – 5th – Picture Day
Saturday – 10th – Date Night with Ms. Diana
Friday – 16th – Celebrating St Patrick’s Day
Tuesday – 20th – Egg Hunt
Friday – 23rd to 2nd – NO SCHOOL- Spring Break
April
Tuesday – 3rd- Back from Spring Break
Saturday – 7th- Date Night with Mrs. Gloria
Saturday -21st – Date Night with Ms. Jennifer