Monday, March 4, 2019

Welcome to Mrs. Mudd's class...the snow in March edition!

A few reminders...

There is NO School for ELP & Preschool this Friday, March 8.

Preschool is singing at church...our class (together with Mrs. Linneman’s and Mrs. Rouland's PS classes) is singing at Zion Lutheran Church at the 5:00 pm service this Saturday, 3/9.  Please join us for worship and to hear little ones sing praise to Jesus!  Please arrive at 4:45 pm and meet in the welcome center (just outside the sanctuary).  Your child will sing at the beginning of the service and will then join you for the rest of worship.

There is NO School the week of 3/18 - 3/22 for spring break!

Here we go...

While others were enjoying free choice time, each friend began his/her day with a special check-in!  Each child completed his/her "March My Name" for his/her portfolio.  Each friend was asked to write first and last name! We did great! While each friend wrote his/her name I took special note of :

pencil grip

right or left hand

copied name or wrote from memory

We noticed that we have started another new month...March!  So, we compared our weather pie graphs.  We decided that February weather was almost the same as December weather. We had the most sunny days in February, but just barely, cloudy was a close second!  Being able to compare is an early math skill.

Now that the fish arrived in our classroom and is adapting to his new home, the little guy needs a name! Today we voted, choosing one of two names, "Freckles" or "Midnight"! Each friend improved small motor control manipulating a sticker to place his/her vote.

We then compared to find that, as of today, "Midnight" has the most (but only by 1) so far. We could tell this by seeing that the line was longer, but we also counted to confirm!  We are excited to find out tomorrow what the winning name will be!

 To wrap up morning meeting, we "tested" what we remember about positional words!  But, before doing that we took a roll, counted or stated the number of dots, found that number on the paper, and I read to them the corresponding positional word.  Each friend then found their spot in the pet store to "complete" his/her word!

"On" a chair...

"Between" the check-out and the easel...

"Behind" the pet crates...

"In front of" the pet crates...

Happy 4th Birthday Abby! Thank you for sharing your special day with us!

As a part of Abby's birthday celebration, she got to paint a special picture (she chose purple and pink as her colors today). As each friend celebrates his/her birthday, I will hang his/her painting on the wall.  By May we should have 1 large, beautiful painting!

Brrr, brrr, brrr...we enjoyed large motor time in the commons...using our muscles and self awareness to navigate the scooters safely!

We began a STEAM activity today.  First we read "A Home for Dixie".  After reading this book, we discussed what the problem of the story was (three puppies had been abandoned and rescued) and how the problem was solved (A family wanted a dog, so they researched and decided to rescue a puppy. That's how they found Dixie and gave her a home)!  We wondered how did the family get that puppy home???

We quickly decided that they must have used a pet carrier.  Without missing a beat, one friend asked, "What is a pet carrier?"  So we went to our smartboard to ask google to show us images of a "pet carrier". Below is one that we were most familiar with...

We then discussed and explored the below items, wondering what we could use (along with shoe and other small boxes) to create a pet carrier to bring a pet home in! Stay tuned as we work on building pet carriers over the next week or two!

Time for small groups (centers)!

Uh oh...I needed some help.  I had a bunch of pictures that got all mixed up!  Some were things that made soft sounds, some made loud sounds.  Thank goodness my friends were able to sort them in to loud vs. soft for me!  (Sorting is an early cognitive skill).

St. Patrick's day is just around the corner...so...time for some fun shamrock BINGO!!!  Find the match of what Mrs. Dose was holding and cover with rocks. It was hard to find the some of the matches, they were quite similar!

We planned and worked together as we improved spatial awareness and problem solving skills while putting together a "pets" puzzle with 24 oversized pieces!

In our journals, each friend wrote words from our animal/pet word wall!  Not only improving letter recognition, but also his/her writing skills!

We got those wiggles out in the gym before heading to lunch!

During Jesus Time today Zippy was SO excited that he was going to a parade.  We heard the story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, which was similar to a parade!  The people were so excited to see Jesus.  They thought He was there to save them from the Roman soldiers.  But, He was there to save them all from their sins, just like he saves us from our sins!

Have a great night!