Happy Fri...I mean Thursday from Mrs. Mudd's class!
Some friends chose to express creativity as they painted with watercolor paints. We are also learning patience! Many friends wanted to paint, but we only have room for 3 at a time. So, if you want a turn to paint and the easel is full, put your paints on the table (in a line) so we know who is next! Then go play until your name is called for your turn.
More geoboard fun, using our small motor control while making shapes and letters with rubber bands!
Planning, building, and trying again and again to get the ramps to work just the way we want!
We sure do love this book! Nolan chose it, as librarian, for me to read to the class to wrap up morning meeting...
We headed to our first chapel in the commons, and a first chapel for some friends!
We were the best listeners as Mrs. Helmkamp reminded us that the Bible is a book of stories with soooo many different characters. Which Bible story is your favorite?
We explored more today with our Handwriting Without Tears wood pieces. We focused on big lines and little lines. We held a big line in different positions. First imitating me, then positioning them on his/her own. This enables children to watch and follow directions while learning words that describe positions (spatial relationships). Understanding spatial relationships is an early math skill.
Put the big line UP!
We then used the same wood pieces to begin understanding vertical, horizontal, and diagonal. Moving the pieces in vertical and horizontal directions prepares children to make capital letters E, F, H, I, L, and T. While moving the lines diagonally prepares to make capitals A, K, M, N, R, V, W, X, Y and Z.
What a perfect day to be outside to get our bodies moving!
Time for small groups (centers)!
With me we practiced letter identification/recognition (early literacy skill), and writing 6 different letters (E, F, H, L, I, and T). I showed the group the letter, if a friend knew the letter he/she would shout it out (yes...we were excited to get to shout in the classroom!). We would then say it together. Finally each child did his/her best to write the letter as I spoke how to write the letter (for L, big line down, little line across the bottom). This may have been a first time to write letters not in his/her name...very proud of each friend!
We sorted pom poms again by color. But, today, we did it by ourselves AND we had to use tongs (strengthens finger, wrist, and hand muscles) to pick up the poms! No fingers allowed!!!
We improved large motor control with a little dance party (to VBS songs). Not only did we get the wiggles out, we had to remember 3 directions:
No running
Stay on the brown carpet
Hands and feet to yourself
With Mrs. Lorenz we worked collaboratively on a piece of art for our classroom! We remembered that "God Keeps His Promises" by coloring and creating an awesome rainbow. Excellent job following directions and working as a team! We only have purple to go!
Then...more of that gorgeous weather for time on the parking lot playground!
That's a wrap on this short week...see you after Labor Day!
