Subscribe

Archive | Preschool

February Letter from Ms. Cathy in Jake’s School

February 17, 2014 by Preschool
Dear Bear Parents-
 
February was a perfect month for us to focus on friendships, families and respect.  We read the book “How Full is Your Bucket?” by Tom Rath.  We discussed how we can be bucket “fillers” rather than bucket “dippers” with our friends and family.  Other highlights for the month include:
 
Traveling Teddy journaling (I will make a class book when everyone has a turn)
Science table color mixing; weighing and sorting items from nature
A/B pattern red and white bead bracelets
Valentine’s gifts and cards for parents (heart necklaces)
Valentine’s books for classmates (thank you for your support with this)
Candy heart graphing
“Love” dictation with glitter heart
Letter O – orange day
Sensory squishy bag
“I’m thinking of…..” phonemic awareness activity
Willabee-wollabee-woo rhyming song
Seahawks Fan Day Parade (it worked!)
Puff ball party and cookie baking/decorating (we earned this fun treat – very rewarding!)
Thank you to the following parents/grandparents for your contributions:
Mack’s parents – candy hearts
Danny’s mom – pink playdough
Kevin’s mom – guest reader and photographer
Ruby’s dad – guest reader
Calvin’s grandma – guest reader
Sabryna’s grandpa – large motor movement games
Looking ahead:  We are having fun with PETS when we return from break.  Do you have a family pet (fish/lizard/bird/rodent/child-friendly dog) you would like to bring in and share with the class?  If so, please email me. 🙂
In honor of our beloved Dr. Seuss’ birthday on the 2nd, March is “BEAR” (Be Excited About Reading) Month throughout our wonderful preschool.  We will have several parent and church volunteers visit us as guest readers.
Have a wonderful week!  See you next Monday the 24th.
Blessings,
Cathy

From Ms. Cathy Jake’s Teacher

January 25, 2014 by Preschool
Dear Bear Class Parents~
Polar animals, ice, snowmen and igloos captured our interests this month.  Some highlights included:
A pop-up igloo in the reading center
Snowman art with dictation
Penguin art with fact from home (thank you for your support with this ‘homework’)
January self-portraits
Color mixing with rock salt, eye droppers and liquid watercolor
Freeing polar animals who were frozen in ice blocks
Penguins in pretend snow
Light table
Marshmallows on letter M’s
Polar bear art with pretend snow and cotton balls
Glitter on snowflakes
Group snowman with class story – in hall
Assessments for conferences
Movement games with Sabryna’s grandpa
Visit from a pediatrician and a dentist
Calendar helper
We are three puff balls away from earning a puff ball party – hooray!!
Thank you Nylah for the blue playdough, and Jen for being our guest reader!
Next Wednesday the 29th is a school-wide “GREEN AND BLUE DAY”!  Gooooo Hawks!
I look forward to seeing you this Friday for conferences.  The schedule is attached, along with our February calendar.
Speaking of February…….. We will start an at-home journaling activity next month.  Our traveling teddy will come home with your child on aThursday and will stay with your Bear for the weekend.  There will be one journaling sheet in the backpack with the teddy.  Please help your child complete the sheet and keep it LIGHT and FUN. 🙂  Please bring the journaling sheet, traveling teddy, and backpack back to class the following Monday for your child to share.  We will make a book after everyone has a turn.
VALENTINE’S CARDS:  It is completely optional for your child to bring cards for students in class.  We are doing another activity for our friends, which you will see in Monday’s folder.
Have a fabulous weekend!
Blessings,
Cathy

December Note from Ms. Cathy

December 17, 2013 by Preschool
 From Ms. Cathy:
 
Dear Parents,
One more day and we’re off until January 6th.  I do hope you have a wonderful Christmas with family.  I told your children that I would really miss them during our break and they told me it would be ok and they could come in to give me a hug to help me feel better. 🙂
 
Highlights from December include:
    pattern bead bracelets
    pattern link chain
    group Christmas tree in hallway
    red and green gak
    rice and nativity scene in sensory bin
    earning puff balls for good behavior (a puff ball party is the reward!)
    gingerbread man “run run as fast as you can” picture
    paper plate wreath
    Rudolph ornament (or door knob hanger)
    crazy play in refrigerator box
    silly elves changed water color in sensory tub from red to green during the night!
    letter I “inside out day”
    letter I “I is for ice cream” picture with number of scoops
    scissors and evergreen branches in sensory tub – lots of cutting (thank you Ning)
    candy cane pattern painting at easel
    red Christmas playdough (thank you Lauryn)
    A/B and AA/BB patterns during circle time with Christmas trees and gingerbread men
    birthday party for Jesus (thank you Lisa, and also for reading a “J” book to us)
    wrapping station (thank you Jason, Lauryn, Kelly, Nylah and Jen)
    preschool sing-a-long (thank you Jen for taking photos)
    cards and gifts for our parents (they worked really hard on their ornaments and votive holders…enjoy!)
     
We learned a new finger play that your bear can teach you (with movements) over break:
 
    The wise men traveled from afar
    Following the Christmas star
    When it stopped
    They jumped for joy
    And worshipped baby Jesus boy!
Your child is MY blessing.  Merry Christmas and Happy 2014!
Cathy

Making Stone Soup with Ruby

December 16, 2013 by Preschool

Rolling up a bowl to make stone soup in the cave. “Let’s just put a little hot sauce in because my mom doesn’t like it very well.”

Via Ms. Cathy.

hotsauce

Note from Ms. Cathy

December 3, 2013 by Preschool
I’ll tell you, I love knowing what he’s doing. Thanks Ms. Cathy!
Inside out day sounds pretty rad to me!
—-
Parents-
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families.  Your bears were eager to jump right back into school fun and to see their friends.  They seemed excited to walk into CHRISTMAS as they entered the classroom on Monday.
We are learning about the letter “I” this week, and tomorrow it’s INSIDE OUT DAY!  Please have your bear wear one (or more?) articles of clothing inside out.  Also, the Pandas share something from home beginning with an I, and Thursday it’s the Polars turn.
Today we learned the following finger-play.  I bet your bear can teach it to you. 🙂
    3 little Christmas trees, standing all alone
    their hearts were very sad, they did not have a home
    soooo CHOP went the ax and DOWN came the tree
    and off it went with a happy family!
    (count down to zero trees standing)
Stay warm, brrr!
Cathy