Pre-K Report for the Week of May 14th

Notes for Home:

On Thursday, May 24th, we will have our End of the Year picnic at the park for all Pre-K families. The picnic will begin at 9:00 and end at 12:00. Lunch will be provided for everyone at 10:30. Students will not come to school on this day, so parents will be responsible for transportation to the park. Parents will also need to stay with their child throughout the picnic. We look forward to seeing you!

Theme Time:

We will be learning all about Kindergarten this week and making special trips to visit all of our potential Kindergarten teachers as well as special classes teachers for next year.  In addition, we will be eating lunch in the cafeteria every day.  We will use this week as a way to begin the transition to Kindergarten for your child. How exciting!!

 Focus Letter and Concepts:

We will be learning about the letter Y this week.  We will be finding the yo-yo on the sound map to associate with Y, and learning how to form the uppercase and lowercase Y. We will be reviewing opposites, making yummy, yellow pudding, and sampling yams.

Field Trip News:

We want to take this opportunity to tell you how much we truly appreciate all of the volunteers who were able to go with us on our field trips this year.  Your help and support on those days were invaluable.  We couldn’t have done it without you!!  Thank you so very much!!

Upcoming Events:

Friday, May 18: Talent Show at Castle Heights

Tuesday, May 22: Field Day at Castle Heights (more information to follow)

Wednesday, May 23: Last day of Pre-K and Summer Birthday Celebration

Thursday, May 24: End of the Year Picnic at the Park (9:00-12:00)

Tools of the Mind Curriculum:

This time of year we begin to think about how your child’s play has grown and changed.  Play skills are skills that are learned which we work on daily. The following questions guide us: Are they better able to plan ahead and tell what they want to do? Are they taking on roles, pretending to be people? Are they using things symbolically (e.g., using a paper towel tube as a hose)? How long do they stay engaged in play? Is their language becoming more complex and beginning to mimic the speech within their roles? Is their imagination growing? Are they getting more skilled creating pretend situations with peers?

 Parent/Child Time:

Taking responsibility is a developmental accomplishment for older preschoolers.  What new responsibility can you give your child at home?  Having jobs or duties gives them a sense of importance that what they do matters to you.  Try finding something you can do together.  Completing jobs together provides time to engage in conversation with one another.  Enjoy!

Pre-K Report for the Week of May 7th

We will be starting our birthday club this week! Please help your child learn his or her birthday including the month and day. We want everyone to be a part of our Pre-K Birthday Club!

Due to scheduling conflicts, our field trip to the Library and Park that was scheduled for Wednesday, May 2^nd has been rescheduled for this Tuesday, May 8^th from 8:45-11:45 (please note time change).

On Thursday, May 24, we will have our End of the Year picnic at the park for all Pre-K families. The picnic will begin at 9:00 and end at 12:00. Lunch will be provided for everyone at 10:30. Students will not come to school on this day, so parents will be responsible for transportation to the park. Parents will also need to stay with their child throughout the picnic. We look forward to seeing you!

Theme Time:

This week students will learn about growing and changing. We discuss things they can do now that they could not have done when they were smaller. We are asking that you send in a baby picture of your child so we can play a matching game. We will return the pictures on Friday!

 Focus Letter and Concepts:

We will be learning all about the letter X this week with different songs, poems, and stories.  Students will meet Foxy Roxy, going on a treasure hunt with X marking the spot, and learning about x-ray fish.

Field Trip News:

             Tuesday, May 8th: Wilson Co. Library and Park (8:45-11:45)

Upcoming Events:

Friday, May 18: Talent Show at Castle Heights

Tuesday, May 22: Field Day at Castle Heights

Wednesday, May 23: Last day of Pre-K

Thursday, May 24: End of the Year Picnic at the Park (9:00-12:00)

Tools of the Mind Curriculum:

We will be using the last few weeks of school to prepare our children for Kindergarten.  One of the ways we get ready is by learning to raise our hands during discussion.  Students are presented with a Raise Your Hand card during various parts of our day to remind them that they should first raise their hands before speaking out during circle time.  The picture serves as a visual reminder.  We will be working with the students on writing his or her name on lined paper as well.  They will be asked to write in different letters that are missing in their names.  We are also learning how to use a traditional calendar instead of a horizontal timeline calendar.

 Parent/Child Time:

The last few weeks of Pre-K, we will be spending time helping students with Kindergarten preparation skills.  This will include name writing (first and last), identifying letters, numbers 1-10 and shapes (circle, square, rectangle, triangle, diamond, and oval).  You can reinforce these skills at home by going on a number, letter, or shape hunt around the house.  Choose a different shape, letter, or number for your child to find each day.  Celebrate finding the “hidden treasure” by spending time together cooking dinner or playing your child’s favorite game.  Enjoy!

Pre-K Report for the Week of April 30th

Notes for Home:

Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration will be held this Thursday, May 3rd from 10:00-6:00 at College Hills Church of Christ. Parents are encouraged to obtain immunization records and physicals as soon as possible. Those families that returned their registration forms will not have to attend registration.

On Thursday, May 24, we will have our End of the Year picnic at the park for all Pre-K families. The picnic will begin at 9:00 and end at 12:00. Lunch will be provided for everyone at 10:30. Students will not come to school on this day, so parents will be responsible for transportation to the park. Parents will also need to stay with their child throughout the picnic. We look forward to seeing you!

Theme Time:

This week we will be learning more about living things. We will be talking about seeds, plants, flowers, and trees. We will continue to observe our caterpillars for the next few weeks.

 Focus Letter and Concepts:

We will learn about letter W this week by sorting watermelons with pictures with the /w/ sound, eating watermelon, talking about Spring weather, and singing about Willie and Wanda’s wedding.

Field Trip News:

                                     Wednesday, May 2: Wilson Co. Library and Park (9:45-12:15)

Upcoming Events:

Thursday, May 3: Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration at College Hills (10:00-6:00)

Friday, May 4: Stockpile Day (no students)

Friday, May 18: Talent Show at Castle Heights

Tuesday, May 22: Field Day at Castle Heights

Wednesday, May 23: Last day of Pre-K

Thursday, May 24: End of the Year Picnic at the Park (9:00-12:00)

Tools of the Mind Curriculum:

Make a Rhyme is an activity we do during our morning group each week. It is an oral activity in which the teacher says a number of rhyming words to introduce a rhyming pattern. Children call out additions that fit the pattern, and the teacher confirms them by adding them to the rhyme. Eventually children individually add rhyming words one at a time.

 Parent/Child Time:

Practice letter/sound recognition by asking your child to help you make labels for 5 objects in your home.  Allow your child to write the letters that he or she hears when saying the word while you fill in the missing letters.   Enjoy!

Pre-K Report for the Week of April 23rd

Notes for Home:

Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration will be held on May 3rd from 10:00-6:00 at College Hills Church of Christ. Parents are encouraged to obtain immunization records and physicals as soon as possible. Those families returning their registration forms by this Friday, April 27 will not have to attend registration.

Theme Time:

We will be learning about animals that come from eggs and life cycles this week including those of the turtle, insects, and frogs.  We will also be exploring the life cycles of butterflies by raising caterpillars to hatch into butterflies.

 Focus Letter and Concepts:

We will be learning about the letter V this week.  We will be finding V on the sound map, learning how to form the uppercase and lowercase U, and vacuuming pictures that begin with /v/ sounds.  For art, we will be creating flower vases using the letter V.

Field Trip News:

                                     Wednesday, May 2: Wilson Co. Library and Park (9:45-12:15)

Upcoming Events:

Thursday, May 3: Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration at College Hills (10:00-6:00)

Friday, May 4: Stockpile Day (no students)

Friday, May 18: Talent Show at Castle Heights

Tuesday, May 22: Field Day at Castle Heights

Wednesday, May 23: Last day of Pre-K

Thursday, May 24: End of the Year Picnic at the Park (9:00-12:00)

Tools of the Mind Curriculum:

During the last few weeks of school, students will be taking part in science experiments during science eyes and creating journals to record his or her observations.  Our first experiment involved planting a seed and watching the stages of growth. Our second journal will involve drawing and writing about caterpillars as they transform into butterflies. During science eyes, the students use their five senses to talk with one another about what he or she observes with objects. This allows them to learn about the five senses as well as gain a deeper understanding of adjectives that describe these objects.

 Parent and Child Time:

We are focusing quite a bit on the terms “before” and “after” during our opening group.  Students have been encouraged to use hand movements to aide in remembering what “before” and “after” mean.  You can help him or her at home by practicing use of the terms when discussing your daily schedule, what might take place tomorrow or what happened yesterday, and when putting things back in their place at home.  Enjoy!

Pre-K Report for the Week of April 16th

Notes for Home:

Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration will be held on May 3rd from 10:00-6:00 at College Hills Church of Christ. Parents are encouraged to obtain immunization records and physicals as soon as possible. Those families returning their registration forms by this Friday, April 20 will not have to attend registration.

Theme Time:

We will be learning about animals that live in the ocean.  We will be learning about the characteristics of these animals and what makes them unique.

 Focus Letter and Concepts:

We will be learning about letter U and the sound it makes by sorting umbrellas for the /u/ sound, playing an umbrella game, and eating upside down cake under the table.

Field Trip News:

                                     Wednesday, May 2: Wilson Co. Library and Park (9:45-12:15)

Upcoming Events:

Thursday, May 3: Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration at College Hills (10:00-6:00)

Friday, May 4: Stockpile Day (no students)

Friday, May 18: Talent Show at Castle Heights

Tuesday, May 22: Field Day at Castle Heights

Wednesday, May 23: Last day of Pre-K

Thursday, May 24: End of the Year Picnic at the Park (9:00-12:00)

Tools of the Mind Curriculum:

A new activity that we have recently introduced is called Write Along. Write Along is an extension of Message of the Day. In a write along, children write the daily message using Scaffolded Writing instead of watching the teacher write. This will be the first time that children are all writing the same thing. The teacher says the entire message, and the children draw the lines on individual write boards, and then write on the lines, depending on their level of Scaffolded Writing.

 Parent/Child Time:

One of the tasks in our room involves using objects represent other objects.  As you play with your children at home, encourage them to use one thing to represent another.  For example, as you play at home, you might encourage your child to use a block as a telephone or scanner.  Two of the developmental accomplishments of a preschool child are the ability to use his or her imagination and abstract thinking.  Using one object to stand for another accomplishes both of those tasks. Enjoy!

Pre-K Report for the Week of April 2nd

Notes for Home:

Say Cheese! Please see the flyer in your child’s take home folder about Spring Pictures. Please return the flyer with payment if you are interested in your child having his/her picture made on Thursday.

There will be no school this Friday, April 6th due to the Good Friday holiday.

Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration will be held on May 3rd from 10:00-6:00 at College Hills Church of Christ. Parents are encouraged to obtain immunization records and physicals as soon as possible.

Theme Time:

We will be reading books about spring holidays this week and learning about animals that hatch from eggs and watch a physical reaction occur on Thursday as we dye eggs different colors. We will celebrate with a special spring snack (12:30 p.m.) and egg hunt (1:00 p.m.) this Thursday.

Focus Letter and Concepts:

Due to a short week, we will spend a few days reviewing letters of the alphabet with various egg and spring letter games.

Field Trip News:

Wednesday, April 4: University Medical Center (9:15-10:45)

Thursday, April 5: Cumberland University College Tour (8:30-12:15)

                                     Wednesday, May 2: Wilson Co. Library and Park (9:45-12:15)

Upcoming Events:

Friday, April 6: Good Friday Holiday (no school)

Thursday, May 3: Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration at College Hills (10:00-6:00)

Friday, May 4: Stockpile Day (no students)

Friday, May 18: Talent Show at Castle Heights

Tuesday, May 22: Field Day at Castle Heights

Wednesday, May 23: Last day of Pre-K

Thursday, May 24: End of the Year Picnic at the Park (9:00-12:00)

Tools of the Mind Curriculum:

Another new activity the children will be learning about is called Patterns with Manipulatives. In this activity, students create a pattern using colored disks or other small collections of objects.  The pattern they make is dependent on the colors or objects represented for each shape on a key card. For example, the key card has colored disks on each shape.  This activity allows the students to practice symbolic substitution and learn that it is the arrangement of elements that make a pattern.

 Parent/Child Time:

As we continue to learn about the letters of the alphabet, you can reinforce this with your child at home by asking your child to hunt for letters found in print around the home like on food labels or in books.  Give your child his or her treasure map (write a letter on a piece of paper) and hunt together!  Enjoy!

Pre-K Report for the Week of March 26th

We hope you enjoyed a fun and restful Spring Break with your children.  We are excited about continuing our preparation for Kindergarten!

We want to thank all the parents and grandparents who joined us for our field trip to Cumberland University! What wonderful memories we made!

Please be sure to put an S object in your child’s secret sack for homework this week and write three clues about that object on the sack for us to use during circle time this week.

Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration will be held on May 3rd from 10:00-6:00 at College Hills Church of Christ. Parents are encouraged to obtain immunization records and physicals as soon as possible.

Theme Time:

This week we will learn about spring and the signs associated with the coming of spring.  The children will learn about the changes in nature and weather as well as how what people do to welcome spring.

Focus Letter and Concepts:

Letter S will be the focus of our stories, songs, and sound sorts this week.  We will learn more about the sound of letter S through sorting stars with pictures beginning with the letter /s/ sound, we will be making Strawberry Smoothies, playing “Secret In My Sock”, and bringing in Secret Sacks.

Field Trip News:

Wednesday, April 4: University Medical Center (9:15-10:45)

Thursday, April 5: Cumberland University College Tour (8:30-12:15)

                                     Wednesday, May 2: Wilson Co. Library and Park (9:45-12:15)

Upcoming Events:

Friday, April 6: Good Friday Holiday (no school)

Thursday, May 3: Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration at College Hills (10:00-6:00)

Friday, May 4: Stockpile Day (no students)

Wednesday, May 23: Last day of Pre-K

Thursday, May 24: End of the Year Picnic at the Park (9:00-12:00)

Tools of the Mind Curriculum:

During our last nine weeks of Pre-K, we will be adding several new activities as a part of our Tools curriculum. The Mystery Question will be changing slightly. Students will now be identifying ending sounds in words as well as rhyming words, letters, and patterns when they complete the question during the morning. They will begin independently doing the Mystery Question after rest time.

Student will also complete a series of science experiments beginning with seeds.  We will begin an experiment and use our five senses to record observations each week.  After completing the seed experiment, we will be raising caterpillars to watch the life cycle of the butterfly.

 Parent/Child Time:

A new activity that we will be beginning is the use of patterns by substitution.  Students will be completing patterns by substituting shapes for other objects.  You can help your child at home to be successful with patterns by making patterns with objects at home.  Create a pattern and ask your child to complete it for you by telling you what comes next.  Some children do really well by making patterns with movements as well such as clapping and stomping (ex, clap, clap, stomp).  Enjoy!

Pre-K Report for the Week of March 5th

 Notes for Home:

Beginning Monday, March 12th, we will be on Spring Break. Students will return on Monday, March 26th.

We hope everyone has a wonderful break!

We will be having our Spring Parent Teacher Conferences on Tuesday, March 6 and Thursday, March 8 from 1:30-4:00.. I look forward to discussing your child’s progress!

Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration will be held on May 3rd from 10:00-6:00 at College Hills Church of Christ.  Parents are encouraged to obtain immunization records and physicals now.  Health providers are unable to guarantee that they will be able to provide these on that day.

Theme Time:

This week we will be celebrating reading in so many ways. We will be learning about what it means to engage in purposeful reading as well as writing.

Focus Letter and Concepts:

We will read and study about the letter R during our week to learn where to find it on our Sound Map, how to correctly write the uppercase and lowercase R as well as sort rainbows pictures that begin with the /R/ sound.  We will be playing a rhyming game with objects and learn how rainbows are made.

Field Trip News:

Friday, March 9: Cumberland University (10:15-12:15)

Wednesday, April 4: University Medical Center (9:15-10:45)

Thursday, April 5: Cumberland University College Tour (8:30-12:15)

                                     Wednesday, May 2: Wilson Co. Library and Park (9:45-12:15)

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday, March 6 and Thursday, March 8: Parent-Teacher Conferences (1:30-4:00)

Wednesday, March 7: Report Card Day

Monday, March 12-Friday, March 23: Spring Break

Friday, April 6: Good Friday Holiday (no school)

Tools of the Mind Curriculum:

Another key element in our Tools of the Mind curriculum is planning before Make-Believe play. As we assess how your child is progressing in play skills, we look at how well your child is able to plan ahead and tell us how and what they want to do in each center as well as where he or she is going. We also watch and observe to see if your child is taking on roles in the centers, pretending to be different people such as the clerk or cashier in our grocery centers.  Another aspect of a growing ability to play is how well your child can use props. Does he or she use things symbolically such as using a block as a telephone or pretending circle is a steering wheel? All these elements are taken into consideration when looking at how each child is progressing in learning to play and self-regulate.

 Parent/Child Time:

One of our favorite things to do in Pre-K is use play dough to pretend to make items.  In extending the idea of learning to play symbolically, you can help your child at home by using play dough to make pretend items from a ball of play dough, a flat pancake of play dough, or a rolled up snake-like piece of play dough.  As we play with play dough together, we use those three forms to create many other things. For example, a ball may be an apple or a pancake may be a plate. Enjoy!

Pre-K Report for the Week of February 27th

 Notes for Home:

Thank you to all the parents who joined us for our Pre-K Family Night last Thursday night!

We will be having our Spring Parent Teacher Conferences on Tuesday, March 6 and Thursday, March 8 from 1:30-4:00. Please see the sign-up sheet to sign up for a time that is convenient for you. I look forward to discussing your child’s progress!

Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration will be held on May 3rd from 10:00-6:00 at College Hills Church of Christ.  Parents are encouraged to obtain immunization records and physicals now.  Health providers are unable to guarantee that they will be able to provide these on that day.

Theme Time:

We will travel to the farm this week through our curriculum to learn about the kind of services a farmer provides and the different animals that can be found on a farm that provide supplies for consumers.

Focus Letter and Concepts:

We will read and study about the letter Q during our week to learn where to find it on our Sound Map, how to correctly write the uppercase and lowercase Q as well as sort pictures that begin with the /Q/ sound.  We will learn about quilting, queens, and how to ask different questions to solve riddles.

Field Trip News:

Friday, March 9: Cumberland University (10:15-12:15)

Wednesday, April 4: University Medical Center (9:15-10:45)

Thursday, April 5: Cumberland University College Tour (8:30-12:15)

                                     Wednesday, May 2: Wilson Co. Library and Park (9:45-12:15)

Upcoming Events:

Friday, February 24-Friday, March 2: Castle Heights Spring Book Fair

Tuesday, March 6 and Thursday, March 8: Parent-Teacher Conferences (1:30-4:00)

Wednesday, March 7: Report Card Day

Monday, March 12-Friday, March 23: Spring Break

Tools of the Mind Curriculum:

The last few weeks have been devoted to ways that we incorporate the teaching of physical self-regulation at school.  Here are some suggestions on things you can do at home to support the development of physical self-regulation in your child:  Play a classic game of “Red Light, Green Light” where children start out a distance from you and begin walking toward you.  When you say, “Red light” they must freeze and stand still until you say, “Green light” to allow them to move again.

Use simple changes in your routine at home to practice physical self-regulation such as requiring your child to sit in one place to watch TV or eat a snack.  Doing this helps them begin to regulate and control their bodies.

 Parent/Child Time:

Opposites are a new concept for many children of preschool age. You can increase the retention of this skill by playing an opposite game at home through “Simon Says”. Using opposites, your child will have to really listen well to do the opposite of what you say. For example, “Simon says run (walk) or turn off the light (on). Enjoy!

Pre-K Report for the Week of February 20th

 Notes for Home:

Thank you to all the parents and grandparents that joined us for our field trip to Market Street Pre-K to meet Snowbird! We made another wonderful memory!

Thank you to all of you that provided items for our Valentine’s Day party! We had a great time and enjoyed the yummy ice cream sundaes!

We will have our last Pre-K Family Night on Thursday, February 23rd from 5:00-6:30 p.m. at Coles Ferry Elementary. The focus will be on preparation for Kindergarten including topics such as assessment and testing, immunizations, and expectations.  We will serve pizza and children will be performing to conclude the night.  Please see the note in your child’s folder. We hope to see you there!

We will be having our Spring Parent Teacher Conferences on Tuesday, March 6 and Thursday, March 8 from 1:30-4:00. Please see the sign-up sheet to sign up for a time that is convenient for you. I look forward to discussing your child’s progress!

Theme Time:

This week our focus will be on pets. We will discuss different types of pets and how to care for them.

Focus Letter and Concepts:

We will be learning more about the letter P by reading about Penelope Pig, sorting pigs by their /p/ sound, making pancakes, having a picnic, and making a paper plate puppy!

Field Trip News:

Friday, March 9: Cumberland University (10:15-12:15)

Wednesday, April 4: University Medical Center (9:15-10:45)

                                     Wednesday, May 2: Wilson Co. Library and Park (9:45-12:15)

Upcoming Events:

Thursday, February 23: Pre-K Family Night at Coles Ferry (5:00-6:30)

Friday, February 24-Friday, March 2: Castle Heights Spring Book Fair

Monday, February 27: Mrs. Christy’s maternity leave begins

Tuesday, March 6 and Thursday, March 8: Parent-Teacher Conferences (1:30-4:00)

Wednesday, March 7: Report Card Day

Monday, March 12-Friday, March 23: Spring Break

Tools of the Mind Curriculum:

You will notice that your child has gone on one or more field trips that supported the classroom Play Theme.  We feel these trips are important because one of the best ways to learn is through hands-on experience in real life situations.  Before the class visits places in the community, we plan the trip so that children can meet the people that work there and discuss their jobs and the language they use as part of their job. Once back at school we follow up on what was learned by engaging in Make Believe Play. Often during Make Believe Play time we will incorporate the vocabulary and scenarios learned during the trip into the children’s play.

 Parent/Child Time:

How many places can you find the letter P in your home?  Is it located at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of the word?  Enjoy!