June 18, 2010
CATHY’S CHATTER:
The Pre K/K students have several different types of insects in their classroom. This helps them in their study of parts of a bug, as well as learning as they observe the life cycles of the insects. This week they released their butterflies. As I shared in this very special moment, I watched as each child’s face showed mixed emotions. They were excited, yet sad to “let go” of the tiny friends they had watched grow from a tiny caterpillar. They were also “happy” that their pretty little friends could now “spread their wings” and were “free” to explore our beautiful world. As I watched, I was reminded of an incident, which had happened earlier in the day. A child was refusing to let go of his mother’s hand. The mom appeared to be hesitant as well. With some encouragement, the child placed his hand in mine and allowed me to show him all of the interesting work in the classroom. As soon as he was happily engaged in a work, I wished his mom a good day. She had that same “look” of mixed emotions on her face. Excited, yet sad to “let go,” of her tiny child who she had watched grow from a baby. However, she was also “happy” that her son was now able to “spread his wings” and explore our beautiful world. I’m happy to report that both mom and son are doing GREAT! I also gave a tour to two grandmothers. They asked many intelligent questions and looked at everything in and out of the building. They told me that they had even gone on-line to check our qualifications, as well as to see if we had passed the state inspections. As they were leaving, they looked at me and said, “Two thumbs- up for your school!” They were precious!
Pre K/Kindergarten News:
Minds were aflutter in the Pre K/Kindergarten class this week as we studied about butterflies. We even hatched our own butterfly garden! We learned that the butterfly’s life cycle has 4 stages: egg, pupa, chrysalis and butterfly. We also learned that butterflies couldn’t fly for 2 hours after they are born and that they only live for 14 days. With that in mind, after reading “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” and “Waiting for Wings,” we all took a walk outside and set the butterflies free. The children were so excited to be a part of it. Sign language for the week included: butterfly, insects, caterpillar, wing, fly, tree and flower. Stay tuned for next week’s news as our Love-A-Bug theme continues and we learn about ladybugs and spiders.
Preschool Write-UP:
Wow! It has been a terrific start to the summer. Preschool students enjoy choosing matching activities such as clown triggerfish; short big-eye fish, lobster, seahorse, and sailboats. Fish stringing is a very popular activity, too. New student Ava Schott squealed, “I like it!” Welcome new student Makeda Butler. In our Math area students are learning counting by placing fish by the numbers one(1) and two (2). They are tracing the oval shape with metal insets. Friends love the Art area as we are making handprint jellyfish, stamp jellyfish, and pricking the fish and octopus. Elianna Tay absolutely enjoys stamping. All of our friends are enthusiastically working on a Father’s Day gifts. Vocabulary and Sign Language for Preschool students are as follows: Whale, Dolphin, Shark, Fish, Lobster, and Crab. Our songs are 1,2,3,4,5 I Caught a Fish Alive…and Baby Beluga. The Preschoolers’s l.o.v.e. this song!!
Toddler Talk:
The Toddler Class has been adjusting well. We are so happy to begin summer camp. Splash days are a blast. Some of the work we are choosing this week is felt board scenery of the beach, stacking work, dumping work (this is work for the friends who enjoy making a mess and picking it up).
Some of the books we are reading are Baby Beluga by Raffe and “I Saw The Sea and the Sea Saw Me.
Our Spanish is improving on to conversations. “Me gusta nadar” “I like to swim.” “Me gusta comer” “I like to eat.”
Tuesday, we made delicious lemonade. The friends used a juicer to squeeze the lemons. We added sugar and water and mixed it together. It was delicious!