As a preschooler, the letters M and N are very tricky to decipher between. Building the letter N first, along with working on the /n/ sound, helps to transition to building the letter M. The /m/ sound is best described by rubbing your tummy and saying “mmmmmm.” The children enjoy learning this one! We also had lots of fun stretching our bodies and learning new yoga poses with Miss Laurel today!
We worked today in small groups on sequencing events. Sequencing is the ability to put the events of a story in the order in which they occurred. Teaching sequencing to early learners is important because logical order of thinking is fundamental to reading and everyday life.
We practiced our problem solving skills, teamwork, and fine motor skills during small groups today as we worked together on a giant floor puzzle of the farm.
As a preschooler, it is very common to mix up the letter N with the letter M. How do we fix that? Memorable experiences! Today, Ms. Lori worked with the children on the letter N. The children first practiced writing the letter, while discussing the sound it makes. Using real hay, the children then built a nest, using real hay, for Nellie the hen. As children recall these tactile experiences, they become more successful in deciphering between letters/sounds that can trip them up, such as N and M.
Learning the letter N and associating it with words and names we already know was very exciting today. While tracing the shape of the letter with our finger, we learned the sound that the N makes, and discussed items that begin with the letter N, such as nose, no, noise, note and newspaper. Using a glue stick, the children traced the N again, then tore newspaper to glue onto the N (excellent fine motor practice!). Some children remembered that they have the letter N in his/her name!
With a new month comes a new theme: Farms of America. There are many different types of farms to discover. This month, we will be learning about apple farms. Ms. Lori worked with the children on parts of an apple tree. Today the children enjoyed painting the trunk!
Sorting is a skill that is used in many facets of our day. The children may not realize it, but they sort items at home and at school all the time! Today we used triangles, squares and diamonds to discuss different ways to sort. We first discussed how the shapes were different colors and sizes. Using cooperative learning, the boys and girls decided how they were going to sort the shapes. Once they were done, they decided on another way to sort. The children had a great time discovering new ways to compare and sort our shapes!
Names come in all different sizes. Long names are no easy task. However, recognizing letters that children already know helps make what can be a tedious process seem more manageable. Today we discussed how letters start from top to bottom, and left to right. We also pointed out letters we already knew. A difficult letter (and very common!) is the lowercase e. In preschool, we make an exception in teaching how to write lowercase letters when it comes to names. Writing names in all capitals is a very bad habit to get into!
Creative Tots has specialized in the private education of both toddlers and preschool age children for over 15 years. We began in the heart of Madeira and now also have a new Mason location. We are specifically designed to focus on early childhood development for children ages 18 months to 5 years.
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