Today we worked on the handwriting process, name recognition, and how to hold a crayon while rainbow writing in small groups.
Today we worked on the handwriting process, name recognition, and how to hold a crayon while rainbow writing in small groups.
A great way to support independence at school and home is teaching your preschooler ways to take care of themselves. Ownership of tasks and responsibilities helps a little one feel proud and accomplished. Everyone should have received a magnet today with the steps of The Preschool Flip. Ask your preschooler to show you how to put their coat on, they are all very proud!
After practicing The Preschool Flip we learned how to hang up our coats. We search for a Magic Loop and hang our coat around the yellow hook. Then we hang up our backpack on the bigger hook. This keeps our coats and backpacks from falling off the cubbies.
Today the Toddlers started talking about life on the farm. During group time we read “Color Farm” by Lois Elhart and sang “Old McDonald had a farm”. The boys and girls love chiming in on the animal sounds that they knew! The letter this week is “O” for October and owl. Our thematic vocabulary was incorporated into our art center today. The children made handprint owls using pink and blue paint. We reviewed those colors and practiced hooting like owls as we worked!
Today our preschoolers explored and discovered triangles in all kinds of ways! We first learned about the shape during groups. Click on the first picture to watch The Shapes Song with your preschool.
Next we counted the sides of a triangle. We used triangle shaped sponges as stamps.
During Yoga Relaxation today we used our bodies to practice Triangle Pose. Integrating new skills and knowledge with any physical activity is a really fun way to help preschoolers memory.
While learning about the animals and habitat of Hawaii and the Pacific Ocean we watched a video of a starfish on the ocean floor. The preschoolers made their own starfish while strengthening their fine motor muscles. Any activity that requires tearing, scrunching, folding, or twisting of paper is wonderful for the muscles in preschoolers little hands and fun to do!
Since we’ve been talking about water, we couldn’t leave out the ocean and all of the creatures that call it home! During group time we read “Mister Seahorse” by Eric Carle. The boys and girls were fascinated by the hidden fish in the pictures. During art center, we reviewed our colors and the boys and girls used their fine motor skills to sponge paint all over the paper. They loved the mess they were making and we loved the product that came out… check out our very own Mr. Seahorse!
In reading groups today the Pre-Kers focused on the sight word ‘make’. While reading our book of the week, Making Bubbles, we were exposed to the sight word used in context. Next we listened and identified the beginning sound of ‘make.’ We searched for pictures that had the same beginning sound. To close reading groups for today we searched for the sight word ‘make’. Working with sight words in different ways promotes comprehension and memory.
The Toddler room explored the theme of water throughout September. The boys and girls enjoyed reading “10 Little Rubber Ducks” by Eric Carle and the “Wide-Mouthed Toad” by Keith Faulkner. Although we were busy working on our masterpieces for the art show we were able to slip in a few water creature crafts too. The children made rubber ducks out of potato stamps using yellow paint. There were lots of giggles as their hands were covered in slimy green paint to make frog feet!
Today we practiced holding scissors the correct way. Scissor skills are a definite aspect of independence in the classroom and at home. Understanding the correct way helps keep your preschooler safe and strengthens fine motor muscles. Click here for a great video on teaching preschoolers to use scissors.
1. Index and middle fingers in the bottom hole, keep at the bottom.
2. Thumb in the smaller hole always facing up.
3. Use other fingers to support the outside of the scissors while cutting.
One of our objectives in the Toddler room this month is to go over the concept and vocabulary “in and out”. The boys and girls practice this everyday. Whether it be playing in and out of the play house, putting objects in or out of the sensory table, or going in and out of the classroom… the children are putting the words in to motion each day! Our friends had a great time putting the balls “in” and “out” of the bucket.
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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