🍎September News🍏

Theme 1 ~ Ready for School

We can’t believe September is already coming to a close….the month just flew by!!  Our Theme this month was “Ready for School”.  We spent a lot of time learning about our school rules, classroom routines and how to be a kind friend.  Students worked together throughout the day engaging in classroom activities that encouraged turn-taking, sharing and cooperative social interactions.

We know how to play at each center, but are still learning how to share and take-turns, and how to be a good "Whole Body Listener” at circle time (Eyes watching, Ears listening, Voices quiet, Bodies calm, Brains are thinking and Hearts are caring).  Each week we have classroom helpers.  Some of the different classroom jobs include: Schedule Helper (this person tells us about our daily schedule), Friend Counter (this person counts the number of friends in school), Weather Helper (this person gives the class the daily weather report), Clean-up Bells (this person rings the bells to indicate it is time to clean-up) and Snack/Lunch Helpers (these friends set the tables for lunch).

Classroom Rules

-We use Kind Words and Actions with our classmates

-We use our Walking Feet

-We Share and Take Turns with our classmates

Whole Body Listening
🎵Eyes are watching, Ears are listening, Voices quiet, Bodies calm, Brains are thinking, Hearts are caring....Whole Body Listening!🎵

Miss Jen, our Feelings Teacher, visited our classroom and talked about Whole Body Listening.  We also read a story about how to be a good listener, Listening Time.

Literacy - We read several stories this month that focused on our theme, Ready for School.  Some of our favorites included: Mouse's First Day of School by Lauren Thompson, How Many Can Play? by Susan Canizares and A Splendid Friend, Indeed by Suzanne Bloom.

Creativity Center • Explore art materials and use them to make a picture.

Finger-painting with a Buddy!

A is for Apples - Marble Painting at the Art Center

Math Center
Using positional words to describe where the animal counters are hiding (i.e., In, On, Under).

Using unfix cubes to measure and compare length (i.e., Longer, Shorter, Taller).

Using colored bears and shape blocks for making simple AB Patterns (i.e., red, blue, red, blue).

Motor Room
This month in the motor room we worked on a variety of motor skills!  We practiced jumping on the trampoline, scooting on the scooter boards and kicking balls into a soccer net!  We also practiced waiting our turn and being a good listener!  Following the rules and being safe is important in the motor room too!!

 During one of Miss Sandra's OT Skills Group the students worked on their small fine motor skills.  Picking "Pom Pom" Apples from the tree using a variety of tongs.

During Miss Linda and Miss Kathleen's Whole Group Language Lesson we read the story "Piggies".  The students began the lesson by greeting each other (practicing saying "hello" with our words, waving or using a talking device), we then listened to the story on the IPad and finished up the lesson with a fun "Piggie" movement game (working on our motor imitation skills).  Click on the link below to listen to the story again!
PIGGIES by Audrey Wood & Don Wood

UPCOMING NEWS

Throughout the month of October our unit will focus on “My Family”.  We will be exploring the different members of families, family roles, and unique qualities of families.  This theme is all about you, so here are some ways you can support what your child will be learning at home.

 • Look at family photos with your child and talk about family members and their special qualities.

 • Share special family traditions and how they began.

• Enjoy a family activity with your child, such as cooking, reading together, or playing a game.

• Talk about family roles and responsibilities and choose one or two ways in which your child can help other family members.

Throughout the My Family theme, we will be teaching children about kindness and what they can do to express kindness to others. You can help by identifying examples of kind acts at home and when you go places. Enjoy talking and spending family time with your child!

~Literacy Tip~

Reading bedtime stories to your child every night can become a special family tradition while also helping your child build a lifelong love of reading and learning.

~Home/School Connections~

In social studies, we will learn about similarities and differences among people, so your child will appreciate that we live in a diverse world. 

~Screening and Assessments~

All new students entering the ECDC will be screened using the Early Screening Inventory-Revised.  Students eligible for this screening are 3 years-old or young 4 year-olds who will attend the ECDC for 2 years.  This is a brief survey of various areas of development including language, cognition, perception, and motor development.  The purpose of this screening is to identify children who might need extra support with classroom activities.  Parents/guardians will be informed, though a letter, about the screening results.  If your child is eligible for the screening you will receive an ESI-R Parent Questionnaire form.  Screenings will begin in October.

If you have any questions, Please don’t hesitate to ask!

Save the Date!

ECDC Curriculum Night is scheduled for Thursday October 25th from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

More information to follow!

🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎

All are WELCOME!

Thank you for stopping by!!

Miss Becky