Announcements from Miss Cheryl, Miss Ginger and Miss Kelley’s Class
OUR FOCUS THIS WEEK
Our week in the rainforest was fun. The boys really enjoyed pretending to be the different animals and insects found there. We acted out all the vocabulary words. We were trees starting from a seed to a thin trunk to a large tree with branches to a giant tree with leaves. Then we stood together and swayed in the rain like a rainforest. We also listened to rainforest sounds while we played with rainforest animals and built the rainforest out of blocks. See if they can tell what their favorite rainforest animal or insect is and why.
This week we are visiting the zoo. This is a unit most of them can really relate to as most have been to the zoo. We are reading Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell. We will be looking at different animals you may find in the zoo, their characteristics, counting them, dancing like them and even seeing if we are as heavy as they are. Some concepts we will be exploring—size, weight and height; sequencing (like in the story); and pets vs. zoo animals (sorting and classifying)and animal textures (science).
***** Please send in a zoo animal or a stuffed animal (such as a dog) with your child on Monday. It will be sending the night at school so do not send in one that he cannot be without please. *****
Vocabulary Words:
elephant giraffe lion snake cage monkey frog camel zoo cage
Homework:
1. Play zoo with your child. They can be different animals and imitate the animals or they can be the zoo keeper.
Higher level thinking questions-
If you were a zoo keeper what animal would be your favorite? Why?
OR
If you were a zoo animal what animal would you like to be? Why?
2. Read a nonfiction book about zoo animals. Discuss how they look, their color, the sounds they make, etc.
Higher level thinking question-
Which animals are heavy? Which ones are light?
Which ones are tall? Which ones are short?
3. Play Monkey See, Monkey Do with your child to help develop motor planning and imitation skills. You perform a series of simple actions that an animal does. The number of actions in the series depends on your child’s abilities. Then have your child repeat these actions with you or after you (depending on their abilities).
4. A fun website to discover with your child. Make sure you explore this site with your child to discuss what you see and what you are doing. This will help them increase their language and vocabulary.
Switcheroo Zoo- http://www.switcheroozoo.com/zoo.htm
Pre-Academic Activities for the Full Day Students (Letter Time)
Our letter this week is letter Pp. Be looking for the vocabulary and letter find sheets coming home in their notebooks.
Thanks for all you do with your child. It shows and is appreciated by both us (me and your child).
More activities for increasing letter sound awareness and handwriting-
- Go on a treasure hunt around your house (inside and/or outside) to find items that begin with each letter sound. (Use the vocabulary words I have sent home to help you.)
- Sing songs or nursery rhymes using only the letter sound instead of the words.
- ALWAYS practice writing their names in upper and lower case letters—not just upper case (capital letters).
- Practice writing the letters.
Strategies to use-
a. Using a shortened normal sized crayon or pencil will encourage the correct hand position when they are writing if this is needed for your child. The shortened length requires your child to have to hold the writing instrument using a more appropriate grasp. A crayon helps the writer increase pressure when writing. Pencils tend to slip easily and may not be the best instrument to use for beginning writers.
b. Writing on a slanted surface such a 3 inch binder helps to keep their hand and arm in the correct position if needed.
c. Writing with chalk on an easel encourages correct arm and hand position PLUS it increases the need to add pressure.
d. While they are writing say the chants I sent home with your child will help remember the correct way to form the letters.
e. Have your child write while laying prone (flat) on his stomach. This is another way to reinforce the correct position for the arm and hand when writing.
Speech and Language- Miss Allison
Check out the Speech and Language page on the left side of this blog page.
Georgia Pre-K Content Standards Link
Here is a useful link to the Ga. Pre-K content standards. As special needs preschool educators our lessons are planned around these and the individual needs of each student. You may find information on this site helpful when you are working with your child at home and in your community. This site will help you as parents become familiar with the standards your child will need know or be exposed to during their preschool/pre-k years.
http://decal.ga.gov/Prek/ContentStandards.aspx
