Announcements from Miss Cheryl, Miss Ginger and Miss Kelley’s Class
OUR FOCUS THIS WEEK
This week we will be reading “Here Are My Hands” by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault. This story provides the reader with different examples of body parts and what they can do with them. The story is presented in short repetitive rhymes. From the story and this week’s activities the students will discover what they can do with their bodies as well as learn about different body parts including some not mentioned in the story. We will be playing lots of large group games; singing variations on songs they already are familiar with such as “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”; making toothpaste and looking at our fingerprints for science; making Apple Smiles for our food activity and integrating math and art into this week’s lesson to promote to body awareness and healthy lifestyles.
Vocabulary Words:
neck knee cheek elbow chin palm skin
turning falling kissing chewing brushing catching thinking
Homework:
- Here are 3 finger plays to do with your child. Finger plays help increase fine motor skills and motor planning as well as increase vocabulary and knowledge. The first finger play below is one we are learning in class this week. The second finger play is one the children enjoyed from our story last week. It will still be relevant this week as well. The third is a familiar one to all. I have not included the words but will email them to you if you need them. Just let me know.
a. My Hands Upon My Head I Place
My hands on my head I place (place hands on head)
On my shoulder (place on shoulders)
On my face (place on face)
At my waist and by my side (put hands on waist/ then hang arms by your side)
Then behind me they will hide. (Put hands behind back)
Now I raise them up so high (raise hands over head)
Make my fingers fly, fly fly. (wiggle finger while hands are raised)
Now I clap them 1-2-3 (clap hands 3 times)
Then I fold them quietly. (fold then and put them in lap)
b. Here Are Grandma’s Glasses
Here are grandma's glasses.
(fingers around eyes)
Here is grandma's hat.
(hands on head)
And this is the way she,
Folds her hands and lays them
in her lap.
(fold hands and place in lap)
Here are grandpa's glasses.
(repeat above)
Here is grandpa's hat.
(repeat above)
And this is the way he folds his arms,
Just like that.
(cross arms in front of chest)
c. Where is Thumbkin?
2. Read other related literature to your child. The more you read with and to your child the more vocabulary, language development and desire to learn to read is nurtured in your child. Point to the words while you read to them. Let your child retell you the story if they are able. Other stories include The Foot Book by Dr. Suess; Where is Baby’s Belly Button by Karen Katz; Clap Your Hands by Lorinda Bryan Cauley; From Head to Toe by Eric Carle and My Hands by Aliki Remember children love to have the same stories read to them over and over.
3. Try some rhyming activities with your child. Rhyming words requires attention to hearing ending sounds. To help increase their awareness to this skill you can play simple games. One game you can play is “I Spy”. Set out some toys or items. Say “I Spy something that rhymes with ____ (example: star- car). Even if you children does not understand at first this is a way to expose them to rhyming sounds. Another game you can play is complete the silly sentence. An example of this is to say “On my head I have brown bear.” The correct answer is obviously hair. You can play this game using the vocabulary words for this week. Finally read nursery rhymes to your child. You can just choose one a week. Make all these games simple and fun for both you and your child.
Pre-Academic Activities for the Full Day Students (Letter/ Number Time)
Our letter this week is letter Kk. We are starting numbers this week as well. Our first numbers will be 0 and 1.
Make sure you review the vocabulary sheets with your child. You can make this fun by making up riddles or descriptions about the pictures. Make an extra copy, cut both up individual pictures, turn over and play Concentration or play a matching game. Be creative and have fun teaching your child.
Please review the numbers we are learning this week. Find them in books and magazines. Look for them on mailboxes, on the speed limit signs and in stores that you visit. Count and make sets with your child. Make numbers real and relevant to your child by creating awareness of them in their world.
More activities for increasing letter sound awareness and handwriting- Many of these activities can be applied to learning to write numbers as well.
- 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 upright 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.
f.Roll playdoh or other modeling clay into snakes and form the letters.
g. Practice writing the letter shapes with their fingers on sandpaper; in rice, sand or flour; or hair setting gel in a sealed plastic bag.
Speech and Language- Miss Allison
Check out the Speech and Language page on the left side of this blog page. --- Miss Allison will be out again this week. We are hoping she is able to return to school starting March 14.
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 standards 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
