From Miss Cheryl’s and Miss Ginger’s SNP Class
THIS WEEK IN OUR CLASS
Our story this week is “Who Am I?” by Liz Schneider and Karen Winne. This is a community helpers story written by 2 of our very own Cobb County School Special Needs Preschool teachers. The story is presented in a way that exposes the children to many of the helpers found in the community. It is written in a style that describes the helpers by what they do then reveals who they are. It is a fun story the children will enjoy. Some of our activities during this busy week will include practicing how to protect ourselves if we are in a fire; playing a trash game; and brushing and flossing our teeth. Other concepts include occupational equipment and tools and places in our community.
Other scheduled events:
Monday, September 5 is Labor Day. No school this day!!!!!
Wednesday, September 7 is Open House from 6:30 to 8:00. Please mark your calendars. This is for adults only. I will show you what your child does at school and how you can help at home. Parent involvement is essential when it comes to learning. That’s why I have a homework and vocabulary section. PLEASE TRY TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE PARENT ATTEND THIS MEETING
Saturday, September 10 is the East Cobber Parade.
Friday, September 23 is the Fall Festival from 5:30 to 7:30. This is so much fun for all the children.
Vocabulary
Doctor healthy throat baker cook bake policeman badge rules dentist teeth brush
mail carrier letters mail firefighter fire truck fire trash man garbage trash teacher learn
Homework
- Go visit different places in your neighborhood—FIELD TRIP! Visit your local fire and police department. Watch the trash collectors in your neighborhood. We frequently watch the trash collectors at school empty the dumpster. Compare how the trash collection is different at home than in a public place. Watch the mail worker deliver the mail or go to the post office and look at the mail boxes, stamp machines, etc. Be creative and discover different places in your neighborhood. Use the vocabulary words.
- Write your child a letter and let them get it from the mailbox. Look at the envelope. Notice the stamp and the writing on the envelope. Open the letter and read it to them. Open other mail together. Let them draw or “write” a letter to someone and mail it.
- Go to the library. Explore the community helpers books with your child.
- Go to a pizzeria or a bakery (ex. Publix). Let your child watch how the pizza is made. Describe how the pizza looks before and after it is baked. Watch the baker ice a cake or bake some bread
- Finger Play- Ten Little Firemen
Ten little firemen sleeping in a row (extend both hands, finger curled)
Ding dong goes the bell (pull a cord with one hand to ring the bell)
And down the pole they go (close both fists, put one hand on top of the other, slide down the pole)
Off to the engine, oh, oh, oh (steer with both hands)
Using the big hose, so, so, so (pretend to use a hose)
When the fire’s out, home so-o slow (steer with both hands)
Back to bed, all in a row. (extend both hands with finger curled)
Pre-Academic Activities for the Full Day Students (Letter and Number Time)
This week we will continue to work on pre-writing strokes and shape making and drawing Mat Man.
Below are some activities and tips for handwriting and letter sound awareness.
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 first names in upper and lower case letters—not just upper case (capital letters). At this age children only need to learn to write the upper case letters (except in the first names). They should learn to recognize both upper and lower case 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. Markers should not be used until they are established writers. If your child is not a beginning writer use regular length crayons and begin writing with pencils.
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 balls first and then snakes. Use the snakes to form the letters. Use a rectangle shape such as a picture frame with no glass as a guide to form the letters in.
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.
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
