Day Three: Two more for me! and the Letter B.

So today was the crazy day. But we still had fun.. I hope. We added two more children for a full house. We had a little review with a follow the leader on the house tour. Alex led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. We placed the Zoo Phonic Animals in a Zoo and played with toys.
My attempt for the kids to run a little obstacle course then answer a question was too advance for the boys... (Liberty was all over that! We will try again in the Spring!) So we scraped that and had the Animal Hunt and matched the animals to their Zoo Phonic Card.

The kids really wanted to play with toys... So we moved to the downstairs playroom with our timers for one on one time. While they played, I reviewed the Zoo Phonics Animals and sounds with each child. We moved back upstairs for snack time. I love listening to these sweet kid conversation. Kid one... "Come on let's sit by each other." Kid two... "Are we friends?" Yes they are friends!

My two new students started their Zoo Phonic Books. These books will include all the animals names. As soon as they are completed, they will go home so you can practice.

We then took turns tracing the Letter B on the chalkboard.

 We completed a Letter B object paper... Blue, brown, bell, brad, balloon, bee, and Barbie Band-Aid with a Bow!

It would be so awesome if you could reinforce the Letter B at home. Anytime you say a word that begins with B... say... And that begins with a.... See if your child will say B. and then repeat it.

Thanks for bringing your kids to me so we could learn the letter B.

Welcome little Animals... To the first day of Class

The day started as planned. We came into Q's Learning Center and played with the toys in that room while we waited for everyone to arrive. Once everyone was there we played follow the leader while I sang... "We're following the leader..." We explored the house learning where the bathroom, living room, kitchen, and downstair toy room. We learned which rooms we could play in and which rooms we would not. Next we ran through a safety drill. (We did not climb through the window like my last class.)

We introduced ourselves with the Hat song. Then it was time for my favorite teaching tool.... Zoo Phonics. I hid the animals around the living room and had the kids hunt for them. It took a while for them to get into the game. I guess it wasn't as exciting as actual Easter Egg Hunts. (We will have to try again.) They actually liked matching the animals to the Zoo Phonic cards just as well.

I always try start the year by encouraging the kids to participate rather than require. Each child responded really well to this preferred method. ( I don't want to have to pull a "Miss Nelson is Missing.")

We had singing time today. The "Do as I am Doing" song with the scarves went great. The black bird song was not a hit. We ended singing time with "Tap your Spoon" which in turn turned into a drum session. Two out of Three kids liked that.

For snack we continued with the animal theme. Animal Crackers, a couple Animal Cookies, and Animal themed Fruit Snacks with Chocolate milk to drink. (love me some capital letters in that sentence.) During snack time I read two Clifford books and sang the Zoo Phonic names and sounds.

We cleaned up the toys and brought out our personal timers for basement toy time and personal learning time with me. They liked the timers. That surprised me. I wish I was quicker on the fly. I had a hard time thinking how to set the timers quickly so that it worked. (homework for me) At the same time, I was able to question the kids knowledge of their ABC's and colors individually.

We had about 7 minutes to spare... so we headed outside to jump on the tramp. (Tossed a bunch of foam letters and numbers on there.)

Thank you so much for bringing your children to me. I love them!

8th day of Preschool

If Cookie Monster could teach us about C, then Ernie taught us very well with his song Dee, Dee, Dee song. Doggie, Dangerous Dragon, Donkey, Duckie, Dinosaur, Dinner, Don't drop dishes down on the floor, Do a dance, Dig some dirt, Dunk a donut for desert, Draw a daisy that is dee delightful.....

So I replaced all the toys in Q's Learning Center with toys that began with the letter D. We started the day by playing with all of these toys. I then bribed the children with candy again...(dinner mints and dots). I asked them to bring me a toy, asked them what it was then said oh "Doll begins with a Dee Dee D." Next we went out side and bounced dogs, dinosaurs, and dolls on the trampoline.

Snack time was my favorite time of day.... Donuts. The children were Dee Delighted. At the table, we acted out the Dee Dee Dee song. Then we went to the basement to make a Duck with our traced hands and to color Dee Dee Deer. It was a dandy of a day!

7th Day of Preschool

As Cookie Monster says.... C is for Cookie. It is also for cake, candy, carmel, cracker, cupcake, and many more delicious yummy foods that begin with the letter C. So we spent some time in the Kitchen cooking. We made a cake mix and turned it into cupcakes. We also looked at colors and made our own color crayons. We watched C is for Cookie several times. Towards the end of class, the children went Trick o Treating for Candy and Chocolate. They had to crawl through a tunnel, go around the kitchen, and then arrive at my chair where they had to tell me something that begins with a C. C is quite a yummy letter.

6th Day of Preschool

Blast begins with a B, and so did everything else we did today. We started our "B day" with a hunt around the house for things that begin with the letter B. The kids stuck post it notes with a "mama B and baby b" on the bathtub, bag, bunny, button jar, BBQ, balls, bubbles, blocks, books, and baskets. The kids saw the bubbles and so of course the answer was sure why not when they asked to play. So outside we went for bubbles and balls. My parent teacher and I kept saying things that began with b and then giving each other an impressed look. The kids had snacks on the tramp and then wanted the We are the Dinosaurs Marching Song.

We went back inside to color Bubba Bear, and to sing B-o-o-t-s Boots. To think I had every boot... Black, Brown, Rain, Dancing, and Frog. We also sung Bumble Bee.

I wanted the kids to come to the basement to pick out a box, but some saw the Geo Tracks, others the slide and swing. We had a quick change of plans. I picked out boxes. (boxes begin with a B) I also brought water bottles. We built a tower with the boxes and made noises with the bottles. Then one child wanted to bowl. So I said of course because bowling begins with a B. We read the Berenstain Bears B book and then let the kids play. Anytime we heard a B word we would say.... and (word) begins with a B.

Next is C day. I can't wait!

5th day of Preschool

Ah Today! It was rough for me. I was a little under the weather. (I sprayed Q's Learning Center from top to bottom with Lysol.) Anyway, the day must go on. We started the day by trying to act out a story book that I wanted to do on day 3. I gathered costumes and props of animals. This among 4 and 5 year olds is a great hit, but not so much for this bunch. They tolerated it.

Next, I really wanted to get the children (I need a name for them besides kids and children.) to say the complete Zoo Phonics song with all the actions. There brains would not stand for it. We stumbled through it. I then went to the old playbook. That would be let them play while I teach.

We took the Zoo Phonic Cards down the slide with us as we said their names and sounds. Ok so that worked for a about five turns each. So I turned my attention to the girl on the swing. The Zoo Phonic Cards wanted to join her. Sammy Snake slithered onto her swing. Honey Horse jumped up there. Vincent the Vampire Bat got kicked by her shoe. It looked like so much fun that another girl joined us and they shared the swing and fun. The other children learned by osmosis.

Next we had Go Diego Go time. We ate popcorn while we watched Pepito the Penguin find his school. I honestly love Dora and Diego. The kids were able to say ayuda me, help me, and nada, swim. They called for a whale, and told the rescue pack what Diego needed to slide down snowy hills. Last, but of course, not least, helped Pepito find his school of penguins by comparing and contrasting the different type of penguins. After the show, we created our own "Animal Science Books." (Sorry about the permanent markers.)

We had story time, and each child picked a book and had it read to them.

We ended the day. I don't know how, but we did. Now to prepare for B-day. I may just have to turn it into a Birthday Party. Why not?

4th day of Preschool

Taking a cue from Tuesday with T's game, we started the day playing with Dora and an ice cream shop, Diego and the Animal Rescue Center, and the Fisher Price Farm. The Zoo Phonics animals wanted to meet every one. Dee Dee deer with her missing foot went to the animal rescue center. Missy Mouse wanted ice cream. Alli the Alligator seemed to want to eat everybody. Still, we accomplished learning our phonic sounds through a great social playing time game.

Seeing that my little friends needed more time to learn the Zoo Phonics then other classes, I decided to postpone our "Rhyming time" class, and just continue phonics and letter recognition for awhile. Thus, we went out on the trampoline to play with our foam Alphabet letters. I would toss a letter to a child's feet. They would have to retrieve it and bring it to the box while repeating the name and sound.

We had singing time on the trampoline. Ring around the rosie and We are the Dinosaurs were sung. Then I made up a Song for the children in the class whose names all begin with L. After singing that for a million times, they all learned what their names begin with. It is quite the catchy jingle.

We moved back into the house and practiced using crayons, but mostly markers. (got to get some washables. Sorry moms) I wrote the kids names in yellow and then had them try and trace it with blue in order to "magically turn it to green." Well the children thought it was magic!

We either ended day 3 or day 4 with reading time. Each kid picks a book and gets it read to them while the others play. That is 6 books read!

I really enjoy each class with your children and I am so glad that you let me have the chance to work with them. I will be the first to admit this is not a regular method of teaching and to some it may even look unorganized. I do however have educational goals in mind for your children. How we get there is a journey. I may work differently with each child to accomplish these goals. What are they you ask?

I want your children to know all their letters and phonic sounds and READING small vowel words by January. Don't worry we won't burn them out. Half the time they don't even know they are learning.

Cheers.