Happy First Friday of the school year!  

We are learning all about our school routines.  We are learning about one another too! 

Each day we practice writing our names.  

This morning Ezra made a tree for our alphabet.  

Here is a picture of our alphabet so far.  Notice the letters with no pictures below?  We will work to fill those blank spaces throughout the school year! 

One important part of child development is learning to engage in a conversation.  You can help your child at home by conversing with them.  Ask your child questions that require more than one word answers.  This helps to increase vocabulary too!

On Fridays we have library time.  Look at the bubbles in our mouthes; we were so quiet in the hallway!  :) 

Mrs. Hansing taught us about the library.  We learned that we need to be super quiet in the library.  You would be so proud of your children; they did a great job!  

Mrs. Hansing then read two books to us.

During morning meeting time we review our alphabet.  

I begin by saying "A-A- Abby, Avery" and the children echo.  We do the same for each letter.  (Some of our letters are blank.  For these letters, we simply practice the letter sound.) 

 If you think of it, letters are arbitrary if you don't know that they have meaning.  The reason we say "A-A-Avery, Abby" is to attach a concrete object to letters. 

The friends had so much fun saying their own names as we reviewed!

We then practice the days of the week and months of the year.

An important part of morning meeting is reviewing the daily schedule.  Time is an abstract concept.  This not only helps the children learn the daily routine, but it also lays the foundation for future learning about time.    

Today was the first day we had classroom jobs!  Classroom jobs increase independence and responsibility as well as help the children take ownership of our classroom.

Isabella was the prayer leader today.  We always begin our day with prayer in Pre-K!

Jordan was the schedule director.  He moved the arrow each time the classroom time changed. 

Lucas was the dismissal helper.  He chose friends who were sitting quietly to line up for snack.

After snack time, we went outside to play!  

During small group time we each brainstormed how we can show God's love in our classroom.  The children dictated to me ways to do so, and I wrote down exactly what they said. They then drew a picture illustrating their dictation.  Dictations increase the understanding of the relationship between spoken word and written print.

(Every child had a turn in every group, but I only took a picture of the first rotation.)

The second group practiced staying in a group as they played in the dramatic play center.

We played the "Friend, Friend, Who Do You See?"  game once more with Mrs. Zweittler

After small group time we danced to silly songs! 

We then had Jesus time.  During Jesus time I illustrated some pictures for the children and they helped me decide if the people in the pictures were showing God's love or not.  We then said a prayer that we can show God's love in all we say and do.

We said good-bye to our half day friends.  While the friends took turns going to the restroom and washing their hands, they read books on the carpet.  Although the children are unable to read conventionally, they are learning important concepts of print.  (Book orientation, turning pages, print has meaning, etc.) 

After lunch and quiet time, we went back outside.

During second free choice we practiced cooperation and collaboration. 

 During second free choice time, the friends played one final game of the "Friend, Friend, Who Do You See?" game with Mrs. Lipsey.

(Every child went to each group although I only took pictures of the first rotation.)

During second small group time the friends explored magnetic letters and wrote their names and other words using the letters. 

With me, the friends took turns resolving conflicts between two puppets.  Conflict resolution is a valuable skill that will benefit the children throughout their lives!