Welcome to our class Ella! We are so glad you are here at Our Shepherd! 

During Jesus time we learned the story of the Israelites healed from the snakes.  We learned that anytime we are sad, scared, or lonely we can pray!  We sang a song about that too.  

During small group time we drew a pumpkin in preparation for our measurement activity tomorrow. :) 

We patterned and sorted independently.

We colored a tree that we will use to invite anyone in the school to write what they are thankful for and add it to the tree. 

With me, the friends predicted whether various items would sink or float. We strengthened our visual discrimination skills as we looked for letters on the page and the box to mark. We strengthen our phonological awareness skills as we made the sounds of the letters we saw too! 

During outside time we were able to play on the big playground!  Yay! 

Free choice time 

Writing is incorporated naturally into our free choice time.  As children incorporate writing into their play, it is more meaningful to them. Meaningful writing makes more of an impact in the children's development. 

During free choice time the friends had a discussion about the market being open or closed.

"The market is closed now. Sorry!" 

"No, the sign has an O so it says 'open' so the market is open." 

This discussion is one example of how learning letters is incorporated into our play each day.  

Reading together 

Although the friends can not read conventionally, they are learning valuable concepts of print including tracking print left to right and print carries meaning.  More importantly, the friends are learning to love books!  In early childhood education, we work to foster a love of reading.  :) 

Creating in the Legos 

During morning meeting we tested our precautions whether items would sink or float.  The friends used their letter-sounds knowledge to help me write the words sink and float.  They helped me find the correct spot to start writing when documenting the results.  They also practiced counting backwards from 10 (strengthening their counting skills) as we waiting to put the item in the water. 

The penny sinks! 

The pencil floats! 

The rubber band sinks! 

Second outside time

During second small group time we strengthened our fine motor skills as we cut out leaves. 

We created in the legos. 

We worked with Mrs. Helmkamp to make a sign for our thankful tree! 

With me, we explored sink and float! 

Free choice time