This morning we enjoyed games and playing in the gym!  The friends are not only strengthening their gross motor skills, but they are also learning about how to navigate their body. 

During small group time, the friends enjoyed using the magic reading sticks as they read various books! 

The friends infused sorting the letters with Ms. Marks too! 

They continued to explore volume in the seeds.  We worked to introduce new vocabulary as we explored.  

"Is it equal?" 

"This bowl is smaller." 

"The bowl is larger!" 

Exploring in the blocks during small group time 

Free choice time 

This morning the friends noticed a new tree on the playground!  Mrs. Helmkamp's class planted a tree as a part of their tree project. 

"Look at the leaves!  They are a different color!" 

"What do they smell like?"

"I think they smell like strawberries." 

"Smell them!  They smell like strawberries!" 

"Look at the sun I made!  Why can't we see the sun today?" 

"I think the clouds are blocking it." 

During small group time the friends were able to use the magic reading sticks!  

With me, the friends explored volume. 

"Look!  It is full!"

"How can you tell it is full?"

"It is equal to the top!" 

Block exploration during small groups 

The friends also helped organize and sort our magnetic letters! 

Free choice time 

"I am writing a book.  One for me and one for my sister." 

"Popcorn for sale!  Here's some money!" 

"Look at my tower!  I balanced it!" 

Signing up for the popcorn seeds

"I am drawing those popcorn seeds!" 

We love to read!  Although the friends cannot read conventionally, they are learning important pre-reading skills.   

"I like the smooth rocks." 

"I am writing my recipe." 

"See?  My recipe says cheese popcorn, pickle popcorn, butter popcorn, mixed popcorn, and rainbow popcorn." 

"My recipe says 'popcorn is good.'" 

"I am writing, 'I like popcorn and Mrs. Douglas do's too.'" 

We began our day learning our new bible words for the week!  We read them together daily.  This is a great way for the friends to both memorize scripture and to practice foundational reading skills! 

The friends were excited to share rhyming words with each other! Rhyming is an important pre-reading skill.  It belongs to a group of skills which we refer to as "phonemic awareness." (Phonemic awareness skills refer to the ability to play with the sounds of language.  Rhyming, alliteration, syllable work, blending, etc.)  Research shows that children with strong phonemic awareness skills tend to be strong readers later in their lives.  

Outside time

The friends were so interested in the fact that they could see their breath outside this morning! 

"This looks like a popcorn flower.  See how it pops at the top?" 

"I made a cake out of mine!" 

During small group time we worked to explore volume with the popcorn seeds.  We practiced counting as we explored how many scoops it would take to fill the containers. 

The friends also read together! 

They explored in the blocks. 

They also worked to sort the magnetic letters with Ms. Marks. 

Free choice time 

"Let's tell a story about the tree!" 

"Popcorn for sale!" 

Writing books 

Writing names on our sign up sheet for the popcorn seeds. 

"I drew a cat!"