In light of recent sickness in the Hendricks County, we are reviewing proper hand washing techniques  with the friends.  We are encouraging them to wash their hands anytime their hands are near their mouth.  We are also working to remind the friends to catch sneezes and coughs in their elbow.  This is tricky for children of this age, so please re-enforce this at home.

We began our morning meeting with a erase the letter rhyming activity.  This activity increases letter recognition and engages the friends in rhyming practice.  

Gym time! 

We love reading!  It is so much fun to open a new book to read.  One of the goals of early childhood education is to foster the love of reading! 

Today we read Dragons Love Tacos and Dragons Love Tacos 2. 

We discussed the similarities and differences between the two books.  We discussed how the illustrator made the pictures look similar, but there are some differences. 

During small group time we read an alphabet book staring our class!  Look for your own copy of this book in your child's Friday folder. 

We also practiced counting those tricky teens.  We began by using ten frames.  We practiced starting with the top left box so we don't become confused.  (This also reenforces the same direction we use when tracking print.) 

Signing up for the listening center 

"Who wants to go to the hotel?!" 

"How do you spell your name?" 

"I'm writing all the letters." 

Thanks to our annual All Saints' Fest fundraiser, we have some new technology to use in our classroom!  The leader of the day will be able to use a digital camera during free choice time.  

Using the listening center - Thanks All Saints' Fest! 

Here are a few pictures from the leader of the day! 

Happy Friday! 

Our friends enjoy guessing which pointer the leader of the day will choose to use.  It has become a fun game for us all!  :) 

During gym time we played with scoops and balls.  I had so much fun that I forgot to take pictures! 

Back in the classroom we were excited to learn how to use our new listening center.  

During free choice time the friends were even more excited to use it! 

Signing up for a turn in the listening center 

PLau doh fun with Mrs, Dieckamp 

"Welcome to the hotel!  What is your name?" 

"We are sleeping in the hotel.  This is the mommy's room and this is the kids room.  Nighty night!" 

It is such a blessing to see how our friends take care of each other!  

After outside time, we went for another walk!  The friends love walking through the puddles!  

During small group time we continued to practice sorting with Mrs. Dieckamp. 

We also worked with letters and words. 

The friends wanted to make windows for the hotel.  One friend suggested that we should draw pictures of ourselves in the windows!  So we did! 

During free choice time the friends worked together to hang the windows.  

"We need an area ... like where you go when you get to the hotel and get your keys." 

"Like the check-in desk?"

"Yeah!  I can make a sign for it!" 

Checking into the hotel 

"How do you spell your name?" 

"This is me with a happy face and lots of teeth." 

"I drew all of this!" 

"I am making a hotel castle." 

"I made a big box with people." 

We love to write books! 

"I made a castle hotel too!" 

"Can you draw a picture of the castle hotel so we don't forget the design when we clean up?" 

"Sure!  I will write my name too!" 

We incorporate writing in all areas of the classroom. Reading and writing are reciprocal and interrelated processes. Writers have to know what readers do and readers have to know what writers do. The two processes contribute to each other during early literacy learning and are equally important for future academic success.

Some of the friends made fossils in the play doh today! 

We love to read together!  Look how the friend is pointing to the text.  When you read with your child at home, model tracking print by pointing to the words as you read them. 

During Jesus time the friends re-told the true story of Jesus blessing the children.   The friends blessed each other with the sign of the cross and shared, "You are a child of God!"