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p is for pretty plates

quite simple and using several media, we made pretty plates.

rick rack, lace, crayons, glitter and paper hearts.

the lace and rick rack pushed and pulled through the holes.

learning how to tie a knot.

getting excited about p-p-p-pink and p-p-p-purp-p-p-ple (p sounds).

adding layers of glitter.

using them to sing our alphabet song

(we sang “p is for pretty plate” instead of “p is for peanut” like our alphabet card shows)

oh my, they are pretty.

i was simply taking a picture of the “wedding” that was happening and then helped clarify that if someone wanted her name to be sally it could be even though that is the name of another someone’s (ah-hem) dog.

i didn’t realize i captured this on the photo (and the dozen others taken around this one).

i am fascinated looking at each child. it seems as though everyone is aware of the conflict and reacting in their own way.

we work every day to find ways to work together. lately one class is working to include anyone who wants to join in already established play. the latest “rule” is that everyone has to have a role and they have to be pleased with it (within reason…if this isn’t able to be figured out, we teachers move in to facilitate a bit). just today i watched a little girl with puzzled expression grumble to no one in particular, “yeah, but if i tell him to do that, he won’t be happy.” somehow it all worked out.

o is for orange

oh, my kids were hopeful when i brought home a box of orange koolaid singles. but no, it was for preschool. to which eliza beamed at the older two.

we didn’t drink it, though!

i had it out on our project table but didn’t draw specific attention to it. when we went to circle time, we discussed colors a bit and then colored a paper plate with different shades of orange.

we listened to raffi sing “apples and bananas” two times and had to color the WHOLE time he was singing. (this song was perfect for O week as we remembered the letters that are vowels.)

then i asked if anyone had noticed anything else orange in the classroom that we might use. it was fun to see the light bulbs go off as some called out and some ran over to get the kool aid.

we tasted it, smelled it, wrote with our finger in it when it was poured on a plate.
then we glued it on a circle-O shape of glue.

o is for owl

whooooooooooooooooo loves you?

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these owl friends do.

each preschooler cut the eye shapes (since it was O week, this was a good time to practice cutting on a circle line…hard to do, i must add). we discussed shapes and then gave each preschooler a pile of pre cut shapes along with their circles. it was fun to have preschool moms and dads here to help us while ms. vilia is away. this dad-teacher was told he was a “VERY good preschool teacher.”

whooooooo loves you 0809 - 02 by you.

they used them to create an owl. we included a heart shape in honor of valentine’s day.

it was interesting to give no guidance but just ask them to use them all somehow. it wasn’t long before one little girl said, “hey! i made an owl. everyone just do it like this.”

nurturing group dynamics.

w is for writing boards

here is the best $20 i’ve spent in a long time.

writing boards 0809 - 01 by you.

we’re working on letter formation, holding the marker comfortably and moving towards holding it in the “kindergarten way,” sound recognition, upper and lower case differences, and simple exploration.

writing boards 0809 - 03 by you.