nothing like a new year to “clean house” in iphoto and post all the random photos from last semester.  maybe it’s also a good time to confess that i don’t keep track of who is in our photos.  i recognize that some classes are photographed more often than others.  i recognize that some kids are in more photos than others.  there definitely are children who see the camera and come running.  then there are others who run away. i’d like to be more intentional for our families this semester…to make sure that each family gets a glimpse of their child in the preschool world.  i’ll call that my preschool resolution. : )

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our preK class has a strong awareness and desire to learn time telling.  so, we color coded two of our clocks and post them by our doors.  they like to keep track of “when preschool starts” and “when we go home.” it’s pretty crazy…i’ve never had a class initiate this topic!

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we transplanted our pumpkin seedlings to the big tub table…we’ll see how they do!

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i wish i had two more of these wonderful orange cushions…then there would be enough for everyone!  for now they make great stepping stones/jumping pads/tower building supplies.

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we had a cat for an afternoon.  it was amazingly simple.

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ingenuity:  cushion on TOP of the boat.

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block work that makes my heart sing.

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when we made a running track on the floor, we had to cover one of our sharp corners.

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i had to dig our cd player out of a cupboard to play sound bingo.  us teachers had it memorized by week’s end.

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play dough keeps rolling in thanks to our families.  i’m so grateful!

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baby play, baby play, baby play.  every day.

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2013 promises more opportunities to play.  i can’t wait to watch.

we’ve received a bunch of cardboard inserts from bottled drink boxes…and maybe after the holiday season we’ll get more?

they are perfect for “sewing” around.

this wasn’t my idea….but we’ll be doing more of it!

 

those days with the boxes around them were the days we were waiting for:  our christmas circle time days!

those are the days that we have regular preschool until 10:45/1:45, that’s when families are invited back early!

christmas circle times are our version of a christmas program/christmas party all in one.

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first we hide in the back room but leave christmas music and the fake fireplace going, then we come out and sing songs, say poems, read stories, play games, eat cookies…all while wearing our pajamas!

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we played jingle bells with TWO instruments each:  jingle bell stick and kazoo.  that was impressive.

(jingle bell sticks are jingle bells on a bit of wire taped to an old marker, then covered with colored masking tape)

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we also sang a baby jesus song and the baby that won the vote got to be jesus.

it was hard sometimes when more than one person wanted to hold baby jesus, then we have to figure it out…

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we did our silly j candy cane poem (we act very serious at first so that it’s even trickier):

you might think it’s just a letter from our alphabet song…

but really it’s a candy cane; it’s about to be gone!

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we read a favorite christmas book:

i just love using both of these books as a way to experience the passing of seasons and time.

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we also sent home a little treat…that was tricky too!

mr matt was “keeper of the treat bags” until the end.

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our church families provided dozens and dozens of cookies for our preschool families to enjoy.  i’m so grateful!

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there are more pictures and videos to share, but trust me, these kids know how to do a party program.

igloo project:

one pre-painted-with-glittery-silver-paint paper plate with a line drawn down the center, two people per plate, scissors for both, cooperative work!

then letter-shape, word-shape writing:

don’t forget to cut a door shape if you want a way in!