LITERACY/LANGUAGE: Journaling, Winter Break experience

What did you do during the Winter Break?

“Making a snowman with daddy.”

1/6/2014

LITERACY/LANGUAGE: Pre-Reading Skills, Daily Schedule

On a rotating basis the children in the Cardinal classroom take turns reviewing our Daily Schedule with the entire group at Morning Meeting. This reading readiness activity provides wonderful opportunities for children to practice decoding skills and sight vocabulary skills as well as recall and memory skills. Learning concepts such yesterday/today/tomorrow are reinforced daily and the children are developing a sense of time and sequence as they map out the events of their day.

Here we see Kaya as she named the activities of the day, pointing to each word and touching the word with her pointer finger. Through this literacy activity, Kaya’s print awareness is heightening. A pre-reading skill, print awareness is an important part of knowing how to read and write. Kaya’s interest to participate in this activity reflects her growing knowledge about the relation between words she sees in print and the words she speaks and hears. 

Exploring Sewing...

December 2013
Fine Motor Skills 

Amanda introduced the concept of sewing in Art class and demonstrated the skills involved using a large plastic sewing needle, yarn and burlap.  The initial introduction of this activity was done in large group and provided an opportunity for all of the children to practice listening skills and following directions. 

Developing strong listening skills is an important component of our curriculum and our children have many varied opportunities to both practice and develop these skills in our Early Childhood program. The children have matured in their abilities to listen and focus as a group  and they continue to learn and grow so much from each other.

Kaya thoroughly enjoys visiting the art studio and loves to participate in our Art classes with Amanda.  Working in small groups at the art tables, Kaya applied the information she heard and enthusiastically began to sew!  Kaya is eager to try new experiences and challenges and does not frustrate easily.  Sewing involves many steps as well as fine motor coordination and Kaya approached this task with confidence!  Kaya was quite focused on this task and worked for a long period of time moving the sewing needle in and out of the buralp. She thoroughly enjoyed sitting at the art tables with her classmates chatting and sewing together!

COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT: Mathematics, Spatial Awareness & Shapes w/ MagnaTiles

Exploring with MagnaTiles is a great activity for inquiring minds and hands. This activity can help young children learn about colors, shapes, patterns, designs, spatial relationships, symmetry, area, and so much more including problem solving. Here we see Kaya as she explores with shapes.

“Look Alicia. Look at what I did! It’s a box with a ballerina inside! I use squares and triangles. Look! See!” 

12/16/2013