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

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL: Self-Portraits, Self-Awareness

Throughout the year the children will be asked to draw a picture of themselves. Often the use of a small mirror will help the children become more aware of facial details. Through this activity the children develop self awareness as well as awareness of others.

As the year progresses it is exciting to see how Kaya's fine motor skills develop and her perspective changes.  In her personal folder you will find Kaya’s self-portraits for each month of the 2013-14 school year.

LITERACY/LANGUAGE: Pre-Reading Skills

Children acquire proficiency in language and literacy through extensive experience with language, print, and literature in a variety of contexts. Here we see Kaya “reading” a popular book by Juanita Havill, Jamaica’s Find. As she observes the pages of this book, Kaya is learning to read the pictures’ grammar. This prepares her for the future ability of reading of texts.

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL: Happy Birthday, Kaya!

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY, Kaya! ¡FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS! Thank you for sharing it with us. The cupcakes were scrumptious! 

9/11/2013