Classroom Hot Topics Rainbow Room September

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Classroom Hot Topics Rainbow Room September 2017 Environment_______________________________________________________________________________________________ We will continue to make connections with each other as we bond over common shared interests. We will introduce the concept of Show-n-Tell as “Share Day” with the rainbow-colored Me Bag as catalyst to get to know more about each classmate. We will also introduce our Handwriting Without Tears curriculum with a special “Letter of the Week.” We will continue with our newly established classroom rules, daily routines and expectations. Blocks- Cooperative & constructive play: Provide large blocks, cars, trains & train tracks; Tracking & bilateral movement: Provide wooden marble runs of varying types; Balance: Provide small building blocks to make enclosures for different farm animals Art- Creative thinking: Provide various mediums, such as water colors, paints, crayons & markers with blank paper; Identifying/Expressing emotion: Provide templates of blank faces and encourage children to use pre-cut facial features to create different emotions; Abstract thinking: Provide several materials for collaging, like shredded paper, magazines and lace Manipulatives- Pincer grasp: Threading pony beads on to pipe cleaners to create bracelet; Strengthen fine-motor ability & crossing midline: Provide squirt bottles filled with paint for squeezing; One-to-one correspondence: Provide tongs, pom poms & cubed trays for sorting Dramatic Play- Pet knowledge & self-help skills: Provide props to create a “Pet Store” and encourage children to properly care for different pets; Cooperative play & counting/number identification: Provide props to create a “Lemonade Stand” and encourage children to sell lemonade, count money, etc. Sensory- Two-step direction & teamwork: Provide various materials of differing textures & colors to create sensory bottles with a partner; Sense of smell: Explore/compare/contrast the smell of lemon and lime Writing- Concept of left to right, top to bottom, horizontal/vertical lines: Provide butcher paper roll with horizontal/vertical tracing stencils and small golf pencils; Letter tracing: Provide classmates’ name cards, letter cards and labels for the Lemonade Stand for tracing; Letters of the Week: L and F Science- Life Cycles: Learn about the life cycle of a chicken; Plant Life: Learn about seeds and grow our own; Cause & effect: Conduct several baking soda/vinegar experiments and ice melting experiments Outdoors- Tracking, balance & bilateral movement: Riding balance bikes & beams and kicking soccer balls; Crossing midline & core strength: Tracing friends’ body outlines using chalk on the sidewalk Library/Listening- Spatial reasoning & bodily awareness: Learning about & reconstructing Mat Man, Pre-writing skills: “Where Do You Start Your Letters?” song and learn HWT letter-writing terminology; Purposeful listening: Play listening lotto games about pets and farm animals; Appreciative listening: Read many books about emotions (Bombaloo!), pet care (Listen to Your Fish) and farm animals (Big Red Barn) Parent Education______________________________________________________________________________________________ Making sure your child has everything he/she needs for school is important. Specifically, at this age, their independence and willingness to do tasks “all by myself” becomes very strong and active. We can foster this growing skill by providing items, like a daily lunchbox and water bottle, that is easy for them to operate while also being age-appropriate. Below are a few links to recommended supplies that are affordable, durable and most importantly, Pre-K kid friendly—approved by Pre-K teachers! 😊 Water Bottle: https://www.kleankanteen.com/collections/water-bottles Keeps water ice cold and easy for kids to open/close. Lunch Boxes: http://www.skiphop.com/skiphop-zoo-collection-mealtime?navID=header Easy to open with an accented zipper pull. Food Containers: http://sistemaplastics.com/products/lunch Containers have simple “klips” on each side for easy open/shut action. Monthly Events_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Sept 4th: SCHOOL CLOSED for Labor Day Sept 6th: PTF Meeting @ 8-9 am in Kleberg Hall Sept 11th: Grandparents Day celebration @ 8:30-9:30am Sept 19th: Family Picnic @ 5:30-6:30 pm Sept 27th: Hearing/Vision Screenings during school day and Parent Education Event about Toilet Learning @ in Kleberg with Ms. Jerri (varied times offered!)