Wintery Cheer

Hello Families~

     Get ready-the holiday swirl is here.  I have done my best to ignore any holiday trappings until November was over, but now I am ready.  Bring it on!  Whatever you celebrate, whatever your traditions are, however you spend these next few weeks just take care to remember that some of your family members are only a number of MONTHS old.  Your child might only be 36 months old.  Some might be 48+.  Some of your children might be many years, but please remember that they might not have the same stamina or patience level as you.  The holiday season can be what you make of it.  Try to make it enjoyable to all.  Maybe you can sit down and agree as a family which events are important to you and which ones you are willing to let go.  Maybe you can split up the responsibilities the season brings.  I like to think of it as handing out "opportunities."  Opportunities to expand skill sets and experiences.  Do your best to enjoy it and not dread it.  It's a magical time for children.

     This month is a short one for the school.  We will have just three weeks in the classroom.  We will try to keep things light and fun.  The schedule that follows is loosely based, and I will listen to the children and go with the flow.  If I feel a new energy from the children I will try something new.  As always I will be going outside so please send the children with sensible clothing for the weather.  Occasionally, at this time of the year, outside is the only thing that makes sense.  We'll be out as much as possible.  

     Thank you for your help in the classroom.  I appreciate all the extra time and effort you are all putting forth.  I know we can make it a successful year if we all continue to work together.  Thank you.

**Please remember to write down your helper days so that we don't have forgotten helper days and please, Please, PLEASE remember to be on time for your parent help days.  When you are late as the helper it sets the tone for the entire school day.  It isn't often positive when starting from a scramble and it is the children that suffer in that situation.  Please be on time.  Please.  Arrival time for the morning class (3s) is: 8:30 a.m.  Arrival time for the p.m. class (4s) is: 12:45 p.m.  If you are not parent helping please do not arrive BEFORE 8:55 A.M. OR 12:55 P.M.  I need to have time to discuss the day with my helpers.  If you have to arrive earlier you can play outside or in the dramatic play room until we are ready for sign-in, or you can arrange it with me ahead of time.  Thank you for all your help-let's work together to make each day the BEST.** 

The schedule of events for December...

Monday, Dec. 2: We start our space unit today.  We will paint a large box (spaceship) for the dramatic play room.  We will start to make family gifts as well.  We'll learn a song about a rocket ship and blast off!

Wednesday, Dec. 4: 3s~We will decorate the spaceship that the 4s class started.  We will work on family gifts and make a card.  4s~We'll embellish the gifts we started on Monday and make a card.  We'll move the spaceship into the dramatic playroom.  5-4-3-2-1-BLAST OFF!!  

Friday, Dec. 6: 3s~We'll wrap gifts for the family and send them home.  We will paint small spaceships and talk about going to the moon.  We'll sing a song about blasting off to space in a rocket ship.  4s~We will wrap and send gifts home today.  We'll paint small spaceships and play with the spaceship in the dramatic playroom.  We'll watch a video of a NASA space shuttle.  

Monday, Dec. 9: We will talk about stars, planets, and the moon this week.  Today we will make stars with a spinner painter.  We will paint the planets to hang in our classroom.  We will start a project to make a rocket ship.

Wednesday, Dec. 11: 3s~We will learn a song about a man that lives in the moon and we will make a picture of him.  We'll make stars with a spinner painter and we'll work on painting the planets.  4s~We will continue to paint planets and make some more stars with a different spinner painter.  We'll decorate the body of our rocket ship.

Friday, Dec. 13: 3~The children will make handprints on a sheet of paper, glue that sheet to another sheet of paper and make a reindeer out of their handprints.  We'll hang the planets we've been making.  4s~Today we will finish the rocket ships the children have been working on.  We'll also finish up the planets we've been working on.  I'll ask the children if they want to go to the moon and if so, what would they bring?  If not, what will they do instead?  I'll compile their answers into a story.

Monday, Dec. 16: This week we'll talk about gingerbreads.  Today we will make a sequencing book about eating a gingerbread cookie.  The children will decorate a picture of a gingerbread boy or girl.

Wednesday, Dec. 18: 3s~The children will glue eyes, nose and bells on their reindeer.  We'll glue pictures into our scrapbooks.  4s~The children will glue pictures into scrapbooks today.  We'll make gingerbread cookie dough and we'll make a gingerbread picture with cinnamon and sandpaper.

Friday, Dec. 20: 3s~We will cook our gingerbread cookies today and have a small celebration at the end of class to ring in the holiday break.  We will make gingerbread necklaces and finish our reindeer pictures.  4s~We will make gingerbread necklaces, finish our sandpaper gingerbreads and cook our gingerbread cookies.  We'll have a short time at the end of class to eat cookies and celebrate the holiday break.  Happy Holidays!!

There will be a sign-up sheet coming out soon for items needed for our cookie celebration.  Be looking for it at the sign-in area.  Enjoy this quick and fun month.  Cheers!  ~Anne.  

  

 

Autumn All Around

Ladies and Gentlemen...

Fall is here.  The weather has been great so I hope you have been able to find time to get your family outside.  The leaves are turning and falling and it is magnificent out there!  Go enjoy it.  

We will have just three full weeks of class during this month so I know it's going to go fast.  We will talk about fire fighters and fire safety.  The children love to pretend to hop in the fire truck and go, go, GO!  The fall changes bring lots of conversation about the weather and the flora around us.  We'll go outside and see the changes as well as rake lots of leave to jump in.  We have our own take on Thanksgiving by talking a lot about being thankful for the important things in our lives and by learning the classic fable of Stone Soup and making a soup of our own.  We'll follow that up with a whole meal at our Friendship Feast.  It's going to be tons of fun.  

The children are learning a lot and becoming great friends.  I am enjoying them so much.  I am thankful to have them in my life.  Thank you for sharing them with me.  The following list is what we will be doing for the month.  Please remember that I use this as a skeleton of what to plan-sometimes the children need something different or guide me in a different way and I will change things.  I let the children by my "boss."  Have a great month.

Monday, Nov. 4: We'll make gathering pouches, put color on blotter-paper leaves and read the story Leafman.  Amy Peck will be my substitute today.

Wednesday, Nov. 6: 3s~We'll make hot plate leaves, decorate a "Leafman", and put together our monster book from last week.  4s~We'll make hot plate leaves, use our gathering pouches to gather leaves and natural materials and make a "Leafman" of our own.  

Friday, Nov. 8: 3s~Individual children's pictures are today.  Craig Huston will be here to take the children's photos.  Information on how to order will come out soon.  We will read the book Leafman and make a book about our Leafman and his/her adventures.  We will make a leaf with paint and walnuts and a plastic container.  It will be sent home for homework next week.  4s~Individual pictures today.  We'll rake leaves and tell a story about a leaf leaving its tree.  We'll make a leaf to send home next week for homework.

Monday, Nov. 11: NO SCHOOL TODAY  VETERAN'S DAY HOLIDAY

Wednesday, Nov. 13: 3s~Fire safety week.  We will make badges and necklaces today, paint a fire truck, and learn a song about a fire truck.  A leaf will come home today for the family to talk about and send back to school as soon as possible.  Directions will accompany the leaf.  4s~We'll make badges and necklaces, cut out a firetruck shape, and learn a new song.  Children will come home with a leaf that they made to talk about what they are thankful for.  This is a family homework assignment.  Directions will be included.

Friday, Nov. 15: 3s~The fire department will come visit us today.  The truck will be here right after school starts.  We'll make a ladder for the fire truck we painted on Weds. We'll talk a little about our Friendship Feast coming up on Nov. 22.  The children will tell me what vegetable they would like to bring for their soup.   4s~FIELD TRIP DAY!  We will go to the fire department at 2:30.  WE WILL LEAVE SCHOOL AT 2:30 TODAY.  You will either need to be at the school to transport your child or arrange a ride for him/her.  We will start school at 1pm at the school and leave after our snack.  We will end school at the Canby Fire Department.  You will need to pick your child up there or arrange a ride.   A permission slip will be coming out soon.

Monday, Nov. 18: We'll make a fall tree picture and read a story called Stone Soup.  The children will tell their own story about stone soup.  We'll talk about and strategize our Friendship Feast coming up.  Your child will come home with a slip telling you what vegetable they have chosen to add to the soup.

Wednesday, Nov. 20: 3s~We will make a tree picture and cut the vegetables the children bring to school for our soup.  Please send your child to school with the vegetable of their choice today.  A slip will come home letting you know what they have chosen.  The children will have a chance to do some free painting and paint mixing.  4s~We'll paint mix and finish our tree picture from Monday.  We'll talk about what makes us thankful and cut vegetables for our soup for the Feast today.

Friday, Nov. 22: 3s AND 4s~Today we will make the foods for our Friendship Feast.  The children will make biscuits and butter, cut fruit for a fruit tray, and arrange cheeses on a platter.  We'll ask parents to bring some supplies for the feast.  Be looking for a sign-up sheet by the sign-in area.  We will have our feast in the last 40 minutes of class.  Families are welcome to join us.  We will also be putting pictures in our scrapbooks and talking about our Thankful Leaves that went home.

Monday, Nov. 25: TODAY IS A MAKEUP DAY FOR THE 3S CLASS.  TODAY IS A MAKEUP DAY FOR THE 3S CLASS.  COME TO SCHOOL AT 9:00 A.M. TODAY IF YOU ARE IN THE 3S CLASS!!  3s~We will go for a looking walk, rake leaves, and do some paint mixing.  4s~FIELD TRIP DAY!!  We will go on one of three nature walks today.  We meet at 1:00 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormon church) on the corner of 13th and Elm street.  1285 S Elm Street.  We will do this walk in each season that the children are in school.  We will meet at the far corner of the church parking lot (closest to 13th ave.).  Parent helpers need to arrive at 12:50 p.m.  We will leave the parking lot at 1:10-1:15 and walk down to the city park behind Safeway.  We will play on the playground, eat snack, walk to the river, and walk back to the parking lot.  Everyone is welcome to join us.  The trail is NOT stroller-friendly.  If you have little ones that are immobile or unsteady a back pack would be best.  Please dress your child accordingly.  We will go rain or shine and it would be best if the children are comfortable.  It has been COLD, WET, MUDDY, and very inclement in the past.  We will go regardless of weather so send your child in appropriate clothing for the weather of the day.  In the past we have cut it short so if you decide not to join us please be available by phone if we need to call you for pick up.  More information will come as it draws near.

THE REST OF THE MONTH IS OFF DUE TO THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY. Enjoy some family time-whatever your traditions are.  Be safe in your travels.

Thanks again for the pleasure of getting to know your children.  I am having such fun with them.  Happy Fall.  ~Anne.