Happy New Year! January is such a great time in the classroom because suddenly, magically, the children change and evolve in such a way that makes a teacher smile. They start to play together cooperatively, they exhibit developmental improvements in leaps and bounds, and they start to communicate with each other in a way that makes the classroom a happy place. It is truly a magical time.
Please remember to send your child with hats, coats, gloves, boots, etc. in order to make them comfortable while playing outside. We will go outside most days even in the wake of cold, wet weather.
What follows is a rough plan of what will be happening this month. I love this unit that we are starting. We will be talking about ice and snow and bodies. Bodies that amaze and support us. The 4s will work on a special project that will become a part of the classroom decor and the 3s will do a smaller project and look forward to the big one. We'll have tons of fun and enjoy magical things happening in the classroom every day.
Monday, Jan. 5-Friday, Jan. 9: This week we will explore and experiment with ice. We'll ask questions and observe and play with ice in lots of different ways. At the end of the week we'll have an ICE cream party. Yahoooo!
Monday, Jan. 12-Friday, Jan. 16: Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! This week is all about snow. We'll make snowflakes with popsicle sticks, paint paper plate snowflakes, make snowpeople, and learn lots of songs and finger plays about snow and snowmen. I will be out of town on Friday and Julie O'Connor will be my stand-in. She is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful and your children will fall in love with her (if they aren't already).
Monday, Jan. 19-Friday, Jan. 23: For the 4s class this week is all about bodies. We will talk about how our bodies work and what is inside of them. The children's body will be traced on a large piece of paper and they will draw what is inside of it. The bodies will eventually be covered with clothing of the child's choosing. This is always such fun. The children make choices that make me smile. In the past I have had a child that chose to wear roller skates, a bikini, and a hat and scarf! The 3s will talk about hats and we will learn the story of Caps For Sale. There is NO SCHOOL ON JANUARY 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Enjoy...get outside! :)
Monday, Jan. 26-Friday, Jan. 30: The 4s classes will be putting clothing on their bodies all this week. They'll make smaller bodies that they can take home as their larger bodies will stay in the classroom for the duration of the school year. The 3s will cut out and decorate small body shapes and talk about what is inside of them. On Wednesday will be BAREFOOT DAY!! We will shuck our shoes and walk around with our tootsies exposed. If that doesn't work for your child have them wear slippers. We will do activities with bare feet so best not to wear tights today. Friday will be PAJAMA DAY!! Wear your favorite jammies to school today. (Wear or bring shoes that can go outside so we can end the day with outdoor festivities.) Slippers are encouraged (or you can go barefoot again), and one small stuffed animal or blanket can be brought. We will have a pancake party in the art center. If your child loves pancakes no snack is needed today. (If there is an issue with pancakes please let me know right away so we can work out an alternative. Gluten free will be available.)
A few housekeeping items: we are concerned about the illnesses that have been floating around lately so we are asking that all children get a small squirt of sanitizer as they enter school and before they eat. Also, we will ask the parent helpers to bleach doorknobs, chair seats and the sign-in table at the end of the day every day for the next few weeks. If you smell the lovely scent of "swimming pool" when you arrive for pick-up this is why. Please bear with us as we are trying to keep all the children safe and sound.
Please be checking your cubby in the art center for important messages from the auction team, fundraising opportunities, and the like. Also, DON'T FORGET YOUR CHILD'S POUCH OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM. It often has special messages from Teacher Anne as well as artwork your child has masterfully created.
The auction donation deadline is quickly approaching. Please get all your donation requests tied up and ready to present by the Jan. 16 deadline. If you are needing help don't hesitate to contact either Heather Zagyva or Mindy Tilden our fearless auction team leaders. They can help! Don't feel like you have to do it alone. If you are struggling they can point you in the right direction. The second auction meeting is January 8 at 7pm in the Fellowship Hall of the church. Raffle ticket sales need to be turned in by April 3.
A note about snack: please remember to send ONLY WATER for drink in your child's snack. Also, remember that snack time is only about 10-15 minutes long and the longer we stay eating the less time we have outside. Also, I have recently encountered a problem I have not experienced before. It had increased in the last weeks before the break AND has continued into the new year. Many of the children (in both classes) have had snacks packed with sugary treats. Most of the snacks also have nutritious items included but, inevitably, the children eat the treat (and vocally advertise it) and leave the nutritious stuff to the last or not at all. Let's work together! How about if the treat is VERY small and limited to one or two very small treats. OR it could be left out all together. OR we could have one day a month that is Treat Day! Sound off! Let me know what you would like to see. I am all about a treat now and then, but wonder if it is needed at every school day. Let me know what you think about this situation. I am happy to work cooperatively about it. :)
Lastly, if you have a very limited schedule for parent helping please think about contacting your classroom rep and getting your parent help days on the calendar for the entirety of the school year. Ask me about this if you have questions.
Thanks again for sharing your child with me. I am having so much fun with them.
~Anne.
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