Hip Hip Hooray- Busy Fun in Pre-K!

Last Thursday we had a quick day to meet each other before starting school on our REAL first day this Tuesday! It was fun to see everyone from last year, and meet new friends in our class this year. We also had a special snack for our 2 birthdays on Thursday- YUM!

Turning 4!

And turning a LOT more!

On Tuesday, we all came back to start the regular school year. We've jumped right into our regular routine, and are already learning!

When we first come in, we hang up our backpacks and take our yellow daily folder out and put it in our cubby. Then we look for our name card at a table job. This might be something to play with, something to color or paint, a fine motor manipulative, sensory experience, or a paper to do ->

it changes every day! 

When we are done with the table job, we take our name card and put it in the pocket chart by the window. Then we can play on the rug or read a book until our friends are all finished too.

Next is circle time! First order of business is to pick a name stick out of the possible stick can for the leader of the day. Then the leader holds the flag for us while we say the pledge and sing "Salute the Flag." Our leader also counts how many students are in class each day and leads the lines to the restroom and playground later in the morning. Daily math includes the calendar and rolling a number of the day. Fred the Frog lives in our hundreds pocket chart, and is hopping his way day by day to our big 100s Day celebration later in the year. We then read a story, sing some songs or talk about our current learning topic. If we have a lot to do, or are REALLY wiggly and ready to go, we'll split up our circle time activities into 2 blocks, one before and one after center time.

Note: It really is very early for most kids to know the number words, but I lay out three or four choices, and give hints like "we're looking for a word that starts with an /f/ sound." Through repetition, we'll start to recognize these sight words as we go through the year! 

Center Time:

We draw colored clothespins out of a bag for our center groups. Sometimes we'll have 3 colors, sometimes we'll have 4- it depends on how long our activities will be on that day. Since it is a random draw, we get to be in a group with new friends all the time. So far at centers, we have made our September calendars, used pattern blocks, made a picture to go with our Kissing Hand story, painted our art portfolios, and had fun on the rug with kitchen, cars, and dinosaurs.

ROAR!

 

I can make an M with pattern blocks.

or a cow

 a spider

 or a chick!

                                      

When painting, we tried to remember to keep changing our brush so we didn't mix up the paint cup colors. A surprise message (hidden in these pics for privacy) appeared after painting the whole paper!

After our center time, we meet on the rug for a quick story or song, and to finish up anything from earlier. Then we line up and head down the hall for a restroom/ hand washing trip before snack. After our blessing and snack, we spend some time with a good book until everyone is finished. Then it's time to pack up, drop off our book bags outside, and end our day with not too wild fun on the playground!