Apple Tree

This week our theme is Apple Tree, Apple Tree. Out book we are reading during circle time is Autumn is for Apples. Today we cut an apple in half and we got to see the star on either side of the apple. It look like the blossom from the apple tree. We also took guesses to see how many seeds were in an apple.

The children guessed - Mason -10, Henry -3, Abby -1, Julian -2, Micah -4 and I not wanting to say, but I guessed 20.... :) The total nuber of seeds in the apple were 6. The kids wanted to plant the seeds, so tonight I will run to get a pot for them, and we will plan a couple of the seeds tomorrow, water it during the winter and see if it grows.

Monday Sept. 15

We had a busy morning. I decided since this week will be a short week, (Only 3 days for most of you), that I would spend these 3 days testing the children. Find out where they are at. The last time I tested the children was in May. This will give me a better understanding of what we need to work on in small group.

I also received my rating in the mail on Friday through Parent Aware. I received a 3 out of 4 stars. One of the items I scored low on was not using a pre-approved curriculum. I personally like the curriculum we are using. (1 - 2 - 3 Learn Curriculum), and I was told going into this program if I desired, the Parent Aware Program would help me to get my curriculum approved. I'm waiting to start going through the process of getting it approved so that I can gain points in that area.

I received

Family Partnership 4 out of 4 stars
Teaching Materials and Strategies 3 out of 4 stars
Tracking Learning 3 out of 4 stars
Teacher Training and Education 3 out of 4 stars

I got some great ideas from the Parent Aware Program that I will be incorporating into my outside play area. There will be some new changes. I'm striving for the 4 star rating. :)

Thanks
Jean

First week back to preschool. :)

We had a wonderful 1st week back doing our preschool program. For circle time our letter of the week was T. We came up with t words like tango, (that was a fun picture to draw on my dry eraser board), train, truck, turtle, and twins. Our book for the week was David Goes to School by David Shannon. Before naptime we always pick out a book to read from the reading center, and I was happy that the children picked out new books added for our school theme.
We read a book at small group "Getting Ready for School". It was fun watching the children read the book with me. We started at the cover, read the title and who it was by. We then turned the page, and using our fingers touched on each word as we read them. Everyone down to Abby was pointing and reading the book. What fun.
Find a time with them this week end to sit and read this book with them. Next week in the children's Friday Folders I will send home a list of ideas to help create a more enriched literacy enviroment for them at home. It is so important for the children to develop a love reading.

Our Library check our has been a great success. We started this back in May and the children love being able to check out "new" books. Children have access to books from all around the playrooms, and I'm glad they are making this so successful. This is something that we will continue. :)

Coco Bear will be heading out to a new child care to visit, and I wanted to share a picture we took with Coco and the children on Friday. We packed him up and got him ready to go. Coco will visit 5 child care's and will return back to Treasures of the Heart Preschool in December. We'll be able to keep an eye on his visits to the different child care's via the internet. How awesome is that?
To visit Coco Bear's page at home here is the website http://stepbystepcc.com/tbe/coco.html

Teddy Bear Express, or TBE for short, originated as an idea on the Provider's Playground email list in early August of 2004. Teddy bears are sent around the United States and Canada amongst family child care homes, preschools, daycare centers, and elementary schools to visit the children as a fun geography lesson.

Back to Preschool :)

I can't believe that summer is over.... It's now September and it's back to our preschool program. The next 2 week's will be School Daze. Letters S & T, Numbers 1 & 2, Color Yellow and Shape Rectangle.

Monday we started back with Circle Time. The book we're reading for this week is David Goes to School. During small group we read a book I made up for the children. Getting Ready for School. We will be reading that during the week at Small Group andit will go home with the children on Friday in their Friday Folders. It's great to be back into our preschool routine.