January Monthly Newsletter
Dinosaurs, Paleontology & Dinosaur Artists
Happy New Year!
We hope that each and everyone of you will enjoy the holiday break filled with love, family, and the joy of giving. While we are certain our educators will enjoy their break, we are also sure each of us will miss your families; especially those smiley greetings we get each morning from your amazing children!
As we look into 2024, we share in the joy and excitement for what's to come for your child's growth and adventures. The second half of our academic year will include a school wide art show, Valentine's parties, community helpers, animals around the world and so much more. We look forward to sharing these moments with you and making more beautiful memories.
Here's to another successful year full of LOVE, LEARNING and FRIENDSHIP!
Warmly,
LC Management and Staff
In January's Edition
- Dates to Remember
- January Birthdays
- January Curriculum
- Family and Teacher Of The Month
- Cold Weather Reminders
Dates To Remember
Welcome Back
January 15th
Art Show
Infants
Our littles will also explore these signs:
- Teeth
- Green
- 6
- Triangle
- and Dinosaur
Art: Infants will be delighted with activities such as sponge painting a dinosaur, bubble wrap paint, dino feet and so much more!
Motor/ Development: Strengthen our core will be the name of the game! Many activities will be played, practiced and achieved to allow baby to strengthen and build core muscles, essential for upcoming gross motor skills in Toddlerhood! Educators will gently guide babies through activities such as: reaching for dinosaurs carefully hung on the mirror, pouring and encouraging sitting with dinosaur baths and even a game called "baby sit ups."
Sensorial Explorations: Infants will have many sensory opportunities through the week, beginning the week with sensory bags filled with blue and yellow paint to explore, move and discover the color green. Then, ending the week through "Plant Play", a nature discovery opportunity re-enforcing what some dinosaurs like to eat! Munch munch!
Toddler I & II
- Teeth
- Green
- Tree
- Triangle
- Dinosaur
All of these words will be explored through fun stories like, "Dinosaurs," "Find Spot at the Museum," "Dinosaurs" and "How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten!"
Art: By adding green triangles to a triceratops face, green triangles to the back of an herbivore template and even making a plant collage; children will be reintroduced to the color green. Additionally, they will enjoy making clay fossils by stamping with dinosaur stampers and exploring different textures!
Science/ Math: As students journey through teeth, claws, plants and bones; science and math will be explored with activities such as herbivore taste test, color mixing and so much more!
Color: Green
Shape: Triangle
Number: 6
Jr. Preschool I & II
Teeth, Claws and Fossils... Oh my!
Through fine motor strengthening, students will be introduced to a set of vocabulary words all month long such as: Pressing plants into styrofoam, using stickers to trace shapes and letters and or even using tongs to feed a baby dinosaur plants who has oval teeth! these vocabulary words will then be reinforced and enjoyed through stories such as: "Dinosaurs Galore," "Dinosaur Bones," "Dinosaur Roar" and "Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs."
Math/ Science:
Students will classify what makes an herbivore (oval teeth) vs. carnivore (triangle teeth) by sorting shapes as well as practicing one to one correspondence counting and identifying the number 6; using plants, triangles, sticks and more!
Art:
Each week students will explore types of dinosaurs and textures! Through the world of art children will explore and create these dinosaurs and their bones, using different materials such as clay, noodles, Q-tips, watercolor and much more!
Color: Green
Shape: Triangle
Number: 6
Preschool
Literacy: Phonemic Awareness, Story Predictions & Story Vocabulary
Letters of the week: Jj, Kk, Ww & Oo
Students will familiarize themselves with the letter of the week and vocab words to correlate. This month, students will enjoy sensorial exploration of the letters while engaging in activities such as: building the letters with blocks, writing them in jelly and utilizing physical activities to help remember the letters and their sounds. Students will also listen to dinosaur stories, where teachers will leave them on “cliffhangers” and encourage them to make story predictions.
Math/ Science:
Number- 6
Students will explore the differences between herbivores and carnivores. They will also become familiar with Paleontology and the study of fossils and bones.
In Math, students will explore the number 6 through documentation of their studies, will be introduced to timelines, measurements and math vocabulary with size and comparison.
Art:
Students will meet dinosaur artist; David Krentz who will take them on a journey through lines, textures and mediums. Weekly, Students will learn to create and share in the joy of being an artist, themselves!
Private Pre- K
Literacy: Story Predictions & Vocabulary Sentences
Letters of the week: Jj, Kk, Ww & Oo
Students will embark on an adventure through weekly stories such as “Patrick’s Dinosaurs” and “Big Old Bones”; leaving students on cliff hangers and encouraging them to make story predictions. Students will also explore new story vocabulary while also building story sentences using such vocabulary, story predictions and sight words.
Sight Words: of, a, that, he
Math/ Science:
Number- 6
Science- Students will explore the differences between herbivores and carnivores. They will also become familiar with Paleontology and the study of fossils and bones.
Math- Students will explore the number 6 through simple activities that encourage them to measure, compare, and learn the timeline.
Art:
During Art Reflection Time, students will meet dinosaur artist; David Krentz who will take them on a journey through lines, textures and mediums. Weekly, students will learn to create and share in the joy of being a dinosaur artist, themselves by sketching, using water colors, sculpting and more!
Private Kindergarten
Math I can:
Students will explore mathematical concepts of: composing and decomposing numbers, word problems, number order and counting on strategy.
- “I can compose and decompose numbers with objects and pictures.” “I can solve and represent word problems.”
- “I can start with the biggest number and then count up from there.”
- “I can order numbers to 30.”
Literacy I can:
Students will explore the concept of: less-patterned text, discriminate between similar looking words, isolate and pronounce medial vowels and final consonants.
- “I can identify initial and final consonants.”
- “I can hear sounds and link sounds to letters.”
- “I can hear and record CVC words in sequence.”
- “I can recognize words that are commonly used in reading and writing.”
Science and Cultural Studies I Can:
Students will explore the concepts of: basic world geography and where their place is in the world.
- “I can read and make a map using maps symbols.”
- “I can identify our oceans and continents.”
- “I can locate something by using positional words.”
- “I can understand where my place is in the world.”
January Character Development
Caring
“Caring”
Children will build on their social emotions skills with focus on helping one another and empathy. Children will play “The Empathy Game", read stories such as “The Invisible Boy” and learn about “a wrinkled heart” while understanding the power of words and gestures.
Kindergarten
Lesson #4
Superflex Gym, Brain Exercises!
In this month-long lesson broken down into 4 weeks, children will reinforce the idea that they have the ability to make their brains super flexible! Students will complete several tasks that require them to “shift” their thinking and learn to adjust to the thinking and ideas of others.
Life Skills
“My Plate”
Students will learn the importance of healthy foods, explore the USDA “My Plate” suggestions for a balanced meal and explore different food groups.
Kindergarten
Story Time Soccer Continues
Spanish
Preschool & Pre- K
“Sleuth Sloth”
There's a cheese-based mystery in town, and it’s up to local detective, Two-Toes, to solve it. Conveniently, his suspects can all be described by weaving together the vocabulary from the previous five Story Boxes in longer and more complicated phrases.
Kindergarten-
Mid-Year Review!
Use each week to review the beginning of the year:
Greeting & Introductions (lesson 1)
Greetings & Colors (lesson 2)
Colors (Lesson 3)
Numbers (Lesson 4)
Each week practice the words with: pictures, songs and allow the children to record and be proud of their Spanish language progress!
Teacher Of The Month
Ms. Hope
Ms. Hope brings the calm to our Toddler II classroom. She has previous teaching experience prior to join us at The Learning Cottage. She greets her Toddlers with a smile on her face each and every day. Ms. Hope loves guiding the children and helping them to become the best they can be. She enjoys seeing their reactions to new things, and looks forward to watching them grow.
She plans to further her education studies in Early Childhood. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, walking and dancing.
Family Of The Month
The Gliosca Family
The Gliosca family enrolled during our kickoff to Summer Camp 2023. Theo enthusiastically jumped in, eager to get to know our staff and make new friends. It has been a joy to watch Theo become even more confident over the past few months. His eyes twinkle when he smiles and his whole face beams with pride during classroom activities. Mrs. Courtney Gliosca jumps in to help, joining Parent Committee and assisting in Book Fair set up. Thank you for your active participation! When we asked the Gliosca family what they love about the LC, they had this to say:
"We were thrilled when we were told there was a spot for Theo at The Learning Cottage, and it was a double bonus that he would be in the advanced pre-k class. This was a huge draw for us. Theo was showing signs of boredom and having a difficult time staying interested in pre-k curriculum. We had no idea how much he needed this change, but it became obvious within the first two weeks. He was not only being challenged academically but we noticed the staff here are all dedicated to his personal growth as well. Mrs. Jennifer is such an involved, caring and patient teacher who knows all of her student's strengths and weaknesses and she has made the biggest difference in Theo’s experience at school. He lights up at drop off and always wants to stay a few extra minutes at pick up. It has been wonderful to see him grow and come out of his shell. Theo is not just learning; he is thriving, and that’s a testament to the exceptional atmosphere created here at The Learning Cottage. That is what makes this school perfect for our family."
Reminders:
Cold Weather Clothing
The Learning Cottage
Email: info@sarasotalearningcottage.com
Website: www.sarasotalearningcottage.com
Location: 4965 Ringwood Meadows, Sarasota, FL, United States
Phone: 941-343-2102