Preschool House Newsletter
November
I'm Thankful For Preschool
Really, I am. It's funny, but when I decided to start my own program out of my house I thought of how nice it would be to work in bare feet, and to not have to get into my car on chilly mornings, or what it would be like to be my own boss. What I didn't anticipate was how lovely it would be to have preschoolers in my home every day. I've taught for a lot of years in many different classrooms and have developed great relationships with many of the families that I've met, but there's something just a little bit different about having you all come to my home every day. It feels more like family than it ever has before. It's been very very nice, and I'm thankful for that. I'm thankful for all of you.
I'm also happy to report that it's been a great month here at preschool. We spent an entire month discussing what everyone is was going to be for Halloween, visited the pumpkin patch and capped off a spooky month with a Halloween party in class. Along the way we continued working on fine motor skills (it's kinda a obsession of mine if you can't tell), patterns, letters and are beginning to introduce syllables and rhyming. We're also starting math activities that focus on number dissection and permanence. (I talk to 3 year olds all day, so I like to cart out the fancy terminology when I can). Very most importantly we're working on our social skills, independence and conflict resolution- which is always a little easier once we learn everyone's names. These are all concepts that we'll hit over and over throughout the entire year. Let the party continue!
I'm also happy to report that it's been a great month here at preschool. We spent an entire month discussing what everyone is was going to be for Halloween, visited the pumpkin patch and capped off a spooky month with a Halloween party in class. Along the way we continued working on fine motor skills (it's kinda a obsession of mine if you can't tell), patterns, letters and are beginning to introduce syllables and rhyming. We're also starting math activities that focus on number dissection and permanence. (I talk to 3 year olds all day, so I like to cart out the fancy terminology when I can). Very most importantly we're working on our social skills, independence and conflict resolution- which is always a little easier once we learn everyone's names. These are all concepts that we'll hit over and over throughout the entire year. Let the party continue!
Favorite Food Feast
Here's the big news of the month! Our favorite food feasts will be on the 20th and 21st of November. On that day your preschooler can bring a bit of their favorite food to share with the class. Please please please let them decide what to bring- even if it's something kinda odd (I live for odd!) You don't need to send a lot of food either. For instance, say their favorite food is bananas- two or three bananas that we can cut up is plenty. I'm happy to heat food up or keep things cold if need be. The only restrictions are no nuts, and I'll run interference for any other allergies. This always ends up being one of the preschoolers favorite activities. Let me know if you have any questions.
Parking
Thanks everyone for putting up with me and my pesky neighbors about parking. I appreciate all of your help and am happy to report that even Betty across the street came over to say what an excellent job we've been doing, and then she invited me to join her old time fiddle band. Perhaps that means she likes us now? Keep up the good work!
Parent Teacher Conferences
I'm still wrapping up assessments, but would love to sit down and chat with you about your preschooler if you'd like. Conferences are optional, but if you are interested in how they are doing specifically or have any questions or concerns let me know and we can set up a time to get together this next month. I can be available any time after preschool or could do a phone or email conversation if that's better for you. Let me know what works for you and we can set up a time.
A Note On Drop Off Time
Have you had a morning where it was hard to convince your preschooler to come to school or you've dropped them off crying? I just wanted to assure everyone that this is pretty normal. Preschool is all shiny and new for a few weeks and then about the time the newness wears off it gets cold outside and darker earlier and it's a whole lot harder to get up and going in the mornings. We've all been resigned to getting up and around for years now, but having somewhere they have to be in the mornings consistently is new to most preschoolers, and it's harder for some then others, especially the young preschoolers.
I just wanted to reiterate that I'm on your team. Like I said, totally normal. 99% of the time it passes and Id rather have them dropped off crying then not dropped off at all. I have a lot of anxiety about your preschooler having a good day and would be the first to tell you if I didn't think they weren't. If I take them from you upset and you didn't hear back from me that means that they were their typically happy smiley self after just a few minutes. If they are still upset after awhile I'd let you know. If your mornings are hard, keep giving it time. However, you know your kid best. If we don't get over the hump soon or if they are what you feel is unusually upset about coming please contact me so we can talk and come up with a plan.
I just wanted to reiterate that I'm on your team. Like I said, totally normal. 99% of the time it passes and Id rather have them dropped off crying then not dropped off at all. I have a lot of anxiety about your preschooler having a good day and would be the first to tell you if I didn't think they weren't. If I take them from you upset and you didn't hear back from me that means that they were their typically happy smiley self after just a few minutes. If they are still upset after awhile I'd let you know. If your mornings are hard, keep giving it time. However, you know your kid best. If we don't get over the hump soon or if they are what you feel is unusually upset about coming please contact me so we can talk and come up with a plan.
Thanksgiving Break
Just like all the schools we'll be closed November 24th-28th. Have a great holiday!
Here's What Our Month Looked Like...
Hammering Away
You all saw my rotting golf tee pumpkin, right? Well, it was actually a gross motor activity. Hitting a nail right on the head is actually hard work, very tricky to coordinate. We like hard work here!
Squirrel!!
Seriously, this squirrel sits and watches us during circle time every day. I try to not point it out very often or else I'll lose their attention. This day they caught him peeking in.
#paintfail
Some projects just don't really turn out. Here's a picture of one. It was difficult, a huge mess, and the end product was disappointing (even for the preschoolers who braved it). No matter! We still learn from projects with terrible results, lessons like "we're never doing this again". They're having a good time, though.
Halloween Party
Looks like a blast, right? Here's the only picture I got from both classes! I'm a terrible photographer! If you didn't hear the rundown we sang songs, put on a few shows, made monster slime, had a spooky cave and a haunted house. Way fun, no matter what this picture says.
Publishing House
One of the best things you can do to help your preschooler become a great reader is encourage them to write, yes, even if they can't write yet. It teaches them that print is a tool, and believe it or not, that is a hard concept and an important skill. I use all sorts of ways to encourage them. Here we had a book making center.
Trick Or Treat
Social skills are hard to develop when we don't play with each other, that's why dramatic play is essential to a healthy preschool classroom. We played "trick or treat" almost all month long, and they NEVER got tired of it.
Artists At Work
I love using paint as a medium for lots of things. Often times I have very specific art projects to target very specific skills, and often they involve paint. The art easel,however, is always open ended, however. I mix it up a bit, but the preschoolers drive the ship on what they want to create.
Share and share alike.
Three kids, two pieces of paper and no one is screaming. This is what progress looks like, folks.
Sky High
A classroom without blocks is a travesty. If your preschooler doesn't have a great block set at home add it to the Christmas list. I could go on and on and on about the immense amount of skills they learn from building blocks, or you could just trust me and admire this fancy structure :)