Sunday, January 26, 2014

Switching Gears

  As some of you know we are switch gears over from boxes to transportation. We are excited to be exploring different areas of transportation in our free choice center time, and in our classroom we will extend that theme and also add in a little about community helpers.

  This week I will introduce the share bag on Tuesday, and we will be talking a lot about making good choices in our room. We will be working on some simple class rules like Be Kind, and Be Safe. We will be exploring catapults in science so I am hoping the kids will pick up some new vocabulary like fulcrum, pivot point and catapult. We will also speaking with the children about what they want to be when they grow up.

  We have a field trip coming up on February 6th to the fire memories museum in Banning. I have never been to this location so I am excited to see the different things related to this fire station. I look forward to seeing a lot of our class there for a fun experience. On field trip days please note that school is closed.

  We are celebrating the 100th day of school on Tuesday with a few fun activities related to the number 100. Valentines day is coming and I plan to have a party list posted by the February 1st. The children can bring valentines to class on February 13th but we ask that if you choose to bring them in make sure you include everyone in class we have 18 students. We are asking that instead of student names you write "to my friend" that way they can pass out their own valentines to the kids in class. We will be using tissue boxes as our "mail boxes" So please continue to bring in those square tissue boxes. As with every party parents are always welcome to attend and participate in the festivities.

  We are really working hard in class on re direction. When your working in class its our goal to let the children know when they are not making a good choice and to re direct them to another activity or center. I will be helping with that but I need parent support in class as well to help. It is ok for you let a child know that they are not making a good choice or talk with them about good choices and if they are continuing to make a bad choice it is ok to help them to find another center or activity to participate in.

 On my wish list are a few items we are collecting for activities, and classroom projects and upkeep.
As always if you have any questions please feel free to send me an email to charlee.ips@gmail.com

Have a great weekend and see you on Tuesday!

Ms. Charlee

Monday, January 20, 2014

Our First Week

 We made it through our first week together and if I do say so myself the children are adjusting well to the new teacher and new routine. I want to thank all the parents who have worked this first week for being flexible and understanding as we transition together. I have truly enjoyed working with all of you and your children and I look forward to working with the rest of the class parents as the weeks progress.

 This next week we will be working on really getting small group centers going Tara and I have come up with some great plans for the week. Including a class story, creating a book, some new and fun art and making a treasure box. I also plan to re-introduce the share bag this week with me being the first one to share something I will bring in. For share bag to be successful I am asking that the children only place one item in the bag so that it doesn't take over all our circle time which I will tell them on Tuesday when we are back together again. So help your child to think of one special item to place in the share bag something that they love or means something to them and help them to prepare to talk about that item. What makes it special? Why is it their favorite item? Its asking those questions that get them thinking and turn those gears.

  There are a few things on the wish list tab these are items that we will be using for projects in class in the coming days and weeks so if you can bring in an item or two that would be greatly appreciated.

 We are getting ready to think about Valentines day in the next few weeks (I know it was just New Years!) we will have a class party and I plan to get a list up by February 1st and a list of all the children's names for you as well if you want to start writing out Valentines. As always parents are welcome on party day's.

 Enjoy the rest of our 3 day weekend and I will see everyone tomorrow morning.

Ms. Charlee