Classroom News – Week #3: The Letter “B”

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

    This week we focused on the letter “B,” and I’d like to thank all of the parents who donated items and participated in the activities and field trip.  All parents are welcome in our classroom, so you can stop by anytime, and there will be plenty of opportunities in the future for classroom activities during the school day as well as in the evenings.

    Next week we are starting on the letter “C” and will be exploring other cultures.  One project we’ll be working on is to talk about our families and friends.  We would love to hear from any parents or community members who wish to share information such as traditions, rituals, or practices.  We will also be exploring holidays from different countries and cultural groups.

    Photographs are also welcome, as we will be making a multicultural board, and we will be cutting pictures out of magazines to help the children be aware of the ways we are all unique, and what we have in common.  One fun activity we have planned will be to learn to say “hello” in different languages!  I will be posting a link to a website listing these if you want to practice with your child at home.

    In the “Upcoming Events,” you will see the dates and times of parent-teacher conferences.  Please contact me to set up a day and time that is convenient for you.  If these dates and times won’t work, please let me know and we can arrange an alternate time and/or location.  Also, your child is welcome to attend as well, as they will be excited to show you the portfolios they’ve been filling!

Thank you for your time and all that you do for our students!  -Ashley 

Classroom News – Week #3: The Letter “B”

   This week, we focused on the letter “B.”  We ate bananas and berries, and learned how to bake bread through the Little Red Hen!  The students helped mix bread dough, and the next day, got to eat the baked results!

   We went on a walk through the park and found lots of bugs and birds, and collected branches to make mobiles with bumblebees.

   On Thursday, we made bumblebee and butterfly costumes with wings and antennae, and flew around the room!

   We also read books about bears and practiced our growling noises.  The children especially loved the bear books and the rhyming words.  They may start noticing words that rhyme, and parents can help by pointing out these words too!

    The students were very interested in the park, and all of the different sights, sounds, and how everything feels in nature.  Science is an important part of a child’s development, and

thankfully, science activities can be fun and informative for everyone!  There are some ideas and information listed on the website, but here are a couple you can try at home as well!

•          Water experiments can be messy, so make sure these activities are done in a protected area, outside, or even in the bathtub!  Seeing what floats and what sinks, as well as pouring water through filters and funnels are great activities for kids.

• Enlist your child’s help in cooking, especially measuring and pouring.

 Books for Week #3

• “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” by Michael Rosen
• "Barney Bear Gets Dressed" by Rozanne Lanczak Williams
• “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do you see?” by Bill Martin, Jr
• "Grumpy Bird" by Jeremy Tankard
•  “The Little Red Hen" by Paul Goldone

Songs for Week #3

• B-I-N-G-O
• In Our Backyard
• One, Two, Buckle My Shoe (Can also be One, Two, Tie My Shoe)
• Baby Bumblebee

The Importance of Science for Young Children

It is often difficult to think of science and math activities interesting very young children.  After all, math can make you think of long, boring classes and old algebra books, and who can forget the bunsen burners in high school chemistry?

However, science and math are both vital to children's development, and can be explored through all kinds of fun activities.  In this post, we'll talk about easy ways to incorporate science activities into your home life.

Science for children this age consists mostly of exploration.  They are using their senses to learn about the world around them, and have an inborn desire to learn.  No formal lessons are needed, just chances for exploration!

Provide materials for exploration

One of the benefits of our classroom that children enjoy is the set up of our "centers."  We have a sensory table where children can play with different materials.  We provide water and dish soap to make bubbles, and cornstarch mixed with water to make "goop"!  We often add other things like rocks and pebbles, so the children can experience the sensation of rough versus smooth.  The children also enjoy pouring materials into different containers to learn how things like water are disbursed.  

Set up situations so children can ask questions and experiment

If your child is playing in the sandbox in your backyard, you can provide containers and water, and ask a question such as, "I wonder what would happen if we mixed the water and the sand?"  From there, your child can experiment to see what happens, which will lead to more questions, such as, "Why is water mixed with sand heavier?"  "Why can I build with wet sand but not dry?"  This can be done often, such as in the kitchen when cooking, planting a flower garden, or letting them use pots and pans as instruments to find out how each of them sounds.

Encourage them to reason and draw conclusions

Your child may have an idea about why things are the way they are.  Encourage them to talk about it, and come up with their own questions and hypotheses.  Questions often lead to more questions, which can lead to more exploration!

Don't focus too much on the "right" answer

As they get older, children will be required to provide the "correct answers," but at this age, they're just figuring out the world around them.  If they are experimenting and exploring, they may come up with the wrong answers, and right now, that's OK!  Feel free to read books together about the subject and explore it further.

Other science activities are posted in the entry below, and an article explaining the importance of science for kids is posted on the right.

Nature and Science Activities for Families

Outdoor Nature Activities for Preschoolers

Children love exploring nature, so here are some fun nature oriented activities to help encourage your child's explorations on your next outing.
Nature Treasure Walk
Before setting out, use a notebook to make a list of colours or shapes for your child to find, such as: 5 things that are orange, 3 triangles, etc. As you hike, have your child record in the notebook every time he or she finds an item. When you get home review what they've seen. Note: for non-readers, use images and icons to make the list and have children draw pictures of the things they find.
Photo Stories
Next time you go on a hike or spend the day at the park or museum, give your children their very own camera to document what they see. After printing the photos, have them create a photo story about the experience by arranging photos on Bristol board.
Camouflage and Seek
Have children cover their eyes. Spread a package of multi-colored pipe cleaners along the ground within a designated play area. Next, ask children to uncover their eyes and give them two minutes to collect as many pipe cleaners as possible. While bright pipe-cleaners are highly visible, the earth-toned ones are less likely to be found. Use this opportunity to teach children all about how animals use camouflage to protect themselves.
Senses Walk
Use a bandana or scarf to blindfold your budding naturalists and then carefully guide them through your backyard, a local park or on a hike. Encourage them to use their other senses to experience the trip. Guide them towards trees and have them touch the bark, leaves and branches. What do they feel like? Have them stand still and listen. What sounds can they identify? What do they smell? Now switch places and let your child guide you!
By Rochelle Strauss

(a link to this article is listed on to the right)

The importance of play

Many activities done in early childhood education classrooms are play-based, and many people wonder, "How are children learning if they play all day?"

How do children learn through play?  What are they learning?

• Social skills: children play games and in centers with each other, which helps them develop socially.  Through playing with others, children also learn skills such as taking turns, and that games have rules.  They also begin to learn how to take the perspective of others.
• Cognitive skills, such as reasoning, comprehension, and gaining knowledge: By working with multiple materials in different settings and situations, children experiment and begin to learn new ideas.  An example of this is our water table.  The children do enjoy splashing around in the water, but they are also learning how water runs, drips, flows, and feels.  They are able to see how water looks in different containers, and how it goes through a funnel.  As they play, they learn about water, which leads them to more questions and more experimentation.
• Motor skills: There are two kinds of motor skills.  Gross motor skills use large muscle to do things like crawl, walk, kick, and balance.  Fine motor skills use smaller muscles to do things like cut with scissors, draw, and tie shoes.  By using different materials and engaging in different activities, children are able to develop both fine and gross motor skills.  Through the art center, they are able to finger paint and cut out pictures.  When we play outside, they are able to run, and throw and kick balls.  

Early education teachers often dedicate large sections of time (30-60 minutes) throughout the day to allow children to play, both indoor and outdoors.  By letting the children play for a longer period of time, they become more involved in what they are doing, and learn more, but do not get bored.  Though it may go against what we as adults have learned, play is vital for a young child's development, and I encourage you to continue your child's play activities at home!

An article explaining this more in-depth is posted under "Articles and Information for Parents."

Healthy Snacks for Children

A few of you asked for suggestions on healthy snacks to feed your child.  Here are two helpful websites:

http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/feeding/healthy-eating/the-20-best-snacks-for-kids/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/childrens-health/HQ00419

I LOVE this website: http://www.thesneakychef.com/
The sneaky chef shows you how to hide healthy foods in your favorite recipes!  Great for adults and kids!

Food allergies

Many children and adults require a special diet for various reasons.  If your child has Celiac Disease and cannot tolerate gluten, or is lactose intolerant, it can be difficult to find recipes, especially if your child has more than one allergy. 

Enter FAAN - The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network at http://www.foodallergy.org/recipes.  This amazing website allows you to search for recipes, and you can click on a variety of restrictions, including milk-free, egg-free, wheat-free, peanut-free, soy-free, and tree nut-free!  Choose any many restrictions as necessary, and whether it's breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks, and you can choose from a variety of recipes.  This is a great tool for those with food allergies!  And, if you've developed your own special recipe, make sure you add it to their database!

Week #2 - The Letter "A"

Dear Caregivers,

I would like to thank all of you for reading the newsletter last week and for your responses! Many of you liked hearing about your child’s activities throughout the week, and requested information on a variety of topics.  In an effort to avoid overwhelming you with paperwork, I will be posting extra material on the website.  If anyone would appreciate having hard copies of the material as well, please let me know and I will be happy to print them.  If anyone did not have an opportunity to answer the questionnaire, please feel free to contact me at any time with your suggestions! 

Next week we will be starting on the letter "B," and we have more fun activities planned, including a trip to Madison Park on Wednesday from 2-3 p.m.  We are hoping to find bugs, birds, and bring back some branches for an art project.  We will also have books on butterflies and we will be painting our own butterfly wings!  Parents are welcome to come to the park with us.  Please meet us at the classroom at 2, or near the playground at the park between 2 and 3.  If it’s raining, we’ll postpone until Thursday.  If you would like to participate but cannot make it at 2, please feel free to drop by the classroom at any time and join us in our “B” activities!

Finally, I wanted send a request out to parents for extra “B” materials, such as bottles, beads, and any baking supplies.  If you have any old t-shirts handing around, we could also use those as smocks during our painting projects!

I will be taking pictures of the students throughout the year.  They will be available in our classroom, on the website, and at our parent-teacher conferences.  Thanks again for your time! -Ashley

Classroom News – Week #2: The Letter “A"

Our class had a busy week!  We began learning about the alphabet, and focused on the letter "A."  We read about apples and orchards, and had apple slices for snack.  We learned to make an A out of clay, and made "A" books full of pictures of images starting with the letter "A."  We acted like our favorite "A" animals (apes, ants, and alligators), and danced to "The Ants Go Marching." 

We read books on apples and apple orchards, and the children found it very interesting, so I would like to plan a field trip to an orchard later this fall.  We will need parent volunteers for that, so please keep that in mind. 

Books we read this week (these are also on a book list to the right)

·         Apple Farmer Annie - by Monica Wellington

·         Apples, Apples, Apples - by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

·         There's an Alligator Under My Bed - by Mercer Mayer

·         Arthur's Birthday - by Marc Brown

·         I Want to Be an Astronaut - by Byron Barton

·         An Alphabet Book of Cats and Dogs - by Sheila Moxley

·         Alphabears - by Kathleen Hague  

Songs this week (a link to the lyrics is on the right):
"The Ants Go Marching"
"If You're Happy and You Know It"

Bringing Art into the Home

Art is a very easy way to bring your child's school life into your home. Here are some things you might wish to try:

• Designate a drawer in the kitchen or living room as an art drawer, or use a bookshelf or sturdy cardboard box. A rubbermaid tub may be helpful as some of the materials can be a little messy!  In this space include crayons, marking pens, paper, a pair of scissors (if appropriate), tape/glue, collage material, paper, modeling clay, washable paint...whatever your child might use.
• Designate an area where the child can use the art supplies, and let your child know.  Some art supplies can be messy, so it helps if it's a space that's covered with paper or plastic, or can be wiped easily.
• Encourage your child to take out the art materials and use them independently at any time.
• Find places to display your child's art--on the refrigerator, on a wall in the child's room or in a hallway. Displaying children's art lets them know you think it's important and attractive.
• Asking questions about your child's art can also be encouraging.  Making comments such as, "I see you used a lot of color on this picture today!" or "Which picture should we put on the refrigerator?" helps your child see that you care about their activities.

Children love art, and bringing it into the home can be a wonderful way to encourage imagination and creativity!

How much sleep does my child need?

How much sleep does your preschooler need, and how can you tell if they're getting enough?  
Children in school need between 9 and 12 hours of sleep a night (adults need approximately 7-8 hours).  You can tell that your child is getting the right amount of sleep if:

• they fall asleep quickly (within 15 to 30 minutes),
• they get out of bed easily without you needing to bug them repeatedly
• they are awake and alert all day
• they don't need a nap

Many childcare providers (including myself) will let you know if your child seems unusually sleepy during the day, but always feel free to ask!

Find this and more information here: http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/sleep.htm

How much TV is OK?

In recent years, the debate over how much time a child should spend playing video games and watching TV has come up again and again.  With so many electronics available, it's difficult to limit your child's viewing and playing, and you may wonder, what's the harm in allowing my child to play video games?  And how much is "too much"?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than one to two hours a day can have a negative effect on your child.  Some of the dangers include childhood obesity, problems sleeping, lowered academic success, and less time for play. 


So how can you limit the amount of time your child spends in front of a TV screen?  The first step is to simply see how much time your child is involved in these activities.  From that information, you can learn ways to reduce it.

Here are some strategies for reducing the amount of TV your child watches:

• Many of us play a TV when we're home, often as background noise.  Adults are able to tune it out, but children are curious, and it may catch their eye.  Turning off the TV unless you are watching the show can help this.
• It is very important to keep TVs our of children's bedrooms.  Children with TVs in their bedroom watch more TV than children without.
• Be sure to talk to the other caregivers in your child's life.  Is your child spending watching TV for two hours after school at his daycare?  This is information you'll want to know.
• Suggesting other activities can be helpful.  Children may turn to TV because they know it's entertaining, and it's always there.  Helping your child choose another activity can help them find entertainment away from the TV.
• It may be difficult, but limiting the amount of time you watch TV can set a good example.
• Have a "media free night."  Turn off computers, video games, and the TV.  Put away your cell phones, and have a family night.  You can play board games or go on a bike ride or walk.
• Make viewing "an event."  Plan to watch a show as you would plan to go see a movie at the theater.  Turn the TV on for that show, and turn it off after it's done.

If you child(ren) really love video games, one popular option that I love is to engage in video games as a family.  You can buy games such as Dance Dance Revolution, or play sports using a Wii console.  These activities are fun, and involve physical activity!

For these tips, and more, please visit http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/children-and-tv/MY00522

Is your child a picky eater? Here's help!

If your child only likes a few foods, and refuses anything else, please be assured that you are not alone!  Many parents deal with the same situation, and the worry that comes with not knowing if your child is getting the proper nutrition.  The article below was written by the staff at Mayo Clinic, and contains some good tips.  If you find that any of these strategies work, please post in the comments and share with me and the other parents!

This article in full can be found at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/childrens-health/HQ01107

Children's nutrition: 10 tips for picky eaters

No. 1: Respect your child's appetite — or lack of one: If your child isn't hungry, don't force them to eat, and don't bribe or force your child to eat any foods he or she doesn't like.  It is also not necessary for a child to "clean his plate."  This can cause a battle between parents and children, and cause everyone to dread mealtime.  Start with small servings and wait for your child to ask for more.

No. 2: Stick to the routine: At school, we serve our morning and afternoon snacks, as well as lunch, at the same time Monday through Friday.  Though it can be difficult, try to stay on a regular schedule with meals at home.  This is not always possible due to busy schedules, but can be helpful.  Also, don't serve milk or juice between meals, as that will decrease their appetite.

No. 3: Be patient with new foods: Everyone has seen their child put a new food in their mouth, taste it, and then spit it back out.  This can be frustrating (and gross!) but is common with young children.  But just as babies put things in their mouths to figure out what they taste and feel like, so is your child with new foods.  He or she may not like it at first, but over time, they may come to love it!  Always serve a new food with your child's favorite foods; don't overwhelm them with new foods, or they could refuse to eat any of it.

No. 4: Make it fun: Food isn't only about taste; it's also about smell, look, and texture.  Try serving brightly colored foods, or cutting a sandwich with a cookie cutter.  Have breakfast for dinner.  If your child loves ranch dressing, serve vegetables with ranch, instead of on their own.

No. 5: Recruit your child's help: Ask your child to choose a new fruit or vegetable at the store that they would like to try.  At home, as them for help cooking.  They are more likely to eat it if they helped to make it.

No. 6: Set a good example: Adults have foods that they don't enjoy, just as children do, but try to eat as healthy and variety of foods as possible to encourage your children.

No. 7: Be creative: Your child doesn't have to know exactly what's in that spaghetti sauce, so feel free to add in other vegetables.  Hide spinach in fruit smoothies.  There are many different strategies for making foods healthier without changing the taste. (check out this recipe from Rachael Ray: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/harvest-moon-macaroni-recipe/index.html.)

No. 8: Make mealtime about the meal: Put away the gameboy, and turn off the TV.  Avoid any distractions and focus on the food.

No. 9: Don't offer dessert as a reward: Many of us experienced this as a child: "Eat your broccoli, or no dessert!"  However, this makes children think that dessert should come at the end of every meal, and that it's the best part of the meal.  Instead, make dessert fruit or yogurt, or only have dessert a couple times a week.  This also helps reduce your child's craving for sugar!

No. 10: No special meals!  Don't prepare a special meal for your child.  If your child doesn't want to eat the meal that everyone else is eating, encourage them to stay at the table during dinnertime, but don't force them to eat.  Keep serving healthy foods until they become familiar.

If you are worried that your child is not eating enough, keep a food journal of their intake for a few days.  Your son or daughter may be ingesting more than you think.  Many children do grow out of the "picky eater" phase, and the tips above can help.  The vast majority of picky eaters do not have any problems with their growth, but if you are concerned, talk to your pediatrician.

Week #1

Dear parents and caregivers,

I would appreciate it if all of you would please read and answer the questions below.  You can answer them on the blog, e-mail them, call me, or stop by to chat at any time.  I am always interested in hearing your thoughts!  - Ashley

1.       What information would you like to see in the newsletters?

2.       What is the best method and time to contact you?

3.       Would you be interested in participating in/volunteering for school activities that work with your interests and schedule?

4.       Would you be interested in participating in a school committee, or a regular parents' meeting?

      5.   Is there any additional information about your family that you would like to share?

Classroom News - Week #1: All About Me

Our first week of school is done, and I wanted to let you know what we've been working on!  On Monday, our class spent the first part of our day getting to know each other and talking about what we'd like to do this year.  The children were full of ideas and are very eager to learn!  We toured the classroom and looked at the different play centers, our art area, and our library.  Each student has his or her picture taken and posted on the student board with their name, and everyone took turns telling the class their favorite food, color, and toy.

 
Next week, we will be working on the letter "A" and an introduction to the alphabet.  "A" will be incorporated into our activities throughout the week, and I encourage parents and caregivers to continue these fun activities at home!  Links to activity websites are posted under “Activities and Songs” on the blog if you would like to do some of these activities at home. 

Please take a look at the "items needed"  list on the website as they would be very helpful in the classroom.  If you have any of these items that you aren't using, beginning with "A" or any other letter, please pass them on to the classroom!  I would like to thank all of the parents and caregivers for reading this, and I hope to get to know all of you better!

Featured Books of the Week (also on the book list to the right):

·         “Just My Friend and Me” by Mercer Mayer

·         “Giraffes Can’t Dance” by Giles Andreae

·         “Olivia” by Ian Falconer

·         “Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes” by Eric Litwin

Featured Songs:

1, 2, 3 Good Friends
Sung to "10 little Indians"
1, 2, 3 good friends,
4, 5, 6 good friends,
7, 8, 9 good friends,
10 good friends are we!

You can also sing it in Spanish
Uno, dos, tres amigos,
Cuatro, cinco, seis amigos
Siete, ocho, nueve amigos
Diez amigos son!

Meeting New Friends

Sung to “We’ve Got Spirit”

Meeting new friends
Is fun to do
My name is _____
How about you? (child points to another child)