Hi Parents!
Our first full week went really well! The kids are understanding our routines and are forming great friendships. And we started our Letter of the Week which was Aa.
Monday we started the day with a letter A recognition (circle the A) worksheet which was sent home. Once back in our classroom after bathroom and Foyer time dancing, we started circle time with our letter of the week Aa. I explained how to write both upper and lower case and the sounds the letter Aa makes. During centers the kids worked on the Original Works art project. You’ll hear more about all the fun items you’ll be able to get with their artwork on it. Makes for great Christmas gifts for family. At another center the kids did a color/shape worksheet which was a great way to practice shape recognition, pencil grip and color recognition. The kids also did an I-spy to find the Aa’s and make PlayDoh balls to place on the Aa. At the last center I challenged the kids to match upper and lower case letters on apple cards. They did so good for their first time with this activity. We ended the day with a pass the picture game where the kids use clothes pins to pass a picture of an apple to each other without dropping it. The kids really liked a group game!
On Tuesday, we started the day with looking at books which the kids seem to enjoy. Today was our very first monthly Chapel for the kids. During Chapel the kids gather in the church to learn about bible stories or teachings. Today Chapel was all about Adam and Eve and the forbidden apple in the Garden of Eden. The kids learned how important it is to listen to God and to follow directions. Back in the room for circle time to review our letter Aa and then on to centers. The first center was an apple pin poke where the kids use wither a golf tee or push pin to poke holes to form a picture. This is a great fine motor muscle builder. At another center the kids rolled dice to count and build block towers. At the last center I really challenged them with an apple sequence cut and color worksheet which was sent home. Sequencing is an important skill to develop for Kindergarten.
Wednesday is Art day! We started the day practicing our names on our dry erase quick kits. After bathroom and dancing, we went to the art room to make apple suncatchers. The kids put colored tissue paper on an apple laminating sheet. Once laminated it turns into a suncatcher. Back in the classroom it was time to taste apples! The kids tasted red, green and yellow apples and gave a thumbs up or down for each. We ended our day with a read aloud.
On Thursday we always start the day playing toys. During centers we colored an astronaut and flag for an art project well finish next week. The kids also practiced writing Aa on dry erase quick kits. I’m impressed with their skills! At another center I challenged them again. They worked on their first The Letter Says worksheet where they had to trace and write the letter Aa. Then they cut and glued the pictures that start with the Aa sound and finally color it if they have time. They will do this worksheet for every letter. For their first time I was very impressed with their understanding and skills! This worksheet is definitely a challenge at the start of the year but these kids did so good! We ended our day with a short letter sound video which we will watch once a week to enhance letter sound learning. We watch Captain Seasalt Letter Aa. These videos are on YouTube if you are curious or the kids want to watch again.
It was a great week for the kids! Looking forward to next week for letter Mm.
Kim