This blog will serve as a home-school connection. I'm sure you ask your child everyday - "Did you have a fun day?" And they smile and respond with a bubbly, "Yes!" But when you ask the question, " What did you do?" the answer is, "Um, I don't know?". Well . . . I WANT you to know what we do! When we can connect concepts they are learning in school to their everyday environment and experiences, they begin to develop a foundation individual to their own learning style, which deepens the level of understanding.
I want to explain a few components of our preschool routine, which will remain the same the entire year.
Every week we will focus on a book with Balanced Literacy based activities each day. Balanced Literacy involves reading TO, WITH, and BY the students. We focus on chorus reading (to students), shared reading, guided reading/writing (with), interactive reading/writing (with), and finally, on Thursday, independent reading (by students). Although the children will most likely be reciting the words from memory, the exposure is very important for them as they develop concepts of print, as well as confidence and excitement associated with reading. Most of the time, they will get to bring home a copy of the book every Thursday to keep. Please ask your child to read to you, and let them read to other family members as well. If they don't have all the words correct, don't bring too much attention to it, just praise them for a great job. In these early literacy experiences we want them to feel successful!
Each month we will highlight an author/illustrator, including, Tedd Arnold, Eric Carle, Jan Brett, etc. We'll study their books and learn how they create their illustrations - then try it out ourselves!
A large part of preschool will be developing phonologic and phonemic awareness (the ability to hear and manipulate individual phonemes) - a basic block of early reading skills. Among many other games, activities, and strategies, each month we'll also engage in projects based on nursery rhymes. As I introduce games in developing phonemic awareness, I'll be sure to post the rules of the game so you can play them at home!
Soon we'll start homework! Each child will be given a homework folder. This is a time for them to begin developing expectations of school work along with the routine of homework. If you don't have time to help your child with homework - it's no problem! Just have them complete it whenever you can. You don't have to return the homework, but if they do, I'll reward them with a stamp or sticker.
Show and Teach will be the last Thursday of each month. I'll make sure to send out a reminder before. Sometimes there will be specific themes for Show and Teach, but normally it will be up to you guys to decide what to bring.
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