November "Side-Dishes"

Here are some other items that we have been focusing on this month - some in conjuction with the theme of 'Joy in Communication and Relationships' and some that are just part of what we do day to day!

SPEECH/COMMUNICATION:

"I'm a BIG person - so I can use BIG words!" This has become our motto, and it is what I ask the children to remember when they need to express a need, concern, want, etc. to myself, their friends at preschool, at home with you as a family, and anyone else that they talk with. They love to say this line, and it is true that our children are learning rapidly and can express their feelings (feelings that we learned about last month!) to others...sometimes they might need a little help, but hopefully it is just helping them remember that they are BIG, and they need to use their BIG words!

BIG WORDS that we use:
These words should be common not only in preschool, but again at home or wherever the children are. The words are part of their BIG person vocabulary, and we have a fun time practicing them in role-plays with our puppets, and especially when we have snack time and the children use these with one another...I need to video snack and have you watch it. It's so sweet to watch a 3 year old, take around a plate of apples, and ask "______, would you like an apple today?" So-and-so responds, "Yes, thank you. I would love an apple (or other such phrase, but the important part is to get the beginning words!), or "No thank you, I do not care for apples." The children know that they should not say, "I don't like this, or that", or say "Ewwww!" to anything that is served. They don't have to eat something, however we encourage "try bites" (what I call them with my children), and to always be polite and use their BIG WORDS!

PLEASE
THANK YOU
YOU'RE WELCOME
I'M SORRY
EXCUSE ME - This is a hard one to be consistent with as parents, but we need to make sure that our children do not interrupt us or any adult, as this is a beginning way of teaching respect for their elders and people in general. Work to have a signal that they can give to you when they need you. Our signal (not perfect, but we work on using it more and more!), is that the children are to put their hand on my leg if I am talking to someone else, on the phone, etc. and they need my attention. I have promised them - and MUST follow through myself, that I will stop at the earliest convenience to hear what they need to say. Neither one of us should abuse this privilege with one another, and when we do, then the system does not work!

Patterning - A beginning mathematical concept, and something that we have done with shapes and colors, and will continue to add more onto. The bead and tube necklaces are a way that we work on patterns...so not only is your child bringing you beautiful jewelry, but they are learning how to look and build patterns. Look for everyday ways to incorporate this by looking at everyday patterns around you...encourage your children to find the patterns and show you!

Right and Left - We sing the 'Hokey-Pokey', start 'Ring Around the Rosey' going right and then left, sing our Welcome Song to the right and then the left, start walking on our right foot, etc. The main idea...talk through what foot or hand your child is using to help them know the difference between the two. Teaching Tip: If you hold your left hand up, with index finger up and thumb out, it looks like the letter 'L' for 'Left'!

Alphabet - I'm not emphasizing the actual letters at this time, however we are focusing on the sounds the letters make. When I write something on the whiteboard, I say the beginning sound of the words, and we sing the song that is from 'Leap Frog'...'A says 'A' and A says 'ah' - every letter makes a sound, A says....etc. We point out what letter each child's name starts with and then the sound, and find letters around the room for games. We sing the alphabet song, do Alphabet puzzles, etc., however my primary emphasis in on the letter sounds. Teaching Tip: Successful beginning reading starts with letter sounds, so that children have the basic building blocks to sound out ANY word as they learn to read basic sight words and then continue to sound out words as they graduate to more advanced reading.

Counting - We count everything and anything we can, so that the children can connect a one-to-one ratio! It's easy to do this anywhere and at any time, and children love to count as high as they can, and then start all over! We will focus more on number recognition starting in January.