Mrs. Maruschock’s Pre-K Classroom News December 18, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week

~This week we talked more about manners/feelings as well as holidays. We learned about “good” manners, and that our manners affect how people feel. On Thursday we joined Mrs. Dougherty in the library for the Polar Express with our stuffed friends. Everyone had a GREAT time pretending to ride the train.

We also have started learning about geometric solids including: sphere, cylinder, cube, cone, rectangular prism and triangular prism. The students enjoyed discovering common objects in these shapes-an ice cream cone and birthday hat are cone shaped, straws and rolls of toilet paper are cylinders, a tissue box is a rectangular prism, a tent is a triangular prism, a ball and a planet are spheres, and some ice cubes are cube-shaped!

Centers: Project-making a square collage; Cutting-cutting out our Polar Express ticket; Project-part of a surprise; Velcro names-putting the letters of our names on a Velcro strip; Blocks-foam colored blocks; Shelf toys; and Playdough-using holiday cookie cutters with pink playdough.

Rhyming: Leo the Lion puppet rhymed with bear: pear, chair and square rhyme with bear. The students have been doing GREAT pointing out words that rhyme when we are doing various activities, including reading stories. This is a great activity for you to do at home as well.

Books we read: Bear Stays Up, Merry Christmas Big Hungry Bear, and Where’s My Dreidel?

Vocabulary words: feelings/manners words: happy, sad, angry, upset, surprised, excited, please, thank you, excuse me, sorry, may I have a turn, Holidays: Christmas, Hanukah, tree, dreidel, holiday, gifts.

Physical Therapy Group

Again this week-the students pretended to be Santa and reindeer delivering presents to the houses. They used colored bean bags as presents and had to deliver them to the correct color house. One child sat on a scooter board and the other pulled using a jump-rope. Everyone had a great time with this activity!

Please remember sneakers and no dresses on Wednesdays.

Important Notices

+ Please remind your children to walk on the sidewalks and stay with an adult. This is an important safety rule around school and in the community.

+ Please send your child to school with mittens instead of gloves. We are working on self-help skills in preschool, and gloves are too difficult for these kiddos to put on.

+ Please remember no boots should be worn in school. If you send your child to school wearing boots, please send a pair of shoes to change in to.

A Look Ahead…

~No school December 24-Jan 4.

~ December topics are: food/meals, positional/place words, manners/feelings and holidays.

~ Remember to sign up to read to the class. This will be starting in January.

HAVE A NICE WEEKEND!

Pre-K Classroom News December 11, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week

This week we learned about place words and manners/feelings. We learned about “good” manners, and that our manners affect how people feel.
Centers: Kitchen- pretend play, Project- surprise, Listening- to The Story of My Feelings, various puzzles, project-place words cutting/gluing over and under a mountain, coloring-on mural paper while laying on our bellies, Velcro names-putting the letters of our names on a Velcro strip, and painting- on the easel using white paint (snow pictures).
Rhyming: Leo the Lion puppet rhymed with bee this week-tree, three and key.
Books we read: If you’re Angry and You Know It, Little Bear and the Great Big Chair, and It’s My Turn.
Vocabulary words: feelings/manners words: happy, sad, angry, upset, surprised, excited, please, thank you, excuse me, sorry, may I have a turn, Place words: over, under, next to, between, up, down, in, out, in front of, and behind.


Physical Therapy Group

This week the students pretended to be Santa and reindeer delivering presents to the houses. They used colored bean bags as presents and had to deliver them to the correct color house. One child sat on a scooter board and the other pulled using a jump-rope. Everyone had a great time with this activity!

Please remember sneakers and no dresses on Wednesdays.

Important Notices

+ It was nice meeting with all of you for parent/teacher conferences.

+ Please send your child to school with mittens instead of gloves. We are working on self-help skills in preschool, and gloves are too difficult for these kiddos to put on.

+ Please remember no umbrellas in preschool.

+ Please remember no boots should be worn in school. If you send your child to school wearing boots, please send a pair of shoes to change in to.

A Look Ahead…

~No school December 24-Jan 4.

~ December topics are: food/meals, positional/place words, manners/feelings and holidays.

~ Remember to sign up to read to the class. This will be starting in January.

Extra! Extra!

~ The playground committee has been working hard raising funds for new play structures at ECS and WIS-this will include a Pre-K play space! The committee meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at the town hall.

~My email address is knagy-maruschock@cromwell.k12.ct.us. The school’s website is: www.cromwell.k12.ct.us


Have a nice weekend!

Pre-K Classroom News November 20, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week

This week at school we learned about furniture and utensils. We talked about why we have utensils and furniture, and what we do with them. Some good conversation starters “do we eat soup with a fork? Why not? What do we use to flip pancakes? Why do we have beds? What do we use a desk for?”
Centers: Kitchen: we added some kitchen utensils such as a whisk, ladle, and spatula. Blocks: The students retold The Napping House story using pictures of the characters from the story taped on blocks. Flannel Board: matching the correct size bowl of porridge, bed, and chair to the correct bear from the Goldilocks story. Project: Making a placemat with a plate, fork, spoon, knife, napkin on it. Dollhouses with furniture. Listening to Five Little Monkey’s Jumping on the Bed.
Books we read: The Napping House and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. When we read The Napping House we talked about the furniture in the house. In Goldilocks and the Three Bears we learned about furniture and utensils, as well as the size concepts of small, medium and large.
Vocabulary words: furniture, utensils, small, medium, large, chair, table, desk, couch/sofa, dresser/bureau, bed, fork, spoon, knife, whisk, ladle, and spatula.

Physical Therapy Group

This week the students followed directions and had to identify the correct color and shape to go stand on. They then had to “walk to a red square”, “crawl to a green triangle”, etc. This is great for improving listening skills.

Important Notices

+ Parent teacher conferences are being held December 3 & 4th. I look forward to meeting with all of you.
+ Scholastic Book orders are due today. However, you can order online up until Friday morning at 9:00. These make great presents for the holidays.

A Look Ahead…

~ November topics will be: Farms, Thanksgiving, Furniture and Utensils.

~ December topics will be: food/meals, positional/place words, manners/feelings and holidays.

~ We will be inviting parents to sign up to read to the class beginning in December.

~ No school Thursday Nov 27.

~ Thanks to those parents who have sent in Halloween photos to share.

Extra! Extra! .

~ The playground committee has been working hard raising funds for new play structures at ECS and WIS-this will include a Pre-K play space! The committee meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at the town hall.

~My email address is knagy-maruschock@cromwell.k12.ct.us. The school’s website is: www.cromwell.k12.ct.us

Have a nice weekend!

Pre-K Classroom News November 6, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week

This week at school we learned about farms and the animals that are on a farm. We also learned about the sounds the animals make, and next week we’ll learn about what we call baby animals.
Centers: Journals-drawing about farm animals, puppet theater-putting on a puppet show for our friends using farm animals, sorting-different colored horses into their barns, floor puzzles- a large barn puzzle and miscellaneous farm animal puzzles, project-gluing shapes to make a tractor, barns and barn animal pretend play, and coloring farm pictures.
Books we read: Flea’s Sneeze and I’m Going to be a Farmer.
Vocabulary words: cow, horse, chicken, rooster, pig, sheep, cat, dog and rooster were some of our vocab words this week.

Physical Therapy Group

Please have your child wear sneakers and pants (no dresses) on Wednesdays. This week the students used their body parts to bounce balloons. For example, they bounced the balloon around the room using only their elbows, then only the palm of their hands, back of their hands, knee, shoulder, etc.

Important Notices

Parent teacher conferences are being held December 3 & 4th. Thank you to those who have given me your available times. If you haven’t already done so, please return them to me ASAP (today was the deadline). I will be finalizing the schedule by Nov 12.

A Look Ahead…

~ November topics will be: Farms, Thanksgiving, Furniture and Utensils.
~ We will be inviting parents to sign up to read to the class beginning in December.
~ No school Tuesday November 11.
~ We would love to have your child share his/her Halloween experience at school. If you have any photos of your child, please send them in next week and we will do an informal “show and tell”. This is a great way to get the kids to speak in front of a group.

Extra! Extra!

~ The playground committee has been working hard raising funds for new play structures at ECS and WIS. The committee meets the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at the town hall. They are in need of more members. If you are unable to attend meetings but would like to help out, they also need people who are able to research and apply for grants pertaining to playgrounds. If you are interested, please let me know.


~My email address is knagy-maruschock@cromwell.k12.ct.us. The school’s website is: www.cromwell.k12.ct.us


Have a nice weekend!

Pre-K Classroom News October 30, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week

This week we had more autumn and Halloween fun. We talked about fall activities, including carving jack-o-lanterns and Halloween fun. We also had another visit from Leo the Lion (a puppet). We found out more words that rhyme with sock, including lock, block, and clock.
Centers: kitchen, cardboard block building, coloring festive pictures, sorting apples into baskets, puzzles-apple tree, and red, yellow, green apples. Also, the students worked on making patterns with apples, pears and pumpkins. They made ABAB and ABCABC patterns, such as lining up an apple, pumpkin, apple, pumpkin, etc. This is fun to do with lots of common objects at home-fork, spoon, etc. Our project was making a fall tree by coloring the truck, then using hand prints/finger prints to make the colorful fall leaves. These are displayed in the classroom and look GREAT!
Books we read: Say Boo! and Corduroy’s Best Halloween Ever.
Vocabulary words: Halloween, costumes, pretend, dress up, fall, autumn, leaves, acorn, pine cone, pumpkin, jack-o-lantern, harvest, change and seasons were some of our vocab words this week.

Physical Therapy Group

Please have your child wear sneakers and pants (no dresses) on Wednesdays. This week in PT group the students played a leaf/tree game. One student was the tree covered with “leaves” (scarves). The other students were the wind and blew around the tree, making the colorful leaves fall off. Everyone seemed really enjoy this activity.

Important Notices

~ Picture re-take day is November 5. Please let us know if you would like your child’s picture re-taken.

A Look Ahead…

~During the month of November our topics will be: Farms, Thanksgiving, Furniture and Utensils.

~We will be inviting parents to sign up to read to the class beginning in December.
Extra! Extra!

~ WE HAVE READ 100 BOOKS! As part of the Scholastic Books program, we have been keeping track of the books we read at school. After reading 100 books, Scholastic will donate books to people in need. Nice work Pre-K Students!

~My email address has changed, as has everyone’s in the building. The old address knagy@cromwellct.org will continue to work for a few more months. The new address is knagy-maruschock@cromwell.k12.ct.us. The school’s website has also changed: www.cromwell.k12.ct.us

Have a very Happy and Safe Halloween!

What’s wrong with W-sitting?

By Jean McNamara, PT ADVANCE for Physical Therapists, 1995

The W-positions is one of many sitting positions that most children move into and out of while playing, but it’s a four-letter word to some parents. Why is it presumed to be ok for some children and forbidden for others?

When playing in these other sitting postures, children develop the trunk control and rotation necessary for midline crossing (reaching across the body) and separation of the two sides of the body. These skills are needed for a child to develop refined motor skills and hand dominance.
W-sitting is not recommended for anyone. Many typically developing children do move through this position during play, but all parents should be aware that the excessive use of this position during the growing years can lead to future orthopedic problems.

Why do children W-sit? Every child needs to play and children who are challenged motorically like to play as much as anybody. They don’t want to worry about keeping their balance when they’re concentrating on a toy. Children who are frequent W-sitters often rely on this position for added trunk and hip stability to allow easier toy manipulation and play.

When in the W-position, a child is planted in place or "fixed" through the trunk. This allows for play with toys in front, but does not permit trunk rotation and lateral weight shifts (twisting and turning to reach toys on either side). Trunk rotation and weight shifts over one side allow a child to maintain balance while running outside or playing on the playground and are necessary for crossing the midline while writing and doing table top activities.

It’s easy to see why this position appeals to so many children, but continued reliance on W-sitting can prevent a child from developing more mature movement patterns necessary for higher-level skills.

Who should not w-sit? For many children, W-sitting should always be discouraged. This position is contraindicated (and could be detrimental) for a child if one of the following exists:

* There are orthopedic concerns. W-sitting can predispose a child to hip dislocation, so if there is a history of hip dysplasia, or a concern has been raised in the past, this position should be avoided.

* If there is muscle tightness, W-sitting will aggravate it. This position places the hamstrings, hip adductors, internal rotators and heel cords in an extremely shortened range. If a child is prone to tightness or contractures, encourage anther pattern of sitting.

* There are neurologic concerns/developmental delays. If a child has increased muscle tone (hypertonia, spasticity), W-sitting will feed into the abnormal patterns of movement trying to be avoided (by direction of the child’s therapist). Using other sitting postures will aid in the development of more desirable movement patterns.

W-sitting can also discourage a child from developing a hand preference. Because no trunk rotation can take place when W-sitting, a child is less inclined to reach across the body and instead picks up objects on the right with the right hand, and those placed to the left with the left hand.

Try sitting in various positions. Notice how you got there, got out, and what it took to balance. Many of the movement components you are trying to encourage in a child are used when getting in and out of sitting. Transfers in and out of the Q-position, however, are accomplished through straight-plane (directly forward and backward) movement only. No trunk rotation, weight shifting, or righting reactions are necessary to assume or maintain W-sitting.

How to prevent W-sitting. The most effective (and easiest) way to prevent a problem with W-sitting is to prevent it from becoming a habit it the first place. Anticipate and catch it before the child even learns to W-sit. Children should be placed and taught to assume alternative sitting positions. If a child discovers W-sitting anyway, help him to move to another sitting position, or say, "Fix your legs." It’s very important to be as consistent as possible.

When playing with a child on the floor, hold his knees and feet together when kneeling or creeping on hands and knees. It will be impossible to get into a W-position from there. The child will either sit to one side, or sit back on his feet; he can then be helped to sit over to one side from there (try to encourage sitting over both the right and left sides). These patterns demand a certain amount of trunk rotation and lateral weight shift and should fit with a child’s therapy goals.

If a child is unable to sit alone in any position other than a W, talk with a therapist about supportive seating or alternative positions such as prone and sidelying. Tailor sitting against the couch may be one alternative; a small table and chair is another.

The therapist (s) working with the child will have many other ideas. Caregivers should ask if W-sitting is now, or may in the future, be a problem.


About the author: Jean McNamara is with Helping Hands School in Clifton Park, NY. The article was written in conjunction with the OP/PT staff there.

Pre-K Classroom News October 23, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week

This week we had more autumn fun. We talked about fall activities, including carving jack-o-lanterns and Halloween fun. We learned the ASL hand sign for pumpkin and apple. We also had a visit from Leo the Lion (a puppet). He loves to rhyme. This week he came with a sock, so we said words that rhyme with sock. This would be great to reinforce at home.
Centers: Journals-drawing a fall picture, sorting paper apples by color, counting apples on felt apple trees and putting the correct number on the tree, wooden blocks, coloring apples and counting them, dot painting fall pictures, and putting together Mr. Potato Heads (reinforcing body parts).

Books we read: Picking Apples and Pumpkins, and Fresh Fall Leaves.

Vocabulary words: fall, autumn, leaves, acorn, pine cone, pumpkin, jack-o-lantern, harvest, change and seasons were some of our vocab words this week.


Physical Therapy Group

Please have your child wear sneakers and pants (no dresses) on Wednesdays. This week in PT group the students played a leaf/tree game. One student was the tree covered with “leaves” (scarves). The other students were the wind and blew around the tree, making the colorful leaves fall off. Everyone seemed to really enjoy this activity.

Important Notices

~ Picture re-take day is November 5. Please let us know if you would like your child’s picture re-taken.

A Look Ahead…

~During the month of October, our topics will be: Self-Care/Safety, Body Parts, Pets, Autumn Pumpkins and Apples.

~We will be inviting parents to sign up to read to the class beginning in December.

Extra! Extra!

~ Does your child w-sit? We are sending home an important article pertaining to this topic. Each day we see many of our students sitting in this position and we tell them “please fix your legs-criss cross applesauce”. This is important to also remind your child about at home.

~My email address has changed, as has everyone’s in the building. The old address knagy@cromwellct.org will continue to work for a few more months. The new address is knagy-maruschock@cromwell.k12.ct.us. The school’s website has also changed: http://www.cromwell.k12.ct.us/

Have a nice weekend!

Pre-K Classroom News October 16, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week

This week we learned more about body parts, and also began learning about signs of fall. We also began measuring students on our growth chart, which we will check on periodically. Our "Question of the Week" was "are you a boy or a girl?" We made a chart and counted how many boys and girls we have. We learned that we have the same number of boys as girls in the morning class.Centers: Projects: matching body parts in pictures, making a body part booklet; kitchen: pretend play with dolls and props; shelf toys; playdough with fall cookie cutters; a large fall puzzle; and dollhouse.Books we read: The Leaves Are Falling One by One, and Picking Apples and Pumpkins.Vocabulary words: fall, autumn, leaves, acorn, pine cone, pumpkin, jack-o-lantern, harvest, change and seasons were some of our vocab words this week.

Physical Therapy Group

Please have your child wear sneakers and pants (no dresses) on Wednesdays. This week in PT group the students practiced moving like animals while using colors and shapes to follow directions. Everyone did a great job with this.

Important Notices

* The bee issue appears to be resolved at this time.

~When it is raining, please refrain from sending your child to school with an umbrella. It is particularly difficult with students who ride the bus. Thank you for your help with this.

* Reminder: Please call or email if your child is going to be absent.

~Book orders are due today; however, you can go online to order until 9:00 Friday morning.

A Look Ahead…

~During the month of October, our topics will be: Self-Care/Safety, Body Parts, Pets, Autumn Pumpkins and Apples.

Extra! Extra!

~ Do you know about infoline 2-1-1? It’s a good resource for parents. You can call 2-1-1 if you need to find a daycare or need another community service. The web address is www.infoline.org/

~My email address has changed, as has everyone’s in the building. The old address knagy@cromwellct.org will continue to work for a few more months. The new address is mailto:knagy-maruschock@cromwell.k12.ct.us.
The school’s website has also changed: http://www.cromwell.k12.ct.us/

Have a nice Weekend!

Pre-K Classroom News October 2, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week

This week and last week we talked about taking care of ourselves by being safe. We learned that we should hold an adult’s hand when walking in a parking lot, and talked about being safe around the school buses when coming to and leaving the school. We also learned about our bodies belonging to us, and that we don’t have to share them if we don’t feel comfortable doing that. We also talked about getting ourselves dressed, and working on doing many things ourselves-such as putting on our coats and backpacks, getting our own snacks, and trying to open items on our own. We also discussed taking care of our teeth, going to the dentist, and keeping our bodies clean. Lastly, we learned about calling 9-1-1 when there is an emergency.
Centers: Projects: making shiny, clean teeth with glitter on a stick; a 9-1-1recognition sheet, sensory table with sand and scoops, painting with toothbrushes, block building with legos, coloring with chalk on black paper, floor puzzles, coloring self-care pictures, a dental health game, and a bingo game with our classmates’ pictures were our centers these past two weeks.
Books we read: It’s My Body and Huggly Gets Dressed.
Vocabulary words: healthy, germs, wash, dry, flush, safe, emergency, 9-1-1and rules were some of our vocab words this week.

Physical Therapy Group

This week in PT group the students practiced balancing bean bags on different parts of their bodies, such as elbow, shoulder, head, back (crawling), front of hand and back of hand. This was a great way to work on body parts. Please have your child wear sneakers and pants (no dresses) on Wednesday.

Important Notices

* We have been dealing with bee challenge in the classroom. An extermination company sprayed outside the classroom last week, and will be returning this week to continue finding the source of the bees. We continue to have live bees in the classroom at this time

~When it is raining, please refrain from sending your child to school with an umbrella. It is particularly difficult with students who ride the bus. Thank you for your help with this.

* Reminder: Please call or email if your child is going to be absent.

A look Ahead

~During the month of October, our topics will be: Self-Care/Safety, Body Parts, Pets, Autumn pumkins and apples.

~No school Monday, October 13 or Friday, October 31.


Extra! Extra!

~Thank you to Katelyn and family for the spoons, tissues and sponges for the classroom!

~Thanks to Mrs. Ribera for doing shopping for the classroom necessities!

~We are in need of individual sized bags of pretzels for our extra snack box, which we give to the students when they forget a snack. Thanks so much.

~We had a new student start this week. Everyone did a great job making Laiba feel welcome.

~ Do you know about infoline 2-1-1? It’s a good resource for parents. You can call 2-1-1 if you need to find a daycare or need another community service. The web address is www.infoline.org/

~Do you have an email address? If you prefer communicating by email, please feel free to give me your email address for day-to-day correspondence. Please be aware that leaving a voicemail is the BEST way to get messages to us, such as if your child will be absent.

~My email address has changed, as has everyone’s in the building. The old address knagy@cromwellct.org will continue to work for a few more months. The new address is knagy-maruschock@cromwell.k12.ct.us. The school’s website has also changed: www.cromwell.k12.ct.us

Have a nice weekend!

Pre-K Class News September 18, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week
This week we talked about families. Each student shared their family photo, and we talked about the differences in each family. We learned that some are big, some are small, but one thing is the same about all of them: love.

Centers: coloring family pictures, making an “All About Me” book, kitchen, blocks with dollhouse people, playdough, and shelf toys were our centers this week.

Books: This week we read: My Family, Your Family, This is My Family, Whose Mommy is This? and More, More, More Said the Baby.

Vocabulary words: family, brother, sister, mother, father, grandma, grandpa, aunt, uncle, and relatives were some of our vocab words this week.

Physical Therapy Group
This week in PT group the students pretended to be different animals living in their homes. The animals moved around the room, making the appropriate sound, and then went back to their homes (a circle hoop on the floor). The children crawled, hopped, slithered, crab walked, and bear walked. Everyone had a great time with this. Please have your child wear sneakers and pants (no dresses) on Wednesdays.

Important Notices
~The Pre-K is NOT a part of the open house on the 25th.
~Please remember to send your child to school wearing clothes and shoes appropriate for play. Sandals are not recommended, and flip-flops are prohibited as stated in the school handbook.
~Reminder: Please call or email if your child is going to be absent.

A Look Ahead…
~During the month of September, our topics will be: Getting to Know Each Other, Our Families, and Self-Help skills.
~If you haven’t already done so, please remember to send in a family photo for our class book.
~Watch for Scholastic Book orders going home soon.
~The milk program will be starting next week. If you have not already sent in your money and wish to have your child purchase milk each day, please send in your money ASAP.
~ No school Sept 24-teacher work day

Extra! Extra!
~Thank you for classroom donations of tissues and other items from our families, these certainly help us tremendously!
~Thanks to Mrs. Ribera for offering to be the room Mom!
~Thanks to those of you who volunteered to help out with cutting, etc. This is a huge help!


~Do you have an email address? If you prefer communicating by email, please feel free to give me your email address for day-to-day correspondence. Please be aware that leaving a voicemail is the BEST way to get messages to us, such as if your child will be absent.

~My email address is knagy@cromwellct.org

SIGN OF THE WEEK:
FAMILY: The hands trace the shape of a circle. As if representing a family sitting around a dinner table.

Have a nice weekend!

Pre-K Classroom News September 11, 2008

A Peek at the Week
This week was learning the schedule of our day and classroom expectations, as well as exploring the classroom and getting to know each other. During our hello circle, the children greeted each other by singing a hello song. We worked on making eye contact with the person we are talking to and saying “Hi”. We also worked on learning the names of our teachers and classmates. We learned the schedule of our day, and what we do during transition times, such as cleaning up when the bell is rung. During center time, the students had a chance to play in the block center, kitchen center and coloring center and did a birthday candle sorting activity. We did a class book project and an “all about me” project at center time as well. We also learned “Yankee Doodle”, “Grand Old Flag”, the weather song, our clean-up song and hand washing song. We will be sending home the words to these songs for you to practice at home with your child.
Books: This week we read: D.W.’s Guide to Preschool, If You Take a Mouse to School, and Froggy Goes to School.

Vocabulary words: teacher, circle time, criss cross applesauce, 5 more minutes to play, friends, and center time were some of our vocab words this week.


Physical Therapy Group
We will be having a weekly Physical Therapy Gross Motor group facilitated by the school’s Physical Therapist, Renee Casner. The students call her Renee. This group is similar to a gym class, but geared for the Pre-K students and the specific developmental skills these children need to work on. Please have your child wear sneakers and pants (no dresses) on Wednesdays. This week the students worked on skipping, galloping, walking backwards, bear and crab walking, crawling, and running.
Important Notices
~Please look here each week for important news and reminders pertaining to our class and/or the school. It is important you read this newsletter each week, as it will contain information pertinent to your child’s participation at school.
~Please remember to send your child to school wearing clothes and shoes appropriate for play. Sandals are not recommended, and flip-flops are prohibited as stated in the school handbook.
ØReminder: Please call or email if your child is going to be absent.
A Look Ahead…
~During the month of September, our topics will be: Getting to Know Each Other, Our Families, and Self-Help skills.
~Please remember to send in a family photo for our class book.
~Watch for Scholastic Book orders going home soon.
~Your child will be able to purchase milk sometime in the near future. Please watch for a notice to go home with more details.
~We will be sending home a class list for your information soon.
PLEASE SEE BACK SIDE

Extra! Extra!
Check here for extra tidbits, such as cool websites, upcoming events or information about handouts being sent home with this newsletter.
This newsletter will be posted each week on the classroom’s website. If anyone is handy with computers and would like to help by posting this newsletter each week, that would be great. It only takes 10-20 minutes each week. To view this newsletter online, visit http://ecsprek.blogspot.com/
~Thank you for classroom donations of tissues and other items from our families, these certainly help us tremendously!
~Is anyone interested in being a room parent for the classroom? This person is responsible for coordinating classroom events and calling other parents in the event of a school closing, etc. Please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested in taking on this duty.

~We are also looking for volunteers willing to help out by cutting things out at home, or coming in to school to do photocopying/laminating etc. If you can help us out, please let us know. A few of you have contacted me already regarding this. Thanks for volunteering to help! It is certainly appreciated!

~Do you have an email address? If you prefer communicating by email, please feel free to give me your email address for day-to-day correspondence. Please be aware that leaving a voicemail is the BEST way to get messages to us, such as if your child will be absent.

~My email address is knagy@cromwellct.org


Have a nice weekend!

Pre-K Classroom News September 4, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week
These first two weeks of school were full of exploring the classroom and getting to know each other. During our hello circle, the children greeted each other by singing a hello song. We worked on making eye contact with the person we are talking to and saying “Hi”. We also worked on learning the names of our teachers and classmates. We learned the schedule of our day, and what we do during transition times, such as cleaning up when the bell is rung. During center time, the students had a chance to play in the kitchen center, coloring center, and shelf toys where there is a variety of activities such as shape sorters, stacking puzzles, and small manipulatives for building/putting together. Water color painting and puzzles were also centers this week. We also learned “Yankee Doodle”, “Grand Old Flag”, the weather song, our clean-up song and hand washing song. We will be sending home the words to these songs for you to practice at home with your child.
Books: This week we read: D.W.’s Guide to Preschool, Franklin Goes to School, and Froggy Goes to School.
Vocabulary words: teacher, circle time, criss cross applesauce, 5 more minutes to play, friends, and center time were some of our vocab words this week.


Physical Therapy Group
We will be having a weekly Physical Therapy Gross Motor group facilitated by the school’s Physical Therapist, Renee Casner. The students call her Renee. This group is similar to a gym class, but geared for the Pre-K students and the specific developmental skills these children need to work on. Please have your child wear sneakers and pants (no dresses) on Wednesdays.

Important Notices
~Please look here each week for important news and reminders pertaining to our class and/or the school. It is important you read this newsletter each week, as it will contain information pertinent to your child’s participation at school.
~Please remember to send your child to school wearing clothes and shoes appropriate for play. Sandals are not recommended, and flip-flops are prohibited as stated in the school handbook.
*Reminder: Please call or email if your child is going to be absent.

A Look Ahead…
~Next week more students will be joining our class. Once all of the students have settled in, we will be sending home a class list for your information.
~During the month of September, our topics will be: Getting to Know Each Other, Our Families, and Self-Help skills.
~Please remember to send in a family photo for our class book.
~Watch for Scholastic Book orders going home soon.
~Your child will be able to purchase milk sometime in the near future. Please watch for a notice to go home with more details.

Extra! Extra!
Check here for extra tidbits, such as cool websites, upcoming events or information about handouts being sent home with this newsletter.
This newsletter will be posted each week on the classroom’s website. If anyone is handy with computers and would like to help by posting this newsletter each week, that would be great. It only takes 10-20 minutes each week. To view this newsletter online, visit http://ecsprek.blogspot.com/

~Is anyone interested in being a room parent for the classroom? This person is responsible for coordinating classroom events and calling other parents in the event of a school closing, etc. Please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested in taking on this duty.

~We are also looking for volunteers willing to help out by cutting things out at home, or coming in to school to do photocopying/laminating etc. If you can help us out, please let us know. A few of you have contacted me already regarding this. Thanks for volunteering to help! It is certainly appreciated!

~Do you have an email address? If you prefer communicating by email, please feel free to give me your email address for day-to-day correspondence. Please be aware that leaving a voicemail is the BEST way to get messages to us, such as if your child will be absent.

~My email address is knagy@cromwellct.org


Have a nice weekend!

May 15, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week
This week we learned about ordering words, along with insects. We also talked about putting other items in order, such as the numbers 0-10. We should be getting some new additions to our classroom next week: live lady bugs, caterpillars, and ants. We will watch the life cycle of some, and watch the ants in their “ant factory”.
This week we did a quick survey with the students about what they would like to have on a new playground. This is part of the playground committees’ plan-to get student input/involvement.
Centers: playdough making our own bugs, dot painting pictures of insects, vehicles on a car track, tent with bug puzzles and books, shelf toys, coloring and journals drawing bugs.
Books: The Very Busy Spider and The Bug Book. We also sang “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”.
Vocabulary words: first, next, last, and then, in order, and common bug names were some of our vocab words this week.
Physical Therapy Group
This week the students played a bug sorting game outside on the blacktop. They sorted the different colored bugs into the corresponding colored hoop. ØReminder: We will be going outside for PT group some weeks. Be sure to apply sunscreen (and bug spray) on your child before sending them to school. Also, it’s best to have your child wear sneakers every day, so they will be prepared for active play (even if it’s not outside play).
Important Notices
Playground update: Unfortunately the courtyard is no longer available to us as an outdoor playground. Therefore, until a suitable area is provided for the Pre-K classes, we will be unable to go outside for outdoor play (PT group will be held on the blacktop when conducted outside). When we have more info, we will let you know.
A Look Ahead…
*May topics will be: planting/gardening, ordering words, insects. June topics will be: Tools/Machines, camping, summer, and Father’s Day.
* TV TURN OFF WEEK update: Your child can still has time to participate in May. For more information visit: www.tvturnoff.org NO TV FOR ME!
*The last day of school is June 19 for the morning class, and June 18 for the afternoon class.
*The next playground committee meeting will be May 28 at 12:30.
Extra! Extra!
*Website news: The Cromwell Public Schools website has been revamped, and I’ve rebuilt some of our Pre-K website, with more to come. To see the new ECS school site, visit www.cromwellschools.org
Have a GREAT weekend!

May 8, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week
This week we learned about ordering words, using spring events to incorporate those words. We talked about the life cycle of a seed, and what happens first, next, and then, and last. We also read about the life cycle of a butterfly, learning about those steps, from egg, to caterpillar, to chrysalis, then metamorphosis to a butterfly. We also talked about putting other items in order, such as the numbers 0-10.
Centers: “Writing” center: Practicing pre-handwriting skills; Project: working on Mother’s Day projects; Science: putting the pictures of a seed to flower in order on a Velcro activity; seriating events on picture cards in order; train tracks; blocks and puppet theater with family member puppets.
Books: From Caterpillar to Butterfly and We’re Making Breakfast for Mother.
Vocabulary words: first, next, last, and then, metamorphosis, probiscus, chrysalis, change, in order were some of our vocab words this week.
Physical Therapy Group
This week the students played “Red Light/Green Light” outside on the blacktop. They moved as crabs and other movements as they played this. ØReminder: We will be going outside for PT group some weeks. Be sure to apply sunscreen (and bug spray) on your child before sending them to school. Also, it’s best to have your child wear sneakers every day, so they will be prepared for active play (even if it’s not outside play).
Important Notices
Playground update: Unfortunately the courtyard is no longer available to us as an outdoor playground. Therefore, until a suitable area is provided for the Pre-K classes, we will be unable to go outside for outdoor play (PT group will be held on the blacktop when conducted outside). When we have more info, we will let you know.
A Look Ahead…
*May topics will be: planting/gardening, ordering words, insects, and Mother’s Day.
*TV TURN OFF WEEK update: CONGRATULATIONS to Zoey for completing her 7 days of “no TV for me”! She received her prize this week! Your child can still participate anytime in May. For more information visit: www.tvturnoff.org NO TV FOR ME!
Extra! Extra!
*Thanks so much for the grocery bags! Thanks to Mrs. Ribera for the hand sanitizer, soap, tissues, wet erase markers, and Ziploc bags!
*Website news: The Cromwell Public Schools website has been revamped, and I’ve rebuilt some of our Pre-K website, with more to come. To see the new ECS school site, visit www.cromwellschools.org

Happy Mother’s Day! Have a GREAT weekend!

May 1, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week
This week we learned about gardening and more spring time fun.
Centers: “Writing” center: Practicing pre-handwriting skills; Project: completing AB and ABC patterns with pictures of flowers, and then coloring them; Science: mixing water colors with eye droppers to make new colors, and then dropping the colors on coffee filters for a project; floor puzzle of a barn with animals; shelf toys and kitchen.
Books: Lets Grow a Garden and All About Seeds.
Vocabulary words: seed, bud, soil, sun, water, seedling, sprout, flower were some of our vocab words this week.
Physical Therapy Group
This week the students played “Red Light/Green Light”. Each student had a chance to be the traffic officer, while everyone watched for the light to change red/green.
Important Notices
*Reminder: As the weather gets warmer, we will be going outside more. Be sure to apply sunscreen (and bug spray) on your child before sending them to school. Also, it’s best to have your child wear sneakers every day, so they will be prepared for outside play.
A Look Ahead…
* May topics will be: planting/gardening, ordering words, insects, and Mother’s Day.
* TV TURN OFF WEEK update: CONGRATULATIONS to Nneoma and Jackson for completing their 7 days of “no TV for me”! They received their prizes this week! Your child can still participate anytime in May. For more information visit: www.tvturnoff.org NO TV FOR ME!
Extra! Extra!
*Help please: We need something most of you have lots of-plastic grocery bags. We would love any extras that you have. We use these for sending dirty clothes home in, etc. Thanks so much for your help with this!

*My email address is knagy@cromwellct.org

*Website news: The Cromwell Public Schools website has been revamped, and my website is “temporarily” not available. As soon as I know more, I’ll let you know when it is up and running again. Sorry for any inconvenience! To see the new ECS school site, visit www.cromwellschools.org

Have a nice weekend! NO TV FOR ME!

April 17, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week
This week we learned about weather in the spring time, and the type of clothing we wear for different types of weather. We also observed the progress of the seeds we planted. Everybody’s has sprouted, though we have noticed that some are taller than others, depending on the type of seed that was planted.
Centers: Games: Raindrop rhyming activity, and a number sequencing activity. coloring a person according what they should be wearing for the weather, caring for babies, Painting clouds with shaving cream and glue, Mr. Potato Heads, Listening center: Runaway Bunny.
Books: Little Cloud and Amy Loves the Rain.
Vocabulary words: season, change, weather, nature, bud, soil, sun, water, seed, spout, taller, shorter, different were some of our vocab words this week.
Physical Therapy Group
This week the students played outside kicking a ball (dribbling it) back and forth on the grass outside. They also practiced kicking it to a partner. Everyone enjoyed being outside!
Important Notices
*Reminder: As the weather gets warmer, we will be going outside more. Be sure to apply sunscreen (and bug spray) on your child before sending them to school. Also, it’s best to have your child wear sneakers every day, so they will be prepared for outside play.
A Look Ahead…
*May topics will be: planting/gardening, ordering words, insects, and Mother’s Day.
*TV TURN OFF WEEK update: CONGRATULATIONS to Justin for completing his 7 days of “no TV for me”! He received his prize this week! Your child can participate next week, April 21-April 27, or anytime in April and May. For more information visit: www.tvturnoff.org NO TV FOR ME!
Extra! Extra!
*A NEW PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUND? Did you know the playground committee meets each month to make plans for the playscapes at ECS and WIS? A NEW preschool playground is part of the discussion, but we NEED YOUR HELP getting things rolling. The next meeting is scheduled for April 17 10:00 at ECS. PLEASE COME! WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN!

*Help please: We are in need of boxes of tissues for the classroom, please! Thanks so much to Justin for the tissues!

*What is the MYSTERY NAME? You may have noticed your child coming home with a sticky note with their name written on it. We have a “Mystery Name” each day at school. Anyone can work on solving the mystery by looking at the letters in each child’s name and filling it in on the lines. When that person has solved it, they announce “attention please, Joey is the Mystery Name”.
Example: ___ ___ e ___ is J o e y

* My email address is knagy@cromwellct.org

*Website news: The Cromwell Public Schools website has been revamped, and my website is “temporarily” not available. As soon as I know more, I’ll let you know when it is up and running again. Sorry for any inconvenience! To see the new school site, visit www.cromwellschools.org

Have a nice weekend and a great spring vacation week!
NO TV FOR ME!

April 10, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week
This week we learned about spring and planting seeds in the spring.
Centers: Coloring: spring pictures, Shelf toys, Project: coloring and cutting out pictures of a seed growing, then sequencing them in the correct order, Science: planting seeds, Science: putting water droplets on a laminated picture using an eye dropper/bulb syringe, dot painting pictures of spring.
Books: Let’s Plant a Garden, and Weather. We also sang “Five Green and Speckled Frogs”.
Vocabulary words: season, change, weather, nature, bud, soil, sun, water, seed were some of our vocab words this week.
Physical Therapy Group
This week the students played Duck Duck Goose and Leap Frog. Everyone had lots of fun!
Important Notices
*Reminder: Please call or email if your child is going to be absent.
A Look Ahead…
*April topics will be: spring, weather, clothing, planting and gardening.
*TV TURN OFF WEEK is April 21-April 27, or anytime in April and May. For more information visit: www.tvturnoff.org
Please see the notice sent home last week regarding our challenge to the students!
NO TV FOR ME!
Extra! Extra!
*A NEW PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUND? Did you know the playground committee meets each month to make plans for the playscapes at ECS and WIS? A NEW preschool playground is part of the discussion, but we NEED YOUR HELP getting things rolling. The next meeting is scheduled for April 17 10:00 at ECS. PLEASE COME! WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN!

*Help please: We are in need of boxes of tissues for the classroom, please! Thanks so much to Nneoma, Jacob O and Carter for the tissues!

*My email address is knagy@cromwellct.org
*Website news: The Cromwell Public Schools website has been revamped, and my website is “temporarily” not available. As soon as I know more, I’ll let you know when it is up and running again. Sorry for any inconvenience! To see the new school site, visit www.cromwellschools.org

Have a nice weekend!

April 3, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week
This week we learned about spring and how the weather changes in the spring. Centers: Coloring: spring pictures. Shelf toys: practicing zipping, snapping, buttoning, and stringing beads. Journals: drawing/writing about spring time, Painting spring pictures, sorting/matching eggs into nests by counting the correct number of eggs to match the number in the nest, and a spring book project. A puppet theater and green playdough were other fun centers this week. Another center activity this week was visiting the school store where the students had an opportunity to “cash in” their RAFT tickets for prizes from the store.
Books: Let’s Grow a Garden and Spring.
Vocabulary words: season, change, weather, nature, bud, soil, sun, water, seed were some of our vocab words this week.
Physical Therapy Group
This week the students played a transportation game. They pretended to be vehicles. They carried their fuel around the colored cones and back to their corresponding garage. Lots of fun!
Important Notices
*Reminder: Please call or email if your child is going to be absent.
A Look Ahead…
*April topics will be: spring, weather, clothing, planting and gardening.
* Kindergarten Registration April 9 and 10.
*TV TURN OFF WEEK is April 21-April 27. For more information visit: www.tvturnoff.org
Please see the notice sent home this week regarding our challenge to the students!
Extra! Extra!
*A NEW PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUND? Did you know the playground committee meets each month to make plans for the playscapes at ECS and WIS? A NEW preschool playground is part of the discussion, but we NEED YOUR HELP getting things rolling. The next meeting is scheduled for April 17 10:00 at ECS. PLEASE COME! WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN!

*Awesome reading! Pizza Hut certificates were sent home this week for all of the great reading the students have been doing! There are locations in Glastonbury, West Hartford and Manchester.

*Help please: We are in need of boxes of tissues for the classroom, please!

* My email address is knagy@cromwellct.org

Have a nice weekend!

March 20, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week
This week we learned about numbers and quantity concepts. We had the number box job each day this week, with a variety of items and amounts in the box. Sometimes it was a large number, other times small. We compared which was less and which was more. Centers: egg hunt: found paper eggs with letters or numbers on them hidden around the room, brought them to a number line or alphabet line, and put them in the correct order. Shelf toys: number peg boards, and matching the correct number with the correct card with that number of dots on it. Coloring: dot to dot pictures. Listening center: Five Little Monkeys Wash the Car.
Books: Count on Clifford, Mouse Count.
Vocabulary words: more/less, big/little, large/small, counting, and compare were some of our vocab words this week.
Physical Therapy Group
Again this week the students played a game where some students were builders, some were bulldozers. Everyone did a GREAT job with this!
Important Notices
*Kindergarten screening and registration: If your child will be going to Kindergarten next year, he/she needs to attend the Kindergarten screening on April 9th or 10th. Packets were sent home. It is your responsibility to call the office to schedule an appointment for one of those two days. If you have any questions, please let me know.
*Reminder: Please call or email if your child is going to be absent.
A Look Ahead…
*The remainder of March we will be talking about quantity/number concepts, signs of spring, and ocean life. April topics will be: spring, weather, clothing, planting and gardening.
* Kindergarten Registration April 9 and 10.
*TV TURN OFF WEEK is April 21-April 27.For more information visit: www.tvturnoff.org
Extra! Extra!
*A NEW PRESCHOOL PLAYGROUND? Did you know the playground committee meets each month to make plans for the playscapes at ECS and WIS? A NEW preschool playground is part of the discussion, but we NEED YOUR HELP getting things rolling. A meeting was held today at 10am to discuss fundraising ideas…Watch the school newsletter for info about the next meeting, and PLEASE COME! WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN!
*My email address is knagy@cromwellct.org

Happy First Day of Spring!
Have a nice long weekend!

March 13, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week
This week we learned about transportation. Centers: pretend play as a train where the students could be the conductor, punch tickets, or ride the train as passengers. pretend play as a captain on a boat; coloring pictures of transportation; lacing cards: lacing string through holes in different types of transportation; transportation pattern project: gluing on different types of transportation to a strip of paper in a pattern, and vehicles and a town rug to drive the vehicles on.
Books: Boat Rides, Plane Rides, and Train Rides.
Vocabulary words: boat, car, truck, plane, bus, train, bicycle, passenger and transportation were some of our vocab words this week.
Physical Therapy Group
This week the students played a game where some students were builders, some were bulldozers. Everyone did a GREAT job with this!
Important Notices
*Kindergarten screening and registration: If your child will be going to Kindergarten next year, he/she needs to attend the Kindergarten screening on April 9th or 10th. We will be sending home the registration packets next week to those students eligible for Kindergarten. (Packets are a bit delayed, so hopefully the week of March 17th they will be sent home). It will then be your responsibility to call the office to schedule an appointment for one of those two days. If you have any questions, please let me know.
*Reminder: Please call or email if your child is going to be absent.
A Look Ahead…
*The remainder of March we will be talking about quantity/number concepts, signs of spring, and ocean life.
*Kindergarten Registration April 9 and 10.
* TV TURN OFF WEEK is April 21-April 27.
For more information visit: www.tvturnoff.org
Extra! Extra!
* Thanks to Zoey and the Nims family for letting us use their pretend boat for our pretend play this week! Everyone really enjoyed traveling on the boat!
*My email address is knagy@cromwellct.org

Have a nice weekend!

March 6, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week
This week we learned about community helpers. We talked about WHO community helpers are and WHAT their role is in our community. We also talked about how our community is Cromwell.
Centers: pretend play as a mail carrier sorting, stamping and delivering mail; writing center: writing letters to put in envelopes and bring to the post office; pretend play as a firefighter or a bus driver; sorting different colored vehicles by color and type; coloring pictures of community helpers; and large floor puzzles of a bus and a fire truck.
Books: I Want to Be a Firefighter and I Want to Be a Police Officer.
Vocabulary words: community helper, firefighter, police officer, teacher, mail carrier, doctor, bus driver, pretend, and job were some of our vocab words this week.
Physical Therapy Group
This week the students played a block relay game. Each “team” took turns running down to get a specific block by color, and then brought it back to the starting line. Everyone did a GREAT job with this!
Important Notices
*Kindergarten screening and registration: If your child will be going to Kindergarten next year, he/she needs to attend the Kindergarten screening on April 9th or 10th. We will be sending home the registration packets next week to those students eligible for Kindergarten. It will then be your responsibility to call the office to schedule an appointment for one of those two days. If you have any questions, please let me know.
*Reminder: Please call or email if your child is going to be absent.
A Look Ahead…
* In March we will be talking about community helpers, transportation, quantity/number concepts, and ocean life.
* Kindergarten Registration April 9 and 10.
*TV TURN OFF WEEK is April 21-April 27. For more information visit: www.tvturnoff.org
Extra! Extra!
*A New friend! We welcomed Michael to our class this week. Everyone did a great job making Michael feel at home!
* A special thanks to Mrs. Valentin for the Valentine heart project and napkins. Thanks to Mrs. Nims for the pretzels and napkins, and to Mrs. Green for the napkins.
ØMy email address is knagy@cromwellct.org
Have a nice weekend!

February 14, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week
This week we talked about friends and Valentine’s Day.
Centers: Cardboard blocks: free-play building, Paper Fun: making color collages for our bulletin board called “our favorite colors”. Painting: first we painted the circles for our color collages, Fine motor fun play with various small toys, Valentine pattern activity: continuing the patterns using colorful manipulatives, and a Tooth counting game.
Vocabulary words: friend, Valentine, thoughtful, caring, giving.
Physical Therapy Group
This week the students played a retrieval/listening game. Students had to listen for instructions and use skills such as crawling/galloping etc. to retrieve correct color and number of heart shapes. Great activity for Valentine’s Day! Everyone did great following the directions.
Please remember to have your children wear sneakers on PT Day each Wednesday!
Extra! Extra!
*Our classroom is in need of more paper napkins, boxes of tissues, and individual size bags of pretzels. Also, we need the hook side of Velcro. Thanks for your help.

A Look Ahead…
*In March we will be learning about Community Helpers, Transportation, Quantity/number concepts, and ocean life.
*RAFT update: All of our students are doing a GREAT job earning those tickets, and have been collecting them in their special envelopes in the classroom. We should be visiting the school store for the first time soon (possibly the day this letter is printed)!
*Please send in sneakers for your child to change in to if your child wears boots to school. Thanks!
*Information about TURN OFF TV WEEK coming up!
*School Vacation February 18 through February 22.

*My email address is knagy@cromwellct.org

* Our website is: www.cromwellschools.org/ecs and click on ECS Pre-K program.


Happy Valentine’s Day and Have a wonderful vacation!

February 7, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week
This week we learned about animals. We talked about the different types of animals; pets, farm and wild animals.
Centers
Listening center: listening to Penguin Pat and Pete. Paper Fun: making collages using animal shapes, stencils, stickers and markers. Painting: dot painting pictures of animals. Sensory Table: wild animals and foam blocks to build homes, caves and trees. Farm Center: with barns and farm animals. Veterinarian Center: taking care of sick animals. Book we read this week: Animal Babies
Vocabulary words: see the words in italics above.
Physical Therapy Group
This week the students played a retrieval/listening game. Students had to listen for instructions and use skills such as crawling/galloping etc. to retrieve correct color and number of heart shapes. We’re getting a head start on Valentine’s Day! Everyone did great following the directions.
Please remember to have your children wear sneakers on PT Day each Wednesday!
Extra! Extra!
*Our classroom is in need of more paper napkins and individual size bags of pretzels. Thanks for your help.
*Next Thursday, February 14 we will be exchanging Valentines. Please remember no candy is allowed in school. We are sending home name labels for placement on the Valentines if you wish to send some in next week.
A Look Ahead…
*Next Week we will be talking about Valentine’s Day/Friends and Dental Health.
*RAFT update: All of our students are doing a GREAT job earning those tickets, and have been collecting them in their special envelopes in the classroom. We should be visiting the school store for the first time soon!
*Please send in sneakers for your child to change in to if your child wears boots to school. Thanks!
*Information about TURN OFF TV WEEK coming up!
*School Vacation February 18 through February 22.

*My email address is knagy@cromwellct.org

*Our website is: www.cromwellschools.org/ecs and click on ECS Pre-K program.


Have a wonderful weekend!

January 17, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week
This week we learned LOTS about dinosaurs. We learned that dinosaurs are extinct, and learned about the different types of dinosaurs, and broke them down into three types: swimming, flying, and walking. We also sorted them by what they ate. We learned that some ate vegetables and these were called herbivores, some ate meat, called carnivores and some at both meat and vegetables, called omnivores. We learned that some have long necks, some have plates on their backs, and some have horns. Next week will be more dinosaur fun, learning about paleontologists and dinosaur fossils.
Centers: listening center: listening to Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp. Project: Making patterns using paper dinosaurs, stamping dinosaurs, sorting dinosaurs by color and type, blocks: building a dinosaur land and playing with small and large toy dinosaurs.
Books: My Dinosaur and The Dinosaur in My Back Yard.
Vocabulary words: see the words in italics above, as well as Stegosaurus, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Diplodocus, Allosaurus, Apatasaurus, and Triceratops.
Physical Therapy Group
Again this week the students played a game using snowballs (yarn balls). It was a safe version of a snowball fight/tag. The students pretended to be skating on an ice skating rink, while someone tried to tag them with a snowball. Once that student was tagged, they joined in throwing the balls, until everyone was throwing balls, and the game started again.
Thanks so much!
Thanks to Mrs. Valentin for the donations of salt, flour, hand sanitizer and to Justin for letting us borrow his dinosaurs!
Thanks to Mrs. Green for the flour, foaming soap and hand sanitizer!
Thanks so much for helping us with these much-needed items!
A Look Ahead…
*In February we will be talking about Animals, Valentine’s Day/Friends and Dental Health.
*Book orders are due January 22nd. Remember, you can now order online!
*RAFT update: All of our students are doing a GREAT job earning those tickets, and have been collecting them in their special envelopes in the classroom. We should be visiting the school store for the first time next week!
*Please send in sneakers for your child to change in to if your child wears boots to school. Thanks!
Extra! Extra!
*My email address is knagy@cromwellct.org
* Our website is: www.cromwellschools.org/ecs and click on ECS Pre-K program.
Have a wonderful weekend!

January 10, 2008 Morning Edition

A Peek at the Week
This week and last week we learned about action words. Last week we focused on action words involving wintertime activities, such as skating, sledding, shoveling, building a snowman, and hibernating. This week we talked about every day activities, such as sitting, running, coloring, washing, swinging, playing, and brushing. We learned that action words (verbs) tell us what someone or something is DOING.
Centers: (action words for each center are in bold) listening center: listening to The Gingerbread Man. We then had ginger smelling playdough and gingerbread man cookie cutters for the kids to make their own gingerbread men. Legos, building lots of creative things, sorting plastic numbers with rookie sticks (similar to chopsticks), patterning using colors and shapes.
Books: Froggy Gets Dressed, and Mortimer.
Vocabulary words: see the words in italics above.
Physical Therapy Group
This week the students played a game using snowballs (yarn balls). It was a safe version of a snowball fight/tag. The students pretended to be skating on an ice skating rink, while someone tried to tag them with a snowball. Once that student was tagged, they joined in throwing the balls, until everyone was throwing balls, and the game started again.
Help, please
We are running low on some important items in our classroom, including: salt and flour for making play dough, germ-x refills (can be generic), and refills for our foaming soap (a generic for Dial is sold at Wal-Mart). We’d appreciate any of these items! Thanks so much!
A Look Ahead…
*In January we will be talking about winter, action words, and dinosaurs.
*RAFT update: All of our students are doing a GREAT job earning those tickets, and have been collecting them in their special envelopes in the classroom. The school store will be opening again soon and we’ll be sure to get down there!
Please note: No school Friday Jan. 18th and Monday Jan. 21st
Extra! Extra!
*My email address is knagy@cromwellct.org
* Our website is: www.cromwellschools.org/ecs and click on ECS Pre-K program.

Have a wonderful weekend!