Thank you

Thank you for taking time to come to our preschool show.

The Lucky Ducks did such a great job!

Next week we have school on Monday and Tuesday.

We will be finishing our unit on the Gingerbread Man.  Students will be voting for their favorite version as well as selecting which story they would like to hear again.

We will be playing some fun Gingerbread games - Such as gingerbread, gingerbread, Fox. (Based on the popular Duck, Duck, Goose  game- that the students learned how to play on Thursday).

We hope you have a wonderful and safe vacation with your families.  

Family Party

Thursday, December 18th

at 10:40 is our

FAMILY PARTY!!

Please join the Lucky Ducks for a few songs, a craft and a slideshow.

Gingerbread Man

Thank you!  Thank you! Thank you!  Thank you to all the families and staff who donated a pair of pajamas. We have collected the most to date!  Scholastic will donate 1 book for each pair of pajamas.  Thank you for providing so many children the chance for a snugly night with so many adorable and cozy pajamas.  Your generosity is greatly appreciated.


Wow - December is flying by. Winter break will be from December 24-January 2nd. We will return to school on January 5th! Have a wonderful winter break! 

This week we will be continuing our Gingerbread Man unit.

Family Party - Thursday, December 18th at 10:40  
                      During our family party the Lucky Ducks will perform a few songs, families will decorate a foam gingerbread man and then we will watch a slide show of pictures from the first part of our year.  Please send in a regular snack with your child, as the kids will eat snack before the family party.

Stories:
The Gingerbread Girl
The Gingerbread Kid
The Stinky Cheeseman

Small Groups
Fine Motor - Following Directions Coloring Page
Art - Finishing Family Gifts
Practicing Songs for our family party
Math - Gingerbread Patterns
Making Gingerbread Names

Whole Group 
I have do you have letter game
Acting out the Gingerbread Man

Choice Time:
Sweet Shop - Making cookies
Block Area - Building a bridge for the Gingerbread Man with straw builders
Art - Adding decorations to our gingerbread house
Writing Center - Making Holiday Cards
Math - Sorting Shapes on Gingerbread Men
Easel - Painting or Coloring Gingerbread Houses
Listening Center - Listening to Gingerbread Bear and Gingerbread Baby on Cd

The Gingerbread Exchange
The Lucky Ducks have decorated Gingerbread Men to send to participating schools across the country.  We are eagerly awaiting Gingerbread Men to be sent back to us from these schools.  As part of this process, we have been looking at a map of the USA and discussing different places that students have gone to visit.  We are expecting Gingerbread Men from - California, Texas, Florida, Ohio, Montana, Virginia, West Virginia, North Dakota, Illinois, Colorado, New Jersey and the Pine Glen Elementary School right here in Burlington.  If you have any family that lives out of state, or places that your family likes to visit, please let us know so we can add this information to our discussion.

Preschool Life Skill:
#5. When you want something from a teacher or a friend and they are doing something else, say, "excuse me" to get them to look at you.

Run, Run as fast as you Can!

We are starting our unit on the Gingerbread Man.  During this unit we will read a variety of Gingerbread Stories.  Given the variety of endings students will make comparisons from story to story about the endings and the characters in each story.

Stories Include:
The Gingerbread Man - Retold by Jim Aylesworth
Characters include: The gingerbread man, old man, old woman, butcher, a cow, sow, and a fox

The Gingerbread Man - Retold by - Karen Schmidt
Characters include: The gingerbread man, old man, old woman, little boy, farmers, bear, wolf and a fox.

These stories take place in the country side and  **Spoiler Alert** the Gingerbread Man is tricked by to fox to get closer to him and the fox eats the Gingerbread Man.

The Gingerbread Man - Retold by Catherine McCafferty
Characters include: The gingerbread man, old man, old woman, cat, snake, goose, and fox.
In this story, the fox tries to offer help carry the Gingerbread Man across the river.  That sly fox again tricks the Gingerbread man and he is eaten.

Throughout the unit, we will be reading similar story lines such as the Pancake Man and The Stinky Cheese Man.  If you have a story that follows the same idea that you would like to share we would be happy to read it in the classroom.

Small Groups:

Decorating Group Gingerbreads.  The Lucky Ducks worked together to decide gender and trimmings for their gingerbreads.

Decorating Individual Gingerbreads

Following Directions - Coloring Page - Students were told what color to use on a specific object in their picture.

Positional Book - Where is the Gingerbread?

Choice Time:

Decorating a Large Gingerbread House

Construction Zone

Sand Table

Gingerbread Puzzle

Painting Gingerbread Houses at the easel.

Listening to Gingerbread Baby on CD.

What does 'Kind' mean?
The Lucky Ducks brainstormed many ideas on what it means to be kind to others.  They all had their picture taken as Captain Kind or Princess of Kindness.  Please look for these pictures at our Family Party on December 18th.  We are encouraging all students in our classroom to be Kind to others.  Here are some of their ideas they shared today:

Share a toy (This was very popular)

Share a costume

Share a cookie

Share a hat

Share markers

Smile

Say Thank You

Say Nice Things

The Lucky Ducks will continue to build upon this skill throughout the year.

Important Dates

Here are some important dates to keep in mind

December 4th - Conferences for parents only please.

December 18th - Family Party at 10:40

December 24th through January 2nd - Winter Vacation
Return to school on January 5th.


Activities this week:
Rug:  Farms and Farm animals
Sensory Table:  Finding and sorting shapes by color in tinsel
Easel - Painting turkeys and pinatas
Dramatic Play - Grocery Store
Magna Doodles

Small Groups:
Making a group pizza 
Counting milk containers
Counting coins
Making the first letter of our names with colored pasta

Stories:
Hooray a Pinata
Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza
Dandelion

Cold Weather

Brrr!  It’s Cold Outside

Fall has been chilly and winter is almost here!  The Lucky Ducks will be going outside when the weather is 25 degrees or warmer.  Please send your child to school everyday with clothes that will keep them warm when we go outside, such as:

*gloves/mittens

*hats

*winter boots (when there is snow on the ground).

*snow pants (when there is snow on the ground).

*warm winter coat

Our outside time is at 10:00.  We will be making the determination at that time if we will be going out.  We are outside for 20 minutes each day.

If your child wears boots to school please send in a pair of sneakers/shoes for your child to wear.  Boots are very cumbersome for children to play in.

Please be sure all of your child’s belongings are labeled.  At times, items will get mixed up.  Kindly return them the next day so we can get them back to the rightful owner.  Likewise, if something is misplaced, let us know so we can be on the look out for the item.

If you have any questions please contact me.  

Scholastic Pajama Drive

The Great Bedtime Story

Pajama Drive

Dear Parents,

It’s time for the annual Scholastic Reading Club Great Bedtime Story Pajama Drive benefiting

Pajama Program, a nonprofit organization that provides new pajamas and books to children in

need—especially those living in group homes, shelters, foster care, and orphanages.

Since 2009, caring classrooms across the country have risen to the challenge and donated nearly 250,000 pairs of new pajamas. The Scholastic Reading Club has more than matched those numbers with nearly 600,000 new books donated to Pajama Program.

Our class wants to be a part of this drive so that we can help make a better bedtime for these children. Together we can help the Great Bedtime Story Pajama Drive reach even more kids with pj’s and books.

If you and your child are able to participate, please have your child bring in a new pair of

pajamas to school by December 5, 2014   The Lucky Ducks will be collecting the pajamas to be donated.

Here are some simple guidelines for the pajamas:

• Pajamas must be brand-new.
• Pajamas in all sizes are needed—from newborn to adult.
• Pajamas must be in complete sets or nightgowns.
• Pajamas in children’s sizes must be manufactured as pajamas—this ensures that they are flame-retardant and safe.

Thank you for helping us share the gift of a good night’s sleep and a sweet bedtime story.

Katie Roofe

Lucky Ducks

PS: You can find out more about the drive and the program at: scholastic.com/pjdrive

Friends

OWL Unit 2 Weeks 2

This week we will begin our unit on Friendship. We will talk about how to be a good friend, and ways to resolve conflicts with friends. Through the books in this unit, children will hear about the importance of being who you are, helping friends, enjoying special times together, and getting along. In addition to listening to stories, children will begin working on identifying rhyming words and beginning sounds. 

Theme Concepts:

• A friend is someone that we like and spend time with
• We can have more that one good friend
• Friends like to do things together
• Friends share and help one another
• Friends may get mad at each other, but usually friends can work out their problems
• We can make new friends and keep our old ones too

Week of November 10-14th

Reminders:

BOOK BACKPACKS ARE DUE BACK WEDNESDAY!

(There is no school on Monday November 10th or Tuesday November 11th!)

Books for the week:

The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza by: Philomen Sturges

A Letter To Amy by: Ezra Jack Keats

Dandelion by Don Freeman

Small Groups:

1. Connecting Lines (Drawing vertical and horizontal lines)

2. Pizza Matching - Adding the correct number of slices
3. Uppercase Memory
4. Numeral Matching

Choice time:

Dramatic Play - Lucky Ducks will set up a grocery store. They will make signs, stock shelves and get the store ready to be opened next week.
Easel: Color a pizza picture

Library Area: Books about friendship

Writing Table: Writing to Friends
Literacy - Letter Matching Wheels
Art - Decorating Turkeys
Art - Drawing with chalk

Preschool Life Skill 3 - When a teacher gives you directions you do them right away.

Social Thinking: Following the Group Plan

Friends

OWL Unit 2 Weeks 1&2

This week we will begin our unit on Friendship. We will talk about how to be a good friend, and ways to resolve conflicts with friends. Through the books in this unit, children will hear about the importance of being who you are, helping friends, enjoying special times together, and getting along. In addition to listening to stories, children will begin working on identifying rhyming words and beginning sounds. 

Theme Concepts:

• A friend is someone that we like and spend time with
• We can have more that one good friend
• Friends like to do things together
• Friends share and help one another
• Friends may get mad at each other, but usually friends can work out their problems
• We can make new friends and keep our old ones too

Week of November 3-7th

Reminders:

BOOK BACKPACKS ARE DUE BACK WEDNESDAY!

(There is no school on Tuesday November 4th!)

Books for the week:

The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza by: Philomen Sturges

A Letter To Amy by: Ezra Jack Keats

Small Groups:

1. Friendship Bracelets

2. Journal Page - I like to play with ....
3. Counting manipulatives

4.  Fine Motor: Making Pizza

Choice time:

Easel: Color a pizza picture

Library Area: Books about friendship

Writing Table: Writing to Friends

Dramatic Play: Pizza Shop

Sand Table: Marble Mazes
Rug Toy: Trucks

Preschool Life Skill 3 - When a teacher gives you directions you do them right away.

Social Thinking: Following the Group Plan

Week of 10-27-14

Wow October is flying.  This is what's happening in the Lucky Duck room.

Curriculum Stories:
Whistle for Willie
Corduroy
Noisy Nora

Fun Seasonal Stories for this week:
There was a little old lady who was not afraid of anything
Big Pumpkin

Small Groups
Sorting Pumpkins by Size
Creating a scarecrow
What do big kids need? What do babies need? sorting activity

Choice Time:
Marble Mazes
Taking care of babies
Trains on the rug
Making 5 pumpkins sitting on a gate
Blocks


Special Activity - Parade
The Lucky Ducks will parade up to central office at 9:30.  Children are permitted to dress any way that they like (a costume, silly hat, fancy clothes or a special outfit). Please let us know if you would like your child to change out of his or her special clothes after the parade as we will be playing outside weather permitting.  

Parking:
We appreciate your patience during our new parking process.  Please understand that I may still ask for an ID, even if they have the blue card, if I cannot identify the person.  This is done for the safety of your children and my peace of mind.  Your child's safety is my highest priority.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Preschool Life Skills #3
When a teacher gives you directions, do them right away.

Nursery Rhyme:  Jack Be Nimble

Important Dates to Remember!

We follow the Burlington Public Schools (K-12) calendar.

November

No School - Tuesday - November 4th - Election Day

No School  - Monday -   November 10th - Prof. Develop.

No School  - Tuesday -  November 11th - Veterans Day

No School  - Thursday - November 27th - Thanksgiving Recess

No School  -  Friday -     November 28th - Thanksgiving Recess

December

No School  - Thursday - December 4th - Conferences

No School  - December 24 - January 2 - Winter Break.  

School resumes on Monday, January 5th.

October 20, 2014

We are continuing our family unit through the month of October.

New Parking - Please let me know if you need additional cards for pick up. The cards are most helpful if they are in the windows as you are driving down the 'live parking lane'.

Today we read The Button Box, and I showed the class my grandma's button box.  They loved looking through the different buttons and making different collections by size, sheen, number of holes and colors.  New pictures have been added to our blog from today's choice time.

This week we will continue our work on our Family unit. In this unit students will be exploring and talking about families and the many different ways family members relate to and help one another.

Theme Concepts:

• Family members have role names (mother, father, sister, brother, etc)
• Some family members live together, some live in other places but are still family members.
• Grown-ups in a family take care of children. Younger children need more care. Older children can help take care of younger brothers and sisters.
• Families do things together that are fun.

The stories we will read this week include:
Corduroy - Don FreemanThe Button Box 

Small Groups:
Science - Making Ooblek with cornstarch and water
Language- Alphabet letter matching with vocabulary from our unit
Playdough - Making and counting pumpkins
Following Direction coloring farm page
Following Positional Word Directions by adding animals to specific locations to the farm.
How can I help my family?  The children will pick chores they can do to help out at home.

Choice Time:
Blocks - Closed
Sensory Table - BubblesDramatic Play - Taking care of babies in the nursery
Math - Button sorting Library - Book on Cds - Big Pumpkin

Family

Reminder - No School Monday, October 13th.  

Back To School Night
October 15th, 2014          6:30-7
Please join us for an overview of our curriculum and view some of your child's artwork.  We are more than happy to answer general classroom questions but this will not be a time for individual conferences.  We will have a sign up sheet for our December conference day.  We hope to see you there and at our book fair after.

Scholastic Book Fair
Tuesday        10:30-11:25            12:35-1:30
Wednesday   10:30-11:25            12:35-1:30          6:30-7:30 pm 

Online Book Fair Opens October 8th - October 17th at:
 http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/burlingtonschooldistrict


We are continuing our family unit through the month of October.

This week we will continue our work on our Family unit. In this unit students will be exploring and talking about families and the many different ways family members relate to and help one another.

Theme Concepts:

• Family members have role names (mother, father, sister, brother, etc)
• Some family members live together, some live in other places but are still family members.
• Grown-ups in a family take care of children. Younger children need more care. Older children can help take care of younger brothers and sisters.
• Families do things together that are fun.

The stories we will read this week include:
Corduroy - Don Freeman
Oonga Boonga - Frieda Wishinsky

Small Groups:
Handwriting - Making vertical and horizontal lines
Language- Some friends will be matching vocabulary pictures and some will rhyme vocabulary pictures
Math - Adding buttons to Corduroy's overalls
Art - Is there a difference when rolling a marble in paint versus an acorn?  Why?
Language- Alphabet Bingo
Math - Sorting buttons by attribute

Whole Group: What do babies need versus children?
What are ways you can help your family?

Choice Time:
Blocks - Closed
Easel - Painting Leaves
Sensory Table - Bubbles
Making Sensory Letters
Dramatic Play - Pizza Shop
Library - Book on Cds - Big Pumpkin

Family Week 2

Back To School Night
October 15th, 2014          6:30-7
Please join us for an overview of our curriculum and view some of your child's artwork.  We are more than happy to answer general classroom questions but this will not be a time for individual conferences.  We will have a sign up sheet for our December conference day.  We hope to see you there and at our book fair after.

Scholastic Book Fair
Tuesday        10:30-11:25            12:35-1:30
Wednesday   10:30-11:25            12:35-1:30          6:30-7:30 pm 

Online Book Fair Opens October 8th - October 17th at:
 http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/burlingtonschooldistrict




We are continuing our family unit through the month of October.

The stories we will read this week include:
Nosy Nora - Rosemary Wells
Peter's Chair - Ezra Jack Keats

Small Groups:
Using paint chips to match colors
Folding Paper
Exploring Sound Eggs - Plastic eggs with a variety of materials to compare sounds
Journal - Draw your family
Math - Color the correct number of babies

Choice Time:
Art- Decorating Pumpkins
Blocks - Wooden Blocks
Easel - Painting Leaves
Sensory Table - Beans
Alphabet Arc

Germs

Since we were unable to go outside to play today, we talked about Germs.  We talked about how germs can spread and what we can do to get rid of them.  To demonstrate this topic I put my hand in a plate of glitter than shook everyone's hand.  We discussed how the glitter moved from my hand to theirs just like germs.  We talked about appropriate hand washing (20 seconds) or sing your ABCs while washing as well as coughing into your elbow.  After we washed away our 'glitter germs' we watched a video of Curious George - Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye.  

Back to School Night

Please join us October 15th from 6:30-7:00 for our preschool Back to School Night.  


This is for parents/guardians only.  We will be discussing our curriculum and preschool day and not specific details of your child.  However we will have a sign up sheet for our December conferences.  I'd be happy to meet with you if you have any concerns before our scheduled conference day.

Following the brief presentation, we will be hosting a book fair in our big room.  We hope to see you there.

Unit 1 Week 1

Happy October!  

Opening the World of Learning (OWL) is the curriculum we will be using for the remainder of our year.  Our first unit is all about families.

Reminder – Please send in 3-5 pictures we can use for our family tree project.

Families Theme

Children will be exploring and talking about families and the many different ways families relate to and help one another.  Through the Story Time books, children will hear about a boy who helps his family take care of his baby sister, a boy who realizes how much he has grown when a new baby arrives, a girl who behaves badly when she want attention, and a lonely stuffed bear who finds a new friend.  Besides listening to stories, children will begin to recognize initial sounds in words and identify rhyming words as they build vocabulary and comprehension skills.  They will also be participating in a variety of music, poetry, mathematics, science, and art activities during Center Time and in Small Groups.

Theme Concepts:

*Family members have role names: mother, father, sister, and so on.
*Some family members live together; some live in other places but are still family members.
*Grown-ups in a family take care of the children. Younger children need more care.  Older children can help take care of younger brothers and sisters.
*Children sometimes get angry at parents and may feel that their parents don't love them as much as their siblings.
*Sometimes grown-ups in a family don't like things that children do and tell them to stop or be quiet.
*Families do things together that are fun.

Books This Week:
Oonga Boonga by Frieda Wishinsky

Peter's Chair by Ezra Jack Keats 

   

Small Groups:-
-Math- How many people live in your house?  This is a 2 day activity with coloring, cutting, gluing and counting.
-How many ducks in the pond? A math counting book

-Exploring Books – Students will ‘read to babies’ while learning how to hold a book and to turn pages gently

-Art- Making trees for our ‘Family Tree’ project

Choice Time
-Dramatic Play- Pet Shop
-Sensory Table- Water Movement using squeeze bottles and funnels
-Art Table- Making shakers and Sound Boards
-Writing- Making names with foam letters

-Blocks- Building with wooden blocks and drawing the building on a white board

-Library- Books about families

-Easel – Painting pictures Peter's Chair

Social Curriculum

We will continue to work on each of the preschool life skills each week as we introduce new skills.  This week we are continuing with out PLS 1 - Response to Name.

Songs, Word Play, and Letters
-Five Green and Speckled Frogs
-If Your Happy

-Itsy Bitsy Spider

-Down by the Bay

-If your name starts with ____ raise your hand

-Poem - Stand Up