A Real Nice Day

We packed a great deal in to our day today. Our letter of the week is "R". The kids worked hard on tracing their big letter R. Everyone did a fantastic job holding their writing utensil (a crayon) and following the dotted line on the worksheet. They are really getting the hang of things. We couldn't be more proud.

We visited with Madame Smail today. She had some fun with the kids. Always entertained by her. She paid our class many compliments on their behavior and overall "cuteness". She tells us often that they are a great group of kids ... and she sees a LOT of kids.

Last Thursday was a work day for the teachers. We took that time to do assessments. Not only do we like doing these for our benefit and your child's benefit but it's a requirement of our Step Up To Quality standing. So we spent time assessing the children as individuals. Looking at our notes and reviewing their progress thus far (following direction, emotional stability, ability to adjust to new situations, etc., etc.) and we assessed the class as a unit. This allows us the flexibility to adjust lesson plans according to what's actually going on in the classroom. With that, we noted we need more practice with scissors. As mentioned before, the fact that they are struggling a bit is totally NORMAL and age appropriate. Their little hands are so tiny and they are still developing muscle. So we are working on that. Today we gave them some scraps and allowed them to sit and cut. We walked around and adjusted scissor-holds. They were very receptive and did some quality work! Once we had a pile of scraps, we applied them to a Rainbow Cloud illustration. These went home today.

We also read a Trick or Treat book which entertained the children -- and got them excited about the upcoming holiday!

Finally, we ended the day by playing a fun "listening" song using bean bags. We listened to the guy on the cd as he told us (to a cute little tune) where to put the bean bag ... head, shoulders, knees, toes, eyes, ears, mouth, nose, etc. The teachers had as much fun as the kids!

On a final note, you should have received an email from the office regarding something called the Ages & Stages Questionnaire. The questionnaire is a developmental screener. This is super important in keeping an eye on your child's development. This period in your preschooler's life is so special because their is so much going on. They are still moving along that developmental continuum and things happen at different times for different children. Still, if you DO have concerns about learning potential, growth, etc. this questionnaire can help highlight areas of concern or ease your mind. If you have questions or are curious about Ages & Stages, go to www.agesandstages.com. Also, be sure to fill-out the paperwork requesting a questionnaire.

Have a nice (rainy) Wednesday off. See you Thursday.