News for the ‘Teacher’s Notes’ Category

Caterpillars, Silk Worms and So Much More

In the month of May we have made changes to our class room. We changed our play dough to the color yellow and we brought in to our classroom caterpillars and silk worms. The children have enjoyed watching the caterpillars crawl and hang in their cocoons. The children are patiently awaiting their transformation into butterflies. The children have been learning about the shape of a diamond, with their first and last name in them. At the end of month we will be taking a train trip. We will be talking about trains and making trains in anticipation of our trip.

Megan and I would like to thank all of our parents for all the help and support you have given us. Being that this is our first year with Millbrae Nursery School, we want to thank everyone who has been helpful and encouraging in what we have done and what we hope to do. It has been a pleasure to watch the children grow and develop so much from the beginning of the year. The kiddos have been so much more vocal in being able to express themselves and even carry on conversations with each other. It has been a great pleasure and privilege to teach them and watch them grow. Megan and I hope that you all have a great summer and can’t wait to see you again in the fall.

Teacher Megan & Teacher Norma

Edited: June 18th, 2010

Learning, Exploring and Working Cooperatively with Each Other.

What a school year it has been. WE started out with 15 boys and less then 5 girls. It was hard to get the kiddos to walk inside much less try to sit at the table. And now the growth in these kiddos, each year it always amazes me. The THREE’S are enjoying extended conversations at circle time, taking turns and playing board games until the game is completed.

Participating at the art table is another area now explored. Story time, predicating the outcome of the stories we read, they have done a wonderful job learning, exploring and working cooperatively with each other.

They all are effective learners. Continue to work and expose your kiddos to learning lessons through the summer months. The learning lessons never stop. These little ones are so inquisitive. It is because of your support and love that they continue to blossom. Well done FAMILIES!! Have a wonderful, restful, renewing summer. Thank you for this opportunity to work with you and your kiddos.

Always, Teacher Brigidan

Edited: June 16th, 2010

With Gratitude

Dear Families,

As I think of this journey we have all been a part of, this school year, I become overwhelmed with the feeling of pride and joy for our kiddos and the families here in Millbrae Nursery School. Together, we have learned about so many matters and subjects, (way too much to list.) Just think of the potential for each kiddos’ future! My thoughts of our days together inspire me daily. What are your favorite memories of this year? Thank you so much for everyone’s participation. I can’t wait for our train field trip, end of the year celebration and I hope to see you all during the Posey Parade to represent our school!

With gratitude,

Teacher Liselle

Edited: June 1st, 2010

Pre-K May Curriculum

Theme/Focus: Animals that live in the water and rhyming words.

Parent Activities: Provide a sign that says your kiddos’s whole name. Incorporate games to your family time together.

Special Skills: Writing names with upper and lower case letters. Using full sentences in conversation. Participating in activities from the beginning to the end.

LITERACY	ART	MUSIC & MOVEMENT
VISITOR: Story Teller Olive Letter Bingo Combining three letters Underwater An Extraordinary Egg Fidgety Fish Commotion in the Ocean Turtles The Gas We Pass Teasing	White board Cutting along a line Writing names (upper & lower case letters) Red, green, and white triangles Mother’s Day Gifts Pinata Turtle Shell Collage Rainbow Fish	SONGS: Dance Freeze Instrument Parade (Friendship March) Hulla-baloo If You’re Angry and You Know It! Under The Sea (Little Mermaid song) Slippery Fish

MATH & SCIENCE	HEALTH & SAFETY
Number Bingo Checking on our seeds (Are there sprouts?) 2nd try. What happened to our seeds? Ten Little Fish Bead Patterning Bubbles Car and Toy Wash	Dress for weather (Why do we need sunscreen?) Fire drill Traffic Signs Making fresh tortillas It’s Much Too Hot! Dressing for the Weather Lucky Glasses

Changes to the Environment:

Themed books in quiet and reading areas

Whales Passing, I Wonder Why Fish Don’t Drown, I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean, The Shark Who Was Afraid Of everything, A House For Hermit Crab, Ellen And The Goldfish, Baby Whale’s Journey, Swimmy, The Rainbow Fish, Under the Sea

Observations/Notes: Look at Desired Results Measures

1 & 2 Identity of Self & Recognition of own skills and accomplishments

7 & 8 Conflict Negotiation & Awareness in self and others

16 & 17 Curiosity and initiative & Engagement and Persistence

19 & 20 Cause and Effect & Engages in Problem Solving

22 & 23 Number sense: quantity, counting and math operations

30-33 Letter & word knowledge, concept of print, phonological awareness

35 Fine Motor Skills

Edited: May 3rd, 2010

The Birth of The Bag Kite

Do you remember the day it hailed in Millbrae? One windy Winter Friday outside in our yard, I noticed several kiddos frightened by the howling wind. Many people enjoy every minute of our outside time, (rain or shine.) Still, many kiddos, parents and teachers had hoods on which would not stay put, and many of us spent those windy days hunched over with our foreheads scrunched. It was as if we were mad that it was windy!

I looked in my car’s trunk, where I kept two kites, (just cause.) And I was determined to show the kiddos that we do not have to be afraid of or mad at the wind. My small kite flipped around and crashed so much that it broke, plus my big butterfly’s long tail got tangled as Teacher Megan and I tried to make it fly. The kiddos were curious to see a kite, and that diverted their attention from being scared, but crashing kites was not what I had in mind! Across the street, I saw a piece of paper fly off the ground and my determination was set. I thought, “something is going to be airborne today!”

Later on in the day, I tied a plastic bag with yarn with the pre-k kiddos and crossed my fingers that it would work, and tah-dah! It flew… Bag Kites were born! The look on the kiddos faces when they were able to fly their own kites was priceless. The sound of their giggles still rings in my ear today. For weeks, the kiddos asked if we could fly our Bag Kites!

Luckily, Amy Maschio-Baksheeff was able to capture some pictures on her phone, click here for more. It was so simple and environmentally friendly! Oh, and free! Try it sometime!

Teacher Liselle

Edited: April 17th, 2010