Millbrae Nursery School » Teacher’s Notes

November 2011 Newsletter

Christine — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:29:04 +0000

Our 2′s & 3′s

Carla — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 23:37:33 +0000

This month is a busy month for us. We are growing by leaps and bounds. Many of the children have become more vocal and it is so exciting when we see friendships forming. Many of the children enjoyed opening the pumpkins in class to see what was inside. They found seeds and all types of slimy fun. Our first field trip to the pumpkin patch was a great success we hope you enjoyed it as well. Norma and I enjoyed seeing all the children dressed up in their costumes and hope everyone has a safe and great trick-or-treat experience. During the month of November our focus will be; what we are thankful for in our lives. We will be celebrating Thanksgiving on Wednesday the 24^th and we will have a pot luck together. The two’s will also look around to see what the fall season brings. Exploring the leaves, corn and the difference in the weather. Please look at the curriculum to see what other fun activities we will be doing this month.

Teacher Norma & Teacher Megan

November Three’s & Four’s

Carla — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 23:11:43 +0000

At our parent education meeting we discussed the social support the children in our classes need. We also asked our parents to take time on their work day to find an endearing quality in each child of the class. Let me know if you need any help with that task. I can’t wait to read your observations. These kiddos bring so much joy and humor to each day. This month we will be discussing our favorite foods for Thanksgiving. We will finish with a small pot luck on Wednesday, Nov. 24th. Thank you for all of your support!! Always, Teacher Brigidan

From Teacher Norma and Teacher Megan

MNS — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 01:42:43 +0000

Welcome everyone to a new year as Millbrae Nursery School. We hope everyone had a fun and relaxing summer. Teacher Norma spent her summer in Mexico visiting family and Teacher Megan was her as school teaching the summer program with Teacher Liselle. We both are excited to start the New Year and can’t wait to see the kiddo’s in our class. Our goal for this month will be for each of us to get to know each other and our families. We will also get familiar with the classroom. We will see you soon, can’t wait.
Teacher Megan & Teacher Norma

Let’s start the year with a positive energy

MNS — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 00:57:42 +0000

Hello Millbrae Nursery School Families! It is so exciting to come into the new year to see old friends and new ones, too! What was the highlight of your summer? We have so much in store for us in the Pre-K class this year. Are you ready?

Families, let’s make this a year of sharing and collaboration, with the kiddos and the adults at Millbrae Nursery School as well as our community partners. Let’s start the year with a positive energy and continue with it all year. Get set!

I look forward to our 2010-2011 school year together! Let’s get going!

Sincerely,
Teacher Liselle

Three year olds

MNS — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 01:08:42 +0000

The three’s are working on “DISCOVERING ME and GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER”. Learning to work together and build a trusting partnership. The children, families and teachers will be getting familiar with each other and our large classroom. Asking questions and modeling techniques will help us all as we start the new school year. When you add our basic ingredients; a beautiful facility, our daily schedule, wonderful materials available, projects and themes with the kiddo’s ideas and energy and caring adults, all the creativity will result in a wonderful learning environment. A school that works!

I am looking forward to getting to know your child and working with you! Teacher Brigidan

Enough Sleep is so Important!

MNS — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:30:04 +0000

By Teacher Liselle:

A large number of parents have approached me this year, telling me that their kiddo is having a tough day because they lack sleep. Although attending class is very important, children have such a tough time concentrating or even getting along with anyone when their bodies are craving rest. The unfortunate thing is that children don’t know why they are feeling so emotional, they just know they want to be left alone. Sometimes, all we need is a little more rest.

Sleep helps our body and brain develop and grow.

Your Brain Needs Sleep, so you can:

Remember what you learn
Pay attention and concentrate
Solve problems and think of new ideas

Your Body Needs Sleep, so your:

Muscles, bones, and skin can grow
Muscles, skin and other parts can fix injuries
Body can stay healthy and fight sickness

Check out http://www.sleepforkids.org for more tips on sleep. Also, for recommended hours of sleep by age check out http://www.webmd.com/parenting/guide/sleep-children.

When you get enough sleep you can:

Pay attention better in school
Be creative and think of new ideas
Fight sickness so you stay healthy
Be in a good mood
Get along with friends and family
Solve problems better

Without enough sleep you can:

Forget what you learned
Have trouble making good choices
Be grumpy and in a bad mood
Have trouble playing games and sports
Be less patient with brothers, sisters, and friends
Have trouble listening to parents and teachers

Teacher Brigidan’s October Newsletter

MNS — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 21:43:09 +0000

Three’s 2010
Our year has started and the kiddos are growing with confidence and trust. Many of these little treasures have learned the schedule of the day. 12:00 is an important part of your child’s daily inquires. They know you will return and gather them. This helps to build their trust in you and me. Our class will be hosting the Halloween party this year, on Friday evening, 10/22. As host of this event All of our class families will need to help.
The 9:00 classes will be taking their first field trip on Tuesday, October 19th. We will be going to Farmer John’s Pumpkin Patch. Thank you to Amy Baksheeff for organizing the day.   Please look for the signup sheet, information & directions; or talk with your teacher. We are scheduled to arrive at the pumpkin patch at 9:30. Every child is required to ride in a booster or car seat if they are attending.
Things that we will be exploring in the class room are:
Colors:   Orange and Black
Shape: Circle
Language: Using our Imagination! Is it real or pretend? Bones why do we have them?
All staff and teacher/parents are asked to greet the kiddos and families as they arrive. Our task is to note one positive connection each week with two children in your class.
You, our parents/teachers are such a vital part of your child’s day and all of our kiddo’s day! Thank you for working so hard and with great enthusiasm and openness to all of our kiddos.
It makes such a difference in our environment.
Always,   Teacher Brigidan

Three Year Old Class Curriculum

MNS — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 21:41:58 +0000

OCTOBER 2010 Three Year Old Class Teacher Brigidan Theme/Focus: Using our Imagination “Let’s Pretend” Healthy Choices, Safe Choices Parent Activities: Family tree- Virt Pre K activity to be brought back to school. Greeting each kiddo and complement two kiddos weekly. Find the Endearing qualities of each child.
Group/Stories/Music&Movement	Art Experiences
OCTOBER Three claps GOOD MORNING SONG Go Away Big Green Monsters Where the Wild things are, Listening story and follow. Itsy Bitsy Spider Turn around. This is a story about Sammy.	Pumpkins, orange circles with our names. Black circles with spider webs, play dough orange and black Feet prints – Hand prints Sensory touch and feel
Changes to the Environment: Pumpkins and squashes Leaves all the colors that they come in. Change the Books Food for snack, orange and black. Pumpkin recipes Face and hand paint Is it scary?

Special Skills: Learning what is real and what is pretend. Masks / face painting to our hands and faces. Covering our coughs and sneezes GERMS Please move over, STOP YOUR BODY
Literacy	Math/Science	Outside/Snack Program
Books related to Family Fall and Halloween Books are rotated monthly	Watch the weather, wind, sun, rain, fog the branches move and wave, What clothes should we wear? Covering our sneezes with our arms and washing our hands and noses. Counting from one to ten.	Rainy day activities, Hop in and around the circles Music and Rhythm Loft play Seasonal Food choices Pumpkin Patch field trip
Observations/Notes: Look at Desired Results Measures *1-2-3 Identity of self Social * 4-5 Building relationships with adults * Developing friendships * Cooperative play with other children 7. Conflict negotiation 10. Taking turns 11. Shared space 12. Comprehends meaning 14. Expresses self through language 20-22-24 Number sense Counting * Shapes * Time * 34. Gross motor movement 36. Balance 37. Personal care 38. Personal safety 39. Understanding healthy choices**

Pre-K October Curriculum

MNS — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 19:19:56 +0000

OCT 2010 Teacher Liselle

Theme/Focus: Farm, Pumpkins, & Real vs. Pretend

Parent Activities: Prepare Family Tree and present it in class on your workday.

LITERACY

ART

Scarecrow

Pumpkin Pumpkin

Farm Counting Book

The Perfect Sheep

The Perfect Nest

Ten Little Rabbits

Where The Wild Things Are

Tracing Names

Taking Care of Books

Sounding out a,e,i,o,u

Where the Wild Things Are

I can do it (VPK)

Family Tree (VPK)

Cut and paste jack-o-lantern

Treasure box (torn art)

Writing names (upper & lower case letters)

Tracing Calendar

Scarecrow

Cotton ball sheep

Changes to the Environment:

Themed books in quiet and reading areas: Where The Wild Things Are, Farmer’s Market, Barnyard Hullabaloo, The Cow Who Clucked, Away Went The Farmer’s Hat, Down on the Farm, When The Leaf Blew In, The Scarebunny, Apples and Pumpkins, Picking Apples and Pumpkins, From Seed to Pumpkin, The Lonely Scarecrow, The Treasure

Introducing the County Office of Education Virtual Pre-k to MNS. Building a home-school connection

Special Skills: Recognizing skills and accomplishments at school and at home, building positive relationships with peers and teachers, understanding and applying personal safety rules.
MUSIC & MOVEMENT	MATH & SCIENCE	HEALTH & SAFETY
SONGS: Old MacDonald Had a Farm Days of the Week Months of the Year Come and Join Us Where is (name of kiddo) Where is Thumbkin 5 Little Monkeys Sitting on a Tree	How does a pumpkin feel? (cool, cold, slimy, slippery, gooey, smooth, bumpy, wet, dry, heavy, light, etc.) Carving pumpkin Counting Friends Recognizing Colors/Shapes Recognizing Shapes October calendar Apple Tasting (Red, Yellow, Green) Apple Chart	School Rules: Role Play STRONG WORDS: Please, Thank you, Stop your body, Help me please Hi-5 for good helpers Fieldtrip (Who, What, Where, When) Costume Parade (Road safety) Obstacle Course
Observations/Notes: Look at Desired Results Measures DRDP 2010 2 Recognition of own skills and accomplishments 4 Impulse Control 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 Building cooperative relationships with peers/adults & developing friendships 17, 18, 19 Interest in literacy, comprehension of text presented by adults, concepts of print 23, 24, 25 Comprehension of English, Self-expression in Engl, Understanding and response to Engl lit activities 27 & 30 Cause and effect, curiosity and initiative 32 & 34 Number sense of quantity & counting and classification 38 & 39 Gross motor movement & balance 40 Fine Motor Skills 41 & 43 Personal care routines & personal safety