News for the ‘Teacher Liselle’s Notes’ Category

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

News from Teacher Liselle’s Class

Wow! February flew by! For March, we will focus on the change of weather, writing names with upper and lower case letters, using full sentences in conversation, participating in activities from the beginning to end, also blending letter sounds. Please refer to the more detailed class curriculum posted by the class radio [Sonja adds: for the blog category curriculum].

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Valentine’s Day celebration. Special thank you to Jay Harvey’s family for sponsoring the Chinese New Year celebrations, and to Evan Louie’s mom who shared their Chinese New Year traditions from home. Our class
enjoyed the festivities greatly!

The Pre-k class is hosting the Spring Party this March 27th. Please share any ideas with the teachers ASAP, so we can discuss incorporating your ideas for the celebration.

Sincerely,
Teacher Liselle

Edited: March 13th, 2010

Teacher Liselle’s March 2010 Curriculum

Theme/Focus: The change of weather & St. Patrick’s Day

Parent Activities: Please help the kiddos practice speaking in full sentences.

The curriculum for our class is based on the school’s monthly calendar, the interest of the children, and the DRDP-R requirements.  Flexibility is always exercised, based on skill level as well as interest of the kiddos in class.

LITERACY	ART	MUSIC & MOVEMENT
VISITOR: Story Teller Olive VISITORS: Lomita Park Leadership Group Reading friends’ names Letter Bingo Letter sounds, (m, r, t) Combining letters (on, at, sat) You Look Funny	Paper Mache of landscape White board Cutting along a line Writing names (upper & lower case letters) Treasure map Leafless trees	SONGS: Alphabet Song, We All Live Together, ABC Rock, Dance Freeze Treasure Hunt Instrument Parade (Friendship March) The Bear Went Over the Mountain Hulla-baloo
MATH & SCIENCE	HEALTH & SAFETY	Special Skills:
Number Bingo Puzzles Plant seeds Mountains, hills, volcanoes, valleys, plateau, etc. Mix with droppers, water & ink Pattern Bingo Rocks	Dress for weather Earthquake drill Reviewing road signs What is that fruit? What is that vegetable? Cookbook	Writing names with upper and lower case letters. Using full sentences in conversation. Participating in activities from the beginning to the end. Combining letter sounds to read words.

Themed books in quiet and reading areas

• Rain, I don’t want to go to bed!
• Tiger Can’t sleep
• Dig Dig Digging
• The Three Little Pigs
• The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig
• The Three Billy Goats Gruff
• Bambi
• Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain
• Amason Alphabet
• Muncha! Muncha! Muncha!
• Puddles
• The Diggers, Blaze A Trail
• Round the Garden, Rocks
• Round the Garden

Observations/Notes:  Look at Desired Results Measures

• 1 & 2 Identity of Self & Recognition of own skills and accomplishments
• 4 & 6 Building cooperative play with others
• 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
• 34 Gross motor skills
• 35 Fine Motor Skills

Edited: March 5th, 2010