Family Newsletter 2-3-2013

Dear Pre-K Families,

We'd like to invite you to look at our bulletin board on the left side of the hall before you enter our classroom. Your kids have work displayed there of which Mrs. Peavey and I are quite proud. You will see Venger Drawings, the results of an activity where we pass around a shape (in this case a rhombus), and brainstorm about what this shape could be part of. For example,a student might say, "This rhombus could be part of a diamond ring." Then the kids draw their idea and some add writing as well. This math activity helps kids recognize basic geometric shapes, use basic shapes as building blocks in their own pictures, mentally construct and deconstruct real world objects into their basic shapes and learn about using shapes purposefully.
  
The other recent display is our Helicopter Learning Facts, a connection with our Medivac Helicopter Center and Hospital Theme in play centers. The kids listen to a nonfiction text (sometimes just a few pages of a book), and draw and write about what they thought was interesting. The purpose of this activity is to practice remembering on purpose, use drawing and writing as a tool to remember, strengthen oral language skills and build vocabulary, and provide another context in which to practice writing and letter sounds. It also helps us experience listening to different genres of literature and develop a love of reading.

I predict your kids enjoyed both of these activities. Try asking them about their work as you walk by next time.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Bridgman and Mrs. Peavey

Family Newsletter January 24, 2013

Dear Pre-K Families,                                   January 23, 2013  

Brrrr. After checking with our Dike Newell office personnel, I learned that 12 degrees (correction from the hard copy newsletter) is the magic temperature for cancelling outside recess.

  

We have a new student in Pre-K! She and her mom joined us for a quick visit today, and we’ll be welcoming her all morning tomorrow.

For advance planners, we will be exchanging valentines (simple is good) on that holiday and perhaps celebrating with a special activity, healthy snack and craft. If you wish to contribute to the Valentine themed healthy snack, please let us know. 

Sincerely,

Mrs. Bridgman and Mrs. Peavey 

P.S. Here are a few pictures of our first grade buddies reading with us on Thursday. It was a magical sound to hear the hum of all those readers sharing books with our kids ...  

          

January 12, 2013

Hello Pre-K Families,

A quick request from our school office. If your student will be absent, please call our Absence Hotline at 443-8285 and press 1 to report the absence. Thank you.

 Your kids have been doing a stellar job playing their Tools of the Mind math games recently, specifically "Making Collections" and the "Numerals Game." Both of these involve a counting game with paired math buddies. One child gets the Hand (gets to go first) and the other child gets the Check (this child's role is to briefly wait and then check the Hand's work.)The kids are looking at pictures or numerals, counting small objects to match, and then checking their work. Not only are they learning rote counting skills, but they are working in a social setting with a peer, practicing taking turns, and practicing checking their work. We are very proud of them!

January 2, 2013 Happy New Year!

Dear Pre-K Families,                                       January 2, 2013

You’ve probably heard the news from your students – we are in the midst of changing play themes from restaurant to hospital. Our play centers are transitioning into a gift shop, the x-ray department, a nursery, an operating room, an optometrist office and a medivac helicopter unit! We are making some props, reading theme oriented books, and will be playing in roles of patients, nurses, doctors, receptionists, etc., next week. We are seeking some items for our gift shop – used fake flowers, plastic vases and stuffed animals (that are not sentimental favorites of your child). Also, scrubs in small sizes. Many thanks for contributing to the cause, if availability matches our needs.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Bridgman and Mrs. Peavey

Family Newsletter

Dear Pre-K Families,                                        December 12, 2012

This is turning out to be our Reindeer Week in pre-k. We have visiting reindeer (pretend, but almost life size) in our playground. We’re reading Jan Brett’s wonderfully illustrated The Wild Christmas Reindeer book. Our learning facts topic is reindeer, and we’ll be putting reindeer decorations on healthy muffins at snack time on Thursday. Oooo la la. (Did you know that reindeer hooves change from sponge-like in the summer for walking on the tundra, to the pads shrinking and tightening to expose the rims for dealing with icy winter conditions?)

Your kids handled shopping for holiday gifts at the famous Dike Newell Holiday Fair with ease on Tuesday. Brace yourselves for fabulous treasures, that were proudly and thoughtfully picked out for you by your little ones.

Sincerely, Mrs. Bridgman and Mrs. Peavey

Pre-K Family Newsletter   November 28, 2012

                                      

Today, during our play centers, your children were really fun to watch as they embraced the roles and props that accompany our restaurant theme. They were busy cooking spaghetti, baking donuts (I don’t think you actually “bake” donuts, but we do in our pretend roles), washing dishes, planting and picking Indian corn for customers at the Farmer’s Market, scooping ice cream and assembling sandwiches. Here are a few pictures ...

  

                    

                                                                                

   

Going outside is a great part of our morning. It was cold today. We will, of course, observe the school guidelines regarding temperature and wind chill factors, but we will also try to go out every day possible. The running and climbing and jumping and loud voices all need to come out somewhere, and outside is certainly the place for it to happen happily. So, please send warm outdoor clothing for your child. Here’s our song for the order we get dressed in here at school … We have a song for everything, I believe!

Getting Dressed in Winter

First you put your snowpants on,

Then you do your boots.

Then you put your jacket on,

Zip it ‘cause it’s loose.

Then you put your hat on,

Last you do your mittens.

Then we go outside to play,

Cause we are tired of sittin’.

 December 11^th is the Holiday Fair here at Dike Newell School. Please read the recent info sent home about it and fill in that form before then. I understand the kids simply love buying gifts for their families at the fair.  Please consider volunteering and donating items in good condition to help make this event a success. Thank you very much!

Sincerely, Mrs. Bridgman and Mrs. Peavey

Hi Families,                                               

This week before our Thanksgiving break will be busy! On Wednesday, we have been invited to attend the school book fair. We'll get to pick out a book for free, and an opportunity to buy a book if we bring the funds. Here's the blurb from the school newsletter:

"Books will be paperback selections priced $5.99 and lower supplied by local bookstore, Bath Book Shop.  If you send a check in with your child, please make the check out to Bath Book Shop.  The Bath Elementary PTA and the Literacy Support Fund provide funds for every student to choose a free book at the Book Fair.  Parents are invited to shop the Book Fair on Thursday evening, November 15th, from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m..  Local author Wendy Ulmer will be reading from her book A Isn't For Fox beginning at 6:45 p.m."

Also on Wednesday, we'll be reading and assembling ingredients for Stone Soup, to be offered at snack time on Thursday. Seasonal creative art projects are on this week's schedule, as well.

Please remember to sign up for parent conferences (November 20th) if you have not already done so. Timing is flexible, so speak with Mrs. Bridgman if you need a time that is not on the list. No pre-k classes  the week of November 20, 21, and 22, just the conferences on Tuesday, the 20th.

Closing with a song we'll be singing this week (not every item required to be totally embraced ...)

"I love the turkey,
I love the stuffin',
I love the gravy,
I love corn muffins,
I love my family,
We're all together,
I'm glad Thanksgiving time is here."

Mrs. Bridgman and Mrs. Peavey

Pre-K Family Newsletter             November 8, 2012

Dear Families,

We have begun our change into the Restaurant theme (lasting for the next 6 weeks or so.) Our science center is transforming into Subway, blocks center into the Farmer’s Market, math into Dot’s Ice Cream Shop, dramatic play into The Cabin Pizza, literacy into Applebee’s and the art center into Dunkin’ Donuts. If you have props that would support play in these centers (un-used pizza boxes, coffee cups, paper bags with these logos), we would welcome contributions. The kids (and adults) are quite excited about this new theme!

Wednesday, November 14^th, pre-k is scheduled to attend our school book fair. Through the generosity of Dike Newell’s PTA, each student will get a free book, and they have an opportunity to buy a book as well.

Our class will be practicing a brief lockdown drill within the next week. We’ll have a pretend announcement and proceed to our corner center. Our goal is to sit quietly, out of view of doors and windows, for 5 minutes, with a brief discussion of the procedure.

Tuesday, November 20^th, is our day scheduled for pre-k parent conferences. A sign-up sheet is in class now. We can make other time accommodations, if necessary.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Bridgman and Mrs. Peavey

pre-k Family Newsletter October 31, 2012

 Pre-K Family Newsletter       October 31, 2012    

    

This is the last week of our Family Theme in class. The kids have done a nice job taking on roles and for the most part, staying in them, during our center time.  Here's a group working on the car engine in "the garage"....

I hope you have enjoyed discussing the “play plans” that come home with your student once a week. The kids should be able to tell you about the picture they drew, which center they went to, and “who” they were. Look for details beyond the stick figures, beginning to emerge in their work. Many are working on their messages, so re-reading that part together, would be much appreciated. In our pre-k world we draw a line for every word in our messages, so you can also anticipate kids “reading” their lines to you. Mrs. Peavey and I write the words in, but eventually you will see your kids start to write initial sounds and more on the lines. A very exciting time!

Our centers will begin to transform into Restaurants next week, and we will start pretending to be cooks, dishwashers, customers, etc. The kids will help decide which restaurants will be in our centers – usually local favorites are chosen. After that, we may request to borrow props from home that support these cuisines, so stand by!

Some important November dates to keep in mind:

Tuesday, November 6^th – no school. It’s a professional development day for RSU1 teachers.

November 20, 21, 22 – no pre-k this week for the Thanksgiving holiday. However, November 20^th is when we will hold Parent Conferences for our class. Sign up times will be posted soon.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Bridgman and Mrs. Peavey

P.S. Halloween Day with your kids was wonderful - thanks for sharing them with us!

Family Newsletter 10-15-12

                                                                                                 

                                                                                October 15, 2012

Pre-K Family Newsletter

We are continuing to play in our Family-themed centers (the living room, the laundry room, the bathroom, the bedroom, the garage and the kitchen.) Your kids will most likely be able to tell you which center they played in that day, and who they pretended to be. It would be great if you could ask your child more about that part of their day. Something like, “And what does the grandmother do?” (if they said they were the grandmother), or “What does a little brother say when he is in the kitchen?” There may be a decipherable connection between the play plans your child brings home, and what he or she tells you about … Well, okay, some of us are just starting to draw recognizable stick figures and details, so the connections may not be overly apparent yet!

Thanks to Mrs. Peavey’s technical expertise, our Pre-K blog is up and running. You may find it by going to the Dike-Newell website, clicking on “Classroom Links”, then “Pre-K”, then “Mrs. Bridgman”. I hope to post classroom news, and an occasional picture of the kids doing fun stuff (no names will be used.) My list from the office shows that no one has denied permission to use their child’s picture on this school site. If I am in error about this, kindly let me know, and we will happily follow your wishes.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Bridgman and Mrs. Peavey

Family Newsletter 10-2-12

Pre-K Family Newsletter                                                              October 2, 2012

Last week, the kids started choosing the centers/"rooms of the house" that they want to play in. They chose a colored clothespin and then went to that color center. The basic goal is to have them self-regulate enough to stay in that center, playing, for twenty minutes or so.  (For example, they clip the blue clothespin to their clothing to remind them (and the adults) they should be playing in the blue center/literacy center/living room.) The higher goal is to have them play a legitimate role in that center, like the mom or the dad or the cousin, etc., and have some pretend actions that would dovetail with that role. A bit of angst appears at this stage, because there are only four pins per center, so depending on where one's name is on the rotating list of who goes first, one may or may not get one's first choice. 

Stand by to hear, "I didn't get to go to the _________ (room of the house) today!" But know the list will rotate predictably, and this is actually another deliberate part of the curriculum. Kids will be bringing “play plans” home on a regular basis soon. This will be a picture, eventually some writing, done in colored marker that represents your child doing something at a center. Please ask them about the plan, what they are doing in the picture and who they are pretending to be.

We’ll be doing some leaf rubbings soon. If you and your child could collect 5-6 leaves to send in for this activity, that would be great.

Thanks for signing your kids out as requested at noon time.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Bridgman and Mrs. Peavey