A popping, hopping, clapping, wiggling good time!

After the morning program of saluting the flag, repeating John 3:16, changing the date on the calendar and going outside to see what the weather is for the day, the kids sat down at the table and we worked on a paper showing the directions of left to right.  Everyone is learning their right hand has the "smellies" on it, it makes it easier to remember which direction is left.  They did very well with their papers.  After that, they were getting a little restless, so we moved right into the music of the day, and they were each given some of the popping packing pieces.  We sang the song, "All around the cobblers bench, the monkey chased the weasel, the monkey thought it was all in fun, pop goes the weasel.  They were then allowed to pop a couple of the bubbles.  Fun, fun, fun!!

This was the book of the day because it gives the kids a lot of things to do.Clap your hands, stomp your feet, shake your arms, then take a seat. Close your eyes and count to four  Now do a somersault across the floor. ( This following is Sammy showing them how it is done

 Brooklyn gives it a try

Spread your feet, look upside down

 Make a silly face

 and act like a clown

 Hop like a bunny, flap like a bird.  Quiet as a mouse, now. . . Don't say a word!

 Everyone sat down to the table and out came the play dough to roll, and shape, and make some of the alphabet

 or a green snow man

 Brooklyn puts this cute puzzle together

while they others are cutting out their letters.
Still, another day at Granjan's preschool where we learn by having fun!!

Thursday August 16 2012

After our morning routine of the pledge to the flag, our calendar, and weather, we decided we would like so sing some songs and so I got out some of the little instruments and each child got to use them.  We had a flute, a tamborine, miracas, a drum and some jingle bells. 

 I am not quite sure which was the favorite, so you will have to ask the kids

 I know the boys were swayed toward the loudest, which was the flute and the noise maker

 Then it was time to settle down and since we use a lot of glue during the school year, we learned how to make small dots of glue and this was done by using the black dots on a paper.  First came the dot of glue,

 next, they took little pieces of tissue paper and crumpled them and placed them on the dots and it looked like little butterflies landed on the pape

 The next activity was introducing the children to a pair of scissors and this wavy line worksheet  to help them get used to cutting

 Of course each child wanted pictures of their papers and creativity

 And they took a picture of me, too!

 The morning passed quickly with just these little projects and then the alarm was signaled that it was snack time, and sure enough, it was.  So we headed to snacks and then to play in the basement.  The girls got out the make up and experimented with just about every kind of eye and lip and cheek color and taste.

 The boys of course, settled down to making houses out of the lincoln logs. 

 Our little movie stars!!

 The eye shadow matches her necklace

 Learning how to make a line behind a line leader!!

this one did not get finished before we went for snacks and  playtime and he did not let me forget to snap his little creation.  Hey, that is what it is all about!!
Another fun day at preschool and closed out by playing a quick game of number bingo.  I can't remember if we actually had a winner, but they all had a hand full of skittles that acted as our markers, so they went away happy.  Until next time  . . . . . .  ..

First full day of Preschool for 2012-2013

 Preschool started a little shaky, as most first day classes do, and as the children came, one by one, they explored to see just what things were available for them to play with and learn about.
One of the first things that needed to be done was to color and mark these little "monsters" to see what things we could do to help us stay on track and not get ourselves into trouble.  The rules for the new year are basically the ones the children know that they need to observe to keep each other and "teacher" happy.
We talked about our happy hands, which are the things they will be doing to help me through each day.  Each child has been given a color which will help them to know who does what and we went through this several times so that they understand a little about what will be their job each day.  They are excited to be able to  help by giving the prayer when we have snacks, leading the pledge; being the line leader; telling about the weather for the day; singing our days of the week song, and putting a new number of the day of the month; and of course, everyone loves to hand out the snacks.  We also pointed out the map of the United States and located our state "Arizona" and talked about some of the other states that we know.

 It was really fun to see how they all worked together with the blocks to create their own little village with various sizes of buildings and how they spread them out to make a little village. A plus--working together!!

 This is one of the little puzzles that they all had to have a turn with.  There is a little net, with a magnet on it that picks up each of the pieces, which has a little nail on it, and the insects are added to the net. 

 The children made self portraits which I will put on the walls in the class room.  While they colored, I finished measuring and weighing each of them so I can add their  "flowers" onto the vine on the wall.  I always marvel at how much they grow in the 9 months that I have them in class

 Once they found out that there would be snacks, you can guess how often they wanted to know when they would get snacks.  And of course, the next question was, when do they get to go downstairs to play.  We discussed "time" with them and where the hands on the clock would need to be when each of these activities would happen.  It is amazing how quickly they pick up on telling time, when there is a reward.

 Question, "What are these pictures on the wall?'  Answer, "Don't you remember that these are pictures of us?" "Oh!, Yeah!

 Quickly the girls separated from the boys and the girls set up the houses, divided the "girl" dolls, and started their little play time.

 The boys discovered the race tracks, cars, and tools

 And of course, babies!!  I always love to watch how tender the little girls are with the baby dolls

 The little carpenter, mechanics assess the tools, safety glasses, and tool boxes.

 Cars are always a favorite

 It seemed like every time I looked, another doll house was added

 Or another way to race the cars was located

 The boys wanted a highway to run their cars on so I took tape and placed the roads in the directions that they wanted them to go. 

 The highway started at the bottom of the stairs and went here and there all over the basement floor, but it was really fun to watch them move those cars around  I was proud of them when they picked up the toys that they were playing with, even though I told them that they could let them out until we were finished with them on Thursday.

Meet the teacher day August 2012

What a wonderful time we had on our "Meet our teacher" day at GranJan's Preschool

 This is a great book to start off the school year.  Chester is going to his first day of school and he learns a good lesson from his mother--I love you--and with this kiss I give you in the palm of your hand, you can feel my love with you always.

 I love you

With some preparation before the children arrived, the flour, and cookie cutters were all set out

Rolling pins were ready to be used (yes, they were all mine)

 I baked and frosted one for them to have a look at--I ate it too, after the children left!

As the children arrived, I took a picture of each one!  And what a cute bunch of 4 year olds!!

 After a short presentation of the coming years activities and procedures, we were out to the kitchen to roll out the cookies, frost them and eat those sugary treats.

 Some of the kids decided that they liked the unbaked dough just about as much as the baked cookies.

All in  all, it was a good introduction, and I, for one, am looking forward to being with this little group of kids for the next 9 months.  Welcome to GranJan's preschool, kids!!