The weather this week has been great and we’ve really enjoyed being outside. Many of the kids play in the sandbox. Some like the equipment the best. We’ll be enhancing outside play with jump ropes, balls, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, kites, hop scotch, nature exploration (garden, trees, birds, bugs, worms), and anything else we can think of. If you have a special idea, please let us know.

Inside the classroom we’re expanding our centers some. Mila and Ms. Jane each brought in dead monarch butterflies to look at. Many of our children are really enjoying the blocks this year. We have lots of things to add to the blocks, including vehicles, animals, tree blocks, legos, etc. We’ll be bringing in other materials, too, such as piping, cardboard boxes, etc.

We are still learning about names. This week we read “Tikki Tikki Tembo” who had such a long name that when he fell in the well he almost drown because it took so long to say it. Thanks to those of you who sent your name letters in. We’ll be starting on those tomorrow and doing them next week. If you would like to stay and read yours to your child, let me know so I can plan for that.
<p align="center"><img src="http://rayblogs.cuip.net/wp-content/blogs/12/uploads/tikki%20tikki%20tembo.jpg" alt="tikki tikki tembo.jpg" height="96" width="80" /><img src="http://rayblogs.cuip.net/wp-content/blogs/12/uploads/chrysanthemum.jpg" alt="chrysanthemum.jpg" height="96" width="78" /><img src="http://rayblogs.cuip.net/wp-content/blogs/12/uploads/Catalina%20Magdalena.jpg" alt="Catalina Magdalena.jpg" height="96" width="122" /></p>
In Spanish, the children learned how to greet each other saying “Buenos Dias” and learned the Buenos Dias song. Srta. Diaz comes in three times a week and sometimes has a formal session with the children and sometimes sits and speaks to them in Spanish only so they get to hear what the language sounds like.

Next week: more apples, more fun name books, cutting, cooking hand-made pasta with Sophia’s mom, the beginning of our art classes (Thursday), starting our journals, sorting activities, visual exploration (5 senses), opening other centers (Listening Center, Sandbox, Sensory, etc.), finish pillows.
<ul>
	<li>Please be sure to send in your emergency forms. I know you may have already filled one out when you registered your child. Please fill it out again. We’ll be asking for new ones in the spring, so be forewarned!</li>
	<li>Library books on Monday (Ray Library books)</li>
	<li>Gym shoes on Tuesday</li>
	<li>Check your mailboxes at the front door daily</li>
	<li>Extra clothing for your child’s cubby</li>
</ul>
If you have any concerns about your child, please email me or call me in the classroom at 535-0954.

Learning About the Classroom

Morning Meeting

This year we are starting something new in our classroom. It’s called “Morning Meeting.” This is different from a “circle time” because it has a definite structure and a different purpose. Soon after 9am (don’t be late!) we’ll gather on the rug for our meeting. It usually lasts about 10-15 minutes.
Greeting: We start with a finger song to get us in the rhythm of the day and then we greet each other. We might greet each other in English or in Spanish. We also do our day of the week song.
Sharing: Next is our sharing time. During this time each child is given the opportunity to say something about what’s going on with them. This has become a very important part of our morning because it is during sharing time that we connect with each other as a community. We learn about happy and sad things, things we have in common and things that are unique about us. It is a time for children to practice their conversation and listening skills (and listening to people other than the grownup is a powerful lesson!). I am impressed at how much children participate and attend to each other during this time.

Group activity: After sharing, we do a quick group activity. It is usually a movement activity since sitting still is perhaps the hardest thing we can ask our students to do. We might also talk about things having to do with getting along with each other, classroom rules, etc. It is a very brief instructional period since large group instruction in preschool is probably the least effective way of teaching.

News and Announcements: During this time I go over what we will be doing that day and what activities are available to the children. The children can choose what they’d like to do at this time.

Feel free to stay sometime for morning meeting. I think you’ll enjoy it!

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<h2><a href="http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/2007/09/09/sept-7-2007/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to Sept. 7, 2007">Sept. 7, 2007</a></h2>
September 9, 2007 @ 9:17 pm  				· Filed under <a href="http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/category/messages/" title="View all posts in Messages" rel="category tag">Messages</a>				 · <a href="http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/admin/post.php?token=5851173a7d500eeb90df531a58583ea0ef1b0133&amp;action=edit&amp;post=967">Edit</a>

We had a great first week. The kids are getting to know each other, the classroom and their teachers. We’ve toured the school, met many of the adults it will be important for us to know (office staff, gym teacher, other preschool teachers). We are getting a routine down that seems to be comfortable for everyone and have even started making rules for the classroom.

I gave the kids their first homework assignment. First, this is the time of year that monarch butterflies are swarming and getting ready to migrate south. I’ve asked them to keep their eyes open and try and see some monarch butterflies. We read a non-fiction book about monarchs, played with a butterfly puppet and started learning a preschool favorite song: Bonnie the Beautiful Butterfly. Please help your child notice the butterflies as you walk around the neighborhood.

We also read a book called “The Kissing Hand.” A kissing hand is one that has a parent’s kiss planted on the center of a child’s palm. It doesn’t wash or rub off but is available to the child whenever they need to think of their parent. Children can give kissing hands to parents, too. I asked the children to give you a kissing hand and get one from you. Please feel free to stop and look at the book. It’s very sweet.
<p align="center"><img src="http://rayblogs.cuip.net/wp-content/blogs/12/uploads/Kissing%20Hand.thumbnail.gif" alt="Kissing Hand.gif" height="96" width="77" /></p>
<strong>Names
</strong>

This week we will continue to learn about our names. We’ll be encouraging children to learn their first and last names (and middle for some), learn the letters of their names, count the letters of their names, and lots of other name games. We’ll also be starting to sign in this week. Ms. H., our morning aide, will help your child with this.

<strong>Signing In</strong>

Your child’s name is the most important word in the world to your child. While we encourage your child to write, we accept whatever they give us. It might look like a squiggle, their letters may be backward, it may only have one letter. Each day when they sign in by writing their name, they are moving closer to understanding what writing is about, so please refrain from holding their hand while they write or trying to correct. Have faith that it will come when your child is ready, well before they start kindergarten.

<strong>Home Project</strong>

As part of our name study, we would like you to write a letter to your child explaining how you came up with their name when they were born. Please write your letter in your family’s first language, with an English translation if you’d like. You are invited to stay a little in the morning so you can read this letter to the class during morning meeting (9:15). If you can’t stay, we will read the letter for you.

<strong>Housekeeping</strong>

Snacks and Sheets:

I sent home the sheet schedule. It was suggested that we use this as the snack schedule also. If you could please send in snacks for the classroom the week you are assigned to take sheets home, we would have enough snacks for morning and late afternoon. The school will be providing snacks for the afternoon.

If you are paying the larger tuition payment for hot lunch, your child is also entitled to breakfast. Please make sure your child is here by 8:30 if you want breakfast. It is over at 9:00.

Class trip: Mark your calendars for October 11, 9-1pm for our first trip to the Garfield Park Conservatory. We will be doing a special preschool activity with the staff there and seeing the “Niki in the Park” exhibit. WE NEED PARENT VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS TRIP!!!!

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<h2><a href="http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/2007/09/04/first-day/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to First Day">First Day</a></h2>
September 4, 2007 @ 7:04 pm  				· Filed under <a href="http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/category/messages/" title="View all posts in Messages" rel="category tag">Messages</a>				 · <a href="http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/admin/post.php?token=cfb004664cd412c912768fe82ea3a8ee3f4b93dc&amp;action=edit&amp;post=958">Edit</a>

We had a wonderful first day. The few separation tears we had stopped within a few minutes as children got busy learning the classroom. We had our morning meeting where we started learning each others’ names, had a tour of the classroom and did activities in  the room (thanks to Auden’s mom for the puppet cut-outs!). We then read <em>“Owl Babies” </em>by Martin Waddell. We played outside after that for about an hour, exploring the sand box and playground areas. After lunch we had a reading time (children are read to in small groups or read independently) and then had nap time. Tomorrow we will start talking about rules for the classroom, learn to take care of the plants and fish, and celebrate our first birthday!
<p align="center"><img src="http://rayblogs.cuip.net/wp-content/blogs/12/uploads/owl%20babies.jpeg" alt="Owl Babies" height="96" width="118" /></p>
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<h2><a href="http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/2007/09/02/preschool-opening/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to Preschool Opening">Preschool Opening</a></h2>
September 2, 2007 @ 9:56 am  				· Filed under <a href="http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/category/messages/" title="View all posts in Messages" rel="category tag">Messages</a>,  <a href="http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/category/weekly-posts/" title="View all posts in Weekly Posts" rel="category tag">Weekly Posts</a>				 · <a href="http://rayblogs.cuip.net/413/admin/post.php?token=52d0c2642c3ca4191d9852d95dff7a2ea0401af9&amp;action=edit&amp;post=957">Edit</a>

Hi Everyone!
I hope you’re as excited as I am about starting school! Here are some things to remember:

1) Please arrive on time (before 9 am), Sign in at the back door and write down when you expect to pick up your child. Help your child find their cubby and put their stuff away. Then help your child wash their hands. Please do this <u>every morning.</u>  Next week we will start having the children sign in and write their names (more on this later).

2) Please bring the following:
–<strong>change of clothing</strong> (we have a box with a lid for your child in their cubby for extra clothes)
–<strong>medical form</strong> (KEEP ORIGINAL) completed by your child’s doctor
–all <strong>emergency phone numbers</strong>
–an <strong>extra blanket or pillow</strong> if your child needs it (our new blankets are more lightweight than I thought; we do have some extras for when it’s chilly in the room; we’ll be making pillows over the next couple of weeks)
–<strong>supplies if your child’s last name begins with A-L</strong> (see blog for supply list)
–<strong>family photo</strong> to help your child feel connected to you (you may or may not get it back, so send a copy)

3) Plan to stay for a little while to fill out paper work, have a cup of coffee, etc., meet other parents, help your child get settled

4) You must pick your child up by 6:00pm. If you think you’ll be late, arrange for someone else to pick your child up and call us to let us know. For those of you whose children have never been in an all-day day care, you may want to come early for a few days to minimize stress on your child.

Our classroom phone number is:  773-535-0954. You are welcome to call any time. Our naptime is roughly between 1 and 2;30. If there is no answer in the room, you may call the office at 773-535-0970.

See you all on Tuesday!!!!