Hi JK parents!

This week begins our theme of Friendship and Kindness.  The children have begun making Valentine cards for you.  We are also celebrating Black History Month.  We are learning about Ruby Bridges, Jackie Robinson and Barack Obama.

 We celebrated Chinese New Year with the middle and upper school in the MPR, coloring dragon pictures, hearing stories about the different traditions and playing traditional games.  We watched a presentation with our Senior Buddies and were able to spend some time with them, along with learning about the Chinese New Year.

 We are learning about Ruby Bridges, Jackie Robinson, and Barrack Obama!  Please feel free to talk about the other great leaders on this page.  I have sent one home with each student! 

 Our egg experiment showed us that we might be different on the outside (just like our eggs-brown and white) but we are all the same on the inside!  One student said, "yes, we are all gross inside!" 

Literacy:
We have been practicing our letter formation and sounds choosing a letter in our word books and then duplicating writing words.  The children then illustrate a picture of something that begins with that same letter.

Chinese hackey sack!

Math & Science:
We are playing a math game with frogs and adding numbers to move around the board.  This provides a fun way to use manipulatives and practice the one to one correspondence.

We are talking about weather and the elements and how that effects our daily choices, regarding transportation, clothing, etc.

 February Self Portraits!

 practicing "z's" and words that begin with "z"!  There aren't many "z" words!

 Working on our class project for the auction!

Fine Motor:
We are using stickers to make Valentine's Day houses on cards.  It's fun to see how each house is unique and how particular and careful they are when placing stickers to scenes. They are practicing their writing and finger spacing between words on their inside messages. 

Social/Emotional:
We have been talking and reading stories about how being kind often means being brave.  Sticking up for what is right requires bravery.  We are also working through mild anxiety that often accompanies the developmental levels in JK.  It's part of the magic of four-year-olds, and all that comes with moving away from the comfort of family and moving toward friendships and the world of school.  I'm proud of the independence I am seeing and the willingness to take risks, which might seem small and insignificant to "grown ups" but can be terrifying to children.  I take all of their concerns seriously and we talk through them, and sometimes need to revisit when not in the moment. 

I'm excited for Valentine's Day next week.  Have a great weekend!

Ms. Massey

Hi JK parents!

We are finishing up our Inuit study and learning about all things winter.  We are so happy to be able to go to the Shedd Aquarium to see Penguins live and in person!  More photos to follow.

 Making February calendars practicing our fine motor skills by cutting and pasting hearts and creating "Love Bugs".

 James' book with a beginning, middle and end!  

Handwriting Without Tears is used each day as we practice our name and complete our sign in.  We are also learning about finger spacing as we practice correct letter formation and our tripod grip!

Literacy/Fine Motor:
The children wrote and illustrated books with a beginning middle and end.  We discussed the cover of stories and how the illustration excites the reader to choose the story from just looking at the front cover.  The children wrote about all sorts of interesting things, from dinosaurs to snow people!

We painted with tempera paints, colorful scenes with big brushes.  Some children started painting Valentine's Day pictures!  Using multiple utensils and mediums for art and fine arts keeps it exciting and interesting as well as giving the children multiple practice with various fine muscles!

We worked on our handwriting and added last names for some students.  We are working on the tripod grip daily, along with beginning from the top and "diving down" to "bump the line".  If their letters are floating in the air just give the a little reminder to go all the way to the ground.

Math & Science:
We all worked on number formation and beginning with the "1" first on the teen numbers, and knowing the difference between those and the "twenty" numbers.  The 2's and 5's are still the most tricky for most children.  It just takes lots of practice!

 Engineering and architecture at its finest!