New Literacy Centres and Art Masterpieces

The long weekend has come and gone 

and we are off to the races in JK again! 

We began some new literacy centres today and the kids did an amazing job working together as a team to complete their activities. 

Since we've managed to march our way through the entire alphabet, we are spending the remaining weeks of school reviewing our letter sounds and learning to build blends and words.

This group put the alphabet cards in order,
then found the corresponding
capital and lowercase letter tiles for each card.
You can find these tile cards (here) or (here).

A+ team work!

This group was sorting items that begin or
 don't begin with the letter Qq.
This activity was from Anita Bremer's "Love Letters Q and U". 

This activity involved colouring the pictures,
cutting them out and sorting
them by their initial sound.
Jolly Picture Sorting

This group made play-dough letters......

The whole alphabet!!!

Listening Centre "Curious George Flies a Kite"

Spring Art

This afternoon we finished a fantastic art project. During the past several weeks, all the children had opportunity to do some painting, blending colours, much like Eric Carle's wonderful artwork.

Today we cut those colourful pages in pieces and used our creativity and imagination to create some beautiful works of art.

Cutting & Pasting

Our Finished Masterpieces!!!

Favourite iPad Apps

Here's my list of favourite preschool apps so far.  It is such a great way to get in some extra practice on our JK curriculum.  That being said, it is not easy sharing just one iPad in a class of 21, so if you know of anyone who has an extra iPad kicking around that they would like to donate to our class, let me know!!!

A girl can dream...

ABC Go

Counting Bear

Park Math HD

Monkey Math School Sunshine

Montessori Crosswords

Monkey Word School Adventure

JumpStart Preschool

Zoo Train

Let's Colour

Squiggles

Teach Me: Toddler

Teach Me: Kindergarten

Moms

Mother's Day has come and gone. 

It's kind of funny when you're a mom, and a teacher, because when the morning of Mother's Day actually arrives, you can't help but wonder how excited your students are to give their moms the special surprise, and you wonder how the moms react to what their child brought home for them.  

I have heard a few positive comments from some moms, so it's nice to hear that they appreciated it and were also very entertained!

I had such fun interviewing all the children last week, asking them questions about their moms and filling in a questionnaire that I made. I asked them questions such as, How old is your mom? What is she really great at cooking? What does she like to do to relax?

I wrote down their answers, trying very hard not to laugh at some of the responses. 

When asked how old his mom was, one boy emphatically replied, "Oh ho ho! I don't know!!! It's such a big number! I don't think I know that number yet!" 

So I replied, "You know lots of numbers already.  Just take some time and think about all the numbers you do know! He decided to start counting out loud, and when he counted up to 13, he stopped and said, "Ya, she's 13. Sure, that's what she is!"

Another student was extremely adamant that her mom was 70.  I said, "Are you sure?" and she said, "Of course! I know how old my mom is!!! So I wrote it down......(I'm pretty sure mom Melissa has a great sense of humour......)

I learned a few other interesting "facts" about some of the JK's moms.  There are some moms that really like to sleep for a long time, there are some seriously great Kraft Dinner cooks out there, and most moms are also very good at cleaning up after everyone! 

We made a few special things for our moms, and put it all into a large envelope decorated with Mother's Day cupcakes. The envelope contained Mother's Day cards, a flower craft, the "All About Mom" questionnaire, and a bookmark.

I know being a mom is not always easy.  Sometimes it's an incredible challenge. 

We have great days, and not so great days, but it is one of the most important and amazing jobs you can ever have.  Moms have such immeasurable influence on their children.  

What a privilege to be able to lead our little ones to God!  

If you're feeling overwhelmed as a mom, just ask Him for help because He promises to give it!

If you are blessed to be a mom, thank the Lord for entrusting you with these precious never-dying souls.

It is an amazing thing to be a mom, and I know that the moms of my JK students are doing a GREAT job!

My Mommy is a gift from God,

Each day her love I know.

Mom shows me what God’s love can do.

Her love helps me to grow!!!

~K. Schenk~

Plants

We have been having some fun finding out what seeds and plants can do.  Where will a seed sprout faster? What do stems do? It is such a pleasure to watch the children learn through experimentation!

Math Centres

Yesterday, five new math centres were introduced. Each day, we rotate the activity to the next table until all five have been completed.

Beads and Patterns

Ten Frames
Find them here or here

Ten Frames

Number sorting
Find it here or here

Dry Erase - Finding shapes in the pictures/Finishing Pictures

Grid Game

3 Chapels......DONE!

I had the "pleasure" of leading chapel the past three consecutive Mondays, and I am happy to report that I survived!  

A few weeks ago, I confessed to the entire school body that this was the first time I had ever led a chapel, and I was rather intimidated and nervous about it.  It turns out that is wasn't as painful or frightening as I had imagined it might be.  

God is good......He gives grace and strength when we need it.  

That, plus a group of gracious attentive children, and the chapels went off without much trouble.  

(Mr. Dave Abbas was a pro in the tech department, and he was a wonderful help.) 

Believe it or not, (and I know my own children couldn't believe this), I had never made a power point presentation before in my life. 

I thought since I was breaking new ground in the chapel presentation department, I might as well just go for bust! 

Putting together a few power points was rather painless with this wonderful computer I have sitting on my lap. It was actually rather fun going through the process and creating something to share.  

Today was the last chapel on Earth Keeping/Creation Enjoying, and I filled my PPT with pictures from my own photography collection. 

It was a pleasure sharing some of the things that I love about the wonderful world we live in.

Leading chapel was OK......and I might just do it again some day if I am asked, but for now, I will enjoy the feeling of checking off another item from my "before the end of June" to-do list!!!

New Literacy Centres

We started five new literacy centres today. The children were very busy with stamps and ink and play dough and scissors and glue and highlighters and clipboards...

This is how I stay organized. The groups and activities are neatly tucked in the pocket chart! 

Every day, the children are rotated to another activity.

They are learning to work together as a team.  It's great to watch!

Trace-Stamp-Decorate
Find it here or here

Play Dough Names

Jolly Picture Sorting/Initial Sounds
Find it here or here

ABC Highlighting Game
Find it here or here

Write the Room (Letter Hunt)
This week Mrs. R. hid the letters for us.  She is VERY TRICKY!

Find this activity here or here