Happy October!

**As you are in the doctor’s office getting fall flu shots, please pick up an annual vaccine update for our files.

All children will need a vaccine update no later than Jan 1^{st .}

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In pre-k/k group, we read two short ‘Frog and Toad’ stories. Throughout each story, we stopped at important events that just happened and went over what had happened in the story so far. Not only did children work on recall of specific events but their comprehension of the entire story was evident at the end of group time. Once we finished both stories, we talked about the word ‘character’ and Lucy was quick to share, “Character is when we’re talking about someone that’s in the book!”. As a group, we came to the conclusion that there were only two characters that we learned about: Frog and Toad!

Side note: Before we even started reading, we were looking at the cover and a four year old friend asked, “So is this a fiction story?”. This question made us think back to last week when we worked on text genre and by discussing this futher, we came to the conclusion that it was in fact a fiction story (you know..because Frogs and Toads don’t wear sweaters in real life!”) .

K.RL.2.3: Identify important elements of the text (e.g., characters, setting, or events).

Anna was anxious to explore the table options for our welcome activity. She used a green dice and rolled it. Each time, she rolled the dice, counted the dots on the dice side facing upwards and counted out the number of gems to match!

Miss Melinda had a ton of helpers this morning as they took apart the garden. It was quite productive for us this year as we were able to eat green beans, tomatoes, and cucumbers in plenty!

Breakfast– Whole wheat toast with peanut butter and organic banana.

Lunch– Whole wheat noodles with butter and shredded chicken, PPC kiwi berries/banana, and PPC cucumbers/peppers.

PM snack– Whole milk yogurt with PPC blackberries.

Wee Sprout– PPC peppers/broccoli.

Have a fantastic night!

-Mindy

Link to pictures: WF 10/1

Happy Monday!

Our friends were all in a happy and playful mood this Monday. Although they seemed a little taken aback with different teachers, that didn’t seem to hinder their upbeat spirits. A few of them got out the climbing arches and pretended they were horses.

We turned on some music this morning and we bounced and spun around to the music. Our friends even tried to keep the beat with the music by hitting the rug, and then the bare floors. They discovered that both have different sounds when they hit the different parts of the floor.

Of course, they were excited to go outside. When they had their coats on they hustled to the gate to go outside. While outside, we played in the rocks, filled our insect jars, rocked on the teeter-totter, and played “peek-a-boo” in the playhouses.

Breakfast: Whole wheat bread with sunflower butter, PPC nectarine

Wee Sprout: Frozen corn

Lunch: Whole wheat pasta with chicken, frozen broccoli, and PPC banana

PM snack: Whole milk vanilla/regular yogurt, graham crackers

Have a great evening!

Kim

LINK TO PICTURES: https://1drv.ms/f/s!AtTCDmdhjIuljO19bUZdGrHbjSQYAg

Good Afternoon!

We’ve been diving into different text genres this week in pre-k/k group. Today, we read a book about apple and pumpkin picking which children quickly said that it was a ‘real’ book. I asked, “What kind of book is it then if it’s real?”. Several friends shouted, “Nonfiction!”. Throughout group time, characteristics of each text genres have been shared and examples of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and fairy tales have been talked about at length.

Our favorite memories of apple picking or painting pumpkins were shared as we read through the story. We’re been working on raising our hands when we have a question or want to share something with the group to make sure we’re being respectful of our peers around us!

K.RL.3.1: Recognize familiar narrative text genres (e.g., fiction, nonfiction, fairy tales, poems).

Most of our friends came to the art table where they used q-tips to paint one side of their paper. When they were done, they unfolded the paper and made a print of their painting on the other side! Children chose to use the q-tip to dot as well as using it as a paint brush.

Earlier this morning, several friends were seen reading in groups of two. Even though we’re not technically reading at this point in our development, children still work on their letter recognition, turning the pages the correct way, and understanding that the pictures help to tell the story.

Breakfast– Rice cakes with peanut butter and PPC banana.

Lunch– Whole wheat bread with ham, fresh apples, and PPC cucumber/green beans.

PM snack– Sliced cheese and pretzels.

Wee Sprout– PPC cucumber/green beans.

Have a great weekend.

-Mindy

Link to pictures: WF 9/28

Happy Friday! I hope you have all had a great week.

“Happiness is….. laughing with a toddler about something entirely nonsensical.” ~ lastlemon.com

This morning was full of sensorial fun. Teachers introduced the water beads back into the classroom. Friends were able to feel the soft, slippery feel of the bead, recognize what color of beads they were engaged with, and utilize the scoopers to enhance their hand-eye coordination skills while scooping up the beads and place them into the bowls. They had a blast!!!  

The outdoor environment is full of fun, full of uneven terrain, and full of learning opportunities for our little ones. The slide area is just one opportunity for our friend’s to gain confidence in their gross motor climbing abilities. Rocks and a log are placed around and in the middle of the slides for a different way of climbing up to the platform to get on the slides to slide down. We love to watch our friends climb away and display their confidence in themselves. 

Breakfast: Whole wheat toast with butter and cinnamon, and fresh peaches.

Lunch: Whole grain flatbread with Turkey, garden fresh tomatoes, and apples.

Snack: Pretzels and Mozzarella string cheese.

Wee Sprouts: Corn.

Have a fantastic weekend. ~GO IRISH

Marty

LINK TO PICTURES: https://1drv.ms/f/s!AtTCDmdhjIuljOxoVNCwmAhSVel-aw

Good Afternoon!

**With the change in weather, please make sure your child is coming to Wee Friends with the appropriate clothing (i.e., light jacket for morning). We ask that any child who is wearing a dress also have shorts or pants on underneath. Thank you!

In pre-k/k group, we have been talking about different genres of books. Yesterday, we read ‘Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs’ and how it belongs in the ‘fiction’ category. Today, we read ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’. Children shared that it is a fiction story but we also talked about the genre of fairytales. Lucy commented that in fairytales, you can hear, “Once upon a time…” or “..happily ever after.”. We shared some characters that we may see in fairytales, specifically princes and princesses.

K.RL.3.1: Recognize familiar narrative text genres (e.g., fiction, nonfiction, fairy tales, poems).

Our excitement this morning could not be contained! We used healthy ingredients to make cookies. Usually, healthy and cookies don’t go together but our whole wheat (sugar free) apple-oatmeal cookies were amazing! Children did such a great job helping and measuring ingredients which made the process a true team effort.

“Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by reason of their ‘innocence’ and of the greater possibilities of their future…let us treat them..with all the kindness which we would wish to help to develop in them.”

-Maria Montessori

Breakfast– Corn chex and PPC pears.

Lunch– Brown rice with shredded pork, PPC apples, and PPC cucumber/fresh garden tomatoes.

PM snack– Homemade (and sugar free) whole wheat apple-oatmeal cookies and pumpkin seeds.

Wee Sprout– PPC cucumber/fresh garden tomatoes.

Have a great night!

-Mindy

Link to pictures: WF 9/27

Good Afternoon.

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning.

But for children, play is serious learning.

Play is really the work of childhood.” ~Fred Rogers

Whether our friends read together, by themselves or a teacher is reading, reading stories is one of our most favorite activities to engage ourselves in.  Today, Evie and Daniel decided to sit down on the couch and read stories to one another. The two laughed and giggled away as Daniel took the lead and read one of his favorites, Baby Bear see’s blue. The two friend’s had a wonderful time.

One of Jack’s favorite stories is Blue Hat, Green Hat by Sandra Boynton. He can read this entire book by himself and LOVES the “ooooops” part of the story.

Today, as Jack was playing he found two yellow hats and placed his feet into each of them and said, “Marty, ooooops!” Teachers normally don’t allow our friend’s to step on the toys in the environment. However, this time around was an exception to the rule as Jack had a very good purpose for placing his feet into the hats. What a phenomenal understanding Jack has of this book. 

Breakfast: Whole grain Cheerios and apples.

Lunch: Whole grain rice with shredded pork, peas, and apples.

Snack: Whole wheat Ritz crackers with cream cheese.

Wee Sprouts: Broccoli.

Have a nice evening.

Marty

LINK TO PICTURES: https://1drv.ms/f/s!AtTCDmdhjIuljOwRTVv22Y12GLchtQ

Good Afternoon!

Kindergarten–

Maxwell and Lucy headed outside where we used loose parts and nature to compare numbers. I gave Lucy and Max each a problem that they needed to solve. For example, I told Lucy to count the number of red balls and the number of benches in the backyard. After she got done counting both, she came to me and told me which one had ‘more’. Then, she chose to write out the words or draw a picture. We used different comparison words such as more, less, none, many, etc. Lucy kept saying, “What’s next?!”. We headed inside where continued to compare items within the house. Lucy started creating problems for me: “Miss Mindy, if I had two pumpkins and one green apple, which one do I have more of?”

K.NS.9: Use correctly the words for comparison, including: one and many; none, some and all; more and less; most and least; and equal to, more than, and less than.

In pre-k/k group, we read ‘Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs’. A few friends immediately commented that this book was a fiction story. However, we all were hoping it was a non-fiction story. One friend said, “If that were a real story, I would eat everything out of the sky!”

After our story was finished, we looked at different relationships between items. Each friend had to answer a question while looking at two drawings. For example, Penny came up and answered, “Which side has more?”, as she looked at two different drawings. When she answered, we circled her answer and talked about the comparison words that were used.

Enjoy a few more pictures from our Wednesday!

Breakfast– Whole grain oatmeal with honey and PPC apples.

Lunch– Scrambled farm fresh eggs with whole wheat bread, PPC banana/mango, and PPC green beans/cucumber.

PM snack– Whole wheat bagels with peanut butter and sliced cheddar cheese.

Wee Sprout– PPC cucumber/green beans.

Have a fantastic evening!

-Mindy

Link to pictures: WF 9/26

Happy Wednesday!

“A child’s life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark.” ~quotesgram.com

Please note: There is a form in your child’s cubby for you to fill out and bring back. Please bring this form back by October 1, 2018. Thank you  

Today we painted with puff balls that were attached to a clothes pin. Our friends really enjoyed this sensory activity! They were able to blot the puff, and paint with it like a normal brush. Miss Marty and Miss Rebekah asked friends what colors they were using and what the puff ball felt like. We had a great time and a great experience!

We then moved onto the colorful stacker activity. This activity enhances children’s hand-eye coordination as well as shape and color recognition. We also work with our little ones in recognizing the difference of the sizes of the circles and triangles.  

Breakfast: Whole grain Kix cereal with fresh PPC pears.

Lunch: Farm fresh scrambled eggs with cheese rollups, (Flatbread) Corn, and apples.

Snack: Whole grain brown rice cakes with Sunflower butter.

Have a fantastic night!

Marty

LINK TO PICTURES: https://1drv.ms/f/s!AtTCDmdhjIuljOpvNB4y4D5X0aSmtg

Good Afternoon All!

“Children are the future, believe in the beauty of their dreams.” ~utstandart.com

This morning we had a wonderful time engaging ourselves with the playdoh. Miss Rebekah added in golf tee’s, hammers, rollers, and straws. Our friends utilized their fine motor skills and their hand-eye coordination to roll, pound, and make balls with the playdough.

When we went outside today, running was on everyone’s mind. Running is a great gross motor activity! Running in early childhood benefits with coordination and balance skills, as well as having loads of fun with a child’s peers.

Breakfast: Whole grain cheerios and PPC pears.

Lunch: Whole grain flatbread with hummus, garden fresh tomatoes, and PPC pears.

Snack: Whole milk yogurt with graham crackers.

Wee Sprouts: Carrots.

Have a fantastic evening!

Marty

LINK TO PICTURES: https://1drv.ms/f/s!AtTCDmdhjIuljOl2siaSpcEoS7Z-Aw

Good Afternoon!

“I Don’t Make Lesson Plans” is a Teacher Tom blog that I’ve attached underneath. I found this blog interesting as it’s what we do here (for the most part )! At Wee Friends, our lesson plans are very much so attached to what children are doing at the time or what they’re interested in. Everyone has varying opinions on testing but as a whole, children learn when they are engaged and interested in what they’re learning about.

For example, children requested different manipulatives at the round table to start their day. Without much prompting, children started discussing which area had ‘more’ chains. By looking at the manipulatives in front of them, children were commenting on which grouping had more or less. We extended this when Sophia and Emma were using cups to fill teddy bear counters. They each shared which cup had the least amount of bears. These are comparison words that we use quite often as we’re always looking to explain why something is the way it is. Love of learning is such a huge part of what we do that learning happens naturally without teachers having to force it but more so extending the learning that is currently happening.

K.NS.9: Use correctly the words for comparison, including: one and many; none, some, and all; more and less; most and least; and equal to, more than and less than.

http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2018/09/i-dont-make-lesson-plans.html

Enjoy a few pictures from our day!

Breakfast– Kashi Blueberry Clusters and PPC banana.

Lunch– Hummus on whole wheat flatbread, fresh apples, and PPC peppers/fresh carrots.

PM snack– Whole milk yogurt with PPC pears.

Wee Sprout– PPC peppers/fresh carrots.

Have a great night!

-Mindy

Link to pictures: WF 9/25