January/ February 2024

A snowday is the perfect day to take time to update the Yellow Room website.  My apologies for the delay.

Needless to say, each day has been a busy one in the Yellow Room.  In November we focused on Nursery Rhymes, in December on Classic Stories and Fairy Tales, and now in January we are celebrating the school wide theme of Winter.  The school wide theme for February is Community Helpers with a bit of Valentine's Day fun sprinkled in. 

Our  dramatic play area now has a desk  complete with markers, envelopes, and cards for "writing" cards and notes.  We also have a small mailbox that students can use to "mail" their notes.  In February we will be adding a small "post office" with stamps, cash register, stamper, and mailbags for letter carriers.  We welcome donations of index cards, note cards, envelopes, or Easter Seal stamps/ stickers that look like stamps.  

Snowy weather is here.  Please take time to label your child’s warm weather gear since things are easily misplaced.  We teach the children to put their coat on using the “flip method.”  They are cued to orient it by placing the coat’s tag in front of their toes with the prompt “tag to toes”.  Some of the afternoon children have developed a new method of putting their hood on and then reaching for their arm holes - whatever works:) Also, please try to send mittens instead of gloves since the fingers stay warmer.   

Watch your child's backpack for a Design a Family Postage Stamp "homework" project.

Home Learning Activities:  

• As we head into the second half of the school year we are noticing more interest and skill in early number and letter activities.  It is especially important for the parents of children who are transitioning to kindergarten to support early literacy and math activities at home.  This can be done as part of daily interactions.  Playing simple mental math games such as adding or subtracting the number of food items present at snack time.  Ex:  you have two crackers left, if I give you two more you will have......."  or silly rhyming games (ex: A Hunting We Will Go or the old song "The Name Game") are fun ways to "teach" important concepts without sitting down with "flashcards."   Playing letter , shape, or numeral hunt around the house is another fun way to teach or review skills.  Pointing out simple words such as EXIT, STOP, BIG Y will go a long way towards helping your child to see the value of print. And of course, taking the time to read those favorite books over and over and to compare and contrast stories and characters is another fun attendtion, comprehension, and vocabulary building activity.  

• For younger students, helping them to review their knowledge of colors, counting, or shapes is great.  Count the steps going upstairs, add their printed name to their placemat or bed and practice spelling it, or sing the ABC song or other fun rhyming songs on car trips.  Sorting through the laundry together is a perfect way to practice comparing and contrasting and reinforcing the words "same" and "different" as well as comparative concepts.  (Ex: these two socks are the same color but this one is longer.).   Sit down and draw, color, glue, or cut with your child.  Practice makes for better hand skills.  Playdough is also perfect for improving fine motor skills and really isn't as messy as many people think.  Here is a link to Brianna's website: https://sites.google.com/a/wrsd.net/wrsd-ot/home?authuser=0   Brianna is our occupational therapist and her site is just full of wonderful ideas for improving your child's fine motor, visual motor, and prewriting skills.

Watch your child's backpack for a list of students for the Valentine card exchange which will take place on Feb 12 -14.  By district policy, we do not include food in our celebrations but we will exchange cards and kindness as well as engage in some fun Valentine art activities.   

With cold and flu season in full swing, we are always looking for donations of soft tissues that pop up from the box.  This type of box seems to keep the tissues more hygienic.  We could also use some disinfecting wipes.  We are in a constant fight to keep those germs away.  

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER: 

• January 31- no pm classes - district wide Professional Development Day

• February 8 11:00 am - 8:00 pm ECC Fundraiser at Pinecroft Dairy - mention the ECC and we get a portion of the sales:) (eat in or take out)

• week of February 14 - Valentine Card Exchange

• February 13 - School Spirit Day - "Share the Love" - details to follow

• February 13 - 4:30 pm- 5:45 pm - Valentine's Dance sponsored by the Friends of ECC (downstairs in the Curriculum Center)

• School pictures will be taken 2/14 -2/16 - details to come

• February 19-23 - no classes - Winter Vacation