September 2023

The Yellow Room is off to a great start with lots of smiles and laughter.  We have spent the first several weeks getting to know each other and learning the daily routine of preschool in the Yellow Room.  We are learning that we always wash our hands right after we enter the classroom and that we take turns at the sinks by making a line.  Both classes are getting the hang of walking in a line to come safely in from the playground.  We are learning that a curtain or a stop sign means that the items or area are temporarily closed.  For example, some days both books and puzzles are open before story time but if we are short on time we place a cloth over the puzzle shelf to indicate that books are the only choice.  During our group times we have focused on building joint attention, turn taking skills, motor imitation, name sharing, and listening skills. Both groups seem to enjoy the songs and movement activities at group time with the Freeze Dance, Open Shut Them, and 5 Little Monkeys Teasing Mr. Alligator as favorites.  For exercises we have been mainly doing jumping jacks, seat push ups, and bridging.  We recently introduced the Exercise Dice.  The children also enjoyed moving with the colored scarves and using the shaker eggs.  Exposure to rhythm and rhyming activities is an important early literacy skill and learning to be part of a group is an important life skill.  

At story time some of our favorite books have been Pete the Cat Rocking in his School Shoes; Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes; and Go Away Big Green Monster.   These three books and Dora Goes to School are the ones that the students are asking to have read to them each day. 

We seem to have many children that enjoy painting, coloring, and playdough.  The easel has been very busy.  We have worked on mixing primary colors to create new colors and trying to only mix colors on the paper.  Finding "buried treasure" (gems) in playdough was a hit and mostly everyone was eager to make a monster face and practice cutting with scissors.

We will be focusing on an All About Me Theme through the remainder of September and have already started to work on creating the individual pages for our All About Me booklets.  

Lost item:  On the first few days of school a morning student's thermos water bottle went missing.  If anyone brought an extra water bottle home from school, please send it back in so that we can return it to it's owner.  Thanks.

Housekeeping:

Water Bottles:  Some of the heavier water bottles seem to be falling out of the side pockets of the backpacks.  For some students we are encouraging them to put the water bottle into the main compartment of their backpack.  Also, each backpack is a little different and some side pouches are too tight for little fingers to open wide enough for the water bottle. Names or initials on water bottles can be very helpful.

Yellow Folders:  The Yellow Folders sent home on the first day are yours to keep.  If you would like to keep it in your child's backpack as a way to send in/ receive papers that is fine but it is not necessary.  It is entirely up to what is easist and works for you and your child.

Jackets:  As the weather gets cooler and everyone starts to wear more outerwear, please try to label your child's jackets and hats. Thanks:)