ECSE
Newsletter
Dec. 4-8, 2023
Gingerbread and Holiday fun
We have two weeks of school until our holiday break! This week we will continue to read variations of the Gingerbread Man and do some vocabulary development. We will also incorporate some holiday themed art, centers, and songs into our day.
Circle Time
Color Focus-Red
Shape Focus-Triangle
Letter Intro-Bb & Ss, songs and Starfall app
Find the Elf game
SANTA Bingo song
Ring those Bells with instruments
Christmas Cards gross motor movement game
Story Time
Gingerbread Boy
Gingerbread Cowboy
with vocabulary cards
Work/Play Centers
Toy Center
Home Center
Trains
Gingerbread playdough mats
Sensory Table with bells
Art- ornament making
Learning Rotations-Teacher Table, 123 Independent Work, Speech, Fine Motor/Art
Home Extension: This week we are working on vocabulary development with the stories we are reading, and this is a technique that can be used at home too. Pick out one of your child's books and flip through it, noting words that are very frequent and that your child may not know. Choose 2-3 words to focus on. Then, think of these three things to teach that word:
1. a simple picture example. You could print a picture or show one on your phone.
2. a simple, child-friendly definition. For example, one of the words in our books this week is "coyote". The definition we are using is "a wild dog".
3. a movement to accompany your vocabulary word. You could use sign language or make up an easy movement. The more memorable the better!
Before you read the book, show your child the picture, tell them the definition, and demonstrate the movement. Encourage them to listen for that word in the story as you read. Pause when you get to the word, repeat it, and do the movement. If you read the book several times in a week or so, your child will begin to recognize and demonstrate understanding of their new vocabulary words from the story.
Upcoming Dates and Reminders
The Holiday Hullabaloo dress up calendar continues this week! Please see the calendar below for the theme for each day. Remember, this is optional fun for the whole school.
Friday, December 15th is a half day for all students.
-Full day students will attend 7:40-11:45.
-Half Day AM students will attend 7:40-9:40
-Half Day PM students will attend 9:45-11:45
The transportation department will adjust bus schedules for that day.
Our classroom holiday parties are coming up on Friday, December 15th, and parents are invited to attend! Here is that schedule:
Full day students will party in Mrs. Jarrett's PreK room from 10:45-11:45
Half day AM students will party from 9:00-9:40
Half day PM students will party from 11:00-11:40
Our half day students will be participating in a book gift exchange. They will need a new book, wrapped in wrapping paper, that costs $10 or less. We will be exchanging gifts with friends and opening the books at the party.
We will be sending information via email next week about the party supplies we need. Thank you for helping us make it a festive and fun celebration for the kids!
If your child is potty training, please send more pullups and clothes than you think he/she will need! We are running out of clothes for students to borrow some days. If you are ready to donate any old children's clothing, we could use any sizes from 3T-5, especially pants. Thank you! If your child does borrow from us, please return after washing.
With the cooler weather, please be sure to label any outerwear you send with your child, including jackets/coats, hoodies, and sweaters. We often layer up this time of year, since the mornings are cool and afternoons warm, so if we take something off we want to be sure it gets home with the right student. Thank you!
