Hello families!
It has been so much fun welcoming the new school year with a new classroom, new teachers, and new friends! We have spent so much time this first month of school getting to know one another, learning routines of the classroom, and exploring new and exciting things that we get to do in the 2s classroom that we weren’t able to do before.
Firefighters and Firetrucks
From the beginning of the semester, the children have shown such an interest in firetrucks and firefighters. Over this past month, we have done various activities to build on the children’s interest. We’ve changed dramatic play to a fire station, we’ve brought firetrucks into the classroom, we’ve listened to sirens, we’ve watched short clips of firefighters fighting fires, painted with trucks, and played firefighter on the Gabel playground. To end the month, we had Firefighter Ted come and visit our classroom! We also had a center wide fire drill that we practiced for and participated in. The children listened to a book about the things that we need to do to stay safe in the event of a fire and then put what we read to practice in our drill. We are planning to contact a local fire department to see if a firetruck could come to the CDFC for our children to see and explore.
Outdoor Play
It has been quite the month exploring our new, larger playground. The children have tried the tire swing, explored the two climbers, practiced riding tricycles and balance bikes, using gross motor skills to travel on the playground (running, climbing, jumping), and using various toys such as balls and hula hoops, to practice rolling and throwing. The children have also been playing a lot in the house outside. They have done a lot of dramatic play in it, cooking meals and labeling each other as roles of a family.
Turn Taking
This past month we have really worked on taking turns in the classroom. We use turn taking instead of sharing materials because we are trying to teach the children that when children have a toy or material that they want, they need to communicate with the other child. This helps the children learn to have conversations and problem solve with their peers.
Music and Movement
Our children have loved engaging in interactive dance songs and listening to music. We have a very active group of children, so having frequent dance parties helps engage them more in the classroom. The children have also been enjoying listening to books on tape. One favorite among them all is, The Soup Opera by Jim Gill. The have listened to it so many times that they can recite parts of the book, and are very theatrical throughout the reading. Kendra has also brought her ukulele into our classroom and the children have had the opportunity to sit and listen to her play, but also strum the strings themselves.
Family Night and Book Fair
Thank you to those of you that were able to attend our center wide family night. Our sidewalk outside the CDFC was beautifully painted by you all and was a great night to receive information about our center wide expectations. We are also very thankful to the families that donated a book or two from the book fair to our classroom. We look forward to reading these books to the children and adding them to our classroom library.
Reminders
- Please return your child’s ASQ-3, ASQ-SE, and intake form if you haven’t done so already.
- We serve breakfast in the classroom from 9:00-9:30. If you would like your child to have the opportunity to have breakfast with us, please make sure your child is dropped off in time.
- As cooler temperatures arrive and the season begins to change, please be sure to bring a jacket to school for your child when we play outside.
Sincerely,
Krysten and Kendra
