Bears Pre-K Class

First Week of School

2009-08-06T18:39:00.000-04:00

WELCOME

2009-07-16T18:00:00.002-04:00

Welcome to Pre-K at Little House Academy!

I look forward to teaching your child. We have many, many fun things planned this year.

Please help us with two things:

*Please read through each of the items under "On This Blog" on the right hand side of the page.

* Please subscribe to this blog so you can receive an email when we make updates.

If you would like to view photos from last year's class, please click on Older Posts below.

We look forward to a great year! Please let us know if you have any questions whatsoever.

Ms. Michelle & Ms. Crystal

Cody Bear

2009-03-03T21:44:00.002-05:00

Cody Bear made it home with just about everyone this year. If the slideshow is hard to read, try clicking on the picture and it will come up on Picasa where it is a little larger. Enjoy!

Down By The Bay

2008-09-28T09:00:00.004-04:00

If your child didn't drive you nuts this week singing "Down By The Bay," rejoice! We have sung it no fewer than 482 times. We discovered that we could create more rhyming verses. In fact, the song may never end.

Several children drew or cut out pictures to go along with our new rhymes. We have a moose kissing a goose, a tomato kissing a potato, a pot with polka-dots, and a dinosaur going out the door.

Above is a photo of our rhyming pictures and below is a video of a group singing during Center Time. I know you'll want to play it over and over.

CODY BEAR

2008-08-15T21:50:00.005-04:00

Cody Bear is our room mascot and will be going home with a special child every Friday. He can go everywhere your child goes, and we are hoping you will write down his adventures in the journal he will bring with him.

When you return Cody Bear on Monday, we will read all about his weekend to our class.

Here's a link to check out Cody's adventures during the 2008-2009 school year:

http://iloveprek.blogspot.com/2009/03/cody-bear.html

First Days of School

2008-08-10T04:00:00.000-04:00

Free Books

2008-08-09T21:00:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the The Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy, each month, until age 5, a new book will be mailed directly to the registered child's home address.

The organization is currently in Baldwin, Butts, Calhoun, Carroll, Catoosa, Charlton, Chatham, Chattooga, Clarke, Colquitt, Coweta, Dade, Dawson, Dougherty, Effingham, Elbert, Fannin, Forsyth, Franklin, Gilmer, Glynn, Grady, Greene, Habersham, Hancock, Haralson, Hart, Harris, Heard, Henry, Jasper, Lamar, Lincoln, Lumpkin, Madison, McDuffie, McIntosh, Meriwether, Mitchell, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Oglethorpe, Putnam, Seminole, Stephens, Taliaferro, Telfair, Thomas, Towns, Walker, Warren and White counties.

For more information:

Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy
P.O. Box 1327
Madison, GA 30650

info@ferstfoundation.com

1-888-565-0177

Shoes

2008-07-16T17:24:00.001-04:00

HINT, HINT

Your child will run, jump, climb, and possibly fly this year. Please help your child enjoy each day by making sure his or her shoes fit and stay tied. (We LOVE slip-on shoes or the ones with Velcro or loops rather than the ones that come untied all day.)

Remember, flip flops are prohibited by Little House Academy, and sandals often eat wood chips and rocks on the playground. Again, shoes that cover the whole foot and slip on or secure with Velcro or loops are highly recommended.

Wish List

2008-07-16T17:10:00.014-04:00

REGULAR NEEDS:

Bandaids - basic size, inexpensive brand is ok
Bathroom cups - 2 or 3 oz - paper or plastic; no larger, please
Batteries (AA & AAA) - we go through these by the ton!
Clear plastic drink bottles with lids; please rinse and remove labels.
Food color - red, yellow, blue, and green
Glue sticks
Ink - Lexmark #24 (color; do not need black)
Markers - dry erase (Expo) low odor; basic colors; no fancy smells or designs

Paper plates - small or large
Personal pencil sharpener for jumbo pencils (about $1.69 @ staples)
Potting soil - 1 small bag
Pretzels or goldfish for snack (please no crackers, cookies, or sweets)
Rubber bands
Sand - 1 large bag
Sharpie fine point markers - dark colors
Underwear - new, boys or girls, pre-k size
Wet wipes - travel size -
Wet wipes - large container (60-100 count) We use 20-40 a day!
Zip-top bags – any size, any brand; clear, no designs please!

PROJECT NEEDS:

Beans, rice, unpopped popcorn, dry corn, bird seed, cotton balls, macaroni, or any dry item that can be used in our sensory table. We eventually need 15-20 pounds but several families bringing small bags is good, too.
Craft items like pipe cleaners, foam shapes and letters, tissue paper, small paper plates, buttons, pom-pom, cotton balls, etc.
Clear plastic wide-mouth jars with lids (e.g., peanut butter); please wash and remove paper.
New or used books that we can keep for our room. Even torn books can be used for pictures. We are especially looking for several copies of these books:

* Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss
* Hop on Pop, Dr. Seuss
* Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Bill Martin Jr.
Large outdoor storage cabinet or bin. The more space we have for storage, the more fun we can have playing outside!

Tardies/Absences

2008-07-16T17:06:00.002-04:00

Our class hours are 8:30-3:00 everyday. Ms. Crystal and I prepare exciting learning opportunities during those 6.5 hours. We want your child there for every minute.

Whenever your child is late or has to leave early, please complete the form on the bulletin board outside our room.

If your child is tardy, picked up early, or absent, please send a written note. Do not expect Ms. Crystal or I to remember your excuse; it needs to be in writing for the file or the tardy/ absence/ early pick-up will be unexcused.

If your child is frequently absent, tardy, or picked up early, you may be asked to leave the Pre-K program (per Georgia state guidelines). Other children are waiting to enroll.

PLEASE BE KIND
We understand traffic, oversleeping, morning rush, sickness, and doctor appointments. When you fill out the tardy/early pick-up form, you are not being fined or going to jail. You are simply asked to record the time you arrive (or leave early ) for safety reasons, for us to meet state requirements, and as a gentle reminder that school attendance is important.

So, when you arrive and our classroom door is closed, please complete a slip hanging on the bulletin board and turn it in with a smile.

Change of Clothes

2008-03-18T18:25:00.000-04:00

Your child needs to keep a complete change of clothes at school at all times. Accidents happen and we want your little one to be comfortable.

Be sure to label your child's clothes. When an item comes home changed, please replace it the next day. Also remember to change out the clothes kept at school as your child grows and the seasons change.

KINDERGARTEN READINESS

2008-03-18T18:17:00.001-04:00

A main purpose of Pre-K is to prepare children for the big world of Kindergarten. We work hard getting ready for next year. Our stories grow longer throughout the year, we will learn to write our names, and (shhhh! don’t tell anyone how smart we are) we will be able to sound out some words!

Several times during the spring months, we will be “changing” teachers and classes. Sometimes Ms. Crystal and I will go to another class to teach while the other class’ teachers come to the Bear room. Sometimes the children will go to another class while Ms. Crystal and I teach the other teachers’ class in our room. This will help us get used to lining up, changing classes, and obeying different authorities in our lives for next year in kindergarten.

Class Library

2007-08-28T21:22:00.002-04:00

The books in our classroom are available for your child to check out and borrow at home for a week.

We also have booklets for Mom and Dad. Recently added titles include:

* Helping Your child Become a Responsible Citizen
* Put Reading First: Helping Your Child Learn to Read
* Suggested Children’s Books (from Bright From The Start)
* Learning Ideas for Home (from Bright From The Start)

Independence

2007-08-22T19:48:00.002-04:00

A goal this year is to become independent in as many ways as possible. We probably won't learn to drive, but we surely do want to be ready for kindergarten.

Two areas in which we need help are clothes and shoes.

Please dress your child in clothes he or she can take care of alone when using the restroom. Elastic waistbands are our friends.
Please provide shoes that don’t need tying throughout the day.

Toys, Food, or Other Personal Belongings

2007-08-15T21:55:00.000-04:00

PLEASE, NO Toys, Food, or Other Personal Belongings

To avoid allergies, sharing issues, safety concerns, broken and lost things, please do not allow your child to bring toys or other items from home (other than blanket and pillow, if needed).

Birthday and special treats for the whole class are allowed. Please let us know in advance so two parents don’t send something the same day.

In all cases, avoid peanuts, peanut butter, gum, and hard candy.

Clothesline

2007-08-15T21:53:00.000-04:00

CHECK THE CLOTHESLINE

Check the clothesline outside our room DAILY for your child's work, important notices, newsletters, etc.

Room Rearrangement

2007-08-05T17:13:00.000-04:00