Shapes, Sounds, and Space Adventures: A Week of Wonder!

Dear parents, 

We hope this blog finds you well. In the Pre-K class, our week was filled with fun activities, including tally marks in math, beginning and ending sounds in literacy, journaling, gymnastics, library visits, and, of course, our students' favorite science sessions and art activities. The class has become more involved in everything, working together as a group and individually.

Our learning happens through interactive, play and project-based activities. The class has also continued to work in two different groups to provide one-on-one support. Our students have made significant progress, and they are leveling up in every way! As we have mentioned before, this approach has proven to be effective, enabling the teams to focus on math and literacy while allowing the rest of the class to engage in related activities together. Read on for more details...

Large group 

This week, our large group sessions were a blast! Our students had the opportunity to discuss their weekends, which is always a highlight. We also started a new focus on three-dimensional shapes, specifically the cone and sphere. Additionally, our rhyme word for the week was "hear," and our students created their own rhyming words with "hear". This activity was very engaging, and they learned many new words. It was extremely helpful for the class, and we will continue doing this.

Another focus this week was the digraph "ch”. As you know, we started learning about digraphs last week, we’re proud to see that the students are now fully engaged in the topic. We provided them with pictures for a visual aid. As always, we continued our calendar and caterpillar routines, and our students demonstrated commendable understandings of their class responsibilities!

Besides all that, we enjoyed delightful music and book breaks. Overall, our large group has become more enjoyable and engaging, allowing everyone to learn from one another by sharing ideas, building confidence, and showing respect toward each other.

Literacy 

This week in our first group’s literacy session, we continued building on the same topic from last week: identifying ending sounds. The children showed noticeable improvement and a stronger understanding of the concept compared to the previous week.

In our first session, we revisited the ending sound cards. Together, we sounded out each word and listened carefully for the final sound. This activity encouraged attentive listening and helped the children stay focused as they engaged with each word. After that, each child had a turn to come to the front, pick a card, and share with the group what picture they had, along with identifying the ending sound. The students enjoyed taking turns and showed confidence when sharing their answers.

In the second session, we reinforced the same concept by completing a worksheet focused on ending sounds. Through this activity, the children not only practiced identifying the correct ending sound but also strengthened their writing skills. The worksheet gave them an opportunity to apply what they learned independently while still engaging in meaningful literacy practice.

For the second group this week in literacy, in the first session just like in the previous class, we are still working on letter identification until our students become more familiar with the letters. By providing them with Zoo-phonics, we help our students identify the letters along with the Zoo-phonics characters, making it easier for them.

In the second session, we worked on beginning sounds. After providing them with a worksheet, they looked at the pictures and circled the beginning sound of each letter. This activity helps them differentiate one letter from another and recognize sounds as well. Next week, we will continue working on similar activities.

Math

For our first math group this week, we focused on counting and tally counting. The students were very eager and showed strong interest in the topic.

We began by having the children choose a number from 1 to 10. The teacher then demonstrated on the board how to represent the selected numbers using tally marks. After that, we switched roles: the teacher wrote numbers on the board, and each child came forward to tally mark the number shown. During this activity, we emphasized the key concept that the diagonal strike comes on the 5th, 10th, and 15th count. The students enjoyed the challenge, and many asked to tally mark larger numbers. Since they were so motivated, we extended our counting up to 13.

In the second session, we used popsicle sticks to practice tally counting in a hands-on way. Each student chose a number flash card and used the sticks to build their tally marks. This activity kept them highly engaged, and they enjoyed manipulating the materials to represent their numbers.

For our second group, the first session focused on number identification. Since some of them have mastered identifying numbers 1-10, we challenged them by introducing numbers 11-15. Using number cards above 10, they practiced counting one-to-one correspondence with toys. Some of them also worked up to 10. 

In the second session, we provided our students with a worksheet where they counted and circled pictures, matching them with the correct numbers from the choices given. This activity helps them focus on counting and identifying one number in relation to another. Next week, we will continue to work on more related activities to support this group.

Science 

This week in science, we continued exploring the topic of planets, as the students are becoming increasingly engaged and absorbing new vocabulary and information. In our first session, we began with a quick group conversation, followed by singing the planet song, which the children really enjoyed. Afterward, the students colored pictures of the planets and the solar system. Once they finished coloring, they carefully cut out each planet and set them aside to use later in our art session.

In the second session, we watched a short three-minute video about the planets. After watching, the students eagerly shared what they learned, discussed the information they heard, and connected it to what they already know. They truly enjoyed watching the video and listening to the fun facts about the solar system.

Gymnastics 

Our most recent gymnastics session was lively and fun-filled! We started the session by warming up with a jogging exercise. As we jogged, we ran around and warmed up our bodies. After that, we played a game where the teacher, quietly and without using words, performed actions like jogging, running, or jumping, and the students followed. When the teacher gave the stop sign, everyone stopped. It was a great game that helped the children practice following directions and paying attention.

For the main activity, the teacher split the class into two groups and set four hula hoops on the floor. In two of the hula hoops, the students worked together to count 15 cubes into each one. Then the teacher called the students two by two—one from each team. They stood up and worked on moving the cubes from one hula hoop to the other. The students had so much fun as they cheered for each other and supported their teams.

Art

This week in our art class, the Pre-K students continued exploring planets, which we have also been working on in science. We often find ways to integrate science topics into art activities involving coloring and cutting. We provided them with paper plates to cut the middle out of, which they painted black to represent space. After painting, they placed their plates in a sunny spot to dry. While waiting, we played a planet song for them to sing along to.

Once the plates were dry, the students decorated them with the planets they had colored and cut out. With the help of the teacher, they made a hole in the center of the plate for the sun and threaded yarn through it, creating a central piece for their planets. Throughout this process, we continued to play the planet song, making the art activity even more engaging.

Learning about planets and creating art has been a fun highlight of our week. Next week, we plan to continue with this topic since the students are very excited and interested. We will also introduce another fun topic guided by their interests.

Next week's schedule

Small group

Monday: - Science, Literacy

Tuesday:- Library, Math

Wednesday:- Science, Literacy

Thursday: - Math, Journal

Friday:- Music

Our Special

Monday: - Ethiopian center

Tuesday:- Library

Friday:- Art

Reminder

Every Tuesday is our library day, so we will be sending a book that your child picked from our library, which will be returned after a week on library day.

Every Friday is our art day so please send your child with art-appropriate clothing.

Thank you for your time!