We are so proud of all the Pre-K students! They are mastering our routines and schedule, so we have been able to introduce them to new and exciting lessons in the classroom.

This week, we used scissors as a class for the first time when working on our Weekly Reader. The boys and girls practiced proper finger placement and opening and closing the scissors. This takes a great deal of fine motor strength and they all tried their best to cut on the line and make their booklet. You could see the concentration on their faces!

We also used our glue sticks for the first time as a class for two different projects. Miss Webb helped us create a beautiful mosaic spelling out Pre-K that now hangs in our classroom. We also created our very own monsters that are also on display! The children were given various monster parts and were challenged to use their imaginations to create a monster! The finished products are fantastic!

We are already working like the "big kids" in our handwriting books! At this age, handwriting lessons begin with the strokes that are used to make each letter before they learn to make the letters themselves. Last week, the Pre-K students learned how to make top-to-bottom lines and this week they learned how to write left-to-right lines. 

Today we did our first directed drawing activity! Directed drawing is a step-by-step process through which students draw something. The teacher guides or directs students through each step, showing them exactly where and how to make the next line or mark on their drawing. This activity helps develop listening skills, the ability to follow directions, and boosts the children's confidence in their abilities. The students drew apple trees and are proudly displaying them in the hall outside our classroom.

Of course, we continued with our Montessori lessons as well! The boys and girls are starting to work for longer periods of time and complete more lessons during that time frame. They are focused and attentive during this period of our day and we are so impressed with the progress they are making already.

We also had our culminating Hispanic Heritage Month celebration this week. We gathered with our kindergarten friends for a beautiful story about a family who immigrated to our country called Dreamer by Yuyi Morales. Then, Mrs. Clay led us in a song called "Don Alfredo Baila" and a bachata dance! Click the links to see the children in action!

Important Reminders:

• Please subscribe to the teacher page so you get an email reminder when a new post is made!
• On Tuesday, October 4, the HCA community will be celebrating the Blessing of the Animals at 8:15 am on the field. Students should arrive to school at regular time. Parents/family members may join us on the field with their pets. 
• Rest towels are sent home on Fridays to be washed. Please be sure to return them on Mondays!
• Looking ahead - there is no school on Monday, October 10.
• There will be no show and tell next week. Our next show and tell will be on Tuesday, October 11. The topic will be something that begins with the /s/ sound. 
  • Show and tell will be on most day 6's. Please check the teacher page for the topic for each week.

Have a great weekend!