Hi everyone.  I just wanted to let you all know how wonderful your children did on the Christmas Program.  I hope they enjoyed the experience of singing, seeing Santa, sugar cookies and being there with family. Thank you all so much for helping me put away the chairs and cleaning up.  It was the best Christmas present ever.
We will have regular classes on Monday and Tuesday. (17th & 18th) and then preschool will start back up January 7th & 8th.  Have a wonderful wonderful time together and enjoy the Christmas season together!

Our Christmas program will be Dec 14th at 11:00 am at the East Stake Center (church by my house in the gym (children should be in church dress) Families just dress casual.   Remember to bring your cameras!!!

Park in the back of the church - go thru the Northeast door - take your childs coat and turn left and leave your child in the Primary Room. You and your family will then go in the gym -leave your present with the name tag I made for you by santas chair and wait until the program begins. Please do not tell your child that santa will be coming.  I would really like the children to be surprised!! - you will get some really great pics when he arrives! When the kids start singing "We Wish you a Merry Christmas" is when Santa will burst into the gym and the excitement begins!!!!!! We will have preschool the week after the program and then we will be out for Christmas vacation until January 7th & 8th, 2013.

Your child will be getting a Christmas card in the mail.  Please just be aware that the Jan. calender will be inside.  Merry Christmas and may the Lords presence be in your homes this beautiful holiday season!

NO school the week of Thanksgiving....
Well parents, your kids look like they survived Halloween and here it is almost Thanksgiving!
This week we are learning the letter "K".  We made in our 4-5 year old classes Pilgrims and tomorrow we will be making our annual Pumpkin Pies!  The kids just love doing this.  In our 3-4 year old class we made Indian head bans with a feather that each child picked.  You are probably wondering if the children are learning anything these days in preschool.  Let me just tell you - they are!  We have started practicing our Christmas Program and they ALL are so excited to sing for you.  Please do not tell them abt. Santa Clause.   They should have no idea until the day of the program - December 14th at 11:00 at the East Stake Center.  Just come in the back door and the Primary room is in the middle of the back of the church as you come in.  I have not received any of your presents and so I am going to change the instructions I gave you in your November envelopes.
Bring your childs gift from Santa to the Christmas Party and when you go into the gym just put your childs gift by Santas chair or find me.  I will give you all a name tag to put on your childs present in the December payment envelope so Santa will be able to read the same writing on each childs gift.  Please just come and talk to me if you have any questions.  Thanks so much!!!!!

Our Halloween Party will be this coming Tuesday and Wednesday - depending on which class your child is in.  Please dress your child up in a costume that they can play games in.  Also please put in your child's backpack trick or treats for each child in his/her classroom.  (11 will be safe!) We made our trick\ treat bags today to put their treats and surprises in when they come.

We finished the letter I this week and they enjoyed writing the letter.  I worked with the children in writing with pencils and helped them hold it correctly.  They are all doing so great.  They are just where I need them to be.  We reviewed  the letters and their sounds mixed and matched them.  They worked on a new sight word and are reading really good!  We learned an "I" song, mother, mother I am Ill!  Its tricky but they enjoyed dancing around and singing it.

In all the classes we painted masks that they each picked from 5 choices.  The younger class really liked the cats, the older classes were more diversified in their choosing.  They enjoyed painting and talking to each other and they are all becoming really good friends.

Just another reminder: Tautphaus Park Zoo animals will be visiting us on Wednesday.  Those of you who have children that come on Tuesdays and Thursdays please be sure to bring your child on Wednesday this week ( 8:45 until 10:45) or (11:00 until 1:00) NO school on Thursday!  Also, we will be finishing up on the letter H this week and we will be busy making fun things for Halloween. So see you next week!

Thank you for bringing your children out to the Edstroms farm.  The road closure was a small adventure and I just wanted to thank each of you for your patience.

A big "Thank you" to the Edstrom family for taking the time to take 17 preschool children on a hayride and also riding horses - what beautiful horses Bro. Edstrom has!!!!!

If you get a chance send him a "Thank you" 2920 Kennedy Road.  I can't thank this family enuf! Just looking at the children was such a joy - they were having fun learning - love it and your kids!!!! If any of you took pics would you please email them to me @ Valeriedoggett2@gmail.com.

Letter "H" was introduced to the children this week.  We also painted orange pumpkins, reviewed writing the alphabet, upper and lower case, each child worked on writing his/her name, and practiced counting.  We learned a song and read a book about horses.   We cut out, glued on a train the #3. We painted faces on a clementine orange. We did the freeze dance, made a circle and popped bubblegum and we are working hard at learning our right foot and left foot.  The Pledge of Allegience is coming along great!  The kids are happy and are participating and listening very well. Also, we pretended to ride a school bus in class lining the chairs up and each child got to drive the bus and turn the wheel and see who was left on the bus as they turned sharp corners !

Tomorrow meet at 10:00 at  Edstroms - 2920 Kennedy Rd. (past the Burton Cemetery) The children will have the chance of riding a horse and then we will go on a hayride,  Thank you Edstroms!  What a fun adventure for the children -

Remember next Wednesday during preschool we will have the Tautphaus Park Zoo animals make a visit at preschool - those of you who have children that come on Tuesday and Thursday please remember there will be no school on Thursday and to come on Wednesday either at 8:45 until 10:45 or 11:00 until 1:00.

Letter "G" this past week - Made Gingerbread men and had green eggs and ham. Made giraffes and practiced writing the letter G.  The children loved it too!
Its Spud Harvest Break now and remember parents NO SCHOOL on Monday October 8th, however, preschool will start back up on Tuesday October 9th and by this coming Friday I need a count of how many children will be coming to ride a horse and go on a hayride.  See you kids on Tuesday!!!

The week at Preschool we talked about words that start with "Ff".  We traced the letter F and sang the frog song as well as "A Farmer in a Dell". We made some really cute frogs and colored some fishes in the ocean.

The children also watched a video that the Madison Fire Department has about Fire Safety.  They learned  "Not to touch matches and if they see matches or a lighter to go tell an adult". They learned "You gotta have a Plan".  If there is a fire in your house every member of your family should know where to run outside so the parents know if all of their children are safe and out of the house.  They also learned "Don't hide - go Outside".  If there is a fire inside the house get out as quickly as you can and don't hide.  They learned if there is a fire inside the house to "crawl like a baby and keep your body low" if you see smoke.  And then if you are on fire to "Stop, Drop and Roll".  Have smoke detectors all through the house and please show them what yours looks like and sounds like.  Last, if there is an emergency to call 911.  They all enjoyed this weeks adventure with the letter "F".  September 21 the Fire Engine will be at the Stake House East of my home and will show the children the inside of their fire truck and maybe, if the weather is kind the children will have the opportunity to spray the hose so please bring the cameras at 11:00 at the East Stake Center.  See you all then!

Letter "E" was introduced to the children this week.  The children learned that the letter "E" has two different sounds.... please go over EE and Eh sounds.  We had a blast learning a new song that goes with the letter "Ee" about elephants.  They wanted to do it over and over and over.  As we were writing our letters and doing our projects one of the children said that she kept having monster dreams.  I have a great book that is called "Go away Monster".  When I hear children saying things that make them feel unsafe I want them to know their mind can control that thought. This is a great book helping the children build a monster and then piece by piece taking it apart showing that they are in control!   If your child came home and said we read a book about telling a monster to go away - that is why I read that particular book to each class - to help the one! The 3-4 year old's counted individually to 10; the 4-5 year old's counted to 100 - all together.  Once they start hearing how you go over and over the numbers they pick up on counting quickly. Please help your child write his/her name.  This seems to be very hard for some of the children and I want to make sure everyone feels good about themselves in accomplishing this.

The 4-5 year old class is doing GREAT! with their sight words.  I couldn't be more pleased. Thank you so much for your support. Please keep your books I give to you during the year so they can continue through next summer to read them and keep up on their sight words.

All of the children are becoming fast friends.  I wish you could all see how wonderful your children are.  They are ALL really growing and learning well.

Just a heads up:  I just got off the phone with Santa.  Our Christmas Party this year will be at 11:00 on December 14th at the East Stake Center by my house.  This program lasts approximately 45 minutes.  Dress your children in church clothes and details will be given closer to December.

Tautphaus Park Zoo animals have been scheduled for October 17th!
Because we are doing the letter "F" next week I have asked the Madison County Fire Station to bring their fire truck September 21rst at the Rexburg East Stake Parking Lot at 11:00 am.  I am awaiting approval and will let you know this coming week if its a go!!!

Hi everyone!  This week we did the "D" letter. Dinosaurs, donkeys, dragons, dogs, and anyone with their first name starting with D! We are learning how to hold crayons correctly, cutting with scissors, gluing, painting,  following directions, not interrupting, taking turns, counting, colors, picking up after ourselves and friendships are growing.

Each child received a dinosaur clipboard that they colored and that has their name on it.  I would encourage you to have your child practice tracing their name by inserting a white piece of type paper on the top of the clipboard over and over until they can spell their name. The Pledge of Allegiance is coming along great!

You will see items appearing in their backpacks sometimes.....we play a game called the "quite game",  They have to sit quietly still for 1 minute.  As the year progresses they will be able to do it more and more.  I have been told by several kindergarten teachers that they appreciate children who start kindergarten who understand how to sit and be ready to listen!  Also, when you are showing your children how to write their names please always show your child the correct way!  Write first letter upper case and then the rest of the letters lower case.

4-5 Class:  We are now starting to read our little books.  Please every night before you go to bed read at least 15 minutes to your child.  Also, have them read the books I've have given them to practice their sight words.  Our new word this week is: Look  

This week we learned all about the Letter "C".  We traced the letter, did the phonic sound Ca Ca Cat!  They really enjoyed saying that phonic.We played a game that helped us learn alot of C words.  We sang the Patty Cake Song.  We read a book about "Colors of the animals Underwear" and"Clippity Clop".  We had show-n-tell, practiced the Pledge of Alligience and all the sounds we have thus learned.  We sang the alphabet, played duck duck goose.  We glued together C words on a cat on a cake.  We made clown masks and all the children did really good decorating their faces up.  Got some great pics - can't wait for you to see them at the end of the school year.

I think the children's favorite activity was that we made cakes and each child decorated their own.  I try always to make sure they are clean and edible.  However, getting them from the preschool room out to their vehicles without having several children licking the frosting and treats added to the top is just impossible!!!
They had great smiles on their faces and really had a great week... can't wait until next week.

*NOTE:  Just a reminder no School on Monday because of Labor Day.  Thank you so much parents for your support and for having such great kids!!!

This week we learned about the letter "B".  We played a game of concentration.  Each child took turns trying to match B words.  They did a great job too!  We learned another phonic sound with the letter B.  The Bear reaches up in the air and gets honey to put in his mouth - The phonic sound.  We practiced writing the letter B and then we made Baby Bears so they could play peek a boo with them at home.

The Pledge of Allegiance is coming along well.  We counted, sang our alphabet song and then I rolled out a large bubble pad as the children danced on top of each popping bubble!  We were taught the safety of how to use scissors and how there are specific types of scissors.  When I asked the question, what do we do with scissors the answer was "we cut hair"  (eeks)  I told them we have special scissors to cut hair and that the scissors we have at preschool are made to cut out paper.  They all listened and agreed...and comments were made that only adults should cut hair with the special hair scissors they see around the house.  We took turns blowing bubbles and blew up balloons.  They all loved it. We then had to find bumble bees hiding in the room and we learned a great new song about the "baby bumble bee and won't my mommy be proud of me"  They are learning how to share and play together. In general, they love learning and its so fun teaching them.

The 4-5 year olds read and took home their reading books.  Please keep these books throughout the year as we will add and add upon those sight words they are learning.  Next week I will be handing out the next months calenders.  There will be sight word cards inside for you to keep as well.  Please practice these each night before they go to bed or whenever it is a good time for you and your child.

What a great first week of preschool!  The children started off by getting to know each other.   I read the forms that you filled out for each of your children to each of their classmates.  It was so much fun.  A lot of the kids had the same favorite food - ice cream and pizza.  It was a great way to introduce each child to the class.  Next, with big smiles we started learning the pledge of allegiance.  We will work on this for several weeks .  I then introduced them to the letter Aa with the different sounds it makes.  Afterwards, we learned a new song called, "Way up high in the Apple Tree".  We played an alligator game.  We talked about numbers 1 and 2 and played a color game where they have to match pictures that go with the color they have in front of them.  They really enjoyed this.  Show-N Tell on Wednesday and Thursday was a hit!  They love getting up in front of each other and talking.  This tells me that we are going to have a great year together.  They have already made a friends here and are ready to be taught the fundamentals.  My 4-5 year old classes were introduced to the sight words, A, I, See and Can.  Hopefully this coming week you will see them bring home their first reading books.

Fall Preschool

Fall Preschool will be starting this coming Monday, August 13 and Tuesday, August 14!  The Open House for all New students will be on August 10 from 10:00 until 11:00.  It is a good experience for the new children to come. Can you imagine getting dropped off at some strangers house for who knows how long.  It would be pretty scary.  That is why I have an open house for all new students.  Your child comes with you, meets me and sees the preschool room and the surroundings.  Then when they come the first day of school everything looks familiar.  Again, they feel secure and are ready to start learning and you are able to drop the child off and come back in 2 hours.

The 4/5 yr old  Monday- Wednesday 8:45-10:45 has 1 opening
The 3/4 yr old Monday-Wednesday 11:00-1:00 class is full
The Tuesday-Thursday 10:00-12:00 class has 1 opening

Welcome!!!

Welcome to Building Blocks Preschool.   Give me a call if you are interested in having your child come to preschool 2012-13.  Check out "Mrs. Doggie" to get to know me; please look through the curriculum and see if that is something you would like your child to learn and do.  If you are interested just copy the registration and send it back to me in the mail with your registration fee enclosed to:  361 East 4th South Rexburg, Idaho  83440.  This will guarantee your child's placement with me.

I look forward to hearing from you.  My phone number is 208-356-7322
If you would like to leave a message,  please call my cell 403-2715 and I will return your call asap.

Have a Great Day!!!!!!





JUNE 15, 2012

I have started Summer School this week.  I teach a child for 1 hour.  We go over everything like the alphabet, phonics, counting, and then we get into our sight words, and reading.  I make sure they are holding their pencils correctly - like the letter "c".  The kids not only remember how to hold their pencils, but they also remember how to write their letters correctly!  Impressive...... because when they get older they will be able to write quicker as they glide across the paper.

I am so impressed how the children are picking up so quickly the sight words they have memorized and now are realizing when you put the letter sounds together you can make many many words.  (For instance, bat, cat, hat, sat, mat,)  Its ALL connecting and they are loving it.  I love these little children.  They are so smart and quick at learners!

When I'm not teaching or at a T-Ball game I am in my home getting ready for next years students coming.
I still have openings so if you hear of anyone looking for a great preschool, please send them my way.  I teach 3-4 year olds and 4-5 year olds.  Only children who will be going to Kindergarten the following year
are in the 4-5 year old class. Because I want to make sure they are ready to go when they start Kindergarten.

Hope to hear from you Soon!!!!!
We painted a flower pot to put our sight words into and each time each child comes back we add more sight words to the flower pot.  When we are all done in a month, the child will take home his flower pot with all the new sight words learned. He can continue at home making sentences out of each of the sight words he has learned and start writing the words down.


June 20, 2012

First day of Summer.  I can't believe how fast the summer is going by and today is the first day. WOW!
Well summer school is going fantastic!!!! The kids have learned 20 sight words and we are going over a few phonics for some of the letters.  When we say the letter"C" the kids think is sounds just like you say it.  I have to remind them that "S" sounds like snake and "C" sounds like cat.  That seems to help.  However, it makes sense to me why they say it that way.  Its pretty fun to see their eyes light up when they get it and understand.... We made personal reading books today for each student.  I thought it would be fun for each child to read about himself and a friend.  It really motivated each child to read his/her book.



July 11, 2012

Last day of Summer School.  So sad.  I love teaching the children so much.  They loved learning how to read and learned a
lot of sight words .  I've never been able to get through all the reading material before and I did this summer.  The kids will do very well as they enter Kindergarten - this I am sure of.  Vowels were taught this week and they zipped right through them.  They were able to identify vowels in their names as well as in their family names.   I also introduced them to things that are the same and things that are different - they loved doing that.  We painted pirate chests and every day the children were able to pick something to put in their chest.  Today we finished up decorating the outside of the chest.  They loved it!  I love them and will miss them forever.