Our puppet show was a blast this week!  Each child took a turn with a partner and made up a story with their kings, queens, ninjas and superhero puppets!  I often wonder if I should invite the parents to come and participate.  For some children it is a very hard thing to do in front of their peers let alone someone else's parent.  So for this reason I just keep it with the individual classes that participate.  They seem to enjoy it a lot better.

This week we learned two new shapes - pentagon and trapazoid.  We now have the months of the year learned.  The Kindergarten test usually is given in April.  This test is only a placement test so that the teachers can evenly put the children in their classes.  Check with your local grade school to find out the date and time to bring your child in for their test.  I have talked with each of your children and explained to them what happens so as to prepare them mentally.  Sometimes children will freeze up when they are put in a situation with a stranger.  I explain to them the procedure and hopefully they feel more at ease about it.  We have been learning about cutting words in 1/2 (if you have the word helpful and take off the help what do you have left?) words that rhyme; shapes, numbers, colors, identifying objects in pictures, writing their names; and just be confident while answering the questions.  Do not be concerned if your child misses questions - again this is only a placement for each student coming into kindergarten.  Your child is well prepared for kindergarten.  I just wished that the teacher questioning your child would have them read sight words to her...they would all be blown away because of how well they know their sounds, letters and sight words.

Wearing Pj's to preschool was pretty fun for the kids this week.  We talked about all the many words that start with the Letter "Pp" and I think the children were amazed at just how many as we were practicing writing the letter.  As we were preparing for next week for our class puppet show some of the children were able to start making their puppets.  Hopefully, we will complete this feat on Monday and Tuesday so that after show-n-tell each child will be able to have a puppet show with their own puppet they made.  They will be bringing it home so that maybe if you have time at home they can show you how to have a puppet show too. We are practicing our sight words, practicing our letters and identifying their sounds.  We have learned the months of the year and will polish up our skills again this coming week.

We learned about the letter "Oo" this week. Each child made his/her own Octopus and designed it by putting dots on the legs - and some children put as many dots as they could every place else.  They had a lot of fun making them. As we are going through our phonics I see the children understanding well the letter sounds, however, I see the some children still struggling with their letters and identifying them.  So this week I will help those who need a little extra help in their letters.  We are just about done learning the months of the year and the kids in class are naming them very well.  I even had them stand up when it was their birthday month and that made it a lot funner for them to understand the concept.

We have a new teacher with us until about April.  Her name is Emily Knowles and is an intern from BYU-I.   She is currently from Texas and has a 1 year old baby girl along with her husband who is attending school also  Because of her schedule she has chosen to be in the Monday/Wednesday 3-4 year old class and Tuesday/Thursday both 4-5 year old classes.  The children are adjusting pretty well and are getting use to two teachers now.  I felt it would help each child more now as I can work more individually with just a few children who are struggling. Because I knew Emily was going to be coming and because a few children have moved away I have added 5 new children since November.  The children who started in August are doing so good.  I am so proud of them. They are happy and trying hard to do their best in what I teach them.  As I have talked to a few parents though, I do have a couple of students who are having a difficult time listening and respecting others around them. That is why I am here to help them learn and develop positive qualities to help them as they enter kindergarten.  I have decided to change my curriculum a little bit because of this, which will only be a more positive approach in trying to help them succeed which in turn will be awesome for all of the children.

No school January 20 and 21rst.  I do apologize.  I was not going to take the 21rst day off, but one of the parents told me Madison School District is out both days and felt like with a 4 day weekend you may have family plans with older sibblings out of school so I cancelled.

January 22 and 23, please have your child wear his/her Pjs and bring 1 show-n-tell!  We are going to start the letter "Pp" and start making our puppets.

Completing our letter "Nn" this week with Night owls, noodle necklaces, needles, nails and a lot of other N words you will not be seeing your children bring home much paper work because we will be learning a lot in class with the Kindergarten tests coming up.  Your child needs to feel relaxed and confident.  I would like each child to be ready to answer the questions and enjoy the experience.  This test is usually given the end of March or in April.  In either case they will be ready!

A lot of college students have been calling and asking if they can come and do an internship here at Building Blocks Preschool.  I have decided that it is time and so there will be a girl coming in the next several weeks who will be attending my 4-5 year old classes.  We are filling out paper work today and so next week I will be able to tell you a little more about her. I fill this will be a  benefit to both the children and the BYU-I student.  If you have any concerns or questions please let me know.  

Happy "New Year" everyone.  School will start back up January 6 & 7.   Can't wait to see you ALL! We will be starting up with the letter "Nn" because we didn't get through this letter in December.  The calender has been changed because of this so instead of wearing our Pj's Jan 13 & 14th, we will wear our Pj's on January 21rst and 22nd!  See you soon....