Happy Wednesday

Hi Parents,

Today was an exciting day because we took a nature walk to the park.  Students picked up leaves, sticks, acorns, pine cones, etc to use for an art project tomorrow.  Students loved being able to walk and talk about the changes of nature and the brisk feel of the wind.  Starting tomorrow we begin discussing Thanksgiving and start our new book The Letters are Lost.

Thoughts from Ms. Brooke

Here are some tips to help your child understand what pictures and symbols mean. The following suggestions help young children learn that pictures and symbols stand for real objects or people.

-          For a young child to understand that a picture has meaning, show him a real object along with its image. If your child has a vision problem be sure to use clear, uncluttered pictures with high contrast (can be color or texture)

-          Take pictures of your child doing things (e.g. playing raked piles of leaves, picking up fallen pine cones, making pumpkin pie) that are fun. Use the pictures to have him/her “ask” to do these things again. Encourage them to show you the picture to get what they want. Also encourage them to use their words to ask for the activity in conjunction with showing you the picture. As they make the link between pictures and activities you can make the activity more challenging.  Change the photographs and use drawings of the objects or clip art images from the Internet.

-          Make a homemade book with four or five pictures of familiar people, toys, or other favorite objects. Have several of the real objects with you when you are looking at the book with your child. Ask your child to point to the real person or pick up the real object and then find its picture.

-          The increase the difficulty once your child understands that a picture has meaning you can show the picture of his/her favorite item (e.g. goldfish crackers) on the box and label it- you would say “goldfish”. Then give him/her a cracker. Repeat this each time you give them a goldfish. When they begin to become proficient with understanding this picture is linked with the item, give them some new information. Show them the box and point to the word “goldfish” on the box. Point and tell them the first letter in the word “goldfish” is “G”.   

Calendar:
Friday, November 2- Movie Night at RNE
Monday, November 5- Family Survey Due
Tuesday, November 6- No school - election day
Wednesday, November 7- Picture Day
Friday, November 9- Disguised Turkey is due
Tuesday, November 20- Grandparents Tea- please let me know if someone is coming to take your child.
Wednesday, Nov. 21- Friday, Nov. 23- No school Thanksgiving break

What a week

Dear Parents,

   Last week was certainly a week of fun!
   On Tuesday we carved a pumpkin this time to take out the seeds and guts.  First we weighed the pumpkin to see how heavy it was with the seeds and the goop.  Then each student had to take a turn to pull out goop and separate the seeds.  We scooped the goop into measuring cups to see how much the pumpkin had inside.  Then we weighed the pumpkin after everything was scraped out and we discovered that the pumpkin had lost some weight.
   On Wednesday we made shape monsters.  First we read the story Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley.  After reading the story we discussed how each part of the monster's face was actually a shape.  Then students were given various sized and colored shapes to create their own shape monster.  It was great to see how creative each student was.  
   On Thursday we came back to the pumpkin seeds we had so carefully sorted.  Students were given pieces of paper with numbers at the bottom of each column.  The children then placed that number of pumpkin seeds in each column.  I think most were just relieved that the pumpkin seeds had been cooked and were no longer slimy.
   On Friday the afternoon group made monster pudding cups and Monday the morning group will make the same monster cups, but will use jello.  Here is a link to show you what the end result looks like:Monster Treats


Calendar:
Wednesday, October 31- we are taking a nature walk at Roswell area park.  Dress your child in good walking clothes and sneakers
Friday, November 2- Movie Night at RNE
Tuesday, November 6- No school - election day
Wednesday, November 7- Picture Day
Wednesday, Nov. 21- Friday, Nov. 23- No school Thanksgiving break

Fun Mondays

Dear Parents,

As always Mondays are very fun and very busy.  Ms. Wendy came in today and helped us make black cats.  Also we are continuing our work with growing the pumpkins and talking about the concept of size.

We are continuing to read Silly Sally.  Also I have introduced the story the Little Old Lady who was not Afraid of Anything by Linda D. Williams.  Students are given props to the various parts of the scarecrow and help act out the story.  This is a fun activity that can be done with any story.

Also this week is bus driver appreciation week!  The kids have made the bus drivers cards, but you can also make cards or a special treat for the bus driver.


Calendar:
Wednesday, October 31- we are taking a nature walk at Roswell area park.  Dress your child in good walking clothes
Friday, November 2- Movie Night at RNE
Tuesday, November 6- No school - election day
Wednesday, November 7- Picture Day

Busy Times

Dear Parents,

We manage to keep ourselves very busy in preschool.  On Thursday we continued to talk about the life cycle of the pumpkin.  We took the top off a pumpkin and covered the inside with soil and water.  We are hoping to see little plants sprout from the inside of the pumpkin.  Also each child took some seeds and put them on a paper towel.  We hung the paper towels in the window.  We are hoping to see little plants from there as well.

Friday was also a super fabulous day for making snacks.  The morning group made dirt sundaes.  Sundaes made out of chocolate pudding, oreos, and gummy worms.  The kids thought they were very yummy.

The afternoon group went over to Ms. Emily's class and made spiders.  Students twisted apart oreos, then layed across them pull and peel twizzlers, and then put the top back on the oreo.  These were equally as yummy.

I hope everyone is having a great day!



Calendar:
Wednesday, October 31- we are taking a nature walk at Roswell area park.  Dress your child in good walking clothes
Friday, November 2- Movie Night at RNE
Tuesday, November 6- No school - election day
Wednesday, November 7- Picture Day

What an exciting day!

Today was one of those days that was extra special and packed with activities.  This morning Mr. Jones from the Dad's Club came in and read to us.  He read Dora's Pumpkin Patch and Go Away Big Green Monster.    The kids were so excited to have someone new read to them.

Also today Sampson the reading dog came in.  Most of the kids loved him; however, some were very nervous around him.   The kids got the opportunity to pet him, hug him, and ask questions.  It was a very enjoyable experience.

We are still working on Silly Sally and talking about how silly the book is.  Also we are having lots of talks about pumpkins.  Describing the size, shape, and color of the pumpkins is a great way to incorporate language throughout the day.

Don't forget the Box Top competition for this month ends this Monday!  If you forget to send them in it is OK we will start collecting again in February!

Calendar:
Saturday, October 13- Youth Day Parade- Meet Mrs. Massey and Mrs. Emily at 9:15am to walk in the parade
Monday, October 15- Turn in Box Tops
Monday, October 15- Conference Day- no school for the students, but parents please schedule a conference!
Tuesday, November 5- No school - election day
Thursday, November 7- Picture Day

Alane Massey

Happy Friday!

Silly Sally
We have started our unit on Silly Sally.  The students and I have decided it is a very silly book.  We are enjoying it and enjoying acting out all the parts.

Ms. Meyers visited us
Ms. Meyers, the school counselor, came to reading a book all about sharing.  Then she stayed and did some songs with us.  We had some much fun.

Youth Day Parade
The annual Youth Day Parade is coming up on Saturday, October 13. Parents, students and teachers, come show your school spirit and walk with Roswell North's float. Everyone is welcome to participate in the parade, and we especially want to see our dads walking with our students. It will be lots of fun!

This year’s theme is “Youth – Roswell’s Gold Medal”. Please have the children dress in their after school activity wear (baseball uniform, ballet, dance, karate, etc).
Please meet at 9:15 a.m. at the First Baptist Church on Mimosa Blvd by our float. Bring a bag of candy to throw to parade watchers. Also you must accompany your child!  Mrs. Emily and Mrs. Massey will be there.

Important Dates
Friday, October 5 at 5:30- Flag Football Game Teachers vs. Parents to raise money for Koala Cares
Saturday, October 13- Youth Day Parade- Meet Mrs. Massey and Mrs. Emily at 9:15am to walk in the parade
Monday, October 15- Conference Day- no school for the students, but parents please schedule a conference!
Tuesday, November 5- No school - election day
Thursday, November 7- Picture Day

Thoughts from Mrs. Brooke

Vocab for the month of October:

Pumpkin

Leaves

Pig

Dog

Sheep

Haystack

Spider

Roll

Tickle

All Done

Communication tip to foster vocalizations and conversational participation:

Sing simple songs with your child, especially ones with actions, like “Row Row Row your Boat”, and build in opportunities for him to participate. This is a fun way for him to learn to take his turn in an interaction, as well as to learn new words.

-       Sing a new song the same way a few times so your child learns the song and its “high point”. High points are the most interesting parts of a song. In “Row, Row, Row your Boat”, the high points are the rocking back and forth while you and your child sit on the floor, holding outstretched hands, and saying the last word after a long pause – i.e., “dream”.

-       Once your child is familiar with the song, pause before a high point and wait for him to respond.

For example, when singing “Row Row Row your Boat”, sing the song through once or twice and then, still holding his hands, WAIT for him to ask you to sing it again (he will probably make a sound or rock back and forth to ask you to do it again).

-       Or, you can start to sing the song while rocking back and forth, pausing mid-song so he can ask you to continue.

-       Or, you can slow down and pause before the last word (“dream”), so he can make a sound - any sound - to end the song.

-       To take his turn during songs, your child may wriggle, make a sound, look at you, point to something or perform an action. Accept anything as his turn and then continue immediately. The most important thing is that he takes a turn and has fun while doing it.

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