“Knowing Jesus, Growing in Faith, Serving God’s Children”
Dear Parents,
Hello! We are off to a fine start, with another busy week ahead of us. I hope you had a wonderful Labor Day!
We have been learning many things about print. We are distinguishing between capital and lower case letters, the difference between letters and words, how we read from left to right, and top to bottom, different forms of punctuation, etc. We use their names to learn many things about words and letters. They love comparing their name with everyone else’s – how many letters it has, if they have the same first or last letter, if anyone’s rhyme, etc. Keep working on writing their names with lowercase letters. Watch closely to help them get in good habits of writing their letters from the top down. Help with pencil grip, too, making sure they hold it comfortably.
Now we will begin learning about individual letters and the sounds they make. We learn to recognize both the capital and lowercase, how to write each, and the sound or sounds each makes. This week we’ll begin with “Aa.” Many recognize the letters but struggle yet with writing and hearing them. I am picky on how they write a letter because it makes a difference later in cursive, as well as helping them keep from reversing them. We will use our letter journals to practice using these letters and sounds. We learn right away to “stretch out” words to hear what letter sounds are in it. Would you please help your child find something at home that begin with the short or long “a” sound, and send it tomorrow. This is not Show and Tell, but a group activity as we sort the items by the sounds that “a” can make. “A” makes a third sound that sounds like short u, as in “again.” We learn it also.
We also will begin learning to use independent literacy centers so that I can work with small groups. I will eventually be giving guided reading lessons to each group, when they are ready. We will learn how to set up and use the listening center this week, where they use their headphones to listen to a story as they follow along in the book, as well as how to read independently. This includes reading pictures and retelling stories to themselves. The other groups will be enjoying books and drawing. We’ll eventually add an ABC center that has literacy games, a computer center, a writing center, and two book centers. I usually add a number center, too, which has a math activity.
Our Bible lessons this week are about God’s love for us, even when we sin. This includes learning about Adam and Eve, with the emphasis on forgiveness. Our Bible verse is Psalm 100:3 “Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His.” Thank you so much for helping learn these at home. They were so good at reciting them. We looked them up in our Bibles – We highlight each verse we learn – and they discovered they can read “God!” They found His name on the first page many times, and they were so excited! We find many opportunities to read His name. We learned “Jesus” last week, too!
A few already know their addresses and phone numbers, but everyone should. That is a real step towards independence and taking care of themselves. Please practice them this week, and review them regularly. In the car is a great place to practice them! Singing them is one way to make it fun! I can still sing my address because I did it with my daughters!
Math time is very hands-on right now. I’m assessing their counting and one-to-one matching. We’re writing numerals 1 through 4 now, also. Use those rhymes that help them remember how to write their numerals! Don’t worry about backwards letters and numbers too much right now, but do give them an example and let them see the proper direction. Soon we’ll be playing games that require writing numerals and they get comfortable quickly! One of the best things parents can do mathematically with their children is pose questions that require them to add or subtract “in their heads” or with toys to move around. Use the simplest problems in the car, where they only have their fingers! Have them tell you how they figured something out. Say you ask them, “If you had 3 cars parked on the street and 2 more came, how many would there be?” There are many ways to figure this out and it is fun to see how they answer. It’s always okay at this stage to use their fingers or small items, in fact it is very important at times. Just enjoy how they figure out things!
As we learn about the five senses God has given us we’ll do several experiments that involve our sense of hearing this week, and still have fun with our sight games. They are developing great memories! We’ll watch a movie on all five senses, and read a big book on the senses, too.
In gym class Mrs. Winjue has them practicing class management routines as they get plenty of exercise – run, run, run! They will learn about personal space, general space, following directions, and general locomotor skills. Mrs. Jensen, our new music teacher, has them learning about rhythm.
We read a book titled “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” to help us learn about how we can interact positively with each other. Young children have already learned ways to hurt with words, especially, so we will really work this year on finding ways to deal with frustrations and joys alike in a positive, helpful, and kind way, just like Jesus would! You may have already heard them talk about “filling people’s buckets and not dipping into them! They learn so quickly!
The children sing this Sunday for Rally Day, where we begin our new church and school year! We will sing at both the 8AM and 10:45AM services, with Sunday School in between at 9:30AM. We are having fun with the song, “The Bee Song,” and I hope you can come. There is a picnic and fun activities after the late service. Bring a hot dish and dessert or salad, and lawn chairs, too! We do understand if you have your own church home, but we’d still love to have you!!
I’ve misplaced the email list. I will put a new list by our door. If you would like me to email the weekly note to you put your address down. I’ll begin next week then!
I haven’t received many book orders. Get those back tomorrow if you want to order. I’ll order Wednesday night. I found out the ordering online has changed. Another sheet is in the folder giving you the directions for ordering online if you wish to. It’s pretty nice!
God’s blessings on your week,
Roxi Withee