Friday, March 31, 2017
More Pete The Cat: I Love My White Shoes
Have your children been talking about Pete the Cat and his white shoes? Have they been singing? This is why:
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Rethink those little food pouches.
Melanie Potock MA CCC-SLP has written another good article, this one about those popular food pouches we like to give our children. Titled The Great Pouch Debate: Pros, Cons and Compromising, you can find it on her blog site. Click on the title above to read it.
March Week 5: Move That Body!
Phoneme: /h/
Transition Song: Wake Up! Daily Routines by Dream English
Vocabulary and Concepts: high, hands, hop, left/right, head, front/back, jump, heart beat, faster
Materials: Laminated Letter H, Song: Wave Your Hands Up High by Music For Moving Preschool Action Songs
Transition Song: Wake Up! Daily Routines by Dream English
Vocabulary and Concepts: high, hands, hop, left/right, head, front/back, jump, heart beat, faster
Materials: Laminated Letter H, Song: Wave Your Hands Up High by Music For Moving Preschool Action Songs
Today we put all of our Healthy Habits together and did some heart-pumping exercise. We followed the directions for the song Wave Your Hands Up High (one of the most popular songs I use). We waved our hands up high, we hopped and jumped, we twisted and swam. In between verses, we would shake. Every could choose what body part to shake. Hair, heads, shoulders, arms, legs, or our whole body. One of the kids discovered that we could shake our faces (and make funny noises with our mouths while doing it). Then we sat down and felt our hearts. My heart was beating fast. Exercise that makes our hearts beat faster is good for us.
Goodbye, Letter H! Next month we will start with letter P. Get ready for lots of popping. Miss Carrie might even break out her mad breakdancing skills. Or maybe not. It's been a long time since she was an 80's teen.
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
3/21 is WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY
March 21st of every year is World Down Syndrome Day. It is celebrated on this day because it is the 21st chromosomal pair that has 3 copies instead of a pair.
There are many ways this is celebrated. Some people (including my family) wear cool socks with pants rolled up to create awareness and start a conversation. Some people (including me) post information about Down syndrome on social media.
I'm celebrating today for my daughter, her friends, and the kids on my caseload who have DS. Come celebrate with me.
There are many ways this is celebrated. Some people (including my family) wear cool socks with pants rolled up to create awareness and start a conversation. Some people (including me) post information about Down syndrome on social media.
I'm celebrating today for my daughter, her friends, and the kids on my caseload who have DS. Come celebrate with me.
Monday, March 20, 2017
March Week 4: Healthy Foods
Phoneme: /h/
Transition Song: Wake up! Daily Routines by Dream English
Materials: Laminated letter H, color photographs of food items
Vocabulary and basic concepts: Healthy food, assorted veggies and fruits (broccoli, peas, carrots, tomatoes, peaches, strawberries, apples, oranges), common foods (cereal, sandwich, milk, juice, crackers, soup, noodles, eggs, chicken, peanut butter, spaghetti, tacos), common fast food items (hamburger, fries), common treat items (candy, gummy bears, cupcakes, Popsicles, popcorn, cookies, ice cream), always, sometimes, like/don't like, What questions.
Pre-literacy: Let's look at the letter H. We found the top, bottom, and middle of the letter H. We practiced writing the letter H. When I asked if the children could think of words that had the /h/ sound, one of the children called out "Healthy RABBITS!" (She meant to say Healthy Habits. I'm still grinning over that one!)
Today I pulled out photographs and gave each child two pictures. We took turns showing a picture, labeling the picture, gave thumbs up or thumbs down if we liked that food, and also talked about if the food was healthy to eat all the time or was a food we should have some of the time. Surprisingly, the kids in Jeana's Monday classes understood the concept of healthy food being foods we can eat all of the time, and treats and fast foods were foods we have just sometimes.
The children's favorite part was giving thumbs up or thumbs down if they liked it or did not like it.
At home, talk about the foods you are preparing and let your child help. Let them pick a new vegetable or fruit at the grocery store for the family to try. You could even have a tasting night of different foods and rate if you like them or don't like them. whole foods are easier to recognize than most prepared foods, so you might want to stick with whole foods.
Transition Song: Wake up! Daily Routines by Dream English
Materials: Laminated letter H, color photographs of food items
Vocabulary and basic concepts: Healthy food, assorted veggies and fruits (broccoli, peas, carrots, tomatoes, peaches, strawberries, apples, oranges), common foods (cereal, sandwich, milk, juice, crackers, soup, noodles, eggs, chicken, peanut butter, spaghetti, tacos), common fast food items (hamburger, fries), common treat items (candy, gummy bears, cupcakes, Popsicles, popcorn, cookies, ice cream), always, sometimes, like/don't like, What questions.
Pre-literacy: Let's look at the letter H. We found the top, bottom, and middle of the letter H. We practiced writing the letter H. When I asked if the children could think of words that had the /h/ sound, one of the children called out "Healthy RABBITS!" (She meant to say Healthy Habits. I'm still grinning over that one!)
Today I pulled out photographs and gave each child two pictures. We took turns showing a picture, labeling the picture, gave thumbs up or thumbs down if we liked that food, and also talked about if the food was healthy to eat all the time or was a food we should have some of the time. Surprisingly, the kids in Jeana's Monday classes understood the concept of healthy food being foods we can eat all of the time, and treats and fast foods were foods we have just sometimes.
The children's favorite part was giving thumbs up or thumbs down if they liked it or did not like it.
At home, talk about the foods you are preparing and let your child help. Let them pick a new vegetable or fruit at the grocery store for the family to try. You could even have a tasting night of different foods and rate if you like them or don't like them. whole foods are easier to recognize than most prepared foods, so you might want to stick with whole foods.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
March Week 3: Healthy Habits
Phoneme: /h/
Transition Song: Wake Up! Daily Routines by Dream English.
Materials: Laminated Letter H. Instrumental Exercise Music
Vocabulary and Concepts: Healthy Habits, Exercise, Muscles, Stretch, Jump, Push, Circle, Kick, Squat, Crunch, -ing endings, -ed endings, using visual cues.
Pre-Literacy: Let's look at the letter H. Where is the top? Where is the bottom? Where is the middle? What words have that /h/ sound?
We've talked about hygiene. Now let's talk about healthy habits. Healthy habits are things we do every day so our bodies will be healthy. Things like exercise.
What can we do for exercise? Miss Carrie showed everyone how to do squats, crunches, planks, and stretches. Then she asked the children what else could we do for exercise. Someone suggested circling our arms. Another showed us a stretch she does in dance class. One of the kids demonstrated jumping jacks. We jumped and hopped.
Afterwards, we sat on the rug and talked about what we could do outside on the playground. Running, climbing, jumping, swinging.
During outside time, Miss Carrie made sure to narrate actions. "You are climbing." "_______ is running." "You jumped so high!"
Transition Song: Wake Up! Daily Routines by Dream English.
Materials: Laminated Letter H. Instrumental Exercise Music
Vocabulary and Concepts: Healthy Habits, Exercise, Muscles, Stretch, Jump, Push, Circle, Kick, Squat, Crunch, -ing endings, -ed endings, using visual cues.
Pre-Literacy: Let's look at the letter H. Where is the top? Where is the bottom? Where is the middle? What words have that /h/ sound?
We've talked about hygiene. Now let's talk about healthy habits. Healthy habits are things we do every day so our bodies will be healthy. Things like exercise.
What can we do for exercise? Miss Carrie showed everyone how to do squats, crunches, planks, and stretches. Then she asked the children what else could we do for exercise. Someone suggested circling our arms. Another showed us a stretch she does in dance class. One of the kids demonstrated jumping jacks. We jumped and hopped.
Afterwards, we sat on the rug and talked about what we could do outside on the playground. Running, climbing, jumping, swinging.
During outside time, Miss Carrie made sure to narrate actions. "You are climbing." "_______ is running." "You jumped so high!"
Friday, March 10, 2017
March Language Calendar
The Moog Center Language Calendar is out. Some of these activity ideas are obviously for older children. But it is a great diving board to working out your own activities to promote language at home. Print out your own here.
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Favorite Books!
Some of the favorite books being read in the classroom, either during Small Group, or Book Time at the start of the day:
SUPERTRUCK by Stephen Savage. A blizzard hits the city. Who will save the trucks? Simple words and colorful pictures make this book a BIG hit in Miss Jeana's room.
Pete The Cat I Love My White Shoes by James Dean and Eric Litwin. Pete The Cat keeps walking through things that turn his shoes different colors. But he doesn't stress about it. He SINGS about it! I love my white shoes! I love my red shoes! I love my blue shoes!
Little Blue Truck By Alice Shertle and Jill McElmurry. There is a whole series of books. This one has a moral to the story. Plus, the animals are funny. Little Blue Truck and his friends are good helpers. This book is a big hit in Miss Julie's room.
Goodnight Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann. Gorilla sneakily took the keys from the zookeeper. Guess what he does with them? Be sure to look for the balloon and the mouse carrying the banana. Also notice the color of the keys match the cages. Great for predicting what happens next.
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson. This is a classic book that the children choose to be read aloud during Snack Time over and over. Harold decides to go for a walk and draws the items he needs. That purple crayon must be magic!
Put Me In The Zoo by Robert Lopshire is another classic book. This unusual animal can do amazing things. He wants to be in the zoo, but the zoo won't let him stay. Where else can he live?
Llama Llama Time to Share by Anna Dewdney. There is series of Llama Llama books that are just wonderful. This one is relevant to the kids. They relate to Llama Llama who has some drama (yes, rhyming is in there) when Nelly Gnu plays with his toys.
These books can be found at the library.
March Week 2: Hygiene and Taking a Bath
Phoneme: /h/
Transition Song: Wake up! Daily Routines by Dream English
Who woke up today? Who washed their face? Who brushed their teeth? Who combed their hair (or had mommy or daddy help them)? Who ate breakfast or lunch? Who came to school today?
Materials: Laminated Letter H
Vocabulary and Concepts: hygiene, bath, shower, soap, hair, feet, toes, knees, shoulders, elbow, wrist, ankle, face, forehead, chin, Who questions, more/less.
Pre-literacy: Let's look at the letter H. Show me the top of the letter H. Show me the bottom of the letter H. Show me the middle of the letter H. What sound does it make? H-h-h. I can feel my breath on my hand when I make that sound. What words have that sound? Holiday, help, hot, hike, hands.
This week we continued to talk about about hygiene. We asked WHO takes a bath and WHO takes a shower? Do we have MORE people who take a bath or MORE who take a shower?
We also sang The Bath Song by Super Simple Songs.
We jumped from this song to naming other body parts. Ankles, wrist, forehead, chin. We talked about how keeping our bodies clean is part of good hygiene. We need to be clean so we don't get sick.
FYI: Your kids may talk about how we need to wash our hands and cover our mouths and nose when we sneeze or cough because Miss Carrie does not want to get sick. I'll remind them to wash hands or cover mouths and they will often respond "So you don't get sick." Exactly!
Transition Song: Wake up! Daily Routines by Dream English
Who woke up today? Who washed their face? Who brushed their teeth? Who combed their hair (or had mommy or daddy help them)? Who ate breakfast or lunch? Who came to school today?
Materials: Laminated Letter H
Vocabulary and Concepts: hygiene, bath, shower, soap, hair, feet, toes, knees, shoulders, elbow, wrist, ankle, face, forehead, chin, Who questions, more/less.
Pre-literacy: Let's look at the letter H. Show me the top of the letter H. Show me the bottom of the letter H. Show me the middle of the letter H. What sound does it make? H-h-h. I can feel my breath on my hand when I make that sound. What words have that sound? Holiday, help, hot, hike, hands.
This week we continued to talk about about hygiene. We asked WHO takes a bath and WHO takes a shower? Do we have MORE people who take a bath or MORE who take a shower?
We also sang The Bath Song by Super Simple Songs.
We jumped from this song to naming other body parts. Ankles, wrist, forehead, chin. We talked about how keeping our bodies clean is part of good hygiene. We need to be clean so we don't get sick.
FYI: Your kids may talk about how we need to wash our hands and cover our mouths and nose when we sneeze or cough because Miss Carrie does not want to get sick. I'll remind them to wash hands or cover mouths and they will often respond "So you don't get sick." Exactly!
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