Update: Weeks 1+2

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to give a quick update filled with pictures and information on what we have been doing in the Medical Daycare. We have been learning a lot the past two weeks and I am very excited about my students success.

Right now, I hold two separate circle times. At approximately 9:30 in the morning each day I head over to the toddler room and start circle time with them. I like to start each circle time by reading an age appropriate book to the students. After I read the book, I have started teaching the toddlers the basic letters of the alphabet and the letters of their names. We are working at pronouncing each letter correctly and looking at words that start with those letters using flash cards. To keep their attention, I alternate between flash cards, hand writing activities, and use of the iPad. We then sing the alphabet along with the iPad and other singalong songs that the kids enjoy. After we finish our daily lessons, I integrate an art project into their lesson. The past two weeks we have practiced holding paintbrushes, using stamps, and playing with finger paint. The toddler room created a

beautiful collaborative painting that I cannot wait to hang up in the classroom for everyone to see. I have included some pictures in this blog post. I used a tape resist method that made for a beautiful abstract painting.

After I clean up the toddler room and prepare for my next circle time, I promptly start circle time in the pre-school classroom around 10:30. We start with our annual good morning chant and then we are working on recognizing the days of the week, the month and the weather. We count together the days of the month and practice number recognition. Each day I see improvement with counting! After we practice numbers, I switch gears and also read an age appropriate children's book to them. I find reading a book to children everyday is important, especially stories that can teach them about mixing colors, how to share, about different cultures, etc. After the story, we are practicing alphabet recognition, shape recognition, and color recognition and how colors mix. It is a lot of work so we are switching everyday our main focus to keep their attention. After we practice with flash cards and everyone gets a chance to answer a question, we switch over the iPad. We sing the alphabet and color song together, and then we play a few favorites that the kids are allowed to pick if they show good behavior during circle. After we complete all lessons, I move into our art lesson. The pre school classroom has been working on collaborative paintings, printmaking with bubble wrap, and using stamps. They show a strong interest in art which really excites me!

Here are some of the great pictures from this week and I hope you enjoy and I look forward to another great week with everyone.