September 24 - 28

This week, we started learning about Fall as well as the life cycle of butterflies. We read stories and talked about the season of Fall, or Autumn, and what we might start to notice now that we are entering this new season. We started taking data every day on our Fall Weather Graph to begin noticing weather patterns throughout the season and gain a basic understanding of graphs. A lot of the learning that occurred this week was around the amazing caterpillars in our classroom. Students observed the caterpillars and drew what they saw on Monday. We read various books about caterpillars and butterflies, from non-fiction science books to "The Very Hungry Caterpillar". Students continued to make observations about the caterpillars throughout the week, and I wrote down what they said and took pictures of them to document their learning on a poster that is now hanging in the classroom. On Friday, we started to notice that the caterpillars were making their chrysalis's. We even saw one caterpillar wiggling its way into a chrysalis which was very exciting! Next week, we will continue to observe the transformation of our caterpillars, and we will also begin  learning about apples and pumpkins. It is going to be a very fun week with apple taste tests, a cooking project, a field trip to the apple orchard, and more!

Observing and drawing the caterpillars

More caterpillar observation

Poster documenting student learning about caterpillars

Enjoying the new ukulele that Mr. Norm gave us! 

A couple of unicorns making music

Our baby siblings love our new instruments too!

Playing doctor

Enjoying a book together in the quiet space

September 17 - 21

This week, we learned about families around the world. We read stories, listened to music, and saw pictures from countries like Thailand, Italy, and Burkina Faso. We also finished up our All About Me books and displayed them on the bookshelf so children could proudly show off their own books and look at their classmates'. The sensory table was opened on Wednesday for children to play at during choice time. It is currently filled with sand, but throughout the year it will have different materials in it that provide children with a variety of sensory experiences.
Once again, I was blown away this week by what the children are able to do. I saw students work very hard on the hundred's board, sorting numbers by ten's groups and beginning to notice important patterns on the board. I also saw children create three-dimensional works of art using pieces of cardboard, match letters with pictures that begin with that letter using the alphabet puzzle, build elaborate castles out of blocks, make observations in the science center, and cooperate with friends during imaginative play. Next week, we will begin our Fall unit by learning about what the season looks and feels like. We will also be observing our Painted Lady caterpillars and learning about the life-cycle of a caterpillar/butterfly first-hand!

Our map with pictures of families around the world

Our All About Me books on display

Proudly showing off his completed hundred's board

Castle builders

A tower on stilts

Students' artwork on  display

Playing doctor

Exploring the newly-opened sensory table

Artists at work

Finishing an alphabet puzzle is hard work!

September 10- 14

This week, we talked more about ourselves and our families. We became authors by writing our own "All About Me" books! The students did whatever level of writing they were ready for, from writing their names to writing the whole book. It was great to see the pride on their faces when they finished the books and showed their peers the work that they did. Those that are finished are on display in our classroom library.
We also opened the literacy shelf this week which has materials related to pre-reading and writing skills. I worked with some students on matching letters from the moveable alphabet to objects that begin with those letters. Students also enjoyed exploring the letter boxes which contain multiple objects that begin with the same letter. Along with exploring the new literacy materials, we built amazing block structures and towers, used our imaginations in the Dramatic Play center and on the playground, began to learn about fall by collecting fall leaves and acorns outside, and observed three caterpillars in our science center.
Next week, we will take a little trip around the world as we read stories and learn about families from many different countries. We will also continue to notice signs of Autumn and learn about caterpillars and butterflies.

September 4 - 7

This week was so much fun! On Tuesday, we started a Self-Portrait project that you can now admire in the hallway by our classroom. Students looked at themselves in the mirror and drew what they saw. On Wednesday, we opened the math shelf which was very exciting for some students! I introduced the students to the "works" (what I call items that children can play with/work on) on the math shelf, and all of the teachers worked with individual students throughout the week on math activities. By completing works like the Bead Stair, the Hundreds Board, the object/numeral matching basket, and other fun math activities, children worked on their ability to count accurately, recognize numerals, and put numbers in order. All of these are baseline skills that will help your child with more advanced math skills in the future. On Friday, Mrs. MacQueen came back to read more Pete the Cat books with us which the children loved! The biggest focus over the past two weeks has been social-emotional skills and classroom routines, both of which have been taught explicitly and repetitively. The children have been blowing me away with their abilities to talk through problems and verbalize their feelings, so we are definitely off to a very good start! Looking forward to another great week!

When We Grow Up...

The First Days of School

We had a fantastic first two days of school last week! We learned about the routine of the classroom, read beginning of school books like "Franklin Goes to School", and learned about the Ocean in the Science Center. We also had a special visit from Mrs. MacQueen, the assistant principal and preschool director, who read us some Pete the Cat books and wore her fun, light-up shoes! What a great start to school!

Meet the Teacher

My name is Molly Rice and I am the new preschool teacher at the Samuel Morey Preschool. I recently graduated from James Madison University with a Master's Degree in Inclusive Early Childhood Education (Early Education + Special Education) and this is my first teaching job! I am so excited to teach your wonderful children this year, and I know it will be an amazing year!

Here are five fun facts about me:
1) I love to travel! I've been to 15 different countries.
2) My favorite animal is a giraffe.
3) Both of my parents are teachers and my older sister is a photographer for the Mets baseball team.
4) My favorite books are the Harry Potter series.
5) I have known that I wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember!

Please feel free to contact me at mrice@rivendellschool.org or on the Remind app. I'm looking forward to a great year!