5.24.10-5.28.10

We only did school 2 days this week, as I was sick 2 days and they were with my friend Bianca on another day. 

Lesson Plans:

Scissor Practice Activities: 

             Caitlyn                            Chloe                                     

Art:

Finger painting!! 

Two of my girl's favorite things, being outside and painting. We don't do a lot of painting because of the mess so it took them a few minutes to realize that it was okay to use their hands and to get messy while having fun mixing the colors.

    

     

Science Activities: 

Wind Spinners

We made our own wind spinners while listening to some fun Preschool songs. We haven't been able to hang them outside yet because although it is sunny in the mornings, it has looked like rain in the afternoon. Love that Reno weather! (not really)

Caitlyn

Chloe

   

Math:

Chloe learned how to count by 2s up to 20 using unifix (counting) cubes. I didn't think that she had grasped the concept. The next day, when Robert asked what she had learned the day before, she started counting by 2s up to 10. She also did her addition flashcards (they have numbers on one side and pictures on the other to give a visual). I had separated the flashcards into sums of 10 or less and sums of 11 or more. She did the 10 or less pile with amazing accuracy. 

Caitlyn learned how to count by 1s up to 20 using her counting bears. She used her sisters addition flashcards and seemed to pick up on the concept of addition quickly. I was very surprised as I wasn't planning on using those with her til this coming school year.

Caitlyn Writing Practice: 

Chloe Writing Practice:

Reading Practice (Books they read to me):

I will start keeping track of the books they are reading next week.

Back to the Blogosphere...

It has been a long time since I have blogged, between being sick, the holidays, and finding out I'm pregnant, and being pregnant with a toddler and preschooler under the age of 4, I've been a little preoccupied.

What you've missed....

Chloe started reading words back in November and since then has worked her way up to Level 1 and Level 2 books. Over the past week, during our reading practice time, I've been noticing that the Level 1 books are too easy for her to read so we are going to be doing Level 2 and Level 3 books. Then yesterday, she zoomed through a Level 2 book that she hasn't read before. So tomorrow when I have my day off (my friend Bianca watches the girls every other Thursday and I return the favor the alternate Thursdays) I'm going to go to the library to get Chloe some Level 3 and 4 books. She can also write her letters (still in the learning letter accuracy phase). She can count up to 40, sometimes 50 without skipping a number. For the longest time she would skip 15. She knows the days of the week and can answer basic addition and subtraction problems. For example, this morning, I asked her how many bagels were in the bag, she counted 5. Then I took one out for her breakfast and asked how many bagels were left, she answered 4. Then I said, so what is 5-1 equal and she said 4!

Back in March, we were at the doctors waiting to find out if I am pregnant with a girl or a boy. (It's a boy in case you missed the memo. :-) ). Just for fun, I asked Caitlyn what some words were (not thinking that she would know them) and she read most of the Clifford Phonics bookClifford Can. We were so surprised! Now she is reading Level 1 books with a little help as well as Mother Goose nursery rhymes (1 of her favorite books) and some Dora Stories (her other favorite book). Caitlyn's favorite nursery rhyme is Shoo Fly don't bother me. She is beginning to write her letters. She can count up to 20, sometimes 30 without skipping a number. For the longest time she would skip 16.

Over the last week and a half, I have begun doing school with them each day to get them (and me) used to a schedule and to also see how they learn best. We generally have school about 2 hours a day Mon-Fri. I have stopped doing "Tot School" and now have a lesson plan for them each week.We learn a new scripture each week, reviewing it each morning. We then read bible stories (anywhere from 1-4 depending on the morning, they take turns picking). We do either the M/W/F or Tu/Th schedule (see below) and then Chloe writes 2 of her spelling/writing practice words (I give her 10 a week) and Caitlyn traces or writes 1-2 letters a day. We then stop for lunch, then just before quiet time, I take turns individually with the girls to do their reading practice. I only ask that they do 1 book each during this time but they usually want to do 2 or 3. My 1 main rule/expectation about school is if they start something, they need to finish it. If they start a page in their workbook, then they need to finish it before starting something else.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays...we do a scissor activity (Snip Its-a workbook we bought at Walmart), and Math

On Tuesdays and Thursdays...we do Art and Science.

I have a new respect for preschool teachers who are teaching more than 20 kids to use scissors when I have had trouble with only 2 kids. I am also having to continually remind myself that they are learning and it will take time. And to not take over the cutting for them even when they ask me to. I just stop, smile and say I know you can do it, it takes practice.

I will be taking pictures of some of their activities as time and activity allows. We will be starting Kindergarten for Chloe (age 3 1/2) and Pre-K for Caitlyn (age 2 1/2) in August. Do I think it is too early? Not based on their desire to learn and what they have already learned to do. Chloe can read and write, and Caitlyn is starting to read more (still working on enunciation of the T, s, sh, and th) and has begun writing individual letters this week. They are excited and interested in learning so we've decided to strike while the iron is hot, so to speak.

5.17.10-5.21.10

 Although we won't start our new school year until August, I thought it would be good to get all of us used to the schedule. The girls are very excited because they have really missed doing school. They have both been bringing it up a lot telling me they want to do school/learning. Who am I to say no? :-)

Lesson Plans:

Scissor Practice Activities: 

                  Caitlyn                             Chloe

                        

Art:
I wrote their names on construction paper and then they put glue on their names by themselves, next they used beans to put on the glue.                                                                                                                                                   

They also did Do-A-Dot this week and had some fun with stickers (not pictured)

Math: 


I introduced them to coins, we separated the coins and then briefly talked about the differences between the penny, nickel, dime, and quarters. 





I introduced Chloe to telling time, I think we will come back to time after she can count by 5s to help with the minute hand. It is kind of confusing. 


Caitlyn used Counting bears and buttons  to put the correct number of items on the number circles (ie: 2 buttons on the number 2) 


Science: 
Not pictured this week, we started talking about inches and measuring. We also played with Playdough and did some color mixing.

Reading Practice (Books they read to me):

I will start keeping track of the books they are reading in a few weeks.

Caitlyn Writing Practice: 

I was planning on Caitlyn tracing only 1-2 letters a day but she wanted to keep going.

Chloe Writing Practice: 

I give Chloe 10 words a week to practice her writing. I plan to have her write 2 words a day.                                                                     

                                                

Since Caitlyn was tracing letters and numbers, Chloe wanted to do it too.

Other Fun:


Alphabetical Order -I put out all the letters in the alphabet and asked them to put them in  alphabetical Order. When they became stuck, I suggested they sing the ABC song to help them out. Caitlyn loves this activity so much she wants to do it every day!