The children have really enjoyed our music time with Mr Steve! They have learned many songs, but their favorite song is Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Each time we return from “Music With Mr. Steve”, I have had several children who have drawn Goldilocks in their journals. I have also heard them telling the story, and even singing little bits of it on their own. Their interest led into our unit on Goldilocks and the Three Bears. We read several different versions of the story and compared how they were the same and how they were different. We talked about the characters and graphed our favorite. The children enjoyed discussing whether or not Goldilocks made good choices during the story, We also discussed the setting and made a story map. We re-told the story the many times using props. The children were really good at telling what happened first, next and last. We also worked together with Miss Christy’s class to turn the hallway into a forest by hand print painting evergreen trees. The children then sounded out the words to hang on our door next to Goldilocks, Mama Bear, Papa Bear, Baby Bear, and our porridge art. The hallway was now an extension of our classroom!

Our current theme is winter holidays. The evergreen trees in the the hallway have now been decorated with the children’s art work! The children seemed to enjoy making all the ornaments for the trees, but one of the most popular activities was using a plastic sewing needle to string on packing peanuts. At one point I looked over and all the boys in the room were sitting down and very intently pushing the needle through the styrofoam pieces! What great fine motor practice! The children have also been very busy wrapping boxes in the sensory table. They enjoy having us try to guess what is inside and then opening them. Our housekeeping area has been transformed into Santa’s workshop. The children very quickly decorated the cardboard house with stickers, daubers, ribbon, colored tape, garland and ornaments. Each day something is added, changed, or moved. It is nice to see them use their own ideas and then work together to transform the space.

I would like to thank all of the parents who have volunteered to read a holiday story or share a holiday tradition. There are still a few times available. If you would like to sign up please write your name on the sheet hanging outside our classroom door.

Looking Ahead:
Beginning next week (Dec. 17th -21st ) Please take your child’s ornaments off the trees in the hallway and take them home!

Our last day of school before Winter Break is Friday, December 22. We will return to school on January 3, 2013.