How Are You Feeling?

We had so much fun with the alphabet last week, let's do it again!
On Thursday, October 18, we will:

• Hop, Skip, jump or crawl the alphabet.
• Recite the ABC's with rhythm sticks.
• Read "How Do You Feel?" by Anthony Browne.
• Review American Sign Language signs for different emotions.
• Sing and sign the "Good Morning Song" and tell how you feel today.
• Maybe read "I Love You Through and Through" by Bernadette Rosetti-Shustak.

Alphabet Fun

At our last Discovery Hour, we talked about teaching young children their letters. So this week we have some alphabet fun!
On Thursday, October 11 we will:

• Hop/walk/crawl the alphabet.
• Go on a hunt for letters and match the letters we find.
• Sing our ABC's with rhythm sticks.
• Create some name art.

I believe children will learn their letters through our everyday interactions with them, play and games. 

• Everyday interactions would be:
•  Pointing out the letter of their name when at the store, reading, and playing.
• Make/buy a place mat with their names on it. Talk about the letters every time every time you eat at the place mat.
• Tell them a story about seeing certain letters while driving home. 
• When pointing out letters, tell what sound or sounds that letter makes.
• When a child recognizes a letter, ask them what sound it makes.
• Answer children's questions and encourage them to look at things and ask questions.
• I keep a deck of alphabet cards in the kitchen to play with before and after meals. Can you find the...L? The ...T? and so on. Can you find the letter that says "ssssss?"
• Read, read and read some more to your child. Ask younger children to point out things in the story. "Can you find the cat?" Ask older children who, what, where, when and why questions about the story. 
• Even if your little ones have no interest in reading, read to them while they are playing. (Not all the time, they need uninterrupted playtime too!) Talk about what you see in the pictures, laugh out loud at funny pictures and ask them to come see it. Choose books based on their interests. 
• Make reading a part of your everyday routine. The whole family will benefit from it!!!
• Play and games:
• Have alphabet cards, magnetic letters, and blocks available for play. Play with them and name the letters as they touch them.
• Create a rich print environment at home. Have family members names posted on the walls. Have an alphabet poster hung on the wall at children's eye level.
• Make letter posters/signs with pictures and words that start with that letter sound.
• Hide letter cards around the house and have children find them and then match the letter they found to the letter on their alphabet poster. And then have children say the sound for that letter.
• Sing your ABC's every day. Sing any songs every day!! Make up songs that spell their names.
• Learning should be an enjoyable experience for children and parents. If it feels forced or frustrating, then one of you isn't ready for learning letters, and it's best to wait until you or they are ready!
• Matching games.
• Over the big Moon has some great Pre-K packs available for down load. I use these a lot at home with my children.
• I know there are a lot of electronic gadgets available that advertise they help with letter recognition. I am sure they do, but I am concerned about human interaction being replaced with electronics. Children benefit much more from time with you. So I would say use electronics for young children with caution and be sure it isn't replacing time spent interacting with others, playing, and using their imaginations.

Helpful Info:

• What is letter recognition and why is it important?
• 10 Reasons Why You Should Read to Your Kids.
• Is your home literacy friendly?

"Being myself involves no risks. It is my

ultimate truth, and I live it fearlessly."

Dr. Wayne Dyer

No Class

No Discovery Hour Thursday, October 4th. The kids and I have a cold.

See you next week for some alphabet fun!!

Dogs and Puppies

On Thursday, September 27 we will:

• Read Harry Goes to Dog School by Scott Menchin.
• Make Paper bag dog houses.
• Enjoy a delicious "treat:" Egg-free sugar cookies
• Free play time! I will have a doggie obstacle course set for puppies and doggies to enjoy!

Ideas for home:

• Dog themed preschool activities.
• Preschool pet theme
• I love the Pre-K packs from Over The Big Moon. I purchased a cheap laminator and we use the activities a lot!
• Autumn Gnome Pre-K pack
• Autumn Fairy Pre-K pack
• Other Pre-K packs

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   "Childhood isn't a time when he is molded into a human who will then live life; he is a human who is living life. No child will miss the zest and joy of living unless these are denied him by adults who have convinced themselves that childhood is a period of preparation." 

   Professor Ripaldi

   
   

   
   

   Happy Playing Everyone!

Yummy Apples!

Fall is on it's way! There is a crispness in the air and I can feel the excitement as we approach a change in the seasons.

On Thursday, September 20 we will:

• Read A Day at the Apple Orchard by Megan Faulkner and Adam Krawesky.
• Make "finger print apple trees."
• Review the letter S and the sound it makes.
• Enjoy some sweet apples together before free play.

Normally I would include some ideas for home, but I have a 4 year old who is not feeling well. So my ideas for home for the week are: Love, play, have fun, and do it every day!

I look forward to our time together and to meeting new friends!

"The best teachers are those who

show you where to look,

but don't tell you what to see."

-Alexandra K. Trenfor

Discovery Hour Thursdays

Thursdays are the new day for Discovery Hour! We will resume weekly classes on September 20th at 10 AM. 

We will continue to explore different topics through dramatic play, music, movement, literature, and art. I would like to also add some letter recognition and phonics activities (depending on the age of participants :) in the form of play and games. All activities will be followed by free play and maybe a chance for the adults to socialize too!

Hope to see you all soon!!

No Fairy Houses

We will not be making fairy houses this week. We will try again in the fall and take advantage of all the colors nature offers!!

Next meet up will be Tuesday, July 2410 AM at the Mirror Lake Fire Station for a tour with Chief Adam Thompson.  http://www.tuftonboro.org/pages/TuftonboroNH_Fire/index

Enjoy the beautiful weather we have this week!