Letter A and Zero My Hero!

Daily Question:  Do you like apples? 
Most of the students did.  Fun to see diversity.  We use some of these questions and answers for simple Math lessons later on in the year.
Today we started our "Busy Bees" Positive incentive program. (Thank you parents for helping your student to place his/her bee when you come to preschool)

 

When "bees" fly up through the red, yellow, and green levels--they make it into the Beehive and get a treat from the Treasure Box.

Brody brought in pinecones this morning he found on the way to school.  (Love how they notice the little things under their feet at this age).

Toys:  Skee-ball, Wooden Puzzles, Dress ups, Play Kitchen and Play Foods/Dishes.

 

Snacks:  Pretzel cubes, banana slices, and fruit snacks.  Mini chocolate cup cakes.
(Fun to see Dade comforting Eva during snack time when she was upset.  I love seeing the children show kindness and sharing and working together attitudes here at preschool.)

Letter A Show and Tells:

Ava 

 

 Eleanor: A "Cutie" Book   

   Ethan & Kayson: Stuffed Alligators and green Apples

Eva: Alligator toy

William: Alligator


(We had a wild bunch of alligators here--could have used a Crocodile Hunter!) 

 Happy Fifth Birthday to Ethan and Kayson:

(August 16)

Ethan:  (Has a freckle on his nose).  He likes the colors red and green.  He likes his Batman toy.  He helps his mother with his baby brother, Aidan.

Kayson: Likes the colors blue and black. He likes his "Lego-man toy."  His father is a Police Officer.  He loves his Mommy and Daddy.

Circle Time:

We became "Aa" Detectives in class today.  We spied A in apple (on the wall), an ant at recess, a student named Ava, and various Aa in books:  ape, archery, airplane, Aunt Annie.  We learned the sounds of Aa (short a and long a).

Letter A Stories:  
Dr. Seuss's ABCs: An Amazing Alphabet Big Book by Dr. Seuss
The Berenstain Bear's A Book by Stan and Jan Berenstain.

The Amazing I Spy ABCs: Over 250 Animals and Objects to Spy and Identify by Ken Laidlaw

Ten Apples Up On Top! by Theo LeSieg (Dr. Seuss) 
Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins

Books in bold are books we read and talked about today in class.

Recess Fun:  (Another recess rained out!)  Just as we finished snacks, a big clap of thunder struck and Henry cried out, "rain!"  Again!?  Another inside rain day.  Wow what wild and wonderful Fall weather we are having of late.  Thanks for sending in warm shoes and jackets with your students.  They really DO love outside recess and exploring time.

Math Concept: Zero, My Hero! 
We watched a catchy, short clip about the importance of the number "0" from Schoolhouse Rock (Multiplication Rock).  Then we had a quick discussion on counting and what zero represents and why it is important to remember zero in front of the traditional counting numbers.  We counted to ten and then saw how after nine, one more made a group of ten with a 1 in the tens and a 0 in the ones.  (Early Math concepts that we will reinforce again on Thursday with our "A" sounds, applesauce, and Zero Hero necklaces.