Welcome to Pre-K

September Theme : Welcome to Pre-K

The following are the student outcomes by the end of the unit:

•  My classroom and program are safe places where I learn, play and have fun.
•  I am an important member of my classroom community; my thoughts, needs, ideas and abilities matter.
• My family, my teachers*, and other children make up my classroom community; their backgrounds, thoughts, needs, ideas and abilities matter.
• The teachers and other adults at my program keep me safe, care about me and support my learning.
• In my classroom I use materials carefully and make choices about where I work and play.
• Classroom rules and routines help me learn and stay safe.

Lesson and activities for the week:

Blocks-Encourage children to use blocks to build buildings they are familiar with such as those they live in or visit often.

Dramatic Play: The children will be invited to explore the dramatic play area and use the props and multicultural clothing provided. 

Art: The children will be encouraged to draw self portraits with the use of a mirror. They will be encouraged to look at their faces carefully in the mirror then draw what they see.

Science/ Discovery: The children will be provided with mirrors to explore and discuss what they see. 

Toys and Games / Math Manipulatives: Children will be encouraged to use table toys/ manipulatives to build the classroom.

Sand and Water / Sensory: Children will be encouraged to dig through

the sand to find themselves and their peers laminated pictures.

Library:The children will be provided with puppets or stuffed animals to read books from the classroom library.

Computer/Technology: Children will be provided with enriching learning games on the iPad. 

Writing: The children will be encouraged to explore the tools in the writing center.

Reminders:

• Complete all forms and return to the school
• Make sure to label all your child's clothing items

Home-School Connection:

• As you walk to school with your child explore the shapes and buildings around the neighborhood 
• Help your child count their steps 
• Identify letters on signs 

Weekly Lesson Plan

Pre-K3 Supply List for 2016-2017 School Year

                                               Welcome to Pre-k 3!

 I hope you had a great summer. I would like to take this time to introduce myself. My name is Rosandy Gonzalez. I am very excited to be your child’s teacher for the upcoming school year.

I worked as a pre-k teacher for approximately 6 years. This is my second year teaching at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School. I graduated from St. Joseph’s college with Bachelors of Arts in Childhood Education. I am currently enrolled in the Literacy graduate program at Lehman College. My primary goal is to provide a challenging, educational and interactive learning atmosphere, while building self esteem and confidence for students to become productive members of society. I have high expectations for all my students and believe that all students can be successful learners. I am looking forward to meeting you and your child. Together we can make this year the best year possible for your precious little ones!

Below you will find a list of supplies your child will be needing throughout the year. Your help in donating these items is greatly appreciated.  Furthermore, your donations are not limited to just the beginning of the year. Feel free to send items in whenever possible.

Pre-K3 Supply List for 2016-2017 School Year

Supplies (Please have everything labeled with your child’s name)
1. 2 folders(red, blue)
2. 1 Pre-K notebook(can be purchased at our school supply room) 
3. Child’s baby picture and family picture
5. A change of clothes in a ziploc bag(please label
all clothing items and ziploc with child's name and last name)
6. Clorox or Lysol wipes
7. Baby wipes
8. A roll of paper towel
9. A can of Lysol Spray
10. 2 packs of Printing/Copy paper
 11. 2 boxes of tissue 


Sincerely, 

Mrs. Gonzalez

Week of June 13th

Kindergarten Readiness 

This week the students are going to investigate how kindergarten is similar to or different to our Prek classroom. We will discuss what skills they will be learning in kindergarten and how they feel about attending a new school.

Learning Centers:

Math: Students use bear counters and unifix cubes to perform simple addition and subtraction problems

Science (Discovery Area): Students work in partners to sort different texture items.

Blocks: Students will provided with pictures of Kindergarten classroom for them to duplicate while playing with blocks.

Dramatic Play: The student will take turns being the teacher and creating a kindergarten classroom.

Art: Students work on a end of the year book.

Writing:  Students sign his/her name on their peers end of the year book.

Sensory Table: Sand and Water

Book of the week: 
Kindergarten Rocks!


Reminder : 

• School will be CLOSED every Friday in June!
• Pre-K 4 Graduation is Tuesday, June 21st at 11:00 a.m!
• Children are to come to school at 10:45 on the 21st.


Parents please read the kindergarten readiness handout. The handout includes activities and information of what your child is expected to know and learn in kindergarten.

weekly lesson plan

Week of June 6th

For the next three weeks, the students will share their feelings about kindergarten and visit a kindergarten classroom. The students will continue to explore academic related skills they will encounter in kindergarten. Some activities include identifying shapes, counting, measuring , identifying letters and many more. Please continue to practicing with your child the assigned activities sent home every week.


Learning centers: Kindergarten Readiness

Math: The students will use unifix cubes to measure his/her friend.
Blocks: The students  will build his/her own kindergarten classroom.
Writing: The students will write a letter to his/her kindergarten teacher.
Technology: The students will work in groups to practice sight words on the iPad.
Library: The students will choose his/her favorite book and read it to his/her friends.
Art: The students will work together to make a friendship mural.
Pretend Play: The dramatic play area will be turned into a classroom. The students will take turns being the teacher.
Sensory table: The students will explore sand and water.


Reminders:

Our "Moving Up" ceremony will be held on Tuesday,, June 21st 2016 at 11:00am in the
cafeteria. Each student may have 4 guests attend the ceremony.


Weekly lesson plan

Week of May 30th

For the next three weeks,  the students will be engaged in activities to prepare them for  kindergarten. The activities below were based on  students interest and skills needed for kindergarten. In addition the students will explore other skills such as adding , sight words, number recognition and more throughout the week.

Some of the books we will be reading this week are:

•      Kindergarten, Here I Come! by D.J. Steinberg
•      Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
•      Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate

Learning centers: Kindergarten Readiness

Math: Students will create patterns using unifix cubes.
Science: The students will use a balance bucket to measure objects.
Writing: The students will use scissors to cut and paste pictures from a magazine.
Library: Books about kindergarten
Art: Students will paint on wet glue.
Pretend Play: Students will take turns being the teacher

Sensory table: Sand and water

Reminders:

  School will be CLOSED every Friday in June!
  Pre-K 3 Graduation is Wednesday, June 21st  at 11:00p.m!  Children are to come to school at 11:00 on the 21st

Weekly lesson plan link

Week of May 23rd

Study Unit: Plants

This will be our last week discussing plants. To extend the lesson the students will learn about living and non living things.  In learning about this topic the student will consider the following questions: Does it move by itself? Does it grow and change? Does it need air? Does it need food and water? Does it reproduce? We hope this study will help your children explore and appreciate nature. As we study plants, we will use literacy, math, the arts , and technology to explore the topic in depth. We will learn important social studies and scientific concepts through firsthand investigation.

Learning Centers:

Blocks/Construction: Wrap blocks in green and brown paper (other color paper as desired) to create stems, tree trunk , soil etc. Students will create a garden or jungle.

Science: Students sort rocks, plants, animals, and other objects under living and non living things.

Pretend Play/ Dramatic Play: The dramatic play area will be turn into a flower shop.

Math: The students will play buying flowers. The students will identify money.

Writing: Students draw a picture of a living and non living thing.

Art: Students will paint to music.

Sand and Water/ Sensory : Students will explore living and nonliving objects to see if it sinks or floats.
Library: Add books about plants

Books we will be reading this week:

Are you living?

by Laura Purdie Salas

Reminders

• Picture Day is Monday, May 23rd! Pictures are $30 cash for the package.
•      School will be closed on Friday, May 27th and Monday, May 30th for Memorial Day.
•      School will be CLOSED every Friday in June!
•      Pre-K 3 Moving Up Ceremony will be Tuesday, June 21st  at 11:00p.m!

Weekly lesson plan

Week of the 16th

Study Unit of Plants 

For the next two weeks our class will continue to investigate plants. Children will consider the questions “What are plants?”, "How plants grow?", “How does a seed grow?”, and “How are we similar and different from plants”, “Do all plants need light to grow? and observe and identify the different parts of plants and its purpose. The students will explore the life cycle of plants and butterflies , and see how they are different and similar. We hope this study will help your children explore and appreciate nature. As we study plants, we will use literacy, math, the arts, and technology to explore the topic in depth. We will learn important social studies and scientific concepts through firsthand investigation.

Learning Centers:

Blocks/Construction: Wrap blocks in green and brown paper (other color paper as desired) to create stems, tree trunk, soil etc. Students will create a garden or jungle.

Science: The students will compare and contrast the life cycle of plants and butterflies.( The classroom has a caterpillar to butterfly habitat, and a section by the window with various types of plants students planted) 

Pretend Play/ Dramatic Play: The dramatic play area will be turn into a flower shop. Students will be encouraged to identify the flowers being sold and identify money. 

Math: Students will sort seeds based on size, shape and color. 

         Students will use beans to add. 

Writing: Students draw a plant of choice and label its parts.

Art: Hang pictures of famous paintings of flowers such as Sunflowers by Claude Monet, Twelve Sunflowers in a Vase by Vincent Van Gogh, Poppy by Georgia O’Keefe, Flowers by Andy Warhol or Garland of Flowers by Auguste Renoir near the easel will be hanged in this center. Children will be encourage to reflect on these paintings, prompts such as, “What do you notice in this picture?” and “How does this picture make you feel?” After children reflect, they can paint their own pictures of flowers.

Students will be encouraged to paint the flowers we seen on our neighborhood walk. 

Sand and Water/ Sensory: Add potting soil and seeds as well as gardening tools. Students will be encouraged to observe the seeds over the course of a few days. Students will describe what is happening to the seeds. 

Library: Add books about plants

Books we will be reading this week:

From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

Time For Kids: Plants

by Brenda Lasevoli

National Geographic Readers:

Seed to Plant

By Brenda Laselovi

How a seed grows?

by Helene J. Jordan

Reminders:

Our Moving up Ceremony will be on Tuesday, June 21st at 11:00 A.M.

Please make sure you are not sending food containing peanuts.

The following will help your child transition to kindergarten smoothly:

The students are practicing sight words please continue to do so at home. A list of the Dolch sight words was provided last month. 

Help your child count and identify numbers 

Continue to practice letter sounds 

If possible read to your child daily

Home school Connection:

Ask your child about plants . Tell him/her to describe it for you. The class has a caterpillar to butterfly habitat , ask your child what is the life cycle of a butterfly. Show your child pictures of when they used to be a baby , talk about the changes living things go through.

Weekly lesson plan unit link

Week of May 9th

Study Unit of Plants 

This week our class will continue investigating plants. Children will consider the questions 

“What are plants?”, "How plants grow?", “How does a seed grow?”, and “How are we similar and different from plants”, “Do all plants need light to grow? and observe and identify the different parts of plants and its purpose.   We hope this study will help your children explore and appreciate nature. As we study plants, we will use literacy, math, the arts, and technology to explore the topic in depth. We will learn important social studies and scientific concepts through firsthand investigation.

Learning Centers:

Blocks/Construction: Wrap blocks in green and brown paper (other color paper as desired) to create stems, tree trunk, soil etc. Students will create a garden or jungle.

Science: Add plants to the discovery center for students to observe with a magnifying glass and care for it. Do seeds need light to grow? (Students carry out an experiment)

Pretend Play/ Dramatic Play: The dramatic play area will be turn into a flower shop.

Math: Students will sort seeds based on size, shape and color. 

Writing: Students draw a plant of choice and label its parts.

Art: Hang pictures of famous paintings of flowers such as Sunflowers by Claude Monet, Twelve Sunflowers in a Vase by Vincent Van Gogh, Poppy by Georgia O’Keefe, Flowers by Andy Warhol or Garland of Flowers by Auguste Renoir near the easel will be hanged in this center. Children will be encourage to reflect on these paintings, prompts such as, “What do you notice in this picture?” and “How does this picture make you feel?” After children reflect, they can paint their own pictures of flowers.

*Students will be encouraged to create a seed mosaic

Sand and Water/ Sensory: Add potting soil and seeds as well as gardening tools. Students will be encouraged to observe the seeds over the course of a few days.

Library: Add books about plants

Books we will be reading this week:

From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

Time For Kids: Plants

by Brenda Lasevoli

National Geographic Readers:

Seed to Plant

By Brenda Laselovi

How a seed grows?

by Helene J. Jordan

Reminders-This Wednesday, May 11th, we are having a Spring Show at 9:00 a.m.  Parents are invited.  

Weekly lesson plan

Week of May 2nd!!

                                 May-The study of Plants 

This week our class will continue investigating plants. Children will consider the questions

“What are plants?”, "How plants grow?", “How does a seed grow?”, and “How are we similar and different from plants”, “Do all plants need light to grow? and observe and identify the different parts of plants and its purpose.   We hope this study will help your children explore and appreciate nature. As we study plants, we will use literacy, math, the arts, and technology to explore the topic in depth. We will learn important social studies and scientific concepts through firsthand investigation.

Learning Centers:

Blocks/Construction: Wrap blocks in green and brown paper (other color paper as desired) to create stems, tree trunk, soil etc. Students will create a garden or jungle.

Science: Add plants to the discovery center for students to observe with a magnifying glass and care for it. Do seeds need light to grow? (Students carry out an experiment)

Pretend Play/ Dramatic Play: The dramatic play area will be turn into a flower shop.

Math: Students will sort seeds based on size, shape and color.

Writing: Students draw a plant of choice and label its parts.

Art: Hang pictures of famous paintings of flowers such as Sunflowers by Claude Monet, Twelve Sunflowers in a Vase by Vincent Van Gogh, Poppy by Georgia O’Keefe, Flowers by Andy Warhol or Garland of Flowers by Auguste Renoir near the easel will be hanged in this center. Children will be encourage to reflect on these paintings, prompts such as, “What do you notice in this picture?” and “How does this picture make you feel?” After children reflect, they can paint their own pictures of flowers.

*Students will be encouraged to create a seed mosaic

Sand and Water/ Sensory: Add potting soil and seeds as well as gardening tools. Students will be encouraged to observe the seeds over the course of a few days.

Library: Add books about plants

Books we will be reading this week:

From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

Time For Kids: Plants

by Brenda Lasevoli

National Geographic Readers:

Seed to Plant

By Brenda Laselovi

How a seed grows?

by Helene J. Jordan

Reminders

Stars Wars Day - May 4, 2016- On Wednesday May 4, 2016 the 8th grade will host a Star Wars Cake Sale. Students may also dress up like their favorite Star Wars character.

There will be a best costume contest during the day to which parents will be invited.

Home-School Connection

Plant a Garden!!!!

Let your child help you plant your flowers in the spring. Or let your child plant a seed for indoors. Make sure the plant receives the proper care so it will grow. 

Weekly Lesson Plan

Week of April 25th !!

This week our class will continue investigating plants. Children will consider the questions 
“ What are plants?”, "How plants grow?",  and observe and identify the different parts of plants.  We hope this study will help your children explore and appreciate nature. As we study plants, we will use literacy, math, the arts , and technology to explore the topic in depth. We will learn important social studies and scientific concepts through firsthand investigation. The students will visit Mr. Woods greenhouse and explore the process of planting their own plants. 

Learning Centers:

Blocks/Construction: Wrap blocks in green and brown paper (other color paper as desired) to create stems, tree trunk , soil etc. Students will create a garden. The students will be provided with a box as a container for a garden.

Science: Add plants to the discovery center for students to observe with a magnifying glass and care for it. Do seeds need light to grow? Students carry out an experiment.

Pretend Play/ Dramatic Play: The dramatic play area will be turn into a flower shop.

Math:Students will sort seeds based on size

Writing: Students draw a plant of choice and label its parts.

Art: Hang pictures of famous paintings of flowers such as Sunflowers by Claude Monet, Twelve Sunflowers in a Vase by Vincent Van Gogh, Poppy by Georgia O’Keefe, Flowers by Andy Warhol or Garland of Flowers by Auguste Renoir near the easel will be hanged in this center. Children will be encourage to reflect on these paintings, prompts such as, “What do you notice in this picture?” and “How does this picture make you feel?” After children reflect, they can paint their own pictures of flowers.

*Students will be encouraged to create a seed mosaic

Sand and Water/ Sensory : Add potting soil and seeds as well as gardening tools. Students will be encouraged to observe the seeds over the course of a few days.

Library: Add books about plants

Books we will be reading this week: 

From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

The Carrot Seed by Ruth Kraus

National Geographic Readers:

Seed to Plant

The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds: A book about how living things grow

by Joanne Cole

Reminders

Stars Wars Day - May 4, 2016

On Wednesday May 4, 2016 the 8th grade will host a Star Wars Cake Sale. Students may also dress up like their favorite Star Wars character.

There will be a best costume contest during the day to which parents will be invited.

Home-School Connection 

Plant a Garden!!!! 
Let your child help you plant your flowers in the spring. Or let your child plant a seed for indoors. Make sure the plant receives the proper care so it will grow. 

Weekly lesson plan

Week of April 18th !!

  April the Study of Plants 

This week our class will continue investigating plants. Children will consider the questions 
“ What are plants?”, "How plants grow?",  and observe and identify the different parts of plants.  We hope this study will help your children explore and appreciate nature. As we study plants, we will use literacy, math, the arts , and technology to explore the topic in depth. We will learn important social studies and scientific concepts through firsthand investigation. 

Learning Centers:

Blocks/Construction: Wrap blocks in green and brown paper (other color paper as desired) to create stems, tree trunk , soil etc. Students will create a garden. The students will be provided with a box as a container for a garden.

Science: Add plants to the discovery center for students to observe with a magnifying glass and care for it. Do seeds need light to grow? Students carry out an experiment.

Pretend Play/ Dramatic Play: The dramatic play area will be turn into a flower shop.

Math:Students will sort seeds based on size

Writing: Students draw a plant of choice and label its parts.

Art: Hang pictures of famous paintings of flowers such as Sunflowers by Claude Monet, Twelve Sunflowers in a Vase by Vincent Van Gogh, Poppy by Georgia O’Keefe, Flowers by Andy Warhol or Garland of Flowers by Auguste Renoir near the easel will be hanged in this center. Children will be encourage to reflect on these paintings, prompts such as, “What do you notice in this picture?” and “How does this picture make you feel?” After children reflect, they can paint their own pictures of flowers.

*Students will be encouraged to create a seed mosaic

Sand and Water/ Sensory : Add potting soil and seeds as well as gardening tools. Students will be encouraged to observe the seeds over the course of a few days.

Library: Add books about plants

Books we will be reading this week: 

From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons

The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle

The Carrot Seed by Ruth Kraus

National Geographic Readers:

Seed to Plant

The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds: A book about how living things grow

by Joanne Cole

Reminders: 

**Parent teacher conferences will be held from 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM on April 22nd. Parents of students in all the PreK classes and Kindergarten will meet with their child's teacher in the child's classroom. Dismissal for all students on that day will be at 12:00 noon. The After School Program will be in session. 

Home-School Connection 

Plant a Garden!!!! 
Let your child help you plant your flowers in the spring. Or let your child plant a seed for indoors. Make sure the plant receives the proper care so it will grow. 


Link to weekly lesson plan

Week of April 11th

                                          April the Study of Plants 

This week our class will be investigating plants. Children will consider the questions “ What are plants?”and observe and identify the different parts of plants.  We hope this study will help your children explore and appreciate nature. As we study plants, we will use literacy, math, the arts , and technology to explore the topic in depth. We will learn important social studies and scientific concepts through firsthand investigation.

Learning Centers: 
Blocks/Construction: Wrap blocks in green and brown paper (other color paper as  
 desired) to create stems, tree trunk , soil etc.
Science: Add plants to the discovery center for students to observe with a magnifying
glass and care for it.
Pretend Play/ Dramatic Play: The dramatic play area will be turn into a flower shop.
Math: Measure students height with leaves.
Writing: Students create a book where student can draw and label plants parts.
Art: Hang pictures of famous paintings of flowers such as Sunflowers by Claude    
Monet, Twelve Sunflowers in a Vase by Vincent Van Gogh, Poppy by Georgia O’Keefe,Flowers by Andy Warhol or Garland of Flowers by Auguste Renoir near the easel will
be hanged in this center. Children will be encourage to reflect on these paintings,
prompts such as, “What do you notice in this picture?” and “How does this picture
make you feel?” After children reflect, they can paint their own pictures of flowers.
Sand and Water/ Sensory : Add potting soil and seeds as well as gardening tools.
Students will be encouraged to observe the seeds over the course of a few days.
Library: Add books about plants

Book of the Week: 
From Seed to Plant 
by Gail Gibbons

Reminders 

**PreK Summer Program
A new registration paper will be sent home on Monday regarding a change in hours for the PreK Summer Program. This is being done after  a number of parents requested the program run until         6:00 PM. Please see Mrs. Fundora if you have questions regarding the program and parents are requested to sign up with Mrs. Resto in the tuition office.

**Parent teacher conferences will be held from 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM on April 22nd. Parents of students in all the PreK classes and Kindergarten will meet with their child's teacher in the child's classroom. Dismissal for all students on that day will be at 12:00 noon. The After School Program will be in session. 

Weekly lesson plan

Week of April 4th

Welcome back to school! Hope you all had a wonderful and restful Spring break.

For the next six week , our class will investigate the study unit of trees. We’ll be observing and comparing trees to learn about what lives in them, what they're made from, and who cares for them. We hope this study will help your children explore and appreciate nature. As we study trees, we will use literacy, math, the arts , and technology to explore the topic in depth. We will learn important social studies and scientific concepts through firsthand investigation.

Learning Centers:

Math: Use leaves to measure students height.

Science: Students will utilize a magnifier to study tree parts

Art: The students will create leaves print

Library: Books about trees

Writing Center: Students will be encouraged to create a book about trees

Dramatic Play: Realistic animal puppets; materials for building tree homes

Sand and Water: Tree parts to see if it sinks or floats (water) Use a brush to fing tree parts in the sand.

Technology: Learn about plants app

This week we will be reading the following books: 
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin
Our Tree Named Steve by Alan Zweibel
Abiyoyo by Pete Seeger

Home-School Connection 
Parents we encourage you to talk to your child about trees
especially on the way to school. Some things to talk about while walking are:
Tree parts (leaves, branches, trunk, roots)
Color (discuss how leaves change color with the seasons)
Shape
Trees are homes to some animals
Trees are a source of food( apples, chocolate etc.)
Tree size 
Lesson plan link