Dear Families, Friends & Blog Followers,
Good morning and "Happy Birthday!!", as well, to Nicky and Phil Smith -- aka "the boys"!!
As another, (very busy), week -- no -- month, (!!), comes to a close, many new days unfold, before us all, filled with bustle and excitement!!!!
Come Monday, our new themes will include the onset of Spring, (!!!!), fairytale talk and castle play -- Miss Downing and Mrs. Dolham have planned another stellar curriculum for the month of March, and, the teachers, with the assistance of the Butterflies and Puppies, of course, plan to re-decorate much of the classroom to reflect said.
We begin with a blast of activity, this week -- Monday, Wednesday and Thursday are additionally scheduled pajama days, Wednesday and Thursday will open with parent breakfasts, and Tuesday, we will travel "next door" to celebrate the birthday of beloved Dr. Seuss and "Read Across America" Day.
As well, Orion is expecting a baby brother, this month, David will turn three, we will go "green" for St. Patrick's Day, and, on March 10, we will head on over to Waltham Crossing, where Mrs. Goell's dad resides, and, where the children will sing for the elderly, there -- the kids have been diligently practicing "Caps For Sale", with Tammy, and engaging in miniature concertos, with Liz, in preparation for the event!!
We welcome Cameron, a new Puppy, and are thrilled that some of our "established" Puppies will be spending more time, with us, at Minuteman's CDC!!
We had many visitors this week, including five high-school students, newly enrolled Freshmen in the Minuteman C & T HS Early Childhood Education Program, and, under the tutelage of Ms. Smith -- welcome, all!!
On Tuesday, Miss Amy both planned and implemented a project on the weather, which she presented at Circle, and, on Friday, our LHS high school friends, Arianne, Olivia and Kelly, as well, involved our little friends in a fine project on body awareness -- the perfect close to February -- thank you, ladies!!
On Monday, I understand that Kelly brought out the "volcano", which, working with, is always fascinating to the children -- the kids played with both "clean" and "dirty" mud and made a roadway on the hopscotch rug for small vehicles -- truly a day of scientific discovery and sensory exploration.
By Tuesday, the Butterflies and Puppies were painting with barber-style brushes attached to painter-style caps, playing with soft crystals and manipulatives, keyboarding theme-related words, and, had an interactive musical lesson in body parts, thanks to Liz.
As the week progressed, and even with a morning delay, Miss Downing successfully taught the little ones to sing, utlizing sign language, (ASL), -- on Wednesday, as well, they increased body awareness by doing tricks on the gymnastics mat and building ginourmous cities, (inhabited by dinosaurs!!).
The learning and fun continued, as Mrs. Dolham re-introduced the "mystery box", the children played with farm and city-themed mats and vehicles, sensory bottles and dinosaur-themed rubbing plates and assembled "dino teeth" crowns.
We read many wonderful stories about dinosaurs, the senses and other topics, including, but not limited to "My Nose Your Nose", by Melanie Walsh, "How Big is a Million" by Anna Milbourne and Serena Riglietti, (Usborne), and, one of my personal favorites, read many many times to my own children, "The Singing Chick", written by Victoria Stenmark and illustrated by Randy Cecil.
This week, I am hoping to distribute new Scholastic Book Order Forms, (and, work on my taxes -- aagghh!! :().
Enjoy the week-end, and, I look forward to seeing you all, beginning on Tuesday!!
Love Miss Peacock XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
"GREETINGS!!"
Dear Families, Friends and Blog-Followers,
(Egads -- it has been quite a few days since I have written . . .)
At the outset, thank you, to those of you who attended the CDC's fundraiser @ The Chateau, last evening -- it appeared to be an enjoyable evening for all!!
Beginning on Monday, the CDC's curriculum will focus more on "body awareness" than on "dinosaurs" and "Valentine's Day", as we have spent quite a bit of time on the latter two themes, already, this month, and, wrapped-up last week with many "sweets for the sweet" -- thank you, all, for your thoughtfullness on Valentine's Day and always!!
Thursday morning, Miss Downing and Mrs. Dolham began preparing the children for the festivities with a myriad of cooking and baking projects, which included dinosaur sandwiches, a strawberry heart cake, (the batter referred to by our little sweethearts as "the love mix"), rice krispie treats and brownies -- we did, indeed, enforce portion control!!
Besides being yummalicious, such activities reinforced skills and experiences in the areas of sensory, fine motor and social/emotional development, as well as utilized basic tools associated with science, math, language and art.
Additionally, Liz has continued to do a great deal of science, math and language-based charting relative to dinosaurs, much of which is displayed in and around the classroom, and, as well, Kelly continues to integrate movement and music into the language-based component of our curriculum -- all of the teachers invite and encourage you to tour the hallway and classroom areas for a glimpse into the world we share with your little Butterflies and Puppies.
On both Thursday and Friday, our friends from Minuteman's C & T HS planned and implemented a variety of theme-related projects, including, casting fossils, (Amanda), molding fossils, (Christa), sorting dinos, (Elise), decorating hearts, (Brianna) and playing games, (Haley).
Victoria engaged the kids in a theme-based coloring activity, accompanied by messages, to be forwarded to American Soldiers, overseas -- the premise similar to the project recently completed and mailed to Tim Wood -- thank you, ladies!!
Earlier Friday morning, the high school students from LHS prepared a wonderful "I love you" project for the children, which many of you may have proudly displayed, in your homes.
The children enjoyed playing outdoors, as well, "stamped their hearts out", and, heard quite a few stories about dinosaurs and love and oh so much more!!
Please do enjoy the remainder of vacation!!!!
Love Miss Peacock XOXO :)
(Egads -- it has been quite a few days since I have written . . .)
At the outset, thank you, to those of you who attended the CDC's fundraiser @ The Chateau, last evening -- it appeared to be an enjoyable evening for all!!
Beginning on Monday, the CDC's curriculum will focus more on "body awareness" than on "dinosaurs" and "Valentine's Day", as we have spent quite a bit of time on the latter two themes, already, this month, and, wrapped-up last week with many "sweets for the sweet" -- thank you, all, for your thoughtfullness on Valentine's Day and always!!
Thursday morning, Miss Downing and Mrs. Dolham began preparing the children for the festivities with a myriad of cooking and baking projects, which included dinosaur sandwiches, a strawberry heart cake, (the batter referred to by our little sweethearts as "the love mix"), rice krispie treats and brownies -- we did, indeed, enforce portion control!!
Besides being yummalicious, such activities reinforced skills and experiences in the areas of sensory, fine motor and social/emotional development, as well as utilized basic tools associated with science, math, language and art.
Additionally, Liz has continued to do a great deal of science, math and language-based charting relative to dinosaurs, much of which is displayed in and around the classroom, and, as well, Kelly continues to integrate movement and music into the language-based component of our curriculum -- all of the teachers invite and encourage you to tour the hallway and classroom areas for a glimpse into the world we share with your little Butterflies and Puppies.
On both Thursday and Friday, our friends from Minuteman's C & T HS planned and implemented a variety of theme-related projects, including, casting fossils, (Amanda), molding fossils, (Christa), sorting dinos, (Elise), decorating hearts, (Brianna) and playing games, (Haley).
Victoria engaged the kids in a theme-based coloring activity, accompanied by messages, to be forwarded to American Soldiers, overseas -- the premise similar to the project recently completed and mailed to Tim Wood -- thank you, ladies!!
Earlier Friday morning, the high school students from LHS prepared a wonderful "I love you" project for the children, which many of you may have proudly displayed, in your homes.
The children enjoyed playing outdoors, as well, "stamped their hearts out", and, heard quite a few stories about dinosaurs and love and oh so much more!!
Please do enjoy the remainder of vacation!!!!
Love Miss Peacock XOXO :)
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
"SOMETHINGS NEW!!"
Dear All,
Hopefully, you have seen new artwork on display, such as the "bubble-wrap dino paintings", (classroom board), and the beginnings of our "Love Bug", (front hallway) . . .
Valentine canisters are almost complete and on display in the cubby room -- thank you for your anticipated participation -- the children are very excited -- we continue to work on our celebratory tree for Valentine's Day, look forward to additional love-related activities and parties and sending-off many beautiful cards to Tim Wood!!
The letters "J" and "K" are being featured, this week, and, as always, are being reinforced with stories and sing-a-longs, galore!! And, among the many books read, were, the "pop-ups" "Love Bugs", by David A. Carter and "Dinosaurs", by Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart and "Frederick", by Leo Leoni.
The teachers, high-school students and little ones, alike, are thoroughly enjoying a wide variety of dinosaur, body awareness and Valentine Day themed activities, such as studying, drawing and measuring dinosaur models, digging for fossils, making paper mache dino eggs, building villages and towers, piecing together several theme-related puzzles, and much, much more!! As well, the kids have been keyboarding, utilizing the "listening center" and getting a great deal of gross motor play.
Yesterday, Miss Sashi made "Pakora", her version -- direct from India -- of tempura-style vegetables, for afternoon snack -- delicious -- and, today, Miss Downing initiated hours of balloon games and play -- thank you, Sashi and Kelly!!
As always, it has been a joy to have Katie Smith and many of our high-school friends join us this week, at the CDC.
Please be safe, all, and a "Happy Valentine's Day" to everyone!!
Love Miss Peacock XOXO
Hopefully, you have seen new artwork on display, such as the "bubble-wrap dino paintings", (classroom board), and the beginnings of our "Love Bug", (front hallway) . . .
Valentine canisters are almost complete and on display in the cubby room -- thank you for your anticipated participation -- the children are very excited -- we continue to work on our celebratory tree for Valentine's Day, look forward to additional love-related activities and parties and sending-off many beautiful cards to Tim Wood!!
The letters "J" and "K" are being featured, this week, and, as always, are being reinforced with stories and sing-a-longs, galore!! And, among the many books read, were, the "pop-ups" "Love Bugs", by David A. Carter and "Dinosaurs", by Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart and "Frederick", by Leo Leoni.
The teachers, high-school students and little ones, alike, are thoroughly enjoying a wide variety of dinosaur, body awareness and Valentine Day themed activities, such as studying, drawing and measuring dinosaur models, digging for fossils, making paper mache dino eggs, building villages and towers, piecing together several theme-related puzzles, and much, much more!! As well, the kids have been keyboarding, utilizing the "listening center" and getting a great deal of gross motor play.
Yesterday, Miss Sashi made "Pakora", her version -- direct from India -- of tempura-style vegetables, for afternoon snack -- delicious -- and, today, Miss Downing initiated hours of balloon games and play -- thank you, Sashi and Kelly!!
As always, it has been a joy to have Katie Smith and many of our high-school friends join us this week, at the CDC.
Please be safe, all, and a "Happy Valentine's Day" to everyone!!
Love Miss Peacock XOXO
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
"ME-O-SAURUSES!!!!"
Dear Families, Friends and Blog Followers,
Please check-out the "Me-o-sauruses" all along the hallway -- they are truly awesome -- thank you, Liz!!!!
Thank you to Nyah and Gryffin for sharing a Dora DVD on the Arctic -- we learned a great deal about Puffins and Polar Bears, and, "Happy Birthday!!" to Orion's Daddy!!
As well, we are all very happy that both Charlotte and David are spending more time with us, these days -- :).
And, please know that new Scholastic book order forms should be in your mailboxes, shortly -- a reminder -- ordering online secures extra books for the classroom -- so -- if y'all are interested in doing said, please let me know, at your earliest convenience -- thank you.
Love Miss Peacock XOXO
Please check-out the "Me-o-sauruses" all along the hallway -- they are truly awesome -- thank you, Liz!!!!
Thank you to Nyah and Gryffin for sharing a Dora DVD on the Arctic -- we learned a great deal about Puffins and Polar Bears, and, "Happy Birthday!!" to Orion's Daddy!!
As well, we are all very happy that both Charlotte and David are spending more time with us, these days -- :).
And, please know that new Scholastic book order forms should be in your mailboxes, shortly -- a reminder -- ordering online secures extra books for the classroom -- so -- if y'all are interested in doing said, please let me know, at your earliest convenience -- thank you.
Love Miss Peacock XOXO
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The Start to a VERY BUSY Month!!!!
Dear Families, Friends and Blog-Followers,
As the health of our students and staff members improves, we head, quickly, into a month filled with fun, (even though Phil, {the groundhog}, saw his shadow, which results in another six weeks of winter -- ggrrhh?!).
Liz, among a myriad of other things, has been leading walks, outdoors, and arranging for, (faux), ice-skating, indoors, teaching the Butterflies and Puppies how to cough and sneeze, properly, (into their elbows), and to music, (!!), and the "February Song"!!
Tammy and Sashi have been playing games, with the kids, such as "parades" of colors and beanbags, reading stories, such as about "Katie" the snowplow, and, as well, engaging them in song and dance at every opportunity.
Some of our wall and window space has been re-decorated with dot art on contact paper, drawings of dinos, (very scary, indeed . . . ), theme-related posters and charting projects -- just today, during Circle, under the tutelage of Mrs. Dolham, we determined that fifteen human prints can fit into one dinosaur footprint -- the resulting piece is displayed in the front hallway -- superb work!!
Our themes for February include Dinosaurs, (of course, and, always a favorite), Body Awareness, Valentine's Day, and is sprinkled with special days -- "Happy Birthday!!" to Nicky, Phil, Ellie & Miss Amy!!
Our word wall has been expanded to include not only letters of the week, and, accompanying words, but also "sight words" -- we are already working on the letter "I" via stories, music, and much, much more, with reinforcement of language-based skills at Circle and Activity Times.
Our little friends have been working, very diligently, I might add, on lifesize "Me-o-sauruses", and exploring the ages and stages of dinosaurs via both sensory and science-based curriculum --beneath the glittery, soft and white sand, lie eggs and fossils, and, playdough is transformed into mountainous terrain fit for prehistoric creatures -- as well -- the children have been using their imaginations, and a few interesting tangibles, in the block area, to create ancient villages and volcanoes. And, we continue to work on our valentine canisters, (soon to be full), cards for Tim Wood, (a graduate of Minuteman, currently stationed in Afghanistan), and a community puzzle, (many thanks to Ernie Houle).
Today, Kelly spearheaded a strawberry and banana smoothie making jamboree, and, yesterday, as many of you know, we spent a very exciting morning over at the Minuteman C&T HS, witnessing all kinds of scientific trickery -- thank you, Mr. Cetrano -- :) -- and playing in the water table -- thank you, Ms. Smith and freshmen -- :).
Please know that the Scholastic book orders have been submitted and that we are planning Valentine Day Parties on the Eleventh and Twelfth of February!!
I do hope that all of us are completely well, soon, so that we may enjoy, together, all of the uupcoming events.
Much Love . . . Miss Peacock XOXO
As the health of our students and staff members improves, we head, quickly, into a month filled with fun, (even though Phil, {the groundhog}, saw his shadow, which results in another six weeks of winter -- ggrrhh?!).
Liz, among a myriad of other things, has been leading walks, outdoors, and arranging for, (faux), ice-skating, indoors, teaching the Butterflies and Puppies how to cough and sneeze, properly, (into their elbows), and to music, (!!), and the "February Song"!!
Tammy and Sashi have been playing games, with the kids, such as "parades" of colors and beanbags, reading stories, such as about "Katie" the snowplow, and, as well, engaging them in song and dance at every opportunity.
Some of our wall and window space has been re-decorated with dot art on contact paper, drawings of dinos, (very scary, indeed . . . ), theme-related posters and charting projects -- just today, during Circle, under the tutelage of Mrs. Dolham, we determined that fifteen human prints can fit into one dinosaur footprint -- the resulting piece is displayed in the front hallway -- superb work!!
Our themes for February include Dinosaurs, (of course, and, always a favorite), Body Awareness, Valentine's Day, and is sprinkled with special days -- "Happy Birthday!!" to Nicky, Phil, Ellie & Miss Amy!!
Our word wall has been expanded to include not only letters of the week, and, accompanying words, but also "sight words" -- we are already working on the letter "I" via stories, music, and much, much more, with reinforcement of language-based skills at Circle and Activity Times.
Our little friends have been working, very diligently, I might add, on lifesize "Me-o-sauruses", and exploring the ages and stages of dinosaurs via both sensory and science-based curriculum --beneath the glittery, soft and white sand, lie eggs and fossils, and, playdough is transformed into mountainous terrain fit for prehistoric creatures -- as well -- the children have been using their imaginations, and a few interesting tangibles, in the block area, to create ancient villages and volcanoes. And, we continue to work on our valentine canisters, (soon to be full), cards for Tim Wood, (a graduate of Minuteman, currently stationed in Afghanistan), and a community puzzle, (many thanks to Ernie Houle).
Today, Kelly spearheaded a strawberry and banana smoothie making jamboree, and, yesterday, as many of you know, we spent a very exciting morning over at the Minuteman C&T HS, witnessing all kinds of scientific trickery -- thank you, Mr. Cetrano -- :) -- and playing in the water table -- thank you, Ms. Smith and freshmen -- :).
Please know that the Scholastic book orders have been submitted and that we are planning Valentine Day Parties on the Eleventh and Twelfth of February!!
I do hope that all of us are completely well, soon, so that we may enjoy, together, all of the uupcoming events.
Much Love . . . Miss Peacock XOXO
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