Shiny gold and silver paint have been available at one easel for the last two weeks.  At a table nearby, there have been large green paper triangles and “deoderant” roll-on bottles filled with glitter paint in various colors.  The children have been very busy creating holiday masterpieces both to decorate our walls and to bring home.  This week, we’ve provided red and green paint with “shimmer powder” added for a new effect.  “Animal” markers that encourage the use of the “pincer” or “tripod” grip are available at the second easel.

At the beginning of the month, the sensory table was filled with popcorn kernels for the children to feel, scoop, pour, and measure.  Last week, we replaced the sensory table with a Brio-type train table for the children to work together to build lengths of tracks, bridges and tunnels.  This activity has been very popular and the children have been very busy sharing ideas and working cooperatively to solve problems as they implement their plans.

Green playdough with glitter and assorted bright beads have been available for the children at the playdough table, along with holiday cookie cutters, and assorted rolling and cutting tools.  Lots of social skills are practiced here as the children converse and describe what they are doing.  While they pick up beads and push them into the dough, the children are exercising  fine motor muscles and developing their creativity as they engage in the fun and relaxing activity of working with playdough.  This week, the playdough color has changed to red.

SONG TIME

The month of December finds us singing some holiday favorites like Jingle Bells, Rudolph, and various Christmas carols.

We’ve also learned Spaghetti Legs, I Took a Bath in a Washing Machine, Listen, Move and Freeze, and This Little Light of Mine.  Please let us know if you would like the words to any of these songs.

QUOTES OF THE MONTH

Child:  Are we going to have fun today?Miss Brenda:  I sure hope so.
Child:  Good, because Mom said “have fun”! 

To Miss Cathy—

Child:  Are you going to be a teacher today? 

Miss Brenda began to tell the Nativity story—
Child:  Hey!  I think I know this story! 

1st Child:  How come you were late?
2nd Child:  I don’t know.  I think my mom doesn’t know what time it is. 

Child.:  (Another child) is not having snack.  She went to Old McDonald’s and had a cheese bigger. 

Miss Cathy was wiping off the playdough table—
Child:  Miss Cathy!  You’re like a cleaning machine! 

Miss Cathy:  Let’s look at the job chart.
Child:  Hopefully I don’t have anything to do! 

As the teachers passed out jingle bells—Child:  Hey!  I need a ding! 

Miss Cathy wore her hair in a bun—
Child 1:  Miss Cathy, your hair is different today!
Child 2:  Yeah.  You have a bum! 

Miss Maryann:  What do you need to put in the bus to make it go?
Child:  Kids!