Winter, Winter, Winter!!!
1/9/2021
Welcome back from break PNA family! It was been a crazy year, but we made it through! Now to tackle 2021, and make it better than 2020 was! We started out winter unit this week, and the first thing we did was get out in the snow (of course). Having the privilege of living somewhere with so much snow is awesome, because we get to explore the change in weather, the snow, the ice, and everything else that comes with the typical Alaskan winter! Exploration is such an important aspect of early childhood education, and that is something that we focus heavily on at PNA. During this first week of the winter unit we have explored snow, snowflakes, and temperature. We finished our week out with individual sensory bins where the students got to paint snow, which allows them to explore how snow reacts with paint, heat, and touch. The students also get to explore the texture of the snow.
We will be continuing our winter unit throughout the month if January, exploring and creating winter-themed objects. Hard at work!
10/17/2020
Class jobs are an integral part of helping the classroom community function effectively as well as provide a sense of responsibility to each student. The pictures above are of a few of our students doing their jobs (door-holder, line leader, light helper, calendar helper, and weather reporter). These jobs are helpful not only for providing a sense of responsibility to the students but they also help with learning the weather, number recognition, rote counting, the sequence of the months, weeks and days and many other topics!
Germs, Germs, Germs!!
9/25/2020
This past week we have focused on the importance of washing hands (especially in the world we live in right now). We learned all about germs, how germs are spread, how to prevent the spread of germs and how to wash the germs away! Monday we learned all about how soap prevents germs from spreading on your hands! Tuesday we learned about how germs "jump" from your hands to other surfaces you touch! Wednesday we learned about how germs spread with our breath and mouth! And Friday we learned all about the importance of washing hands (virtually unfortunately). We also learned 2 new songs about covering our mouth when we sneeze/cough AND about how we wash our hands! www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG4n0r8-UPA www.youtube.com/watch?v=L89nN03pBzI In our classroom we will continue to learn important life skills such as sharing and patience as well as academic knowledge to prepare your students for the Belugas class and eventually for Kindergarten! Until next time! Mrs. A Hello, Summer
5/20/2020
What a year the Beginners have had! We have learned so many new things, and have seen growth in each and every one of our students. As I reflect on the year, I am so very proud to be a teacher at PNA. I believe that the environment inspires creativity, exploration, and encouragement. The beginners have gotten to experience units on everything from trees to dinosaurs, have been on field trips to explore the world around them, and have even thrived with technology through this time of distance learning. We will dearly miss our group of Otters, but know that they will succeed and do great things in their EK classes. A Trip Down Memory LanePassion Project
5/9/2020
The past couple of months have been difficult on many fronts. Our decision to implement a "Passion Project" was based largely on the fact that we wanted our students to continue to use project-based learning in their homes. The preschool students will be creating a video to show the appearance, habitat, and diet of one Alaskan animal of their choosing. The students will learn new vocabulary, learn about how animals live and eat, and use language skills to tell their peers about their animal. The great thing about this project (which reflect the qualities of PBL) is that students are using multiple skills and subjects to learn about one thing that is interesting to them. Example: An animal that I would like to learn more about is a penguin. After researching the appearance of a penguin, I found out that it is black, white, and has an orange beak. I use my knowledge to create a model of my animal. By this point, I have learned what the word "appearance" means, identified the colors of my animal, used art to create a model based on previous knowledge (for this particular model that requires cotton balls, I may have counted out how many I was using before gluing). As a preschooler, cutting, gluing, drawing, and coloring are vital skills to practice. Next, I will research the animal's habitat. Penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere and most of their lives are spent in the ocean! It's time to create a model of this habitat! It's time to learn about the diet! After researching, I found out that penguins eat krill, fish, and squid. They are carnivores! Now that I have researched the appearance, habitat, and diet of the penguin I have learned several new words (diet, habitat, southern hemisphere, carnivore), I have learned about some geography and about where my animal lives (social studies), and I know that my animal is a carnivore (science). Finally, it is time for the video that includes the information I have learned plus two fun facts! The video serves as a way to share with peers and the teacher. The ability to explain and recall what has been learned is an important part of the process. There are many ways to expand on the projects and it also teaches the students the power of research!
Teachable Moments
4/23/2020
During this time of distance learning, you may not always get to everything on the school schedule. There are so many of you who are taking care of your work schedule, child's well-being, and the rest of your responsibilities. In times when you can't get to that project or that spanish lesson, there are many ways to keep your child learning throughout the day. Here are a few ways you can add "teachable moments" to your child's day! 1. Incorporate a different language.
You can use sticky notes to label things in your kitchen, count in spanish as you climb the stairs, or practice asking for the bathroom or water in another language. 2. Explore with everyday devices. Starting a load of laundry? Have your child help! Sort the clothes by color, size, or type of clothing. 3. Learn outside. Alaska is the perfect place to learn outdoors. Talk about what kinds of animals you might see, what the weather is like, or what plants are growing or changing. 4. Cooking in the kitchen. Practice math by using measurement tools, ask your child to taste different ingredients (are they sweet, salty, bitter?), or practice fine motor skills by allowing them to stir or knead. 5. Watching TV. Talk about how characters are feeling. Can your child predict what might happen next? Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
4/11/2020
When I began teaching preschool, I never imagined it could translate in an online learning environment. With the help of PNA, parents, and digital tools like Zoom, we are able to continue giving students peer interaction and learning experiences that keep the classroom alive. I have learned a lot about the power of technology for young students and I am amazed at how well they are using the required programs. While we have continued to send projects and printed activities home, we have also begun using "virtual field trips" as well as math programs like HappyNumbers to keep students engaged.
Although I am deeply saddened that our school year will end online, I am so proud of the PNA community and my students for making the best of this situation. I am looking forward to the day I can hug all of Otters, until then, I'll see them on Zoom! Distance Learning
3/28/2020
In light of recent events, PNA has gone completely virtual. There were many unknowns going into this transition; however, we accepted the challenge of giving our students a quality education at a distance because that's what our kids deserve. On our distance learning journey we have been continuing our morning meeting and closing meeting routines. FlipGrid has been a vital tool in our communication efforts. The students' short response videos are a fun way for them to use language and speaking skills. We will soon be implementing a Zoom live chat time where the class can see and talk to each other in real time. Distance learning has also given us an opportunity to introduce technology to our students. We rarely use technology in our classroom; however, it is something the students are going to need to be familiar with. There are several online learning tools that we are discovering may be beneficial for our students even after the distance learning period is over. Moving forward, we will be adapting and modifying our distance learning as we learn more about what works in the homes of our students. Our goal is to continue to provide our students with rich learning experiences while also keeping them safe and happy. Thank you so much for helping us make this possible!
Dino Stomp
2/29/2020
This week we studied dinosaurs! We learned that dinosaur teeth have a lot to do with the kind of food they eat. Herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores are the different types of eaters. We also learned that Paleontologists are scientists who study fossils. We used sensory, art, and other activities to explore dinos. Dino digging! We used toothpicks to uncover the dinosaurs hidden in the eggs. The focus during this activity was amazing; the students used their fine motor skills to gently break open the eggs. Making fossils! Using a mixture of flour, salt, and water, we created a dough perfect for fossils. Using dinosaur feet and mini dinosaurs, we imprinted on the dough. Taking a look at our fossils with a scientific tool! Look! A dinosaur enclosure in our sensory bin! Dino Stomp! We used paint and our dinosaurs to create dino footprints.
Fine Motor Skills
2/22/2020
What are fine motor skills?Fine motor skills are small movements using our hands and wrists. These skills are essential for writing, cutting, gripping, and more. Why are fine motor skills important?1. It helps children perform crucial tasks like reaching, grasping, and moving objects. 2.Through fine motor skill development, children learn to use tools like crayons, chalk, pencils, and scissors. 3. Hand-eye coordination improves as fine motor skills improve. 4. Fine motor skills help kids learn and develop handwriting and drawing skills. 5. Children become more independent and understand how their bodies work. 6. As children grow in their fine-motor skills, their self-esteem grows too. How do children practice fine motor skills?1. Play-Doh
2. Finger painting 3. Coloring with small crayons 4. Using scissors 5. Opening and closing containers and more! |
Annalee JohnsonEK Teacher Archives
January 2021
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