Updates

 I would like to thank the parents and students of Pre-K 4 for an amazing start to the 2020-2021 school year!  As I transition to the role of Education Director at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School, please look at Mrs. Serbones's blog for further classroom updates, zoom links, and posts.  Mrs Serbones's blog can be found HERE!

I am always available if there are any questions or concerns.  I can be reached via email at MissMcGarry@olqmnyc.orc or by phone by calling the main number at (212)567-3190.

Week of January 4th!

 Reminders / Notices:

• School resumes on Monday, January 4th!

ZOOM Links for This Week:

Monday 01/04 to Friday 01/08

8:30 a.m. Meeting 

Meeting ID: 871 8421 6645

Password: prek4

Join URL:  Click HERE

2:00 p.m. Meeting

Meeting ID: 815 1643 6161

Password: prek4

Join URL:  Click HERE

If your child can not attend one of these two meetings, please let me know and I can schedule a meeting at a time that is more convenient for you.  

The link for the read aloud of this week's foundational text, The Bus For Us by Suzanne Bloom is located HERE.

Lessons and Activities for the Week for At Home Learners:

There are numerous activities posted every week on our classroom SeeSaw Account! 

Monday- Use recycled materials (e.g., boxes, empty and clean food containers) as well as tape and/or glue and invite your child to build vehicles. Provide pictures of vehicles for your child to reference and encourage them to develop a plan for building before they begin. Have them consider what they will make and what materials they will need.

Tuesday- Invite your child to observe various vehicles outside and then draw what they see. Ask them what they notice about the vehicles as well as why the different parts of the vehicles are important and helpful. After children have completed their drawings, invite them to use recycled materials to create a 3D version of the vehicle they observed.

Wednesday- Provide simple directions for folding a paper airplane and invite your child to try to fold their own. Encourage them to explore how they might make the airplanes fly. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_plane for plane folding directions.

Thursday- Invite your child to use vegetables to make trucks. For example, a celery stalk could be the body of the truck, and cherry tomatoes, or carrot rounds could be wheels.

Friday- Invite your child to use foods to make a traffic light. For example, start with a rectangular cracker, cover with cream cheese and add a strawberry slice, apricot half and kiwi slice to create a traffic light.

Please send any pictures or drawings to 

MissMcGarry@olqmnyc.com or text the picture to (929) 279-1610

Information for In-Person Learners

     Unit Topic:

     Transportation

     Essential Question for the Unit:

     How does my community use various modes of transportation?

     Focus Questions for this Week:

     What kinds of transportation do I use and why?

     Focused Learning Activity for the Week:

     Ms. McGarry and Mrs. Madera will work with students in the blocks area. Teacher will provide long wooden planks and ask students how they think they can create a ramp.  Teacher will then ask how we can make the ramp more or less steep.  Students will then be able to predict which ramp will make the car go down the fastest and why. 

    Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

    PK.AL.3 Approaches tasks and problems with creativity, imagination, and/or willingness to try new experiences.

      Foundational text for the week:

     

 The Bus for Us by Suzanne Bloom

 Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

       

     PK.ELAL.5: Participates in discussions about a text. 

Questions that will be asked throughout the week:

Level 1: Recall

What question does Tess ask over and over again?
What were some of the vehicles that drove past Tess and Gus before the bus came?
What are the dog and the cat doing while the children wait for the bus?

Level 2: Skill/Concept
Why do you think Tess asks the same question over and over again?
Why do you think Gus looks sad just before the bus comes?
Gus and Tess take the bus to school. How did you get to pre-K today?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking
Why do people take the bus?
Tess holds her ears when the fire engine drives past. Why?

There is a picture of a skunk on the garbage truck. Why do you think that is there?

Level 4: Extended Thinking
Us and Gus are rhyming words. What are some other words that rhyme with us and Gus?
Tess looks a little nervous about getting on the bus. Why do you think she might be nervous? Have you ever been nervous? When?

Lessons and activities for the week:

Blocks- Students are invited to create a variety of ramps and use different vehicles to race, predicting which one will go down the fastest and why. 

Art- An assortment of shape cutouts and pictures of vehicles will be added to the center.  Students will be invited to reference the vehicles to create their own vehicles.

Science- Teacher will model how to draw a simple map with roads.  Students will be provided with metal cars and magnetic wands.  Students will be encouraged to make their car move down the road by using the magnet wands.

Math- Students will be invited to match numbered cars to the corresponding amount of people each car holds. 

Library- Students are invited to sequence the pictures and retell a familiar story, using a felt board.

Writing-  Students will be invited to match lettered cars to their corresponding spots in a "parking lot".

Sensory- Students will be able to play with their own individual containers of play-doh.

For more information on the Lesson Plan, click HERE!

As always, please make sure to read the OLQM school blog for additional updates and information, located HERE!

If there are any questions regarding the Pre-K for All program that can not be answered by the office or classroom teacher, please feel free to contact the

Help Line at 888-227-8175

Week of December 14th!

  ZOOM Links for This Week:

Monday 12/14 to Wednesday 12/18

8:30 a.m. Meeting 

Meeting ID: 871 8421 6645

Password: prek4

Join URL:  Click HERE

2:00 p.m. Meeting

Meeting ID: 815 1643 6161

Password: prek4

Join URL:  Click HERE

If your child can not attend one of these two meetings, please let me know and I can schedule a meeting at a time that is more convenient for you.  

The link for the read aloud of this week's foundational text, The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague is located HERE.

Lessons and Activities for the Week for At Home Learners:

There are numerous activities posted every week on our classroom SeeSaw Account! Please check your email for instructions on how to sign up!

Monday- Invite your child to look at pictures of blueprints and then create their own using blue paper, white chalk, and rulers. 

Tuesday- Have your child count the number of squares they can find at home. Repeat with other shapes.

Wednesday- Ask your child to observe the homes around them as you take a walk together outside.  Families and children can discuss what types of homes you see. Do you see people homes or animal homes? What do you notice about the homes? Are they apartments? Houses? Do they have many windows? How many floors do you think there are in each building?

Thursday- Observe a construction site (remembering to be careful and stay safe). Ask your child questions such as: What do you notice?  How do the people who work here stay safe?  What do you think the building will look like when it is done?

Friday- Use shoe boxes or other cardboard boxes to build an apartment building. Show your child pictures of various types of apartment buildings from around New York City as a reference. Facilitate discussions about the important details your child notices before they start creating, and as they work. Children may want to furnish the apartments with small furniture. Any furniture that children would like, but is not available, can be made with recycled materials.

Please send any pictures or drawings to 

MissMcGarry@olqmnyc.com or text the picture to (929) 279-1610

Information for In-Person Learners

Focus Question for this Week:

How do people and animals make homes?

Focused Learning Activities for this Week:

Ms. McGarry and Mrs. Madera will work with students in the art center. Students will be provided with popsicle sticks, glue and paper.  They will be invited to make a home by gluing the sticks onto the paper.

Ms. McGarry and Mrs. Madera  will observe as students create their home. They will ask students to describe their home and to add details to their artwork by using crayons, colored pencils, and markers.   

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

PK.ARTS.16: Creates visual arts.

Foundational Text for the Week: 

The Three Little Pigs and the Somewhat Bad Wolf by Mark Teague

Note: This version of the classic tale, The Three Little Pigs does not glorify violence or show violence in a graphic or frightening way.

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed: 

PK.ELAL.7: Develops and answers questions about characters, major events, and pieces of information in a text.

Questions that will be asked throughout the week: 

Level 1: Recall

When the farmer and his wife moved to Florida, what did the pigs want to do with the money the farmer and his wife paid them?

What did the first pig use to build his house? What did the second pig use to build his house?

Level 2: Skill/Concept

How do you think the first and second pigs felt when the wolf blew their houses down?

How do you think the first and second pigs felt whenthey got to the third pig’s house?

How do you think the third pig felt about sharing her house with the other pigs?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking

Why couldn’t the wolf knock down the brick house?

The wolf was very hungry so at the end of the story the pigs shared their food with him. What else could he have done to get food instead of trying to blowdown the pigs’ houses?

Level 4: Extended Thinking

The pigs used straw, sticks and bricks to build their homes; if you could build your own home what materials would you use? Why?

When all of the pigs lived together in the brick house the third little pig asked all of them to clean their rooms. What are some things you can do at home to be helpful?

Learning Centers Available for the Unit:

Blocks- Pictures of different types of homes and buildings will be posted in block center and students are invited to build the homes in the pictures or similar homes.

Art- Students will be supplied with popsicle sticks in order for them to create a home by gluing sticks onto paper.

Science- Multiple pictures of animals and their homes will be provided in science center for students to match.

Math- Cut-outs of shapes will be added to the math center.  Students are encouraged to create their homes out of shapes.

Library- Students are encouraged to look at two non-fiction books about homes and compare and contrast what they see.

Writing-  Students will discover blueprints and create their own blueprint with blue paper and chalk.  

Sensory- Students will be able to play with their own individual containers of play doh.

For more information about the lesson plan, click HERE!

As always, please make sure to read the OLQM school blog for additional updates and information, located HERE!

If there are any questions regarding the Pre-K for All program that can not be answered by the office or classroom teacher, please feel free to contact the

Help Line at 888-227-8175

Week of December 7th!

 ZOOM Links for This Week:

Monday 12/07 to Wednesday 12/11 

8:30 a.m. Meeting 

Meeting ID: 871 8421 6645

Password: prek4

Join URL:  Click HERE

2:00 p.m. Meeting

Meeting ID: 815 1643 6161

Password: prek4

Join URL:  Click HERE

If your child can not attend one of these two meetings, please let me know and I can schedule a meeting at a time that is more convenient for you.  

The link for the read aloud of this week's foundational text, A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle is located HERE.

Lessons and Activities for the Week for At Home Learners:

There are numerous activities posted every week on our classroom SeeSaw Account! Please check your email for instructions on how to sign up!

Monday- Invite your child to look at pictures of blueprints and then create their own using blue paper, white chalk, and rulers. 

Tuesday- Have your child count the number of squares they can find at home. Repeat with other shapes.

Wednesday- Ask your child to observe the homes around them as you take a walk together outside.  Families and children can discuss what types of homes you see. Do you see people homes or animal homes? What do you notice about the homes? Are they apartments? Houses? Do they have many windows? How many floors do you think there are in each building?

Thursday- Observe a construction site (remembering to be careful and stay safe). Ask your child questions such as: What do you notice?  How do the people who work here stay safe?  What do you think the building will look like when it is done?

Friday- Use shoe boxes or other cardboard boxes to build an apartment building. Show your child pictures of various types of apartment buildings from around New York City as a reference. Facilitate discussions about the important details your child notices before they start creating, and as they work. Children may want to furnish the apartments with small furniture. Any furniture that children would like, but is not available, can be made with recycled materials.

Please send any pictures or drawings to 

MissMcGarry@olqmnyc.com or text the picture to (929) 279-1610

Information for In-Person Learners

Focus Question for this Week:

Where do people and animals live?

Focused Learning Activities for this Week:

Ms. McGarry and Mrs. Madera will work with students in the science center. They will have two sets of cards with different animals and different habitats.  They will ask the students where they think each animal lives, modeling how to put the animal card on the corresponding habitat card.  The teacher will ask students questions such as "Why do you think an animal would need thick fur to live in the arctic?' 

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

PK.SCI.4: Observes familiar plants and animals and describes what they need to survive.  

Foundational Text for the Week: 

A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed: 

PK.ELAL.5 : Participates in discussions about a text.

Questions that will be asked throughout the week: 

Level 1: Recall

Why did Hermit Crab need a new house?
Hermit Crab liked the way his new house felt, but did not like the way it looked. Why didn’t HermitCrab like the way the house looked?
What are some of the things Hermit Crab used to decorate his house?

Level 2: Skill/Concept
What are some things you like about where you live?
Hermit Crab invited many friends to live with him; who lives with you?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking
Hermit crab added many things to his home, which one do you like best? Why?
When the Smaller Crab moved into Hermit Crab’shouse she promised to be good to his friends. How do you take good care of your friends?

Level 4: Extended Thinking
Hermit Crab was very polite and used his manners when he asked the sea creatures to decorate his house; when do you use your manners?
What do you think Hermit Crab would have done if the sea creatures he asked to decorate his house said no?

Learning Centers Available for the Unit:

Blocks- Pictures of different types of homes and buildings will be posted in block center and students are invited to build the homes in the pictures or similar homes.

Art- Students will be supplied with popsicle sticks in order for them to create a home by gluing sticks onto paper.

Science- Multiple pictures of animals and their homes will be provided in science center for students to match.

Math- Cut-outs of shapes will be added to the math center.  Students are encouraged to create their homes out of shapes.

Library- Students are encouraged to look at two non-fiction books about homes and compare and contrast what they see.

Writing-  Students will discover blueprints and create their own blueprint with blue paper and chalk.  

Sensory- Students will be able to play with their own individual containers of play doh.

For more information about the lesson plan, click HERE!

As always, please make sure to read the OLQM school blog for additional updates and information, located HERE!

If there are any questions regarding the Pre-K for All program that can not be answered by the office or classroom teacher, please feel free to contact the

Help Line at 888-227-8175

Week of November 30th!

 Reminders:

• School is closed on Thursday 11/26 and Friday 11/27 for Thanksgiving!
• Parents are asked to sign a drop-off sheet and pick-up sheet every day of the week.

• Please check your emails for an invitation to the class SeeSaw account!

ZOOM Links for This Week:

Monday 11/30 to Wednesday 12/04 

8:30 a.m. Meeting 

Meeting ID: 871 8421 6645

Password: prek4

Join URL:  Click HERE

2:30 p.m. Meeting

Meeting ID: 815 1643 6161

Password: prek4

Join URL:  Click HERE

If your child can not attend one of these two meetings, please let me know and I can schedule a meeting at a time that is more convenient for you.  

The link for the read aloud of this week's foundational text, The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Manus Pinkwater is located HERE.

Lessons and Activities for the Week for At Home Learners:

There are numerous activities posted every week on our classroom SeeSaw Account! Please check your email for instructions on how to sign up!

Monday- Invite your child to look at pictures of blueprints and then create their own using blue paper, white chalk, and rulers. 

Tuesday- Have your child count the number of squares they can find at home. Repeat with other shapes.

Wednesday- Ask your child to observe the homes around them as you take a walk together outside.  Families and children can discuss what types of homes you see. Do you see people homes or animal homes? What do you notice about the homes? Are they apartments? Houses? Do they have many windows? How many floors do you think there are in each building?

Thursday- Observe a construction site (remembering to be careful and stay safe). Ask your child questions such as: What do you notice?  How do the people who work here stay safe?  What do you think the building will look like when it is done?

Friday- Use shoe boxes or other cardboard boxes to build an apartment building. Show your child pictures of various types of apartment buildings from around New York City as a reference. Facilitate discussions about the important details your child notices before they start creating, and as they work. Children may want to furnish the apartments with small furniture. Any furniture that children would like, but is not available, can be made with recycled materials.

Please send any pictures or drawings to 

MissMcGarry@olqmnyc.com or text the picture to (929) 279-1610

Information for In-Person Learners

 Unit Topic:

Where We Live

Essential Question for the Unit:

Where do the people and animals around me live?

Focus Question for this Week:

Where do I live? Where do my family members live?

Focused Learning Activities for this Week:

Ms. McGarry and Mrs. Madera will work with students in the math center.  Based on a classroom read-aloud, students will be encouraged to roll dice, determine the number they rolled, and place the corresponding number of buttons on Corduroy's overalls.

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

PK.AL.2: Actively engages in problem solving.

Foundational Text for the Week: 

The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Manus Pinkwater

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed: 

PK.ELAL.6 : Retells stories or shares information from a text.

Questions that will be asked throughout the week: 

Level 1: Recall
How did the big orange splot get on Mr. Plumbean’s house?
What did the neighbors want Mr. Plumbean to do about the splot?
What did Mr. Plumbean do when he painted his house?

Level 2: Skill/Concept
Why were the neighbors upset that Mr. Plumbean changed his house?
Why do you think Mr. Plumbean changed his house at night?
What happened when the neighbors talked to Mr. Plumbean at night?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking
Do you like the changes Mr. Plumbean made to his house? Why or why not?
Which house on Mr. Plumbean’s street do you like best? Why?

Level 4: Extended Thinking
Why do you think Mr. Plumbean changed his house?
If you lived on Mr. Plumbean’s street, how would you paint your house? Why?

Learning Centers Available for the Unit:

Blocks-Pictures of different types of homes and buildings will be posted in block center and students are invited to build the homes in the pictures or similar homes.

Art- Students will be supplied with popsicle sticks in order for them to create a home by gluing sticks onto paper.

Science- Multiple pictures of animals and their homes will be provided in science center for students to match.

Math- People figures, number cards, and pictures of homes will be placed in the math center.  Students will be encouraged to pick a number card, and place the corresponding number of people into a home.

Library- Students are encouraged to look at two non-fiction books about homes and compare and contrast what they see.

Writing-  Students will discover blueprints and create their own blueprint with blue paper and chalk.  

Sensory- Students will be able to play with their individual containers of play-doh.

For more information on the Lesson Plan, click HERE!

As always, please make sure to read the OLQM school blog for additional updates and information, located HERE!

If there are any questions regarding the Pre-K for All program that can not be answered by the office or classroom teacher, please feel free to contact the

Help Line at 888-227-8175

Week of November 23rd!

Reminders

• Please check your emails for an invitation to the class SeeSaw account!
• Dismissal is at 2:00 on Wednesday, November 25th!
• School is closed on Thursday 11/26 and Friday 11/27 for Thanksgiving!

ZOOM Links for This Week:

Monday 11/23 to Wednesday 11/25 

8:30 a.m. Meeting 

Meeting ID: 871 8421 6645

Password: prek4

Join URL:  Click HERE

2:30 p.m. Meeting

Meeting ID: 815 1643 6161

Password: prek4

Join URL:  Click HERE

The link for the read aloud of this week's foundational text, Friendshape by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld is located HERE.

Lessons and Activities for the Week for At Home Learners:

Monday- Invite your child to draw an expressive self-portrait. Have them look in the mirror, make an expression and draw what they see.

Tuesday- Write your child's name on a piece of paper Invite them to refer to the paper and count the number of letters in their names then write the appropriate number on the paper. Children can count the letters in their own names as well as their family member's names.

Wednesday- Suggest physical challenges and invite your child to accept the challenge (i.e. Can you jump seven times on one foot? Can you hop to the wall?, etc.).

Thursday- Introduce your child to some basic yoga moves and invite them to participate. Discuss how some people use yoga to calm down and relax.

Friday- Cut paper plates in half, give your child half of a plate and invite them to draw a mouth that is expressing an emotion on it (i.e. a smile for happy, frown for sad). If you like, you can attach a Popsicle stick to the bottom of the plate for your child to hold and invite them to place the emotion mask over their own mouths. Provide a mirror for them to see the expressions and invite them to try to make their eyes match the expressions on the plates as well.

Weekly Activity to be emailed to Ms. McGarry

Create a family book! You can choose what type of information to include in the book. Ideas include the people in your family, where relatives live, things you likes to do together, favorite foods, languages spoken, family heritage, traditions, celebrations, pets, information about your home, etc. Children can choose how to illustrate the book (i.e. drawings, photographs, pictures from magazines, etc.).

Please send any pictures or drawings to 

MissMcGarry@olqmnyc.com or text the picture to (929) 279-1610

Information for In-Person Learners

 Unit Topic:

• All About Us

Essential Question for the Unit:

• Who am I and who are the people in my life?

Focus Question for the Week:

• What makes my class important and unique?

Focused Learning Activity for the Week:

Various size shapes from construction paper will be cut out. Students will be encouraged to use the shapes to create their bodies. After gluing the shapes to a piece of paper, children can use writing utensils to add additional details (hair, patterns on clothes, etc.).

Ms. McGarry and Mrs. Madera will observe as children identify the shapes they used.

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

• PK.MATH.13: Names shapes regardless of size.

Foundational Text for the Week:

• Friendshape by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

• PK.ELAL.12: Makes connections between self, text, and the world.
  
  

  
  

  Questions That Will Be Asked Throughout The Week:

  
  

  Level 1: Recall 

  Who are the friends in this story?

  What are some of the things the friends in this book do together?

  What were the friends in this story all thinking about at the same time?

  
  

  Level 2: Skill/Concept

  What is so great about having friends?

  How do the friends in this story have fun together?

  
  

  Level 3: Strategic Thinking

  Who are some of your friends?

  What do you like to do with your friends?

  How can friends help each other?

  
  

  Level 4: Extended Thinking

  What could you do when you and a friend quarrel or get upset with each other?

  What could you do if another child asks to play with you and a friend?

  What could you do if you see a child who looks lonely and does not have a friend to play with?

  
  

  
  

Lessons and Activities for the Theme:

Blocks-The student’s name cards will be available in block center.  Students are invited to write their names using blocks, discussing the lines in each letter of their name (straight, curved, etc.).

Art- Various size shapes from construction paper will be cut out and students are invited to use the shapes to create their bodies. After gluing the shapes together, or to a piece of paper, children can use writing utensils to add additional details (hair, patterns on clothes, etc.).

Science- Students are invited to use magnifying glasses to explore fingerprints, skin, hair, etc.

Math- Students will be encouraged to refer to their name cards and count how many letters are in their name, then place the appropriate number card next to the name card. Children can count the letters in their own names as well as their peers’ names.

Library- Students are encouraged to read a book with a friend. One child could read to the other or they could look at a book together.

Writing-  Students will be able to play a matching game where they match pictures of the students in the class with that student's name.

Sensory- Students will be able to play with their individual containers of play-doh.

For more information on the Lesson Plan, click HERE!

As always, please make sure to read the OLQM school blog for additional updates and information located, HERE!

If there are any questions regarding the Pre-K for All program that can not be answered by the office or classroom teacher, please feel free to contact the

Help Line at 888-227-8175