Week of September 16th!

Reminders / Notices:

• Please return all papers received during parent orientation. 
• Please make sure your child has an extra change of clothes in their cubby. 
• Please bring in a picture of your family for us to hang on our family wall!

Unit Topic:

• Welcome to Pre-K

Essential Question for the Unit:

• What is Pre-K?

Focus Question for the Week:

• What do I bring to my classroom community?

Focused Learning Activity for the Week:

• Ms. McGarry and Mrs. Madera will be in the library center modeling how books are placed on the bookshelf, how we care for our books, how we can read a story to each other or the puppets provided in the library center, and how to use the listening center.  Teachers will observe as students interact with the library books, each other, and the puppets in the library center.

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

• PK.CLL.4(Reading Standards: Foundational Skills): Displays emergent reading behaviors with purpose and understanding.   

Foundational Text for the Week:

• On Monday When it Rained by Cherryl Kachenmeister 

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

• PK.SED.2: Regulates his/her responses to needs, feelings and events.

Questions That Will Be Asked Throughout The Week:

Level 1: Recall

What are some of the emotions the boy in this story felt?
Why did the boy feel (disappointed, embarrassed, proud, scared, angry, excited)?

Level 2: Skill/Concept  

Show me your (disappointed, embarrassed, proud, scared, angry, excited) face.

Have you ever felt (disappointed, embarrassed, proud, scared, angry, excited)? When?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking 

The boy was angry when his cousin Janie wouldn’t share her new dump truck. What are some things you can do, here in the classroom, when you’re feeling angry about something?
The boy said he always shares his toys with Janie. What do you know about sharing?

Level 4: Extended Thinking 

Why did the boy tell his dad it had been quite a week?
What emotions have you felt this week?

Lessons and Activities for the Week:

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

Pretend Play- Children are invited to explore the dramatic play area and use the props and clothing provided. 

Art- Children are invited to create art in the art area to decorate the dramatic play area, or home. Students can hang their art in the dramatic play area. 

Science- Mirrors will be added to the science center for children to explore and discuss what they see. 

Math- A picture of each child will be cut apart, thus creating a puzzle. Students are invited to assemble their own puzzles and their peers’ puzzles as well. 

Library- Students are able to read books from the classroom library to the puppets that are provided.

Writing-  Students are invited to explore the materials provided in the writing center. They are encouraged to write the letters in their name.  

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

For more information on the Lesson Plan, click 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 September 9th!

Reminders / Notices:

• Please return all papers received during parent orientation. 
• Please make sure your child has an extra change of clothes in their cubby. 
• Please bring in a picture of your family for us to hang on our family wall!

Unit Topic:

• Welcome to Pre-K

Essential Question for the Unit:

• What is Pre-K?

Focus Question for the Week:

• What will I learn and do in Pre-k?

Focused Learning Activity for the Week:

• Ms.McGarry and Mrs. Madera will model how to use blocks to build buildings.  Students will be encouraged to build familiar buildings such as those they live in or visit often.

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

• PK.CLL.4(Speaking and Listening):Describe familiar people, places, things and events, and with prompting and support, provide additional detail.  

Foundational Text for the Week:

• The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn 

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

• PK.SED.7: Adapts to change.

Questions That Will Be Asked Throughout The Week:

Level 1: Recall

Why didn’t Chester want to go to the first day of school?
What did Chester’s mother tell him to make him feel better about going to school?
What did Chester do to show his mother that he loved her?
What can Chester do when he’s away from his mom and feels lonely or sad?
How did Chester feel before his mother gave him the Kissing Hand? How did he feel after?

Level 2: Skill/Concept  

Why do you think Chester wanted to stay home with his mom instead of going to school?
Why did Chester’s mom kiss his hand?

How do you think Chester would have felt if his mom had not given him the Kissing Hand?

Level 3: Strategic Thinking 

Was there ever a time when you felt nervous about a new situation?
When you are worried, how do your loved ones (like your mom, dad, sister, grandmother or grandfather) make you feel better?
Who comforts you when you are feeling afraid or lonely? How?

How can you comfort your friends and loved ones when they are feeling afraid or lonely?

Level 4: Extended Thinking 

What do you think Chester’s mom meant when she said, “I am always with you?”
How can you make a loved one (like your mom, dad, sister, grandmother or grandfather) remember that you love them, even when you’re not with them?

Lessons and Activities for the Week:

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

Pretend Play- Children are invited to explore the dramatic play area and use the props and clothing provided. 

Art- Children are invited to create art in the art area to decorate the dramatic play area, or home. Students can hang their art in the dramatic play area. 

Science- Mirrors will be added to the science center for children to explore and discuss what they see. 

Math- A picture of each child will be cut apart, thus creating a puzzle. Students are invited to assemble their own puzzles and their peers’ puzzles as well. 

Library- Students are able to read books from the classroom library to the puppets that are provided.

Writing-  Students are invited to explore the materials provided in the writing center. They are encouraged to write the letters in their name.  

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

For more information on the Lesson Plan, click 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

Supply List for the 2019 - 2020 School Year!

Hello Parents!

I am so excited to be teaching your little ones this year!  I would love to take this time to introduce myself.  My Name is Kelly McGarry.  I have been lucky enough to work with preschool aged children for the past nine years.  I am currently enrolled at Hunter College, pursuing a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education.  

My mission is to provide every student with a quality pre-kindergarten experience.  I wish to create a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment, which fosters individual growth and independence.

I can’t wait to meet you all!

I am providing the supply list for the 2019-2020 school year.

Required:

At least one (1) change of clothes (including shirt, pants, underwear, socks, and shoes).

Two (2) packs of white copy paper

Recommended:

Three (3) Packages of Baby / Handi Wipes

Two (2) Boxes of Tissues 

Two (2) Bottles of Hand Sanitizer

Picture of your family

June 24th!

End of Year Reminders!

• Our Moving Up Ceremony is on Tuesday, June 25th at 10:00 a.m.!  Students are asked to come to school at 9:30 a.m.  Students are dismissed on Tuesday following the Moving Up Ceremony.

• Three (3) adults are invited to attend the ceremony per student. 

Week of June 17th!

Reminders / Notices:

•  Thursday, June 20th is the last day of afterschool.
• School is Closed on Friday, June 21st.
• Our Moving Up Ceremony is on Tuesday, June 25th at 10:00 a.m.!  
• Three (3) adults are invited to attend the ceremony per student. 

Unit Topic:

• Transformation

Essential Question for the Unit:

• What is transformation and how do things change?

Focus Question for the Week:

• How can objects change?

Focused Learning Activity for the Week:

• Ms. McGarry and Mrs. Manan will work with students in the math center.  Students will be encouraged to find and add objects in the classroom and write down the corresponding number sentence.

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

• PK.CKW.1 (Operations and Algebraic Thinking): Demonstrate an understanding of addition and subtraction by using objects, fingers and responding to practical situations (e.g. if we have 3 apples and add 2 more, how many apples do we have all together?).  

Foundational Text for the Week:

• Joseph had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

• PK.CKW.4 (Science): Observes and describes characteristics of earth and space.

Questions That Will Be Asked Throughout The Week:

Level 1: Recall

How did Joseph change or reuse his overcoat? 
What are some of the things Joseph made from his overcoat? 
What did Joseph do when he lost his button? 

Level 2: Skill/Concept 
What was the biggest thing Joseph made from his overcoat? 
What was the smallest thing Joseph made from his overcoat? 
Why was each item Joseph made smaller than the item he made it from? 

Level 3: Strategic Thinking
Joseph made a jacket, a vest, a scarf, a necktie, a handkerchief and a button.  What are some other things Joseph could have made from his overcoat?
Joseph made things that he needed. Which item would be most helpful for you: a jacket, a vest, a scarf, a necktie, a handkerchief or a button? Why?  Which item would be least helpful? Why? 


Level 4: Extended Thinking
When Joseph lost his button he made a book about this overcoat and how he transformed it into many different items. Think of a time you transformed something old into something new. Tell a partner about what you did. 
What could Joseph have transformed his button into if he hadn’t lost it? 
Joseph reused his overcoat many, many times. What are some materials you can reuse? What are some materials you can recycle?  How does reusing or recycling materials help take care of the earth? 

Lessons and Activities for the Week:

Blocks- Students are invited to measure each other with blocks and record their answers.  Students will then make a prediction about how tall they think they'll be when they grow up.

Pretend Play- Pretend Play will continue to be a baby nursery.  Students will pretend to care for babies by feeding, cleaning, and changing the baby dolls provided.  Students will be prompted to reflect on how they have changed from when they were a baby.

Art- Students are invited to draw a picture of the things they can do now and things they would like to do in the future. 

Science- Students will be able to discuss and draw the life cycle of a butterfly.

Math- Students will be adding objects in the classroom and writing the corresponding number sentence.

Library- Students are invited to read books about our theme, transformation.

Writing-  Based on the weekly readings throughout the year, students will be encouraged to write a story about something or someone who experiences a change. 

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

For more information on the Lesson Plan, click 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 June 10th!

Reminders / Notices:

• Donuts with Dad will be on Thursday, June 13th, at 10:00 am in the gymnasium. 
• School is Closed on Friday, June 14th. 
•  Thursday, June 20th is the last day of afterschool.
• School is Closed on Friday, June 21st.
• Our Moving Up Ceremony is on Tuesday, June 25th at 10:00 a.m.!

Unit Topic:

• Transformation

Essential Question for the Unit:

• What is transformation and how do things change?

Focus Question for the Week:

• What changes around me?

Focused Learning Activity for the Week:

• Ms. McGarry and Mrs. Manan will work with students in the science center.  They will read students the book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and discuss the life cycle of a caterpillar.  Students will be encouraged to draw and label the life cycle of a caterpillar.

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

• PK.CKW.5 (Science): Observes and describes characteristics of living things. 

Foundational Text for the Week:

• Little Tree by Loren Long

Pre-K Common Core Learning Standard Addressed:

• PK.SED.1: Recognizes himself/herself as a unique individual having his/her own abilities, characteristics, feelings and interests

Questions That Will Be Asked Throughout The Week:

Level 1: Recall

Why did Little Tree stay little when all of the other trees started to grow bigger?  Why did Little Tree finally decide to let go of his leaves?  What happened after Little Tree dropped his leaves?

Level 2: Skill/Concept
Why do you think Little Tree wanted to keep his leaves for so long?  Why do you think the animals in the forest tried to help Little Tree drop his leaves? 
How do you think Little Tree felt about staying the same when all of the other trees were growing and changing?  


Level 3: Strategic Thinking
If you were in the forest with Little Tree would you try to help him drop his leaves? Why or why not?  What do you think the other trees and the animals in the forest thought about Little Tree keeping his leaves and staying the same? 

Level 4: Extended Thinking
If you were going to try to help Little Tree drop his leaves what would you do? Why?  
Can you think of a time when the things around you were changing but you wanted them to stay the same? What did you do?  
Tell a partner about a change that made you uncomfortable or a change that made you excited.

Lessons and Activities for the Week:

Blocks- Students are invited to measure each other with blocks and record their answers.  Students will then make a prediction about how tall they think they'll be when they grow up.

Pretend Play- Pretend Play will continue to be a baby nursery.  Students will pretend to care for babies by feeding, cleaning, and changing the baby dolls provided.  Students will be prompted to reflect on how they have changed from when they were a baby.

Art- Students are invited to draw a picture of the things they can do now and things they would like to do in the future. 

Science- Students will be able to discuss and draw the life cycle of a butterfly.

Math- Students will be adding objects in the classroom and writing the corresponding number sentence.

Library- Students are invited to read books about our theme, transformation.

Writing-  Based on the weekly readings throughout the year, students will be encouraged to write a story about something or someone who experiences a change. 

Sensory- Sand and water, or play-doh.

For more information on the Lesson Plan, click 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