Friday, December 20, 2019

HANNUKAH



Thank you to all the parents that were able to come in and share the celebration of Chanukah with us.   We learned why and how Jewish families celebrate Chanukah.  There was three different types of Menorah and our parents were kind enough to demonstrate how to  light them using the helper candle.



During work choice time children read Chanukah stories with Robby and Debra.


Others helped prepare the latkes with Mr. Andrews, Adam, and Margaret.



We also had an energetic game of dreidel going on, and as you can see Luca was winning.




The children had fun coloring in the sign we posted on the white board.


Eventually the latkes were ready and we got a chance to try one, or two, OK, so I admit it, I ate three.  They were DELICIOUS!


What a great last day before Winter break.  Food, fun and all while wearing our pyjamas.

Moms, babies and big sisters
Building the Millenium Falcon


Puzzles galore!


Artists at work.


I had to post this picture of Grace, she and Ruby surprised me by taking this photo while I was helping another student.   It is interesting this happened as it links to something we will start in the New Year.   Each child will be given the opportunity of being 'Photographer of the day' taking pictures of things they are working on, friends, or items they are interested in.



I can't believe we are already so far through the school year, time flies when you are having fun.  I hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday and enjoys time with family and friends.  See you all in 2020. 

QUESTIONS
How many candles do can you fit on a Menorah?
What is the helper candle ?
Did you have apple sauce or sour cream on your latke?

Thursday, December 19, 2019

LEONARD"S BIRTHDAY

Embarrassed to admit I got home last night ready to write my blog and share all this exciting information only to find out I had left my laptop at school.  Hard to write a blog without a laptop.  So you get two days worth of information in one blog.

The class celebrated Leonard's 41/2 birthday yesterday.  Leonard's birthday is during the Summer and we will not be at school.  We celebrate 1/2 birthday's so everyone in the class gets a Pre-K birthday celebration.





Lot's of creativity in the class on Wednesday.  The writing center was a busy place.  Margot and Solveig made these amazing Seussical style hats with Christmas trees on top.



Luca was busy problem solving how to stop a marble from shooting out of the pipe and getting lost.  Answer, you create your own paper bag and tape it on the end.



Leonard made a pair of binoculars.
 .


Ike decided to make a lasso as he was playing Woody.(ToyStory movie)


A lot of friends were very busy in dress up.  Mom's with babies and big sisters. 



Nolan and Fang played a game of hide and seek with the plastic bugs from science.  I helped a little by telling them when they were hot or cold.


We ended our morning by reading 'Chanukah in Chelm' by David Adler.   Mendel,  is asked by the Rabbi to find a table to set the menorah on, so everyone in the town can see it lit for "Chanukah." Mendel looks in the storage closet and does not find a table so sets out to borrow a table.





EXCITING NEWS!  A new student.
This is Ella Patton.  She will be joining us on the 6th January.  Ella visited with her parents on Wednesday afternoon.  Ella's favorite color is purple, and as you can see she loves dress up where she already started to make friends with some of her classmates.






Ella with mom, Symone, and dad, Jovonta, and sister Zoey, baby is due on Christmas Eve.  Congratulations to the family, and  we look forward to you joining us in January.  The children were very excited to have a new classmate, and drew pictures for Ella, sharing some of the work choices they enjoy.





THURSDAY

Señora Diaz was out sick today, so Señor Geffen took on the challenge of Spanish with both classes.  We had a lot of fun dancing and singing together.



Another creative craft day in Pre-k, from rainbow horses, batman costumes, masks and dress up clothes for our mini me puppets.
















Evy and Luca learned a new game called 'Dragon Dash' It is another cooperative game you can play with a large group of people.  Working together you build a path, hoping you don't pick up dragon cards that could block your way.  They enjoyed it so much we played it in the afternoon, giving them the chance to show others how to play the game.





A few more friends finished the background color of their shape pictures.  They are looking beautiful.


It takes a lot of persistence and focus to stay on task.  Mr. Billadeau came up with a fun way to keep the children interested by asking them if white or red was going to win?  The goal was to help red win by covering all of the white sections of paper with red paint. Fang and Ike took the challenge.




Today we ended our morning with 'The Chanukkah Guest' by Eric Kimmel.  An old lady is making latkes for her Rabbi, but someone else comes to the door instead.


QUESTIONS
What did you draw for Ella?
Can you remember one of the songs from Spanish?
Does Mendel find a table for Chanukah? (Chanukah in Chelm)
Who turns up at the old ladies home? (Chanukkah Guest)


Tuesday, December 17, 2019

4 DAYS BEFORE WINTER BREAK


Hope everyone had a good weekend.  I am feeling a lot better and glad to be back with the children.
We placed whole cloves and cinnamon sticks out to grind, the smell was beautiful and reminded us of the gingerbread cookies we made on Friday.



I worked with my last few friends today 'Testing their brains' while the rest of the class played games.





Luca made a grappling hook yesterday and decided to make another one today.  He inspired a couple of people to try and make one.





Yesterday Mr Billadeau read 'Gingerbread baby' by Jan Brett.  Today I read 'Gingerbread friends' by Jan Brett.



































QUESTIONS
Did you take the Tuesday challenge?
Who is Señor Papa?
What did you do in P.E.?
How many 'W' words can you find at home?

Friday, December 13, 2019

GINGERBREAD

The day we have been waiting for all week, baking gingerbread cookies. 

 

We rolled cut out and then decorated our cookies.  Lots of sugar sprinkles  sometimes it was hard to still see the cookies because of the sprinkles.




The children were excited to taste the cookies.  We cleaned up and went to listen to one of Mr. Andrews stories.  Disaster struck.  The gingerbread people ran away.  They left a message saying they were visiting Ms. Lukkason in the music room.


They left another message telling us they had gone to see Mr. Druskin.


Then to Ms. Hove in the Library.


We eventually caught up them in the office. PHEW!



They were worth all the trouble. DELICIOUS! Big thumbs up from everyone.


I thought I would also add this video clip I wanted to add it to yesterdays blog but was having difficulty loading it.



Have a great weekend.