Blog for May 21, 23 and 25

What word starts with "A" and contains all the letters? Some of our preschoolers got this riddle correct this morning, the alphabet!! And that is what we are talking about this week!

Table activities are matching foam letter stickers, playing with magnetic letters, washing letters in soapy water, finding letters in a sensory bin, ABC coloring sheets and making letter shapes with our wax sticks.

Small group activities are listening for initial consonants, today each child was given a letter and had to find an item in the pile that started with that letter, Wednesday we will do the same in reverse- given an item and find the letter it begins with, Friday will be tracing upper and lower case letters for our journal.

KDIs for the week are-

Phonological awareness: Children identify distinct sounds in spoken language.- We are listening for letter sounds.

Alphabetic knowledge: Children identify letter names and their sounds.- Lots of this going on this week.

Reading: Children read for pleasure and information.- Stories go along with our ABC books- just having fun with words and sounds.

Jesus Time- In this week's Jesus time, we review the stories we have heard throughout the year and talk about how Jesus is our good shepherd.  We are the sheep, sometimes not very smart, moving along as a group, sometimes we leave those in trouble behind, we go places or do things that can get us into trouble, just like sheep. I talked about seeing a herd of sheep being chased by wild dogs, the sheep didn't fight, just left the weaker ones behind and ran away. Jesus comes are chases off the dogs and helps those in trouble. He leads us in the right way to go, places that are safe that will keep us close to Him. He goes to great lengths to save us, even giving up His own life! What a shepherd we have who will never leave us or forsake us!

Books of the week- "Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom" by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault, "Alphabet Adventure" by Audrey and Bruce Wood, "Eating the Alphabet" by Lois Ehlert and "A was once an apple pie" by Edward Lear.

This Friday is Literacy Night! Come read in a hammock or in a tent. Pick out some different books, get information on Summer Reading programs at your local libraries and have a snack! From 6:30-8:00 pm.

Next Wednesday, May 30th, is Preschool Graduation. It will start promptly at 6:30 and be over, cake and all, by 7:30. If children could be here by 6:15, that would be great. It will take place in the church, so come to the entrance by the flagpole at the big school!

Hard to believe our preschool time is so quickly coming to an end!! I have loved having this year with you!!

Mrs. Schneck

Blog for May 14, 16 and 18

Welcome to the world of dinos!! This week we are looking at dinosaurs and what they left behind.

Table activities include playing with dinosaurs, an invitation to create a dinosaur scene, making dinosaurs out of paper, making dinosaur fossils and dinosaur pattern blocks.

Small group activities are trying to remove a dinosaur fossils out of plaster, playing with dinosaurs and vinegar lava and creating our own dinosaur.

KDIs of the week are-
Natural and physical world: Children gather knowledge about the natural and physical world. What did dinosaurs eat? Where did they live?

History: Children understand past, present, and future. - Dinosaurs lived a long time ago. What did they leave behind?

Ecology: Children understand the importance of taking care of their environment. - Dinosaurs are extinct. How can we take care of animals today so they won't go extinct?

Jesus Time- This week we are hearing  about Philip and his sharing of the Gospel with a man from Ethiopia. Philip was also one of the helpers that the disciples chose to help them. He was sent to go to the desert road by the Holy Spirit. As he was waiting there, a man rode by in a chariot and he was reading a book of the Bible on a scroll. Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading. The man asked, "How can I understand if no one explains it to me?" So Philip sat and explained it to him, he then asked to be baptized as they passed by a pool. Philip baptized him and then the Holy Spirit wisked him away to tell someone else about Jesus. May God help us to take the opportunities he gives us to tell others about him.

This week I am in Alaska for my son's graduation. Next week I will be back and next Friday is our literacy night!! Check out some fun places to read for the summer!!

Have a wonderful week!
Mrs. Schneck

Blog for May 7, 9 and 11

We are talking about camping and the two sounds of Cc this week, the hard /k/ sound and the soft /s/ sound.

Table activities are dramatic play with camping gear, camp coloring pages, painting with nature's paint brush and building with natural things.

Small group activities are personalizing a backpack to take hiking or camping with us and adding Cc is for camping to our journals.

Wednesday is our field trip! If you are coming, meet at Camp Killarney 1200 Chisolm Rd, Onsted MI at 9:45. We will have a fun day outdoors!

Friday we have school, but K-8 does not, so there is no aftercare for that day.

Next week, I will be attending my youngest's high school graduation in Alaska, so Mrs. Dostal and Mrs. Oetzel will be teaching. We will be talking about dinosaurs!

KDIs for the week are-

 Natural and physical world: Children gather knowledge about the natural and physical world.- We will be outdoors and experiencing it!

Geography: Children recognize and interpret features and locations in their environment- Hills, lakes, meadows, beaches, all at camp.

Ecology: Children understand the importance of taking care of their environment. - Take only pictures, leave only footprints!

Jesus Time- This week we hear the difficult story of Stephen. Stephen was a helper in the early church, there were so many new Christians, the disciples appointed some men to help them take care of those who needed help and Stephen was one of those men. He was full of the Holy Spirit and boldly told about his Savior. Some of the church's enemies threatened him if he did not stop sharing the news about Jesus. They had him arrested and he boldly went point by point through the Old Testament showing them where they were wrong and that Jesus was the Messiah. They did not like what they were hearing and they got so angry that they took Stephen out to be stoned. As they were throwing rocks at him to kill him, God gave him a glimpse of Jesus sitting at God the Father's right hand. The enemies of the church certainly didn't want to hear about that! Stephen also echoed Jesus words when he asked for his enemies to be forgiven. He was bold and courageous in his faith and stayed faithful to Jesus even in death. 

Books of the week- "Fred and Ted go Camping" by Peter Eastman, "Curious George Goes Fishing" by Margret and H. A. Rey, and "The Berenstain Bears Go To Camp" by Stan and Jan Berenstain.

Have an awesome week! Thanks for all the appreciation! I appreciate you also! I have a wonderful group of parents!!

Mrs. Schneck

Blog for April 30, May 2 and 4

We are talking about bugs this week and using the words "Giant Bug" to hear the two sounds of Gg.

Table activities include exploring with rubber bugs, making playdough bugs, creating bugs with paper, making bug "fossils", pattern block bugs and dot painting bugs.

Small group this week are counting bugs, making a bug model out of Crayola model magic and adding a Gg page to our journals.

KDIs of the week are-

Counting: Children count things.- How many bugs go in each jar?

Natural and physical world: Children gather knowledge about the natural and physical world. - learning about bug body parts

Empathy: Children demonstrate empathy toward others. - We are trying more and more to put ourselves in each other's places. Sometimes children don't realize how they are seen by others and how they may make others feel.


Jesus Time- Last week we heard about Jesus' ascension. Before he ascended, Jesus told his disciples to wait for a special gift in Jerusalem. The disciples waited, probably in the same locked room they hid in after Jesus' death. They were alone, they spent time in prayer and conversation. Ten days after Jesus' ascension, there was a noise like a loud wind- everyone heard it, not just the disciples. Then what looked like tongues of fire appeared on the disciples heads and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gave them the ability to speak in languages that they hadn't learned before so they could tell others about Jesus in their own language. Peter went out and preached about Jesus, what had happened to him, whose fault it was (ours) and what Jesus death and resurrection meant. Over 3000 believed and repented that day. The Holy Spirit also comes to us through God's Word and creates faith in our hearts! Thank you Jesus for sending your Spirit to be with us as we tell others about you!

Books of the week- "Ants" by Lisa J. Amstutz, "Some Bugs" by Angela Diterlizzi, "The Very Lonely Firefly" by Eric Carle and "These Bees Count" by Alison Formento.

You should have received an attendance slip and schedule for our field trip to Camp Killarney which takes place on Wednesday, May 9th. Hopefully we will have wonderful weather.

Also we will be having a "Literacy Night" on Friday, May 25th. We will do a Book Swap, have snacks, information on reading to your kids and lots of fun places to read, inside and out! It will run from 6:30-8:00. If you have books you'd like to donate to swap out, you can bring them anytime to preschool. Invite your friends!

Kindergarten visits are going well! Preschool graduation will be Wednesday, May 30th at 6:30 pm in the church. The graduates will sing songs and do a poem, receive their diplomas and have a cake and punch reception afterwards! Extended Family welcome and encouraged to come.

I will be gone the week of May 14th for my youngest's high school graduation in Alaska! Mrs. Dostal and Mrs. Oetzel will be taking the reins that week, so you will be in great hands!

Have a super week!
Mrs. Schneck

Blog for April 23, 25 and 27

This week we are concentrating on the concept of opposites.

Table activities this week include painting on black paper with white paint and white paper with black paint, sorting big and little pompoms, playing in warm and cold water, sorting long and short and soft and hard and making necklaces out of big and little beads.

Our small group activities this week are experimenting with floating and sinking, making a long/short dog and adding a sad/happy face with what makes us sad or happy in our journals.

Our KDIs of the week are-

Spatial awareness: Children recognize spatial relationships among people and objects.- Near and Far, high or low, some opposites that include spatial relationships.

Measuring: Children measure to describe, compare, and order things. Comparing to see which one is bigger or heavier or longer.

Classifying: Children classify materials, actions, people, and events.-Using our sense of touch to classify objects as soft or hard, smooth or rough.


Jesus Time- This week we are hearing about Jesus' ascension. Jesus had appeared to his disciples and others many times in the 40 days after his resurrection. He was on the beach one morning while his disciples were out fishing, just like they used to do before. They weren't having much luck. So he called out to have them put their net down on the other side. When Peter realized it was Jesus, he through off his coat and waded back to shore. After they had eaten, Jesus called Peter over and asked him three times if he loved him. Peter replied that, "Yes, Lord I love you!" Jesus asked him to feed his lambs and sheep. When the time came for Jesus to return to heaven, the disciples and others were gathered around him on a hill outside Jerusalem. Jesus gave them their mission- Go and tell the whole world about me! I will always be with you until the end of the world! As he raised his hands to bless them, he was lifted up into the sky and the disciples stood there watching until a cloud hid him from view. As the disciples were staring up, two angels appeared and reassured them that Jesus would come back the same way he went up. May God keep us in His word and in His grace until He returns!!

Books of the week- "The Foot Book" by Dr. Suess, "Marta! Big and Small" by Jen Arena, "Big Bear Small Mouse" by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman and "Opposites" by Eric Carle.

Kindergarten visit emails went out today!

God bless you with a phenomenal week!!

Mrs. Schneck

I'll leave you with a video of some ballet that our class has been into for a couple of weeks!
4 year old dance

Blog for April 16, 18 and 20

We are planning on a week of super fun!! Our theme this week is superheroes and how to be one!

Table activities include superhero free play, Hulk slime, superhero puzzles and patterns, make yourself a superhero and a super sensory bin.

Small group activities are making a superhero mask, putting yourself in a super hero scene and what's super about us for our journals.

KDIs for the week are-

Self-identity: Children have a positive self-identity.- God has created each one of these children in a special way!! You are his priceless treasure! Jesus loved each one of us enough to die for us!! We are super!

Moral development: Children develop an internal sense of right and wrong.-Superheroes always do the right thing whether they feel like it or not.

Conflict resolution: Children resolve social conflicts. - We are learning to talk to each other and be super patient and super kind with each other.

Jesus Time- This week we hear about Thomas. The first time that Jesus appeared to his disciples, Thomas wasn't with them. Even though we don't know for sure where Thomas was, we do know that he was a twin. I like to think that he was giving his twin brother a heads up as to what happened to Jesus and what might happen to Jesus' followers. When Thomas returned, he didn't believe that Jesus really rose from the dead. He stated, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”(John 20:25) 
The disciples were locked in the room once again when Jesus appeared one week after his first appearance. This time Thomas was there. Jesus went right up to Thomas and said, Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” (John 20:27)
Thomas proclaimed, "My Lord and My God!"
Jesus then gives a blessing to us by blessing those who have not seen, yet have believed! How blessed we are that the Holy Spirit works faith through the Word in us!

Books of the week- "Even Superheroes Have Bad Days" by Shelly Becker, "Bedtime for Batman" by Michael Dahl,illustrated by Ethen Beavers, "Good Morning, Superman" by Michael Dahl, illustrated by Omar Lozano and "Sweet Dreams, Supergirl" by Michael Dahl, illustrated by Omar Lozano.

Kindergarten visits will start next week. If you would not like your child to have a visit, please email me. Otherwise, each child will go with a friend for a short visit from about 8:30-9:45, just to get a taste of kindergarten. I will send each parent an email saying when your child is scheduled to go and you can drop them off in the kindergarten room in the big school and then they will come here at the kindergarteners first recess.

Have a super week!!

Mrs. Schneck 

Blog for April 9, 11 and 13

Welcome back from spring break! It seems like spring is taking a break itself, but hopefully it will be here soon!!

This week we are listening and looking for the letter Xx, like we hear at the end of box. We are playing with boxes this week!

Morning activities include free play with boxes, coloring inside and outside the box, making and decorating little boxes and cardboard stackers.

Small group activities are decorating a box and adding Xx is for box to our journal.

KDIs for the week are-

Pretend play: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through pretend play- What can you imagine your boxes to be?

Gross-motor skills: Children demonstrate strength, flexibility, balance, and timing in using their large muscles.-Big muscles and balance to stack boxes!

Cooperative play: Children engage in cooperative play. -We are working together to build and pretend. 

Jesus Time- This week we hear about how Jesus appeared to the disciples on their way to Emmaus and in the locked room in Jerusalem. The women had seen angels in the tomb and told the disciples what they said- Jesus is Risen!! The disciples still doubted the women's words. Ten of the eleven were locked in a room, fearful of the Romans, despondent over the death of their teacher, hopeless. Two other followers of Jesus were walking to the town of Emmaus, about 7 miles away from Jerusalem. As they walked, they talked about the events of the past week, Jesus triumphal entry, his betrayal, his trial, crucifixion and death. A third man joined them and asked what they were talking about. They  were amazed that he hadn't heard about the news in Jerusalem, so they filled him in. As they walked, he asked them questions about Jesus, leading them from Old Testament prophecy to prophecy, showing how Jesus was the fulfillment of the promised Messiah. They stopped to eat and invited him to sit with them. As he lifted the bread to bless it, their eyes were opened! THEY HAD BEEN TALKING TO JESUS THE WHOLE TIME! He disappeared from their sight and they ran back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples what they had seen. Jesus also appeared among the 10 in the locked room. He showed them his hands, feet and side and asked for something to eat to prove he wasn't a ghost. Thomas was missing. Jesus blessed and encouraged his disciples! There is so much more proof, but we believe without seeing. Jesus calls us blessed!!

Books of the week- "Fox in Socks" by Dr. Suess, "We're in the Wrong Book" by Richard Byrne and "Not a Box" by Antoinette Portis.

Have a terrific week!!
Mrs. Schneck