First Day Fun!

We had a great first day! Your children are all great and we feel so lucky to get to teach them in preschool. For the first few weeks there will be a lot of pictures and a lot of explanation on the blog, so those families who are new to preschool will understand our routine. After a while though, we'll start abbreviating and there will be fewer pictures to save space and time. As always, if you have any questions, let us know!

Welcome: As the children arrived we had a color bear sorting game to play or color shapes they could lace up.

Song: (tune of shoo fly)

Welcome, so glad you came.
Welcome, so glad you came.
Welcome, so glad you came.
123, let's shout hurray!
"Hurray!"

Welcome, so glad you're here.
Welcome, so glad you're here.
Welcome, so glad you're here.
123, let's give a cheer!
"Yea!"

Getting to know each other: After we sang our song, we learned a little about each other. Each child had a chance to show off their "all about me" bag. They had fun sharing what they brought and learning about their new friends. Next we played the "name game". We threw a ball around the circle and as we threw it we would say, "My name is ________. I am throwing the ball to ________. " It was a good way to let them hear and say each other's names several times.

Learning Box Question: Each day, usually after our welcome, we sing the Learning Box song.

(tune of Farmer in the dell)
It's time for the learning box.
It's time for the learning box.
Let's gather round and all sit down.
It's time for the learning box.

Then the teacher's helper (the child that brought snack) opens our learning box and finds a question inside that each child gets to answer. Today the questions was, "What is your favorite toy?" Some of the answers were, "Trains, my bear, my book..."

Pledge: One child stands and holds the flag while we all stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Weather: One child stands up to look outside and tell us what the weather is like. Then they choose the corresponding picture and the class says together, "Today the weather is _____." (Today it was sunny and windy.)

Calendar: During calendar we talk about what month it is, we learn the days of the week and we put the date on the calendar and sing another song!

(Tune of Are you Sleeping?)
(Teacher) Today is Tuesday. (Children) Today is Tuesday.
(Teacher) August 3rd. (Children) August 3rd.
(Teacher) 2010 (Children) 2010
(Teacher) That is the date. (Children) That is the date.

Rules: Next we went over the rules. The children chose one and we roll played what it meant and looked like. Our three rules are:

Listen and Follow Directions

Share

Keep Your Hands to Yourself

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Book: The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. This is a cute story about a raccoon that is afraid to go to his first day of school and his mom makes him feel better by teaching him the secret of the kissing hand.

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Tour House: We went on a tour of the house to make sure they were familiar with their surroundings.

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Snack: Self explanatory and always a favorite part of the day!

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Art activity: We passed out their daily folders and showed them what they were for and let them decorate them with stickers! Please remember to always check them after preschool and send it back the next preschool day! The plastic sheets inside can be written on with a dry erase marker (each child received one) and wiped off easily with a tissue.

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Preschool Basics: Our morning class had a little time to sing our ABC's and Count to 20 and review colors and shapes.

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Playtime! Another favorite time of day. :)

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Clean up and wait for mom or dad! (And probably go home exhausted from a first day full of fun!)