January+curriculum+&+activities

Theme: Community Helpers
Formation using Handwriting without Tears (HWT)- See attached HWT info for how to form letters
 * Letters**: G, S, J

Learn Words that start with the letter- Continue with this at home. Very important for solidifing letter/sound skills
 * Letter Sounds**

Talk at home about what people you know do for a living and how that helps our community. When shopping visit the bakery and meet a baker, talk about farmers who grow food, fishermen who catch fish, etc. In school we will visit the kitchen, office, library and talk about how our school community helpers work together for our school.
 * Vocabulary**

Letter G- Gingerbread people/goldfish Letter S- Snow men Letter J- Jack In the Box
 * Classroom Activities**

Brown, Gray, Black, White
 * Colors**:

Crescent Review of all shapes
 * Shapes**:

Letter G- __Goodnight Gorilla__ by Peggy Rathmann and __Gilbert Goldfish wants a Pet__ by Kelly DiPucchio morning students Read the __Gingerbread Baby__ by Jan Brett afternoon students
 * Nursery Rhymes, Poems, Stories and Songs**:

Letter S- __The Snowy Day__ by Ezra Jack Keats AM students __Silly Sally__ by Audrey Wood PM Students

Letter J- __Jamberry Jelly__ __The Jacket I Wear in the Snow__- by Shirley Neitzel PM Students

Number groups/sets to 6 for morning students, to 10 for afternoon students. Add one more as you become comfortable that your child knows how to take up to 3. Practice is important-count out crackers, pretzels-Have your child take a set number such as 3 cookies, 5 pretzels-Watch to be sure they know to stop without you cueing. Pattern has changed to AABAAB. Afternoon children are catching on quickly. Practice with colored blocks, foods (ex pretzel, pretzel, cracker) anything you can find. Have your child continue ABAB if that is where they are most comfortable.
 * Numbers**:

Can your child answer these questions: What is your name (give first and last name)? How old are you? What is your father's/mother's name? What are sibling's names? Does your child know what you do for a living? Do you have hobbies or make crafts? Those skills are important. Talk about those with your child.
 * Social Emotional**

Students are doing many beginning HWT activities with both classroom teachers and our OT Miss Deb. Children are using the HWT magnet boards and chalk boards for wet, dry, try when new letter is introduced. Mat Man has been introduced to assist with increasing children's body awareness. Children will be drawing Mat man and then attempting to draw themselves later in the month
 * Fine motor**:

Students introduced to Infocus and Apple I Pad- Currently watching/interacting with turn taking. Listening and watching stories through RIF, Reading is Fundamental, on Infocus machine.
 * Technology**

Is very important. Please practice at home. Do a little homework every night!!! Even 15 minutes will help. Please email or call.
 * Review**