Beginning August 24 through September 22, the students will experience many opportunities to learn about Families. The students are encouraged to bring photos of their families to share with the other students. We will use these photos to create a class book of families and for several mathematics projects.

In Mathematics, the students will participate in rhythmic counting, will count up, and will learn to add one more. The students will work together to create a class graph of the students' birth dates and a class graph of the number of family members in each family. One of our favorite experiences is joining with the 5th/6th graders who will help the students measure their height using nonstandard items for measurements such as markers or crayons. In centers, the students are sorting animal collections by kind, color, and shape.

In Spanish, students will practice introduction saying hello "hola" or "buenos dias"and telling their name "me llamo (student's name)" to Ramona la rana.  The students will also extend their knowledge of sorting and categorizing by practicing the Spanish words for items that belong in certain rooms using the Jump Start Spanish computer software in the Spanish classroom.

In areas of Language and Literacy, the students will enjoy exploring books such as Noisy Nora by Rosemary Wells, Time for Bed by Mem Fox, Oonga Boonga by  Frieda Wishinsky, Corduroy by Don Freeman, and A Baby Sister for Francis by Russell Hoban. In Literacy Work Stations, our author study during the month of September will include Bill Martin, Jr. Our songs and word plays will include Down by the Bay, BINGO, Old MacDonald, Itsy Bitsy Spider and Five Green and Speckled Frogs.

In our Science Center, the students will examine animal families. We are examiining the roles that some of the mommies and daddies in the animal kingdom play. Some of the tasks are very different from tasks human parents perform for their children!

While learning about families, the students will be learning the Bible Verse; "Honor your father and mother" and "Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right." Ephesians 6:1 and Exodus 20:12. We will learn the catechism song #63 which talks about the fifth commandment. We are emphasizing the importance of cheerfully obeying those who are in authority over you.

Mrs. Young and Mrs. Buntain look forward to sharing more about our PreK program with the PreK parents during The Covenant School Parent/Teacher Open House that will be held on Thursday, September 9. More information regarding the Open House will be available in the Knightly News.

Everyday Math At Home Connections Coming Your Way!
Be on the lookout for opportunities to count all sorts of things with your child. Counting hops, skips, jumps, and side-steps helps children develop counting skills as well as coordination.
Help your child count the steps needed to walk from the sidewalk to the front door (or any two places). Suggest trying to walk the same distance with less steps or with more steps.
We will begin sending home Math Homework in your child's folder on September 2. Our first topic will be counting. In addition to rote counting, your children will learn to recognize and name the numerals 0-20. In our handwriting curriculum, students will write numerals 0-9.