So much fun at Funtime

An impressive number of you attended our back to school night last night - thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to come learn a little more about Funtime! Thank you for completing the homework with your child and helping to make our Funtime Garden so beautiful!

REMINDERS:
No school Monday 9/19
Please have your child go potty before coming into the classroom
Please wash your child's hands at the YAC before entering the classroom

This week our theme was "all about me". We spent Monday working on our self portraits for back to school night. The kids colored clothes and glued yarn for hair onto paper dolls. This was a top secret craft, because we wanted to see if you could guess which one was your child during back to school night.  The Dragonflies also worked on number and shape recognition.

Wednesday's craft was all about family, we made a family tree and read the story The Kissing Hand, one of my favorites! I get a little teary eyed every time I read it. If you haven't ever read that story, I highly recommend it. For the family trees, we gave each student the same family members and asked them to choose the one's that they had in their family. They each got a mother, father, boy, girl and baby. We then told them to ask if they needed additional or different people, for example, some kids have more siblings or 2 sisters and no brothers, and some kids live with their grandparents, but of course still have a mom and dad. Some kids sat down and glued on everything we gave them, even though they don't have a baby in the family or a sister etc., so if some of your family trees aren't quite representative of your family, you now know why. :-)
The dragonfly class worked on pre writing skills by tracing straight lines and learning how to properly hold a pencil. We are also working on letter recognition and name recognition. I always encourage them to try to write their names on anything we do, even if they only know how to write one letter of their name. I don't expect all of them to know how to write their names, but I want to start establishing the habit of putting their names on their papers. We have a little chant we do - Name on your paper, first thing. Ask your child about it. Some kids can write their names, others are not there yet, but all of the kids know how to spell their names. So, Amy and I will take their hand in ours and help them write the letters as they spell their names aloud.

Thursday and Friday are always gym day. The caterpillar class played with the bouncy playground balls in the gym. They love to kick, throw, roll and bounce the balls. We like to see how high we can get them to bounce, by throwing them at the ground really hard. They also think it's really fun to watch Ms. Lisa try to make a basket... don't know why they think it's so comical when I miss (almost every time). Little cuties!
The Butterfly class played with all different kinds of balls in the gym, we had the bouncy playground balls out, some soccer balls, a few basket balls and even some of the little soft dodge ball balls. They had fun kicking, throwing and playing catch with each other.
The dragonfly class did a fun science project. We did this same project in the Lunch Bunch/Enrichment class on Monday and that group had so much fun, they wondered when we could do it again. So, since Friday is science for the dragonflies (Monday - math, Wednesday - writing, Friday- science) we thought it would be fun for the whole class. Ms. Amy mixed food coloring with light corn syrup and the kids painted with it. We left them to dry, but on Wednesday when they come back to class, you will see that it dries hard like glass or rock candy (that's what it reminds me of anyway). They were so into this science project that we had very little time in the gym. During recess all week, they have been playing a game they made up called the family game and they asked if they could play it in the gym today. Some of the kids are the parents, some brothers/sisters, some are pets (cats, dogs and a pony or 2) and there are even a few aunts/uncles. Because we were short on time today, we just let them run like crazy and play their family game.

Next week our theme is Apples.

Have a great weekend!

This week in Funtime

This week, we continued with our back to school theme, focusing on the classroom rules and our daily schedule.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, we made a school house with our classroom rules on it. The kids glued the clip art that represents each rule onto their school house. This is the same clip art that I used on the rules that hang on the wall. We focus a lot on the rules for the first session of Funtime. There are only a handful of simple rules in our classroom, but they help keep order and structure in our day. On Wednesday the dragonfly class practiced some pre-writing skills by learning how to correctly hold the pencil and trace straight lines.

Thursday and Friday was gym day, but each class also had time for a fun craft. We made a caterpillar with our daily schedule on it. Our daily schedule varies for each class, so if you have questions about your child's caterpillar schedule, please don't hesitate to ask.

Both of our crafts this week provide a great link between school and home.

Each class has homework this week which is due on your first day back next week (whether that is Monday or Tuesday). I apologize for the confusion caused when I got the notes mixed up... If your child is in the Pre-K class (dragonflies) they have a white dragonfly to decorate with you at home, if your child is in the Tuesday 9am class, they have a white caterpillar to decorate and if they are in the 10:15am Tues. class they have a white butterfly to decorate. If you  missed class, please see me for your homework.

A few announcements and reminders:

PLEASE have your child go potty before class.

PLEASE wash your childs hands with soap and water in the bathroom at the YAC prior to entering the classroom.

Back to school night is Thursday 9/15 from 6-8pm. This is an open house, however, I will be giving a brief talk about Funtime around 7PM.

Have a great weekend!

Welcome!

Welcome to Funtime! Amy and I were excited to see the smiling faces of our returning students as well as those of our new students! We have a great group of kids this semester and can't wait to help them learn and grow!

A few important things before I get started with all the fun stuff we did this week.

1. My apologies to the Pre-K class for running 15 minutes over on Wed. Amy and I had the schedules mixed up... guess that's what happens when we change things up! Won't happen again!!
2. Please help your child go to the bathroom before entering class, even if they went at home.
3. Please have your child wash his or her hands with soap and water before entering the classroom.
4. If you need to contact us about a planned absence, please email me at fcfuntime@gmail.com
5. If your child is sick on the day of class, we would appreciate a phone call at 970-219-2764 or email.
6. We have a back to school night scheduled for Thurs. Sept. 15th. More details to come.
7. No school Mon. 9/5 or Mon. 9/19

Now that we have that out of the way, let's get to the fun part of the blog!

This week was a busy one, we learned all about the rules in the classroom, the schedule for class, the classroom jobs, we met new friends and saw old ones too. We had a few bumps and bruises and even some tears - but all in all it was a GREAT first week.

Pre-K or Dragonflies

On Monday the kids had fun learning all about our classroom jobs and attendance. This is new this year, each child is responsible for taking their t-shirt off of the laundry line outside our classroom and putting it into the 'laundry' basket. This is our way of taking attendance, when there are t-shirts left on the line, we know those kids are absent. They were all really excited about it and I was SO proud of them on Wed. when they all remembered to put their t-shirts in the laundry basket! For craft on Monday, they painted their t-shirts with watercolors.
Wednesday we talked a little more about the class jobs. Each day, I will draw a flower out of the basket (which by the way was Wed. craft - the kids decorated their job flowers) and put it on one of our job bees. I will do this until all the jobs have a helper. Not every child will have a job to do each day, but all the children will do at least one job each week. I also had the kids write their names as best they could, this was just an assessment for me to see where everybody is. They gave it their all and did the best they could and I'm really proud of them.
Friday was gym day.

2.5 - 3.5 yr olds 9am or Caterpillars

What a fun little group of kiddos we have! Even though there are only 6 kiddos in class, they are very participatory! They tell Amy and I stories and help me sing the songs. They are all very attentive and such a joy. Tuesday they decorated t-shirts with crayons, the kids had fun making their t-shirts very colorful. 
Thursday was gym day for them and they really enjoyed playing with the big fitness balls, they were all running around with big smiles on their faces. It's so fun for to not only play with them, but to watch them play.

3-4 yr olds 10:15 or Butterflies

Tuesday the butterflies decorated their t-shirts with paint. Like the pre-k class, they will use their t-shirts for attendance. I will start this with them next week, so when they come to class on Thursday, please help them take their t-shirt off the laundry line and put it in the laundry basket. They were having so much fun painting their shirts, they didn't want to stop! I love that they enjoy art.
Thursday was gym day, but because we have more time in this class, we were also able to do a craft. We played with balls in the gym, the kids had a great time, rolling, bouncing, kicking and throwing the balls. We decorated flowers using foam stickers for a fun craft. It's good for their fine motor skills to have to peel the backs off of the stickers, of course they don't know that, they just have fun sticking the stickers on!

Have a great 3 day weekend!

Lisa

Bitter Sweet

CONGRATULATIONS to the Funtime class of 2011!!!

As I write this last post of the 2010-2011 school year, my heart is heavy... I have had so much fun getting to know your children this year! I have watched them blossom and grow, witnessed some major fits, had a ton of laughs, given lots of snuggles, received countless hugs and even some kisses - all memories I will cherish.

We had the Pre-k graduation before the picnic on Friday, there were so many things I wanted to say, but couldn't, less the flood gate of tears be opened! I can't look at the parents and tell them how proud I am of their children, without bawling my eyes out... so here is the speech I would have given, had I not been so emotional (as it is - I'm going to have to re-apply my makeup after typing this).

Parents-
I am so proud of your children! They have grown and changed before my eyes. They have learned to be good students, to take turns, to raise their hands and use their manners. They have learned to recognize their letters &  numbers. They have gone from barely being able to write their names to writing the whole alphabet!! They never cease to amaze me! These children know the months of the year and the days of the week and how to count, yep, they are ready to move on. But I'm not... I will miss them terribly and think about them constantly (just a minute- I have to grad a tissue to wipe my tears). Some of the kids in this class I have had since they were just 2 years old! I love & hate, at the same time, that I have to let all these kids go. I love that these babies are moving onward and upward, but I hate that I have to say goodbye! I know it's not forever, our paths will cross again, but for now my heart is heavy with the memories of Friday's goodbye hugs.

Love-
Ms. Lisa

Phew... I think I need to whole box of tissues, one just isn't doing the job! This is why I don't say much at the graduation ceremony or at the picnic. These kids make my heart sing each and everyday and when I have to say goodbye, a little piece of my heart goes with them. I am excited that many of you will return to Funtime in the fall! And I am sad that many of you will not... it's always so hard for me to let these precious little things go!

I hope you all have a wonderful summer and I look forward to seeing you in the fall!

Here are a bunch of pictures of the different events of the last 2 weeks. Enjoy!

Update

Wow, the weeks are just flying by! Can you believe this is the last week of Funtime? It's a little bittersweet for me...

Before I get to what we did last week, here are a few updates:

Wacky Wednesday 5/18 - Pajama Day and Gym day
Friday 5/20 - Pre-k Graduation 10am- 11am Club Tico
                     Funtime End of year picnic 11am-1 pm City park

Last Monday we made Wild Thing masks. That is one of my favorite stories, I just love reading it to the kids. They enjoyed acting out the story with me and making the masks.

Wednesday our plan was to take the kids on a walk to collect rocks and then make pet rocks out of them. However, the weather did not cooperate... so we had an impromtu gym day. Let the kids run off some steam with the rainy day.

This week we will spend some time cleaning and organizing for summer, getting ready for the graduation and enjoying each others company before this session ends.

Have a great week.

better late....

After a busy weekend, I finally have 2 minutes to sit down and update you on what we did at Funtime this week.

The kids really enjoyed making Mother's Day gifts for their wonderful and amazing Moms! While they worked, we heard some pretty interesting stories about what their moms do, I know they don't always show it, they have fits and meltdowns (usually in public), but I can tell that all you moms have a really special place in your children's hearts. They always only say good things about you all and you're the ones they ask for if they get hurt during class.

I think my favorite part (2 things really) of this week was watching the kids try to keep our gifts a secret, they were so excited and I could tell that a lot of them really wanted to tell you what they made, the minute you walked through the classroom door. My other favorite part was on Friday when the Mom's walked through the door and the kids shoved your gifts in your face and made you open it right there - priceless! They just could not contain their excitement.

I hope all you Funtime Dad's spoiled the Mothers of your children and your own mothers as well.
Moms - I hope you had a Fabulous day yesterday!

Reminders:

Please make sure your child goes potty and washes hands before class.

No School Friday May 13th

Funtime Graduation Pre-k class Friday May 20th (time and details coming later this week)
Funtime Potluck/picnic Friday May 20th (time and details coming this week)

Last week of April

This week our theme was space. We had a lot of fun talking about what was in space, but I think the highlight was turning off the lights to see the planets glow in the dark!

On Monday we made our very own stargazers. Using toilet paper rolls, construction paper, rubber bands and a paper clip. The kids had fun using the paper clip to make their stars and then gazing through the tube to see the stars. The Pre-k class did a review of the numbers 1-10 and worked on their address' and phone numbers.

On Wednesday we used some awesome glow in the dark paint to paint a rocket ship, then we attached it a piece of black paper using a brad. The kids decorated their paper with chalk and space stickers. Now their rocket ship can fly through space! We had a lot of fun turning off the lights and watching our rocket ships glow. The kids wanted to do this over and over... we only did it twice, though, as we were out of time! The pre-k class did a short review of some of the letters that have already written and then worked on the letter Rr. We continued to work on address and phone number memorization.

Friday - gym day! Ms. Amy put out some soccer balls and playground balls and the kids ran around the gym kicking, throwing and bouncing. They always have so much fun in the gym, I love watching them play! The pre-k glass got a visit from some very special guests. Joa's mom (who is a Kindergarten teacher) brought in the baby chicks that her kinders hatched. They are so cute and soft. We all enjoyed holding them and listening to their little cheeps. Thanks Kim! and Thanks to Shelley (Max's mom) for taking the photos.