Easter at HO4K

Celebrating holidays is always more fun when surrounded by excited children! Easter was not any different. The children loved talking about eggs. Where they come from, how they become hard boiled, different ways to eat them, etc. But most of all the kids loved dying them! What a great way to revisit our color wheel and how to create new shades of colors. The children each got to dye 3 eggs. Using the prongs, which are a great small motor tool, children selected the colors, mixed and then dipped!

Even our little ones got involved and with some help participated in the dying of the Easter eggs. While the children were outside playing, the Easter Bunny must have stopped by. That tricky bunny came and took our eggs. He then hid them throughout school. What fun we had finding the eggs in all the hard places! We worked together as a team and found them all!

Learning is fun!

When we work with our bodies, our brains remember! The students are again working together to review their letters while creating them with their bodies! What a great way to practice teamwork while reinforcing our alphabet knowledge!

The letter E had us exploring elephants!

Students at HO4K were enthusiastic about creating their own elephant masks! The students started off by creating "elephant skin" by mixing and layering different paints to create a textured look. After the "skin" dried, we created elephant masks. The students loved participating in dramatic play, as they moved throughout the room as elephants, creating body movements and sounds that can only be heard in the African safari! Students will remember the letter E as it is tied to the memories of their elephant experience at school.

Writing is something that students develop at their own pace. Many will go through stages when they enjoy writing and then struggle to find the desire. It is always exciting when students engage in any form of writing independently. The above student used her chalk to not create with pictures, but instead with words. She wrote "Apricot,apricot go to the zoo “ ! What a great start for a future author!These are important pre-writing skills!

Whenever you get the chance, provide a few art and writing materials at home for your child. You will be amazed at how creative our little ones are. Their imaginations get the best of them as they sit down to create without specific assignments. It is then that they work within their own boundaries and creativity. There is nothing holding them back as they explore and create!

Cotton Flowers

The children love discovering through science. One of our current investigations has been with cotton flowers. Brought from Carolina, the students have been fascinated with this plant. The first thing we did was observe the differences and similarities with the cotton flower and other plants. The students noticed the difference in touch with the cotton and other plants we have worked with. We found that the cotton flower also had cotton seeds within it. Students took turns removing these seeds and further investigating both the seed and flower.

Next, students plant the cotton seeds into soil. We will water and care for the cotton seeds, observing and recording the changes that occur. We hope to see cotton flowers sprout soon and will be sure to follow up on our cotton flower project. Check them out for yourself the next time you are visiting HO4K.

LIVING LOVE AND LOGIC TIP #36

Perfect Underachievers Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

Do you know any gifted kids who are super capable but just will not apply themselves in school? Some take the path of least resistance by completing only the work they find simple and easy. Others simply shut down altogether.

The common denominator with many underachieving kids is deep-seated perfectionism. That's right! As strange as it may sound, many kids who do poorly in school desire to do perfectly in school. As they grow, they become more and more imprisoned by the belief that it's better to avoid trying than to appear less than perfect in any way.

Sadly, many of these perfect underachievers are misdiagnosed as lazy or uncaring. Actually, fear…rather than apathy…drives their poor performance.

In my book, From Bad Grades to a Great Life!, I teach a variety of strategies for helping perfectionists gain the courage to achieve. To learn some more tips from Love and Logic click HERE!

worm farm

Are you sure you are ready for this??

A curiosity most children have is discovering more about worms. The children at HO4K are so lucky to have the opportunity to explore and get dirty while learning about worms, their environment and  more about how these fascinating creatures help our Earth. Some of the children have been enthusiastic learning about worms! Some others, not so much! The children are learning to be brave about doing things outside their comfort as they observe the changes in our worms and the worm compost they are creating.

We have gathered both Earthworms and Night Crawlers into a large container where they work hard to create soil. Each day the children observe the changes with the worms and also with the compost. We have placed fruits, vegetables and moist paper towel for the worms to feed off of the bacteria. They work hard moving throughout the dirt and food, eating and creating waste that later becomes the soil. We will use this soil later to plant some of our new plants. Ask you child to tell you some new facts they have learned about worms. Also, be sure to check out the worms yourself next time you are at school. They really are fascinating!

LIVING LOVE AND LOGIC TIP #35

Do You Have to Feel Guilty?
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

Do you think the following parents ought to feel guilty for their actions?

Parent A:

I said to my teenage daughter, "I wash clothes that are placed in the hamper." They've been lying in a heap in her room…so she doesn't have anything else to wear except her least favorite outfits.

Parent B:

My son was getting more irritable and defiant every day. It seemed related to how much time he was spending playing his video games. I took the video games and told him that I loved him too much to see him getting so addicted to them.

Parent C:

My ten-year-old asked for a cell phone. I let her know that she could have one when she could afford the entire cost…including the data plan.

Parent D:

Our 23-year-old son was sitting around all day watching television. We told him that we were fine with him living with us for a while if he was doing his best to finish school or get a job. He continued to be so disrespectful and lazy that we asked him to leave.

What do you think? Should these parents feel guilty for what they've done? Do you have to feel guilty when you set and enforce reasonable limits with your kids?

Click HERE to read how to have quilt free parenting!

Lately in math

We used our bodies to learn more about the concept over and under. We created a pattern of chairs and then students practiced going over and under each chair. We had fun as we practiced this concept first with movement and our bodies. Later we reinforced "over and under" as we created oval Easter eggs in art. We weaved with paper which helps with hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, while reinforcing the pattern of "over under". Check out your little ones art work as they bring them home. You can help review this concept by asking them to show you what going over and under something looks like!

Nevada State Standards addressed in the above activities include:

Math Standards

2.PK.2

Recognize and replicate simple patterns(e.g., ABAB).

4.PK.2

Identify positions (e.g., in front, behind, next to, up, down, inside, outside, on top, ordinal positions).

Physical Development Standards

3.PK.1 Demonstrate locomotor movements such as up, down, forward, and backward.

3.PK.2 Demonstrate the ability to follow basic movements (e.g., over, under, in, out, in between).

The above student practiced stacking cups into a pyramid formation. We talked about estimation and how many she thought she stacked. Next time, we will estimate how many she can stack in 1 minute, 3 minutes and so on. We plan on recording the data to be able to compare if she gets faster with each attempt. On a cold day, have your child show you how they can stack cups. Record the data as you practice and see just how fast you can go!

Nevada State Standards addressed in the above activity include:

Math standards
1.PK.3b Estimate the number of objects in a set of 5 and verify by counting.

Physical Development Standards
6.PK.1 Demonstrate skills in eye-hand coordination (e.g., stacking, sorting, lacing toys, stringing beads,
reproducing basic patterns, complete six-piece puzzle, Legos and peg-boards).

Goodbye Mr Timmy!

All of the kids at HO4K have LOVED spending time with Mr. Timmy. He has a contagious fun and exciting energy that kids are drawn to. We are so excited for him as he leaves to serve his church as a missionary! The kids wanted to give him something to remember them by and seeing as he will be wearing a tie daily, thought that a tie would be perfect. Each child carefully signed their name on the back and made cards to show their appreciation.

Everyone seemed a bit emotional as we had our last day with Mr Timmy. The kids said their goodbyes and wished him luck on his new adventure! We will miss him but will write to him and know that many wonderful things are to come these next two years for him!

Raising independent children

At HO4K, we focus on developing the "whole child" preparing them to become independent and successful older children, teenagers and eventually adults. Although they seem young, our little ones are capable and often eager to learn daily tasks exhibited by adults. It is through much practice and experimenting that children can learn how to be responsible and complete such tasks. 

Although cooking/preparing food with a child always requires more patience, this is a critical and necessary skill for them to develop. The students are learning how to make their snacks; dividing up the bread equally, making sure everyone has 2 slices of bread, creating a pattern as they use "bread, cheese, ham, bread sequence", understanding the right portion sizes, using their hands and the utensils needed to make the sandwich and finally cleaning up after the task. WOW! What a sense of accomplishment they have when they sit down to enjoy a yummy sandwich made just right!

 

We want our children to understand the importance of hard work and appreciate all that goes into keeping our world clean and beautiful. The children love being able to play outside in a safe and clean environment. They have learned all that goes into maintaining their play area. Above the students help to clean up and pull weeds that have developed in the "kid zone". They are excited to contribute to keeping their school beautiful. They continue to build lifelong lessons of responsibility and have pride in their work.

PLUS, what parent doesn't want a little extra help outside pulling weeds?

After all the hard work we love to be able to enjoy the beautiful outdoors and embrace all the nature around us!

Some of the Nevada State Standards addressed through activities such as the ones above are:

2.PK.1b
Move through routines and activities with minimal adult/teacher direction.

2.PK.2
Demonstrate self-help skills (e.g., put blocks away, pour juice, use soap when washing hands).

2.PK.3a
Use toys and materials with care.

2.PK.3b
Clean up or put away toys and materials when finished.

LIVING LOVE AND LOGIC TIP #34

When Kids Interrupt
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

Kids should not be allowed to

interrupt their parents.

When children are allowed to control whether or not their parents converse, they're at great risk for developing the notion that they have more importance and power in the family than their parents. While we believe that children should be given plenty of love and attention, we know that kids who believe that the world revolves around them…well…grow up to be adults who believe that the world revolves around them.

Part of the solution involves being very careful to avoid interrupting them when it's their turn to speak. In my book, Parenting Kids To Become the People Employers Really Want and America Desperately Needs! I discuss the immense power of modeling. Kids who learn these skills via example enjoy far happier lives as adults.

To read the complete solution, click HERE.

The letter "I" and IGLOOS

 

Research shows that children comprehend more when a concept is explored across the curriculum and incorporated into all learning domains. It is beneficial for there to be a strong connection between math, literacy and the other content areas. You will see how we do this with the letter I and our research with igloos.

First we reviewed the letter "I". We practiced writing both uppercase and lowercase "I's", we listened for the different "I" sounds in words and brainstormed words that we already know that start with an "I". After talking, we decided to investigate more about the word igloo, one of the brainstormed words that start with the letter "I".

First we observed pictures of real igloos on the Internet. We discussed Eskimos in Alaska. We learned that they don't live in igloos anymore but use igloos for temporary housing when they are hunting and fishing. Next we wanted to build our own. We made our own igloos with marshmallows.
Together we had to count out 50 marshmallows... That's a lot! We did a taste test of one...wow, that was not enough! With gentle fingers we learned the texture was soft and squishy as we gently stacked them from bottom to top.  Creating our own igloos, researching about them, using our different senses and incorporating different content areas, will help the children remember more about the letter "I' and all about igloos.  Ask your little one about the attributes of a real igloo and to show you a letter "I"!

Letter to parents

Hi Parents,

To keep everyone updated please note:

1- I would like to upgrade our curriculum with a new program called Reading A-Z (take a "test drive" at ReadingA-Z.com). It is a powerful addition that we can use to better prepare our children for kindergarten. Since the state of Nevada is recently ranked last in education they have raised the bar to help improve our system. Raising the bar means that what our children used to learn in 1st grade is now implemented in Kindergarten.

In order to keep your tuition at the same price and not put a "ding" in my budget we have calculated that if everyone contributes $2 we can purchase the classroom edition. I will download everything on my computer and have it available to print and use for all the children in the upcoming years. You may donate cash or add the $2 on your next tuition payment. (just leave Ed a little note or indicate on the memo line that the extra is for the A-Z reading program.

2- Love and Logic refresher or 5 week class: I have sent home a flyer for the next 5 week course. For those who have not taken it yet, please make every effort to do so. When we are all on the same page it really makes life easier for you and your child! If you would like to take the refresher course I am offering it at the Henderson Multi-generational Facility on Green Valley Parkway from 6-8 pm THIS Thursday March 15 (childcare is available for $2 !) and Thursday, May 3 6-8 pm also same location. Cost: $10

3- Watch for the the "Work and Family" articles to be forwarded from Jan, Feb., and March . Sorry for the delay, they were buried in my email. Great info, hope you enjoy!

4- Weather is warming up, probably a good idea to start applying sunblock again. Per Health Department we will not be applying.

Thoughtful Little Ones

Children who learn positive social skills early in life are more successful learners later on and are able to form social relationships successfully. One of the Social Emotional State Standard goals is for children to develop positive relationships with individuals and the community. At a young age, this is a broad, all encompassing concept. We have started a project introducing children to thinking of others. We have brainstormed many ways that we can be thoughtful. The children created "thoughtful kites" that display some of our ideas. The students came up with 7 ideas on how to be thoughtful and now these 7 thoughts have developed into a new classroom motto. The 7 ways we can be thoughtful of others are: Listen when others talk, ask and wait for a turn, include others, use kind words, use polite manners, keep our hands to ourselves and help others? Our classroom kindness kite, reminds us how to be thoughtful of others and helps us to have a positive and safe learning environment. It is our hope that the children will remember to be thoughtful of others not only in school but at home and daily as they interact with others. 

Another activity recently completed at HO4K that displays thoughtfulness towards others, is writing with the purpose to thank another for something they have done. The students above wrote thank you cards to a fellow peers grandmother who had done something kind for the children at HO4K. They were excited to show their appreciation through words and illustrations. It is important at a young age to help children realize that good manners include being grateful for the kind actions of others. Of course the children enjoyed completing the task as they mailed off their cards. What big kids they are to be sending things in the mail!!

Some of the Social Emotional State standards addressed through the thought process and activities listed above are:.

H3.K.4 Demonstrate respect for each other in the classroom and school.

3.PK.1 Identify a range of feelings (e.g., sadness, anger, fear, and happiness).

3.PK.2a Express feelings, needs or wants in appropriate ways.

3.PK.2b Demonstrate awareness of feelings of others (e.g., gets blanket for friend and comforts him/her when he/she feels sad).


4.PK.1a Demonstrate appropriate affection for teachers and friends.

4.PK.1b Express common courtesy to others (e.g., saying "thank you", "please" and "excuse me", or passing a plate of cookies).

4.PK.1c Respect rights and belongings of others (e.g., "It is my turn to use the bike, but you can have the bike when I am finished").

LIVING LOVE AND LOGIC TIP #33

Why Are They Always Testing the Limits?Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

Tammy glowed with excitement, rushing up to me minutes before the conference began.

"I made the greatest connection about why you teach us to neutralize our kids' arguing and begging. Even though I got good at saying, 'So what did I say?' And even though it worked well, I was still upset that I had to use it frequently. I kept thinking that if I just did it the right way, my own kids would just accept the limits I set for them. It irritated me that they would test the limits more than the kids in my classroom."

"So tell me about the connection," I said.

"I was listening to you and Charles on the new audio CD, The Love and Logic Classroom, where you both talked about limits. Something you said made it clear that testing and trying to stretch limits is a way kids check to assure themselves that the adults can, and will, provide physical and emotional safety."

"That’s right, but what was the connection you made?"

To find out the connection that was made click HERE to read the entire article.

Little kiddos

Our smallest learners continue to amaze us as they develop and grow so quickly. Daily they improve their language skills and more through the hands on activities at HO4K. This younger age learns through exploring and experimenting with the different objects that are all around them. This is always a fun and often messy learning process!

What is more fun than art? The children are developing pre-writing skills as they use small motor skills to hold onto paint brushes, crayons, glue sticks, etc. Some of our early learners are experimenting with different colors and ways to paint. The student on the left is working with ovals in all colors. As well as enhancing language skills describing and identifying colors and shapes, she is creating an art collage.

Modeling for children is very important. Our older students love to use blocks, so it is only natural that our younger ones start to copy them. The younger children are beginning to creatively play with blocks. Several are in the introductory "Play Stage", while others are beginning to enter the "Building Stage" with blocks. Above, the student is building his own tower with blocks. He is able to replicate the building of the tower after an older student models how. His towers continue to grow in height and so does his understanding of how blocks work. This too is a great small motor skill, as students need to have great hand eye coordination and control while building with such small blocks and/or pegs.

To learn more about the stages go BLOCK PLAY go HERE!

Physical movement is just as important for younger children as it is in older ones. Students who are developing hand eye coordination need to have plenty of practice with different manipulatives and situations. Above, the students are learning how to take turns as the play catch with Mr Timmy. They listen to the verbal cues and then either roll, catch or throw the ball. What good listeners they are and what a great way to practice our language skills as we follow simple commands.

Young children spend the majority of their time learning through tactile experiences. At HO4K we know how important it is to provide many learning opportunities to explore with a variety of surfaces and materials to touch and manipulate. This helps them to develop their basic fine motor skills and reinforces their sense of touch. Above the children are using sticky tape to put "on" and pull "off" the table. They are listening to the commands and following through with actions. They also loved using the tape to create and play with.

More friends

HO4K continues to grow with new friendly faces!

We are happy to have "V" here with us a couple days a week.  He is joining us with smiles and is eager to discover the many things we have to do here. He is making many attempts to communicate his needs and wants with his unique babbling, pointing and guiding us by holding our hand to lead us when he needs help. He's making many new friends, thanks for sharing him with us!

We love having  "A" join us for a short session of preschool. Even though he is only here a few short hours twice a week (or so) we can tell he is warming up to us and developing his social skills. We see him smile, give high fives, brings us books to read to him, points to activities he wants to join in with us. Another great boy to add to the pack!

How blessed we are to grow!

LIVING LOVE AND LOGIC TIP #32

Video and Computer Games: Often Not so Good for Kids
Weekly Tip from the Love and Logic^® Experts

"My typically nice and responsible kid turns into a monster after he plays his computer games."

If you've noticed this same thing with your kids, you're not alone. Listed below are some thoughts about why this is so common, as well as actions we can take to protect our kids:

Understand that Electronic Games can be Extremely Addictive

Since most of these games operate according to variable schedules of reinforcement (the user cannot entirely predict when something exciting will happen) our kids get hooked into thinking that they have to play "just a little bit longer" each time.

Even educational games present these risks. To grab the attention of the learner, our kids' favorite games are highly entertaining…and stimulating. Is it any wonder that kids who spend too much time glued to these games find everything else boring?

Real life is always a downer when you're hooked on electronic uppers.

The symptoms of withdrawal also indicate the addictive nature of these games: Irritability, extreme moodiness, and attempts to get a "fix" even if it requires manipulating and mistreating those who love you the most.

 GO HERE TOO SEE THE OTHER IDEAS FROM LOVE AND LOGIC ABOUT VIDEO AND COMPUTER GAMES AND TO READ THE ENTIRE LESSON.

Marvelous Math

What have we been doing in math? Reviewing previous skills, learning new concepts and expanding our knowledge of application using basic math skills.

There are 5 main pre-kindergarten goals covered through the state standards. Those goals are:

Children develop an understanding of number and number sense.

Children develop knowledge of spatial concepts; e.g., shapes and measurement.

Children develop understanding of patterns and relationships.

Children develop knowledge of sequence and temporal awareness.

Children develop the ability to use mathematical knowledge to sort, classify, represent, communicate, and solve problems.

At HO4K these goals are the central focus of our mathematical activities and lessons. Below you will find several examples of how these goals have been implemented in our math.

The student above is practicing his coin recognition. He has sorted the coins into groups based on attributes.  After correctly sorting and identifying the coins, he was able to establish the largest set of coins and the smallest. Knowing the value of each, he further goes on to group small coins together and with teacher aid, combines the sums. It is important for our students to recognize that coins hold value and that they are used in our daily life. Having your little one help pay for groceries is a great learning tool and a necessary skill for their future.  

 Shapes are all around us and we use them often in our work. Students practice tracing shapes, labeling them with numbers and counting them. We discussed the attributes of this shape and students observed several similarities and differences between the rectangle and other shapes. We also Incorporated some language and writing as we sounded out and wrote the name. Take your kiddo on a shape scavenger hunt and see just how many shapes surround you!

 How many parents would love it if their children would help them fold the laundry!?!  When we make it into a game, anything is possible! Children first predicted how many towels they could fold in 5 minutes. After predicting, we needed to test our skills! What a great way to teach life skills that children are capable of and will need to practice before they can master. With the 5 minutes up, children were able to assess and compare their predictions to the actual amount of completed folded towels. Wow, we had great expectations of ourselves! The students then completed a graph showing the number of folded towels. What pride they took in their completed work and their helpful contributions to our school!

Before creating patterns children need to recognize the attributes of a particular object and sort them by color. Above the student is working with 2 different color blocks. After grouping them, he was able to create a simple AABAAB pattern. He even recognized the difference in size and had his pattern going from largest block to smallest. It is important that students can not only create their own patterns but replicate those patterns made by others. The student on the left, is replicating a pattern created by stickers. Replicating sticker patterns works on sequencing as well as small motor skills as he is picking, pulling and pushing the small stickers onto paper. What a great pre-writing skill!

Please remember to help reinforce these skills at home whenever possible! The more children learn that math is all around them, the more desire they have to learn.

You can review the Nevada State Preschool Standards HERE. Also check out the different examples and supportive practice ideas, many can be duplicated at home!