This week, we are focusing on the developmental domain of language development. Developing language skills in preschool-aged children is crucial for their overall cognitive and social development. During this formative stage, kids are like sponges, absorbing vocabulary, grammar, and communication techniques. Encouraging them to engage in conversation, read books, and play with peers fosters vocabulary expansion and an understanding of language structures. Through activities like storytelling, singing, and word games, young children not only enhance their verbal expression but also learn to listen and comprehend effectively. Additionally, exposure to multiple languages can be beneficial, promoting bilingualism and cultural awareness. Nurturing language skills in preschoolers sets a solid foundation for future academic success and effective communication.
This week:
18 Months
- Played the Cookie Ja rGame, which is a name game with the same rules as "Duck, Duck, Goose"
- For science children used science vocabulary during the Dancing Corn Kernal experiment
- Children love their greeting song each morning with name tags and photos. They also learn Hebrew as they sing the Boker Tov song each morning too.
2s
- Reviewed family photos in the classroom and talked about family members and favorite meals shared during Thanksgiving.
- Reflected on the story of Thanksgiving and talked about what we are thankful for and how we can show gratitude and kindness to others.
- Asked open-ended questions during story time and reflected on how certain characters feel or how they are treating others.
- Learned new words in Hebrew for house, family, thankful, and turkey.
3s
- Read the story “Leaf Man”. After the story children made their own leaf creature and told their own story about it.
- Children’s words were recorded when they were asked: “What are you Thankful for?”
- Ms. Elkie visited and talked about what to do when we are sad or need help.
JK
- Rhyming games played as a whole class and in partners
- Syllable Name Game: We clapped out how many syllables in each child’s name and discussed who had more syllables? Who had less?
- “What are we grateful for?”As our unit of study is on gratitude, JK students used tier-two vocabulary words to tell us what they are grateful/ thankful for in their lives.
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Previously in The Adelson News
Engaging in gross motor activities provides preschool children with opportunities to develop their physical coordination and strength, enhancing their overall motor skills and balance. These activities also promote a healthy lifestyle by encouraging regular exercise, which can help reduce the risk of childhood obesity and related health issues. Additionally, gross motor play fosters social interaction and cooperation, as children learn to take turns, share equipment, and engage in group games, supporting their social and emotional development. Having regular opportunities throughout the day for movement breaks allows children to develop their executive functioning skills which enhances academic achievement. Here are some of the gross motor skills that children in preschool will be doing this week:
18-Months: Continuing with a unit of study on fall, children did leaf yoga using a movement cube, went on a nature walk and made bracelets with natural materials, as well as leaf sweeping.
2s: Children enhanced their gross motor skills through activities like the Israeli game Yam-Yabasha, where they jumped into a hoop when Ms. Hani called "Yam" for ocean and jumped out for "Yabasha" representing earth or land, hopping from the sun to clouds, and stars drawn on the sidewalk help children understand their bodies and enhance their coordination, and tossed beanbags in rhythm to music.
3s: Children in the 3s classes were busy integrating math and gross motor this week. They practiced jumping with two feet over stacks of pumpkins counting the as the stacks got higher, jumped in numbered leaves and then put them in the correct sequence, and practiced hanging on the bars while counting.
JK: While studying pumpkins in the fall, students honed their pumpkin-balancing skills while walking in a straight line and enjoyed a lively game of pumpkin toss with their friends. In Hebrew class, children explored the concepts of darkness and light and engaged in an interactive jumping game incorporating these terms.
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Focusing on whole child development in preschool ensures that children not only excel academically but also grow in all areas of development, fostering well-rounded individuals ready for future challenges.
This week we are highlighting why developing fine motor skills are so important during the preschool years.
Enhancing fine motor skills in preschool offers numerous benefits for young children. These skills, which involve precise hand and finger movements, are essential for tasks like writing, buttoning clothes, and using utensils. Developing fine motor skills promotes better hand-eye coordination, cognitive development, and prepares children for academic success as they enter school. Additionally, it fosters independence and boosts self-esteem as preschoolers gain confidence in their ability to perform everyday tasks more effectively.
Beginning in the 18-month classes, children in The Adelson Preschool build strong fine motor skills through engaging and interesting activities, often integrating other content areas. Below are just a few examples of the fine motor activities that happened this week:
18-Month Classes: Focusing on pumpkins this week, children did a pumpkin pipe cleaner activity, a pumpkin volcano experiment incorporating science, and cooking pumpkin mousse, integrating math and science with fine motor skills.
2s Classes: In connection with a unit of study on fall, children did a counting activity using pom poms tweezers on a fall tree, practiced scissor skills by snipping fall colored paper, and pumpkin rubbings which integrated science concepts.
3s Classes: In connection with the Letterland curriculum, children learned about the letter “f” by learning proper letter formation for a lowercase “f” and gluing feathers on it, used colored dot paint to make an “f”, and integrating fall and literacy, children used a rake to rake up leaf pictures while practicing beginning sounds.
JK Classes: JK children used playdough to create the letters Gg and Kk, created their own pumpkins out of modeling clay, and continued to use their daily sign-in to practice writing their names.