We have set up our library system (even though we did not check out books this last week), learned about ourself and our families and neighbors, and done some cooking. Each Friday is our cooking day where the kids get to help make their snack for the afternoon. Cooking not only gives the children a lesson in nutrition, but it also teaches them math skills like measurements, science skills like mixing liquids with solids, etc., and language arts skill like learning to read a recipe. It also teaches them responsibility like cleaning up after themself, following steps, listening to directions and working together.
Our first recipe was to make chocolate chip cookies, which we got to share with our families. I hope that they were delicious! Then last week we made Rice Krispy treats and the kids got to cut out shapes with cookie cutters, which was fun. This Friday, in honor of the apple and Fall, we will be making caramel apples! YUM!
In addition to all of these topics, we work on the days of the week, the months of the year and the calendar every morning during our circle time.
Another subject we have been working on is our pre-printing practice. Each time the kids color those fun coloring pages, I make them work on holding the crayons correctly and trying to stay in the lines, which helps with future writing. I also work with them on spelling and writing their own names on their papers. We will be doing a lot of tracing pages coming up, which may not look like much but straight lines, but it is actually a very difficult skill for children to master and one that is necessary in order to learn how to write properly. This is something you can work on with them at home. Also at home you can draw straight lines on a piece of paper and with child scissors allow them to practice cutting following the straight lines that you have drawn.
So as you can see, we have been very busy and will continue to be very busy! I would like to plan a field trip coming up, since we haven't taken on in awhile, but don't have details yet, so I will keep you posted as I make a decision.
I don't have a lot of pictures of the last couple of weeks, but hope you enjoy the couple that I do have. I hope the kids have been as excited about learning as I have been. 
