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‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ Dana's Blog: ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍
===About me: I have a three year old daughter that means the world to me. She attends the center that I work at and where I will be doing my student teaching. I love working with children and I can't belive I'm finally student teaching after all of these years trying to finish my degree. === === ===

//**Sunday January 8, 2012**//

I'm doing my __student__ teaching at my __work__ site. February will mark five years that I started at the center. The room that I am in right now consists of four years olds. The children will be turing five starting in April. I have been with these children since September, and they surprise me everyday. They are curious, funny, and love to tell stories. This week was a short week with only being there four days. The children were excited to be back because they missed there friends. They talked about what they did while they were off and what toys __Santa__ got them. ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍Next week I will be teaching my first lesson with them and I can't wait. ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

January 15, 2012

=**Changing the world one Preschooler at a : //__T__//hink //__I__//nfluential //__M__//eaningfil //__E__//xperiences **=

My second week of student teaching went very well. I taught my first lesson on Thursday January 12th and it went really well. The lead teacher was telling them about the Polar region all week. So I decided to talk about Igloos and other different buildings that are made out of different materials. I had three books that talked about different buildings and how buildings are different shapes. They had many questions for me and when I asked them questions they answered me with some funny answers. When I was done showing them the books and talking about buildings, I told them they were going to construct their own building. I had many different recyled materials and other art materials for them to use to construct thier buildings. It was a fun first lesson to teach and I feel that the children enjoyed it as well. Here are a few of the "buildings" the children made.

 

//How would I celebrate the diversity in the classroom? // In the classroom of 17 children there are many that come from differnt countries. I‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ would make sure to have a variety of books that talk about thier country, and for the other children to see pictures of different countries. If there was ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍a __holiday__ coming up for example Chinese New Year I would make sure to do some lessons on that for the children. Also have parents come in and read and talk about thier culture. Chinese New Year is next week and we have a parent coming in to talk to the children about the year of the dragon.

=== ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍“If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream.” ― [|Martin Luther King Jr.]===

Sunday January 22, 2012

 Besides pride, loyalty, discipline, heart, and mind, confidence is the key to all the locks. [|Joe Paterno] This was a short week and a cold week. We didn't make it outside that much to play which meant keeping the children busy inside the classroom. It was a fun week __learning__ about space. The kids had a great time __learning__ how to orbit and make a rocket ship out of a __paper towel roll__. They also colored space masks and the teachers put them together for the kids. We took a group picture of them in their space helmet masks. My lesson this week was about sink and float. I had six items that I asked each child what they think would happen. I made a chard and then we tested the item. I used a golf ball, button, rubber band, Lego, pait brush, and a __penny__. Only the Lego floated and I wish I would of had another one or two items that floated. The kids loved it and would crawl up to the container to get a closer look.

This week coming up we will be talking about Chinese New Year, and the year of the dragon. There are three children that are from China in my room and one of the parents will be coming in and talking to the kids about Chinese New Year. I‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ can't wait! I will be doing a lesson on yoga with the kids and the pose I chose is called the twisting dragon. Im hopping they like this because I would like to do more yoga with them in the future. ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍  

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"> Sunday January 29, 2012

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"> This week theme was Chinese New Year. The class learned about the year of the dragon from one of the parents on Friday. It was a nice presentation on Chinese New Year. She showed the kids pictures and told them what happens during the time of the New Year. The children made Chinese lanturns and dragon masks. On Friday it was pajama day and the Library lady came to read and sing songs with the children. The Library Lady comes once a month to read them at least three books and sing a few songs.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"> The lesson I did this week was a fun lesson on yoga. I showed the class how to do a pose called the twisting dragon. Since it Chinese New Year and the year of the dragon, I thought it would be nice to do a yoga pose called the twisting dragon. The children loved it and wanted to do more. I had this box called pretzle yoga with different yoga moves in it. So I chose another one that would be easy to do. They did it and wanted to do more. So we did at least 5 more yoga moves. I hope to continue to do yoga with the children every week. It something nice to do when the weather is bad outside.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"> This week I think Im going to do a cooking lesson with the kids. I can't wait.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">"Every truth has four corners: as a teacher I give you one corner, and it is for you to find the other three." //--Confucius// <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">== <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"> // Happy Chinese New Year!!! // == <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"> Sunday February 5, 2012 It's been a long week. My week strated off okay and then Tuesday I was there early and everything seemed to go wrong. A few kids came in sad and didn't want to leave thier parents. One girl was sad because dad dropped her off and usually its mom. Another girl was sad becasue she didn't want mom to go. She has bad seperations almost every day. I just hope she gets better because she is going to Kindergarden in September. One boy was upset because he lost his lego guy in the car and dad wasnt' going to try and find it. He cried when he didn't get a certain toy and he cried when I told him to stop using <range type="comment" id="457473">‍‍‍‍‍‍the word "kill". ‍‍‍‍‍‍If his dad would of found the lego guy he would of been fine his mom said. I felt bad for him because that little toy meant the world to him. Well the rest of the children came in fine after that. Then we had breakfast and the boy who lost his lego guy spilled his milk on himself. I knew the next teacher was coming in in five minutes (I was working with another teacher who was just and aid and I couldn't leave her alone) so I told him I would change him when she came in. Well two minutes later another child came up to me and said she had a pee accident. By then I called up to the main office and asked if someone could come down because I needed to change her right away. All of that happend within two hours of being there. It made for a busy morning.

My lesson I did with the children this week was making noodles. We made egg noodles and the kids loved it. I had them mix the ingrediants and stir as well. Then i had some dough already made for them to roll out and cut the noodles. It was fun watching them try to cut the dough. I then had already cooked some noodles the night before and I re-heated them. I gave them those noodles at lunch time and they loved the noodles. Cooking lessons are fun to do with the children. They lean math and science when doing this lesson.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"> //**Fill someone's invisible bucket.** " "Have you filled a buckt today" by:Carol McCloud// The concept of the book is that everyone has an invisible bucket. The bucket gets filled when others do acts of kindness for us. It also gets filled when we do acts of kindness, like helping others.

I<range type="comment" id="75205">‍‍‍‍‍‍ had to read this book becasue some of the children have been mean to each other ‍‍‍‍‍‍and not wanting to play with a certain friend in the room. Its a good book and one girl in the room said Im making sure ___ bucket is full. That made me happy because I knew someone was listening to the story.

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"> Monday February 13, 2012

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"> Last week was all about transportation. The kids learned about cars, boats, trains, airplanes, and others. The kids had fun with the new toys that was brought to the room. I read them a story about trains and the different parts of a train. They liked it and knew a whole bunch about trains. I was thinking that Thomas the train and Chuggington had something to do with the two shows. Tomorrow is Valentines Day and the kids are excited about it. I will be teaching a lesson tomorrow on <range type="comment" id="199172">‍‍‍‍‍‍sign language ‍‍‍‍‍‍ and a little subtration. It is a cute little poem/song and I can't wait to see if the kids like it.

Sunday February 19, 2012 This week felt long to me. Tuesday I am there early and the children were coming in happy because it was Valentines day. This was the day I was going to teach my lesson. I did a little Valentine poem with sign language. I made a felt board and hearts and showed them the signs for mom, dad, sister, brother and baby. The poem also had a little math to it as well. I had five hearts and after each verse I would take one away. I would ask the children how many are left. They did very well and learned the sign language fast. Latter in the day two parents came in to help us pass out Valentines. Then we got into groups and helped the children read their Valentiens. The lead teacher allowed them to have one piece of candy and they all were very excited. The day was great and I even got some Valentines that were very sweet. I started one of the projects this week as well. I am going to help fix the Science area in the room. It wasn't in a good place so the lead teacher found a spot for me to move it. I did an inventory of the items that are already there. I went to half price books this weekend and I found some great Science books for a dollar. This week I am going to start making changes and organizing the area. Its going to be fun being able to do this.

<range type="comment" id="808082">‍‍‍‍‍‍Tomorrow the Center is closed but the teachers have to attend workshops all day. It will be a nice day to be able to talk with other teachers. I am also going to do a KWL chart with the children on worms. My other project is on worms and worm composting. This is going to be fun and I think the children will enjoy help feeding the worms. ‍‍‍‍‍‍

Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation. [|John F. Kennedy] (1917-1963) Thirty-fifth President of the USA

Sunday February 26, 2012

The week started off with the center being closed. The teachers had workshops to attend for professional development hours. The morning workshops were about reducing, recyling and reusing. The one presenter showed us how to make paper. She also showed us two other activites that could be done in the classroom. The second presenter talked about toxins, and other enviromental hazzards. The afternoon workshop talked about working with parents. This was a good one. The presenter gave us some good tips on working with parents.

My lesson went really well this week. I did a KWL chart on worms. The children came up with some great responses about what they know about worms. Also they came up with some funny and interesting responsses about what they want to know about worms. I started reading them a story about worms as well. I didn't finish the book becuasue they were sitting there for a long time already and it was a nice day outside. I figured I will finish the book sometime this week.

This week coming up I have three lessons planned. Dr. Seuss's birthday is on Friday and I plan on doing my lessons on three of his books. I also handed out last week a question for the kids to answer with thier parents. The question was, "whats your favorite Dr. Seuss book and why"? I have gotten a few responses back already. I bought some stickers and a book marker for the children too. I just love Dr. Seuss books and I can't wait for this week!

“You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So... get on your way!” ― [|Dr. Seuss], //[|Oh, the Places You'll Go!]//

<span style="color: #519b03; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sunday March 4, 2012

<span style="color: #519b03; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This was a great week of Dr. Seuss lessons. The first lesson was Green Eggs and Ham. I read them the story and then had a little Math game with it. I had a plate, paper eggs, and numbers 1-10. I had them pick a number and they had to put that many eggs on the plate. The children know their numbers but don't recognize them in print. Some of the children were combing the numbers to make bigger numbers.

<span style="color: #519b03; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The second lesson was about the Lorax. It was about how the Lorax helps the Earth. I read them the story and then did a chart with them. I asked the children what they could do to help the Earth. Some of their answers were good. One child said she would plant a tree, a maple one. Another child said she would take quick showers, and another child said they would turn the water off when not using it. This lesson made them think what they could do to help the Earth and I hope it helps.

<span style="color: #519b03; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My third lesson was on Friday. I read The Cat in the Hat to the children. Then we I had the children color paper hats and I had them practice cutting along the lines of the had. After that I stapled them to black strips of construction paper. They did a good job. I told them they could color it like the cat's or they could color it any color they wanted to. I told them the cat's had was a pattern of two colors; red and white.

<span style="color: #519b03; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have pictures of these activites but I can't find my camera cord. When I find it I will up load the pictures.

<span style="color: #519b03; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">T<range type="comment" id="766156">‍‍‍‍‍his week coming up is going to be a busy week. Since its Spring break the center is short staffed. The student workers go home and the rest of the staff have to do split shifts.

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<span style="color: #03540c; font-family: Georgia,serif;">Sunday March 18, 2012

<span style="color: #03540c; font-family: Georgia,serif;">This past week activities were on Ireland and St. Patricks day. I wrote up a letter to the kids and told them a leprechaun had came to their room to play with the toys. He also moved furniture, scattered toys around the room, and put thier toys from home on the table. They got out magnify glasses and was looking for him around the room. Some of their faces were serious and angry. They were upset that he came to mess up thier room. They cleaned up after the leprechaun right away too. By the end of the week my cooperating teacher, and another teacher in the room and I asked the children what they would do to catch the leprechaun. Some of their answers were good and funny. Finally we set up a trap to catch him, but he escaped and left them another note. Also I went and got little black cauldrens and put gold and green coins in them. I hid them around the room for the children to find. They loved it but were mad that they didn't catch the leprechaun. It was a fun week talking about Ireland and leprechauns.

<span style="color: #03540c; font-family: Georgia,serif;">The weather was beautiful so we made it outside many times. This week is going to be just as nice so we will be outside a lot this week as well. I ordered my worms for the composting bin and hopefully they will be arriving this week.



<span style="color: #9412d3; font-family: Georgia,serif;">March 25, 2012

<span style="color: #9412d3; font-family: Georgia,serif;">This past weeks weather was really nice. We were outside everyday almost all morining and after snack time. This week we talked about Spring and did some planting. On Monday we planted grass seeds in a cup. When it grows the children can get some sissors and cut it like hair. On Tuesday I planted green beans with the children.<range type="comment" id="365808">‍‍ I used sports card sleeves (3x3) and I had the children put some dirt and seeds in there. Then I hung them on the window using suction cups. On Thursday you could see little roots starting to grow. The kids are so excited to see what they planted start to grow. ‍‍

<span style="color: #9412d3; font-family: Georgia,serif;">I'm still waiting for my worms so we can start the compost bin. Hopefully they come this week so we can get this project started. I can't belive this is the last week of March. This year is flying by already. The plans for this week coming up are more planting and talking about Spring.

<span style="color: #da10a5; font-family: Georgia,serif;"> Sunday April 1, 2012

<span style="color: #da10a5; font-family: Georgia,serif;">This week went by so fast. We did some more planting with the children. The garden beans and grass seeds grew so much over the weekend. When I came in on Monday I was amazed how fast they grew since they were only planted that past Tuesday. At the end of the week my Co-op teacher measured the beans with the children to see who's was the tallest. The kids were happy to see that the beans were growing.

<span style="color: #da10a5; font-family: Georgia,serif;"><range type="comment" id="442962">‍‍My lesson I did with the kids was a cooking lesson. We made salt dough and eventually I want to use the dough to make "fossils" for the Science area. I am going to have them press sea shell, pine cones, and plastic animal feet. We will let the dough dry or bake it in the oven. Then these will go in the science area. I found a fossil book at half price books to put in there as well. When we make the "fossils" I am going to briefly talk about what fossils are.

<span style="color: #da10a5; font-family: Georgia,serif;">This up coming week is short for me. We are only open Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I am going to try and make eggs out of yarn and dipped the yarn in a water/glue mixture. I am going to have the children wrap them around a small blown up ballon. My co-op teacher wasn't sure about this because we are not allowed to have balloons in the center, but she agreed on helping me make sure that the kids will be okay. I tried it out today with my daughter and it was messy buy fun. [] ‍‍ This is what they will look like when made. I hope they turn out okay and that they kids have fun with it.

<span style="color: #3a3b3a; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Sunday April 15, 2012 <span style="color: #3a3b3a; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Last week I taught the children about worms and composting. The worms arrived the week before Easter break. We looked at the worms a little bit, but wanted them to get use to their new home. Over the break cleaning people came and waxed the floors. Well they moved our things around and threw our worm box in with a container of books. We didn't noticed until Wednesday that some of the worms got out and were twisted into a ball with the books. Luckliy they were alive and probably just cold and scared. I had a few of the worms out and the kids loved it. They got magnify glasses and were actually touching them. I read a silly book called "A diary of a worm" and the kids loved that. I had them draw a picture of if they were a worm what would they do? Every day they want to see the worms and see if they are eating the food we put in the bin. The worms didn't do well with the apple and piece of bread. I had the kids collect dead leaves in the one play yard to put in the bin. The worms like the dead leaves and are eating those.

<span style="color: #3a3b3a; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">This coming week I want to take the green bean plants out of the one container and put them in a big pot. That way we can measure them better. Also we are going to get out the salt dough the kids made a few weeks ago and make fossils out of it.