Day 37

"The Feast"

Hannah couldn't wait to get to school today. "The Feast" has been built up for the past week and a half. All the kids were able to sign up and bring in different snacks to share for a class, Thanksgiving Feast.

Throughout the week they have made a complete indian costume. A smock, head band, necklace and drum. They paraded around the entire school playing thier drum!

Over the weekend, Hannah colored pictures for everyone in the class. They all had to do with things that each child has brought in the past for show and tell. She was very excited to make them. She put the letter of thier names in the corner, so she would remember who they were for!

I surprised Hannah at school by coming in early. I couldn't wait to see her at "The Feast!"

Newspaper

Gateway Academy ~

Veteran's Day Celebration

Pre-Kindergarten 3 and
Pre-Kindergarten 4 classes

(Hannah is on far right)

Day 33

"You're a Grand Old Flag"

Today is Veteran's Day. Gateway Academy had a huge celebration this morning for the entire school. They all gathered in the gymnasium.

There was a special observance that was highlighted by several military men and women from the area attending, speaking and meeting with the staff and students. They sang lots of songs.

Hannah was so proud that her class stood up with the 4 year old class and waived flags while signing "Grand Old Flag". She knows all the words- and will belt it out whenever asked.

You're a grand old flag,You're a high flying flag And forever in peace may you wave.You're the emblem of The land I love. The home of the free and the brave. Ev'ry heart beats true 'neath the Red, White and Blue,Where there's never a boast or brag. Should auld acquaintance be forgot, Keep your eye on the grand old flag.

They did other activities in the class pertaining to flags and the USA- story, stickers, songs.

They spent more time on the playground after the presentation in the gym- because it lasted an hour- and they had to behave and sit still. Mrs. Schmidt said that the entire class did great- and behaved better than the Kindergartners. Hannah said that she sat next to Mrs. McGowan.

Other things Hannah told us about today:

• EVERYONE was in the gym
• "I sang all the words"
• Leonard was nice to me today
• Grace didn't sit still in the gym because she wanted to sit by her mom
• ate fruit snacks
• didn't get to turn off the lights today
• "today was a great day... I like to have great days!" (she seriously said this)

Day 32

"I don't think I'll go to school on Wednesday"

This morning as I left Hannah, they had a new activity with their name. They had clothes pins that had letters of their name, that they needed to take off and give to Mrs. Schmidt. It's as if the activity was created just for her! We have been starting to work with Hannah at home on pinching activities and using her pointer and thumb to start moving towards holding a pencil/crayon correctly.

The class has been working on numbers for the past several days. They have been coloring in the numbers with dot-paint. They've also been learning how to write the numbers.

She was quite wild coming out of school today. She ran full blast into me, almost knocking me over- then turned around and did the same thing to Mrs. Schmidt.

Mrs. Schmidt told me, after I put Hannah into the car, that they are having a Veteran's Day celebration at school on Wednesday. They practiced in music class today by signing the song "A Grand Old Flag". They talked about on Wednesday going to the 4 year old classroom and holding flags, and singing the song all together. Hannah's response to Mrs. Schmidt was "I don't think I'll go to school on Wednesday."

All of the children were back in class today- and appear to be healthy for the moment.

Other things Hannah did today:

• Animal crackers for a snack
• New job this week- turning off the lights to signal clean up
• played on the slide at the playground
• went to the library
• read a book about a square pumpkin
• grace was the calendar person today
• Collin brought a car for show and tell
• when Hannah and Collin were leaving, the class was getting out small puzzles to play with
• Mrs. McGowan helped Hannah write the numbers

Day 31

"Pocahontas is an Indian."

Here's Hannah's class picture. The resolution is not very good- which is okay with me- the face that she's making, doesn't need to be clearly seen. Ha.

Today was Hannah's turn for show and tell. There was no decision to make about what to bring- she was set on bringing her Pocahontas doll from Nana's house.


Now that it's Thanksgiving time, Hannah and Nana have been reading about the Indians & Pilgrims and of course, dressing up like Princess Pocahontas. Hannah couldn't wait to show the class her doll, and talk about John Smith. There's also something about a necklace breaking that Hannah talks about in the story. I haven't seen the movie or read the book with her, but she knows most of it by heart. She said the boys didn't like the doll, and that Alyssia likes Ariel better. But she was very proud to have brought Pocahontas.


When I was leaving Hannah this morning, I reminded her, and let Mrs. Schmidt know that Nana would be picking Hannah up today- Hannah started jumping around the room signing in excitement!

The only room that they visited today was the centers room. She told us that she made an alligator with Leonard and that she sorted different colored beads into bowls.

Other things Hannah told us about today:

• played outside on the slide
• had goldfish crackers for a snack
• read a book in the classroom
• held the flag again
• Leonard had to leave school early today
• Mrs. McGowan said, "Shawn, that's not nice!"

Day 30

"God created the world and rainbows"

Hannah's class has been learning the story of Noah's Ark. They have been doing activities about the story. Hannah has a book at home which we've used to focus on animals. They learned that God made the world and rainbows- according to Hannah. In the classroom, they have been reading the story and have been playing with giant Ark's and have been pairing animals to put inside. Hannah's favorite activity is the giant floor puzzle containing all the animals and ark as well.

Hannah's job this week is to hold the flag during the pledge of allegiance. She's so excited to get a new job weekly! She told me what job everyone else had in the class today too.

They went to music class and played the xylophone. She remembered having one at Nana's, so of course they needed to get it out an play. She told us that Mr. Gerdell taught them to play blue and orange- so I am guessing that the bars are color coded.

Other things Hannah said about today:

• Went to music class
• played outside
• went to the centers room
• cut out the rainbow with Mrs. Schmidt
• played in the kitchen with Alyssa
• Shawn wrote on the wall with markers
• Grace brought show and tell today- it was a camera to show a picture of her cat

Day 29

"Parent-Teacher Conference"

Today was the big day. Tyler and I couldn't wait for our first parent-teacher conference! We both left work early to be at school by 3:15. We had to wait a few minutes for our meeting to begin, as school dismissed for the day. We watched Hannah's class (there are 5 kids that go full day).

When we first started to talk with Mrs. Schmidt, she gave us a two page report documenting Hannah's progress. It was almost surreal to have someone talking about her. She told us things we already knew and surprised us with new things.

The most impressionable comments were talking about Hannah as a person, and how it's obvious she comes from a loving, caring family. That she has been so lucky to have been home with Nana for years, because it's developed her as a person that is confident, emotional and capable.

The progress sheet was as follows:

• Excels academically- knows her shapes, colors, numbers and letters
• Can stack blocks
• Balances well on her right and left feet
• Throws well left handed
• Kicks ball well with left foot
• Needs improvement with pencil grip and using scissors
• Speaks clearly
• Communicates feeling, needs and wants
• Speaks in sentences
• Participates in circle time and waits for turns in group activities
• Is attentive during group activities
• Follows instructions
• Responds when addressed
• Sometimes participates in clean up- other times, watches what everyone else is doing

Other Comments written by Mrs. Schmidt:

"Hannah is adjusting nicely to the preschool classroom environment. She demonstrates strong language skills and appears to enjoy many different activities. She continues to feel more comfortable playing with other children and will initiate play with others during free time. She is a true joy to teach."

Day 28

"Angels on Parade"

Today was the "Angel and Saint Party" to celebrate fall, Halloween and All Saints Day. Everyone in the school could dress up as an angel or saint! Hannah's class got to walk around the entire school, visiting all the classrooms like a parade! Hannah had a blast today. They exchanged snack bags full of treats, played bingo with candy corn and made spider art projects! Hannah and I put together her treat bags last night. She brought m&m's, toy story fruit snacks and granola bars. She wanted to try them all at once, of course.

Hannah and Mrs. McGowan (above)

Hannah and Mrs. Schmidt (above)

Hannah and Alyissa (above)

Alyissa, Shawn, Hannah and Collin

Day 27

"Jack-o-lanterns are magnets!"

Rainy day, rainy week, rainy month. No outside for Hannah's class today. It's been the wettest October on record for St. Louis.

Hannah was very excited to bring home the jack-o-lantern magnets she made at school this week. I was pretty impressed with how well she's staying inside the lines! They each have something different carved on them, and Hannah was quite particular about putting them in the correct order on the refrigerator.

Hannah sang us a song at dinner tonight that they sang in music class today. She doesn't know all the words, so I have no idea what it actually was. Something about "Nancy went up the....." She said that they played the stick instruments, and she had fun.

When I left Hannah this morning, she was starting to do watercolor painting with the girls. They decided that they were going to paint ducks. I was so excited to see that Mrs. McGowan put a smock on Hannah- as this was a struggle earlier in the year, when Hannah didn't want to wear one. My how she is growing to do different things- even small things sometime seem so big!

Hannah played with Shawn and Mrs. McGowan on the floor with all the trains. They built train tracks and then they drove the trains around on them.

Other things Hannah said about today:

• Leonard was still sick
• Keejuck was back, he got a new haircut
• Keejuck forgot the show and tell bag again
• Grace did the weather frog
• Collin held the flag for the pledge of allegiance
• ate vanilla wafers for a snack

New thing- Hannah knows the entire Pledge of Allegiance! She can say it all by herself without any help!

Day 26

"School Pictures"

Today we got Hannah's school picture. Oh my. Coming soon will be the class picture. This is the face Hannah makes when you tell her to smile. You'd think the photographer would think this looks unusual...

Hannah sang "Old MacDonald" all evening, because that was the song they sang in music class today! They played the tambourines, because it was Ignacio's favorite.

Hannah's new job this week is the snack helper. She gets to pass out all the snacks to everyone. Part of her job is that she counts the kids, then counts the snacks and passes them out. She didn't understand why she is the snack helper, but we didn't have to bring the snacks. (I don't understand that either)

Hannah says they didn't go to the gym, the library or the chapel today. Even though they typically go to these places on Monday, I guess they had other things to do. She talked about painting pumpkins- and came home with orange paint on her arm.

Hannah also told us:

• had cheese and crackers for a snack
• Keejuck and Leonard were out sick today
• Alyssa stayed for the after care program
• it was raining, no playground today

Day 25

"The three bears have beds!"

This morning, when we arrived at school, Mrs. Schmidt was the only teacher in the classroom, because Mrs. McGowan was home sick! Hannah surprisingly didn't seem too concerned with this. On Thursday's there are only 5 kids in the classroom, so it didn't seem to be a problem at all.

Hannah was very excited about the art project that they did today. In class, they have been reading the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. They made a stand house, bears, beds and porridge all to match the story. We played with it all evening. It was a great project idea!

Today was Hannah's last day of the week for school, which meant this was the last time she'd do the calendar in class for a while. We talked about the calendar tonight at dinner.

Other things Hannah told us:

• Keejuck was not in school today- he was out sick
• played with Leonard on the floor, got out the animals
• went to the centers room and ran around
• Shawn was very nice to Leonard today
• made cards for Daddy and Papa

Day 24

"Mr. Gerdell was back today!"

When I picked Hannah up from school today, she ran out yelling, "Mr. Gerdell was back today!" She was so happy to be back in the normal routine and going to music class. They didn't play instruments today, but did sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

Mrs. Schmidt pulled me aside to talk after I put Hannah in the car, to tell me about a situation that happened yesterday. During free play, Hannah was playing alone for awhile in the kitchen. At one point, Ignacio joined her and took some of her food. Hannah pushed him out of frustration. She said that Mrs. McGowan witnessed this and immediately addressed Hannah, and it made her cry.

Mrs. Schmidt also mentioned that Hannah isn't helping clean up. The signal to the kids that it's time to clean up is to flicker the lights. When the lights are flickered, Hannah stops playing and watches everyone else clean up.
Other things about today:

• had popcorn for a snack, that Mrs. Schmidt made
• made lots of 'cards' for everyone at school today
• Shawn took Keejucks toys today
• played outside on the playground
• went to the centers room and played with Grace
• showed the calendar again today
• Keejuck forgot his Show and Tell bag at home

I scheduled our parent teacher conference for November 2nd... can't wait!

Day 23

"The music teacher was sick."

Hannah couldn't wait to tell me about music today- because Mr. Gerdell was sick. He was not at school today! There was a different teacher for music class, but Hannah can't remember her name. They played cymbals in class, because they are Ignacio's favorite.

Every week jobs change... and this week Hannah gets to do the calendar! This is her first time doing this job, however, she's been practicing at home. She has a pointer from her abacus that broke, and she uses it in her room to point at the days and dates on her calendar. I caught her teaching Nemo a few days ago, and now I understand what she's doing!

I arrived a bit early today to pick Hannah up, so I decided to go inside and sneak a peek at what was going on in the classroom. They were in the library with Mrs. McGowan when I arrived. They were reading a book about a big pumpkin that rolled down the hill. I hid around the corner, so Hannah wouldn't see me. It was amazing to see her listening, following instruction and behaving so politely- all on her own. I'm so proud of my little girl.

The drawing above, is the United States- I can see it!

Other things Hannah told us about today:

• went to the Chapel this morning to say morning prayers
• played outside for the first time in a week
• Mrs. Schmidt helped her do the monkey bars
• Grace brought a horse for show and tell
• made a house for art project, but couldn't bring it home
• ate crackers and cheese for a snack
• painted pumpkins, but they had to dry
• Keejuck did something funny
• Shawn played with Legos
• Leonard and Collin pretended to be dinasours
• Alyssa played blocks with Hannah
  
  
  

Day 22

"There were animals in the kitchen!"

When we arrived at school today, the first thing Hannah told Mrs. Schmidt, was that she forgot to water the plant yesterday. It was her job as the special helper and the teachers forgot! Hannah remembered last night around dinner time and wanted to go back to school to water!

Today was Collin's birthday. The class sang "Happy Birthday" to him, but Hannah told us that she didn't sing. She was very excited that the cookies they had for his birthday had purple icing and all different colored sprinkles.

The class painted leaves today to decorate a tree on a bullitan board. She liked painting and drawing today. It sounds like they stayed in the classroom for most of the day- no music, library or chapel. They also couldn't go outside because it was still raining.

When I asked Hannah about what toys she played with today, she was more interested in telling me what Shawn did today. She found it funny and frustrating that Shawn put all the Noah's Ark animals in the kitchen- because, of course, they don't belong there.

Other things Hannah told us about today:

• Leonard brought a pillow to school today
• Ignacio's dad brought him to class this morning
• Grace was not there
• Mrs. Schmidt read Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Day 21

"I like glue."

Hannah did lots of art projects today. When I left her this morning, she was busy with Mrs. McGowan getting out colored paper, scissors and glue. She has been bringing home papers that she's glued smaller shapes on and pieces that she is cutting out. I am very impressed with how quickly she has learned how to do these things- these are things that she has done at school- and not at home.

Hannah couldn't wait to tell me as soon as she got into the car after school today, that Grace was back in class. I asked if she knew where Grace was on Monday- she told me, "Grace was at the lake with her Dad." It really made me chuckle- it was such a matter of fact conversation.

The girls did art projects together all morning. In class they've been focused on animals, fall and Halloween. They painted spiderwebs and made spiders.

Hannah played by herself today during free time- with Noah's Ark and the animals. She told me she lined them all up in a really long line and counted them. She told me there were 26 animals. I asked her what their names were- she told me that these animals don't have names. She just calls them what they are.

Things Hannah told us about:

• went to music class, played bells
• sang a song about Mommy sleeping
• Shawn didn't play nice today
• ate pretzels for a snack, that Collin brought
• Leonard brought a knife for show and tell (I need to find out about this)
• didn't go outside today because it was rainy