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."