Pre-K
October 2022
Book of the Month
by Carole Lindstrom
Click on the title for more information!
Themes of the Month
Kindness and Speaking Up for What is Right
Welcome to PreK!
We want to welcome you and your child to PS 230’s Pre-K program.
We know that for many of you this is your “little one’s” first experience away from home, without Mom and Dad. We realize that this is a big adjustment for you and your child. We want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to help you and your child feel comfortable in school.
We have spent the month of September learning about school routines and making new friends!
Some ways that you can help your child make a smooth transition to school is to encourage your child to be independent at home as well. You can teach them to put their folder and water in their backpacks as well as putting their jackets on by themselves.
It is also important that your child arrives at school on time; our day begins at 8:30 a.m. It is equally important for you to pick up your child on time. Dismissal is at 2:20 p.m.
Social Emotional Learning
We have been learning about different feelings, such as happy, sad, and angry. We have been reading a book called Have You Filled A Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud.
In this book, we learned that everyone carries an invisible bucket that holds good thoughts and feelings. Children begin to understand that they can fill buckets when they do and say things that are kind, considerate, caring and respectful. They will also learn that when they do the opposite, they dip into the buckets and remove those good feelings. Children can understand that actions and words can either fill a bucket or dip into it.
During the school year we will be encouraging, and recognize every child’s effort to be a bucket filler, at home, at school and everywhere they go.
Math
In math, we are learning about different shapes.
You can help your child by taking a walk around the neighborhood to look for different shapes.
You can even look around your home and talk about all the different shapes you see, for example: the door is shaped like a rectangle and a clock is shaped like a circle.
Physical Education
Your child has been engaging in many gross motor activities throughout the school day.
You can help your child by taking them to the playground after school.
You can also play ball. Practice throwing and catching a ball with your child.
Mrs. Fitzgerald - Music and Movement
Pre-K students are learning about their bodies and various ways we can move them. Please remember to send your child to school with rubber soled shoes. We are an active class. Currently we are working on galloping and singing, Old Mc Donald had a farm.
Ms. Brill - Art
Our newest artists are getting to know the art room! Children learn best through play, so the children are exploring centers such as play dough, blocks, and drawing. We are working on small group art projects such as paper tearing collages. We will be transitioning into whole group projects soon!
Ms. Becker - Art
Students created abstract rainbow designs applying their newly found knowledge of the spectrum which they learned singing Jàck Hartman's "Rainbow Song" and by observing a model rainbow drawing. We also created found object sculptures and saw a video of assemblage artists.
Mr. Meehan - Physical Education
Students are doing various activities while performing various gross motor skills.
Ms. Woods - Physical Education
Ms. Randazzo's students are learning routines and being introduced to various fitness activities.
Mr. Feder - Science
Pre-K children are introduced to the scientific method and the five (5) senses which they will use to learn more about themselves and their world.
Ms. Bakalac - Science
Pre-K students will be learning about how we use our 5 senses to explore, investigate and understand ourselves and our world. Students will use observations and ask questions. These are higher-level science skills that they will be using in upcoming Pre-K units and in kindergarten.
To support your child at home, have them look for things in nature and listen for different sounds, smell and taste different foods and touch materials of different textures.
Ms. Caputo - Social Studies
Pre-K classes will be hearing stories that help them understand that teachers - and other adults at school - keep them safe, care about them, and help them learn at school. Some titles we will be reading are "All Are Welcome Here," by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman; "Rosie Goes To Preschool" by Karen Katz; and "The Pigeon Has To Go To School," by Mo Willems. Students will participate in art activities to support fine motor skills and group work.
Reminders:
☺ Please have your child wear sneakers to school every day. The children are running, jumping and playing in the schoolyard and in the gym. If your child wears boots to school please send them in with sneakers to change into. Sneakers with Velcro are helpful because your child can put them on and take them off independently.
☺ Please dress your child in comfortable clothing. It is helpful to not send them in with pants that close with buttons and zippers, unless they can open and close it themselves. It helps to make them more independent in the bathroom.
PreK Books of the Month
Here is a list of some of our favorite books that we will be reading this month.
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McLoud 
The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn 
Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley
Owl Babies, by Martin Waddell 
Five Little Ducks 
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
You can borrow these books and more from your local library: Borough Park Library (1265 43rd Street, near 13th Ave), Kensington Library (4207 18th Ave at E 3rd St), Windsor Terrace Library (160 E 5th St at Ft Hamilton Pkwy)
You can also ask the librarian for more books about school and making friends.
Cool Culture Passes
A Family's First Ticket to a Lifetime of Learning!
We are so excited to offer Cool Culture passes to all families with children in PS 230's PreK! You will have access to 90 of NYC’s best-loved museums, gardens, zoos and historic houses. We can't wait to hear about all the fun things your child do when you use the Cool Culture Pass.
For more information about the Cool Culture Pass, click visit Cool Culture.org