Mrs. Sokoloski's Class

Daily living skills are important to practice so your child can become independent.  Self help skills also help your child to feel empowered!  We practice many of these at school on a daily basis.  Try working on one or more of the skills listed below today:

• Put toys away
• Dress/undress themselves as much as possible
• Pulling pants up and down when its time to use the bathroom
• Put shoes on
• Wipe face clean after meals
• Use utensils (spoon or fork)
• Help make their bed
• Help prepare meals/set table
• Work on potty training if your child is ready
• Wipe down tables
• Put away clean clothes
• Brush their hair/teeth 
• Wash hands – we worked on this every day at school they know they the steps! 
• Throw away trash after a snack 

In school we practiced using the word “go” not only during letter G week, but all of the time!  Here are some ways you can work on teaching your child the word “go” at home:

Model using the word:

• Let’s go
• Go over there
• Where should we go?
• Go to…
• Ready, set, go!

I sent home a book titled “Go” in your packets but here are some links to online books including the word like:

https://tarheelreader.org/2012/03/08/go/

https://tarheelreader.org/2013/06/28/going-to-the-park-2/

Below are videos with the word go:

It’s Monday again and you know what the means…Double gym day! Has your child been getting exercise?  

Check out our gym teacher Ms. B’s blog for movement ideas: https://iblog.dearbornschools.org/budopw/

*Parent please note that Ms. B teaches students of different ages and abilities so only choose the activities that are most appropriate for your child*

Here are some ideas to get your child moving today:

• Play ring around the Rosie 
• Move like animals – crab walk, gallop, waddle like a duck, etc.
• Pull or push wagons, strollers, large trucks
• Create a crawling obstacle course
• Play hopscotch
• Go for a family walk
• Play tag
• Ride a bike
• Play catch 

On a normal Friday at school we practice our fine motor skills.  Today, let’s focus on put-in tasks.  Put-in tasks are simply that…activities where the child has to put objects into a container.

Why put-in activities?

• It’s a repetitive task which can be calming for a child
• Helps with attention span
• Increases work endurance
• Practices grasp and release 
• Improves dexterity 
• Improves hand manipulation
• Increases visual motor skills
• Teaches children to work independently

Here are some examples of put-in tasks you can create with items from around the house:

Put crayons or markers into a bottle

Put toothpicks in a jar

Put buttons or coins in through a slot

Use tongs to put blocks into a container

Cards into a slot

Q-tips into a small opening

You can make a put-in task out of anything! To make these tasks more difficult (if your child is ready) have them sort while putting in, use tongs instead of fingers, or use smaller objects.

Check out some of the online resources below! 

These could be great resources to use over the summer during screen time to expose your children to academics. 

1. storylineonline.net – This website streams videos of actors reading children’s books alongside the book’s illustrations.  

Here are some of my favorites:

• The Rainbow Fish – https://www.storylineonline.net/books/the-rainbow-fish/
• The Kissing Hand – https://www.storylineonline.net/books/kissing-hand/

2. starfall.com/h/index-kindergarten.php – Educational games for children. 

Recommended areas:

• ABCs
• Motion Songs

3. cookie.com/preschool.html

4. classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome/grades-prek-k.html – Watch stories, read books, and complete learning activities.

5. kids.sandiegozoo.org – Learn about animals! Watch videos, read stories, find craft ideas, and play online games.

6. abcya.com/grades/prek – Educational games for children.

Recommended games:

• ABC and 123 Magnets
• Talk to Me Alphabet 

7.  pbskids.org

8. sesamestreet.org

Last week I sent home a “This Little Piggy” print out to use when practicing counting and number recognition. 

Here are some ways to practice counting at home with your child:

• Count snack foods! Example: If you are having Goldfish crackers for snack put a few in front of your child and count them out.  Have your child point to each cracker and count along with you
• Count while folding laundry – How many shirts? How many socks?
• Sing counting songs (5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, Five Green and Speckled Frogs, etc.)
• Build a block tower and count how many blocks you used
• Count the steps in your house as you practice walking up or down them
• Have your child help you set the table for dinner – How many napkins? How many forks?
• Count toys! – How many… stuffed animals, balls, cars, dolls?
• Read the “Counting Eggs” book that was sent home and any other book that has numbers
• Go for a walk and count things you see…squirrels, flowers, trees, birds, houses, dogs, etc.

In school we practiced using the word “like” not only during letter L week, but all of the time!  Here are some ways you can work on teaching your child the word “like” at home:

Model using the word:

• I like it/I don’t like it
• Do you like this?
• He/she likes it.
• I like to….

I sent home a book titled “I like” in your packets but here are some links to online books including the word like:

https://tarheelreader.org/2017/11/09/i-like-79/

https://tarheelreader.org/2017/10/23/i-like-because/

https://tarheelreader.org/2017/10/17/i-like-to-eat-14/

https://tarheelreader.org/2017/08/25/i-like-school-12/

Below are videos with the word like:

*Check out ClassDojo to see a video of Ms. Ashley*

**Don’t forget we have a class video chat today at 1:00! Check your email for the invite**

Today we are going to work on counting with Five Green and Speckled Frogs!

*Check out ClassDojo to see a video of Ms. Ashley reading and counting*

It’s Memorial Day weekend, which means we have Friday and Monday off.  I’ll be back to posting on Tuesday.  Have a wonderful weekend! 

Today, let’s work on identifying body parts!

• Read the “My Face” booklet I sent home 
• Show them the parts of their face in a mirror
• Have your child point to the parts of their face, then have them point to yours
• Ask them to do things with their body. For example – close your eyes, open your mouth, clap your hands, tap your foot
• Make music with your body! The kids love when I sing the song below

• Practice head, shoulders, knees, and toes

• Sing if your happy and you know it and follow along 

*Check out ClassDojo for a video of Ms. Ashley*