October
The central idea for the first quarter is to help children explore who they are, the important roles they play in their families, the friendships they build, and how they are each a valuable part of their classroom and community. We will do this through intentional unit studies over the next three months.
Each month we will be introducing new words that relate to the unit of study throughout our academic skills-based workshops. These connected vocabulary words are a great opportunity to build children’s language skills by helping them to understand the meaning of new words, see new words in various print sources, and build their vocabulary word bank! Be sure to check in with your child’s teacher to learn what words they are focusing on for that unit.
In October, we dive into our next unit: We can build relationships with our families and peers! Throughout the month, children will participate in academic workshops and open-ended discovery experiences designed to support their understanding of relationships and key social-emotional skills. As they explore their own families and build connections with peers, children will begin to see themselves and each other as valued members of a larger community, recognizing their unique roles within both their home and classroom families.
Let’s look at what your child will be exploring in each area…
In literacy, children will explore how illustrations and printed text work together to tell a story, helping them develop foundational print concepts. They’ll begin to understand that spoken words can be written down and used to share ideas, stories, or information. During read-alouds, children will practice retelling key parts of the story through drawing or writing, focusing on themes like family, friendship, and cooperation. They’ll also respond to questions about the story by identifying important details and supporting their answers using evidence from the text or illustrations.
Through these workshops, we’ll also be introducing Magic Words—special words that children learn by experiencing them in real, meaningful ways. Instead of relying on old-fashioned sight word drills, we’ll focus on just one or two magic words each week. Children will explore these words through fun, hands-on activities, interactive games, shared reading, and meaningful conversations. This helps build vocabulary and allows children to automatically recognize and use important words, boosting their early reading confidence and comprehension. Teachers will weave magic words and connected vocabulary throughout the day using word walls, discovery stations, classroom meetings, and more.
Magic Words: The, To, And, A
In math, we’ll practice counting objects, people, and actions using one-to-one correspondence to help children build accurate counting skills. For example, they’ll count how many people are in their family and compare with their peers. They’ll also strengthen their number sense by subitizing, quickly recognizing groups of objects without counting. We’ll introduce number lines as a fun tool to explore number order and relationships! Using a number line, children will work together to identify missing numbers and determine what comes next in a sequence. Through collaborative math games and problem-solving with peers, children will practice cooperation while discovering how math connects to everyday life at home and in their classroom community!
This month during our inquiry time, we’ll be exploring the themes of family and friendship. Children will begin by learning about the many different types of families, helping them recognize and appreciate the unique ways families are formed. They’ll also reflect on their own family routines and traditions, sharing special moments from home with their classmates! As we move into our friendship project, children will discuss what it means to be a good friend and identify the positive qualities they see in others. Through group activities and teamwork challenges, they’ll practice important social skills like cooperation, problem-solving, and working together – building a strong foundation for positive relationships both in and out of the classroom!
Continue the Learning at Home!
Looking for more ways to extend the learning? Click the “Home To School Connection” button for family-friendly activities, conversation starters, and additional resources tied directly to your child’s learning at school.
Last Month & Next Month
The central idea (or main focus) for the first quarter is to help children explore who they are, the important roles they play in their families, the friendships they build, and how they are each a valuable part of their classroom and community. We will do this through intentional unit studies over the next three months.
Each month we will be introducing new words that relate to the unit of study throughout our academic skills-based workshops. These connected vocabulary words are a great opportunity to build children’s language skills by helping them to understand the meaning of new words, see new words in various print sources, and build their vocabulary word bank! Be sure to check in with your child’s teacher to learn what words they are focusing on for that unit.
In September, we will dive into our first unit: We Can Explore Our Identity! Throughout the month children will engage in academic skill-based workshops and open-ended discovery experiences to learn more about what makes them unique. From sharing favorite things to discovering the letters in their names, children will begin to see themselves—and one another—as special individuals with their own interests, strengths, and stories.
Let’s look at what your child will be exploring in each area…
Literacy Workshops – In literacy, children will have fun sharing and describing their favorite things, such as colors, animals, and foods, through stories and group discussions. They’ll begin recognizing and identifying their own names using name cards, classroom labels, and special projects. We’ll also be practicing writing the letters in their names and talking about how names are made up of different letters. During read-alouds, children will enjoy identifying the names of characters and making connections between those names and the characters’ personalities.
Through these workshops, we’ll also be introducing Magic Words special words that children learn by experiencing them in real, meaningful ways. Instead of relying on old-fashioned sight word drills, we’ll focus on just one or two magic words each week. Children will explore these words through fun, hands-on activities, interactive games, shared reading, and meaningful conversations. This helps build vocabulary and allows children to automatically recognize and use important words, boosting their early reading confidence and comprehension. Teachers will weave magic words and connected vocabulary throughout the day using word walls, discovery stations, classroom meetings, and more.
Magic Words: I, Like, My, Can
Math Workshops – In math, we’ll use the children’s favorite things to help them explore basic math concepts like graphing, counting, and number recognition. Children will also dive into shapes and geometry by drawing themselves using simple shapes, such as circles for eyes or ovals for faces. We’ll count the number of letters in each child’s name and compare which names are longer or shorter. Later in the month, we’ll introduce fun measuring activities, where children will use nonstandard tools to measure objects including parts of their own bodies!
Inquiry Workshops – Our inquiry time will focus on learning about ourselves and others. Children will observe and describe their own physical characteristics, such as hair color, eye color, and height. We’ll play matching and sorting games to explore how we are similar and different. We’ll also begin exploring emotions and identifying different feelings. To tie it all together, we’ll use our five senses in hands-on sensory play to better understand how we experience the world around us.
The central idea for the first quarter is to help children explore who they are, the important roles they play in their families, the friendships they build, and how they are each a valuable part of their classroom and community.
Each month we will be introducing new words that relate to the unit of study throughout our academic skills-based workshops. These connected vocabulary words are a great opportunity to build children’s language skills by helping them to understand the meaning of new words, see new words in various print sources, and build their vocabulary word bank! Be sure to check in with your child’s teacher to learn what words they are focusing on for that unit.
In November, we dive into our next unit: We can connect with our community! Throughout the month, children will participate in academic workshops and open-ended discovery experiences designed to support their understanding of relationships and key social-emotional skills. As they explore their community and build connections with peers, children will begin to see themselves and each other as valued members of a larger community.
Let’s look at what your child will be exploring in each area…
Literacy Workshops – In literacy, children will explore how printed text and real-world images work together to share information about their community. They will begin to identify rhyming words and syllables, while also recalling facts about real people who live and work around them. Through read-alouds and discussions, children will recognize and name familiar signs and logos, describing their meanings and purposes using environmental print.
They’ll also engage with nonfiction texts, demonstrating an understanding of features like photos, labels, and captions. As they make connections to their own experiences, children will talk about tools and objects used by community helpers and begin identifying letters in meaningful contexts. These activities will help build early reading skills while deepening their understanding of community life.
Through these workshops, we’ll also be introducing Magic Words special words that children learn by experiencing them in real, meaningful ways. Instead of relying on old-fashioned sight word drills, we’ll focus on just one or two magic words each week. Children will explore these words through fun, hands-on activities, interactive games, shared reading, and meaningful conversations. This helps build vocabulary and allows children to automatically recognize and use important words, boosting their early reading confidence and comprehension. Teachers will weave magic words and connected vocabulary throughout the day using word walls, discovery stations, classroom meetings, and more.
Magic Words: You, It, In, Said
Math Workshops – In math, children will explore patterns in their community and practice creating or extending patterns using colors, shapes, and objects. They’ll compare groups using words like more, less, and same to build early math vocabulary and understanding. We’ll also introduce simple addition, using characters like Gus the Plus and Eli the Equal Sign to help children understand math symbols in a fun and engaging way. As they begin using basic addition strategies, children will solve problems through hands-on activities, games, and collaboration with peers. These experiences will help them build number sense and see how math connects to everyday life.
Inquiry Workshops – This month during our inquiry workshops, we’ll be exploring the theme of community. Children will learn about different community helpers and the important roles they play in keeping neighborhoods safe, healthy, and connected. They’ll become logo detectives, searching for familiar signs and symbols in their environment and learning how these visuals help us navigate the world around us. Children will also explore basic maps by creating their own neighborhood maps, identifying places they know and thinking about what makes a community complete. Through hands-on projects like building our own community, children will deepen their understanding of how people, places, and roles all work together.
As we focus on kindness and gratitude, children will discuss meaningful ways to show appreciation to others in their community. We’ll talk about what it means to be helpful, caring, and thoughtful citizens. Through group discussions, role play, and simple acts of giving, children will practice saying “thank you” to real-life helpers in our school and neighborhood. These experiences will help foster empathy, responsibility, and a strong sense of connection to the world around them.