The Power of Connecting

Connecting toys (also called manipulative or table top toys) are objects like legos, puzzles, lacing games, or anything that interlocks. They are typically played with at the table or on the floor. These quiet activities can be played alone, in small groups, or with a teacher. They offer children opportunities to learn new skills.

Providing a variety of manipulatives with differing texture, colors, shapes and degree of difficulty give lots of opportunities for children to develop skills in many domains. Often, manipulatives can help math skills, science reasoning, critical thinking, and problem solving.

Look for fun ways to develop manipulative skills at home. Anything that requires their fine motor skills (small muscles) will count.This will not only be a fun experience but will also help later in handwriting.

Take a look at all the fun we had this week at The Academy. We focused on fine motor and connecting with our school family.

Let's make a tent!

Preschool focused on connecting and suing their fine motor skills to make a tent. Each child was able to get a few PVC pipes, connect them together and with teamwork they created a tent to hangout in. Take a look at all their hard work and concentration figuring out how the pieces connected together.

School Bus Visits!

One of the best parts of Kindergarten Bootcamp is getting a visit from a school bus. School transportation is a very important part of the education process in the school system. This was the perfect time for all the kids to learn bus safety and the rules while riding the bus.

They were able to walk in a kindergarten line and sit in the bus while the bus driver talked to them. We even had ask questions and tell us some safety tips that they have already learned. The kids were a little disappointed that we weren't able to leave the parking lot but full of excitement to sit in the big seats.

Here are some safety tips from the Williamson County Schools:

Drivers will provide all students the safest, most comfortable, and least troublesome journey to and from school. In order to assure safe transportation while traveling on a bus, certain rules for pupils have been established by the Transportation Director.

1. Students shall obey the driver. The driver must be totally in charge. Students shall respond promptly to instructions given.
2. Each student will be seated in the seats which they are assigned, take their seats promptly upon entering the bus, and stay in their seat while the bus is in motion. No windows or doors will be opened or closed except by permission of the bus driver.
3. Students will not be allowed to tease, scuffle, trip, hold, hit or use their hand, feet or body in any objectionable manner.
4. The use of electronic devices or other items in a manner that might interfere with the school bus communication equipment or the driver’s operation of the school bus is prohibited. This may include but is not limited to cell phones, audible radios, tape or compact disc players, mirrors, lasers, flash cameras or other reflective devices.
5. The use of alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, eating, chewing gum or soda drinks on the bus is prohibited.
6. Students must observe classroom conduct. Ordinary conversation is permitted. Loud, boisterous, profane language and obscene gestures or indecent conduct will not be tolerated.
7. Students must keep the aisles clear of items such as musical instruments, books, backpacks, etc. If student must carry such items, they will NOT occupy another student seat nor extend above the seat back. Animals (alive or dead), oversized objects as well as glass containers are not permitted.
8. At no time will a student put hands, head or other body parts out the window.
9. Students must treat bus equipment as they would the furniture in their homes. Any damage to bus seats, windows, equipment, etc., will be charged to responsible student.
10. STUDENTS MUST HAVE A BUS PERMIT TO RIDE ANY BUS OTHER THAN THEIR ASSIGNED BUS. Parents must send written notice in advance to school principal with appropriate information for child to ride a different bus. Principal or their designee will approve and issue a Bus Permit. STUDENT WILL GIVE BUS PERMIT TO BUS DRIVER WHEN THEY BOARD THE BUS.
11. Students will not ask the driver to let them off at such places as a store, job, etc. All extra stops must be approved in writing by the school principal or designee or Transportation Department in advance.
12. Students are asked to use the hand rail when getting on and off the school bus.
13. If students must cross the street or road to board the bus, they must wait for the driver’s signal. They must cross well in front of the bus.
14. Students are expected to do the following:
• Be at the stop 5 minutes PRIOR to scheduled pickup time
• Never run to catch the bus
• While waiting for the bus — stay clear of the roadway & wait in an orderly line
• Never exit using the rear door unless in an emergency and directed by the bus drive
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Water Day Art

Check out the fun water painting we did on hydro day. We were able to create with water colors in spray bottles on bubble wrap and paper. Science, fine motor skills, play based art, working together as a school family are just some the developmental domains that we used with with fun activity.