Handing out the water bottles strengthens the development of beginning reading skills. Anna Lee has knowledge of the letters in the alphabet and also is beginning to understand how to "read" the letters from left to right.
Putting the nap cots out around the room for nap time requires both large and small motor skills. They must use their hands to grasp the cot and the strength and coordination of their bodies to hold it up and control it's movement. Kaya and Zoe are practicing moving backwards as they drag the nap cots across the room.
Setting the table for meals offers an experience for practicing math skills. Sam and Chloe must first count out the number of plates, spoons, and cups we will need for the meal. Then they practice a foundational preschool math skill called one-to-one correspondence. After preschoolers can recite a number sequence accurately, they must then learn to count off individual objects by giving each object one and only one number name.
When everything in the classroom has it's own special place to "live", toddlers and preschoolers can clean up after themselves with ease. We reinforce this time of our day by playing the "clean up song". Katy has mastered the skill of using her hands and fingers to hang clothing on a hook.
Chloe helps with the laundry which is a real life experiencing sorting and categorizing. She was able to sort out all of the similar items together and then put them away. She knows that the stuffed animals go with the other stuffed animals in the basket, the sheets and blankets go with other sheets and blankets in the closet and the dish towels go with other dish towels in the kitchen.
