Letter of the week

Each week we focus on a different letter of the week. This year we are not going in rote order of the alphabet, the letters are all mixed up. (As you've probably noticed on the weekly lesson plan sheet) There's a reason for that. We use the Handwriting Without Tears -- Get Set for School for Pre-K) at preschool - it is an easy way to learn handwriting (without tears, of course!) helping children learn correct letter formation (starting at the top, going the right direction, etc.). We use the Print Capital Letter Formation format (which is available to print for free on their website). 
We began implementing this format a few years ago and have had good success with it. The children learn capital letters first (because they are easy) and master those and then learn lower case. HWT encourages teaching capital letters in a certain order based on easier letters to more difficult letters, so we decided to try it this year! Children know the alphabet by rote (A,B,C, etc.), so we aren't as concerned about knowing their ABC's, because most children do and can sing the alphabet song! 
We instead focus on the phonemic awareness (letter sounds), which is emphasized in public school. We shy away from making preschool too academic, but believe it's important to practice certain skills children will need for future school success. 

The emphasis is different for each preschool session.

• The approach with the MWF session is to emphasize phonetic awareness, rhyming, on-set rhymes, phonics, vocabulary.
• The focus with the TR session is introducing letter sounds and words that begin with that sound, visual recognition.

In the MWF group, each week 2 children take home a "letter of the week" bag to find an object at home that begins with that letter and bring it back to preschool to share with the class. The TR group will begin doing this second semester. 

If you would like more information about Handwriting Without Tears (Get Set for School- Pre-K), visit their website. There are great tools and resources for parents to use at home. Free printables!!! Be sure to click on Get Set for School - this is the Pre-K curriculum we use.  There are tools for older children as well.    http://www.hwtears.com/hwt

** We recognize that there are many ways to learn how to write. This isn't the only way to go about it; there is no right way. We use this format because it fits the best with our philosophy and program. I am happy to answer any questions you may have.  

On Wednesday's, the children think of words that begin with the letter of the week. The teacher writes them on the white board. We always count to see how many words we can think of! It amazes me what words children think of.