Mrs. K's "Cozy Little Cabin" Class 6, "T"

In this class, Mrs. K introduces the letter "T" an a temporary new addition to the "set," a teepee and a large asortment of other "friends" that start with "T." Songs include "I Brush My Teeth" and "I'm a Little Tea Pot." An interesting outdoor activity comes from Mr. Kapanka's childhood. He and his brothers spent many summer hours under the Chinese Elm tree in their front year. The twigs of which were ideal for making little "twig" cabins and teepees all around the base of that tree. It will be interesting to see if pastime now more than a half-century old will hold any attraction in this world of screens and personal devices. The story is "Franklin in the Dark" by Paulette Bourgeois 1986 (illustrated by Brenda Clark). A tale about a box turtle who is afraid of the dark and reluctanat to sleep in a shell.

March 30th marks the third Monday of the national "closure" of schools due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. We will continue to meet social and educational needs of our students and the many other guests who join us each MWF this spring.

Mrs. K's "Cozy Little Cabin" Class 5, "S"

This Class covers the letter "S" and and the number 8. It includes many "friends" that start with "S" as well as planting "S"eeds. The story is by Eric Carle called " The Very Busy Spider." Due to Youtube's 15-minute limit on uploaded videos during the Covid-19 pandemic (which necessitated this series), Mrs. Kapanka has to move from topic to topic much faster than would happen in a normal morning at school. It is recommended to watch the video through, make note of what you might need to watch it again pushing pause whenever you want to suplement with your own thoughts or activities. For instance, after Mrs. K show the pillow about friendship, it would be good to look up Provers 27:17. "Iron sharpens iron, and so one [friend] sharpens another."

Parental thoughts related to this session include two poems by Mr. Kapanka:
"Hope without the S," points out the difference in meaning between the word "HOPE" when we add an "S" (HOPES) and the word when it is singular.

https://2beginwith.blogspot.com/2015/09/hope-without-s.html

The second is "Please Send Our Roots Your Rain," a word picture that compares our need for strenghth from God during difficult times.
https://2beginwith.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-ground-is-of-hard-and-crackled-clay.html

Mrs. K's "Cozy Little Cabin" Class 4, "R"

The Letter "R" is discussed with "Mr. Rabbit." Other activities include: Story "What Makes a Rainbow" by Betty Ann Schwartz (illustrated by Dona Turner), searching for rocks, coloring a rainbow, matching shapes and the "Months of the Year" song.

Mrs. K's "Cozy Little Cabin" Class 3, "Q"

The letter “Q” tactfully introduces “QUARANTINE” in the context of quiet comforting “q” words, songs, and scripture. Classes 1 and 2 were about the letter “P”, and considered it providential to touch on this subject.

Parents may choose to discuss this topic further in the context of your home "where quiet questions are allowed and praise of answers is aloud."*

This class introduces the letter "Q" and includes activites like: the "7 Days Are In A Week" song, a strategic discussion of five words that start with "Q." The first four words were designed specifically to set a stage for a parental discussion of our current national challenge with Covid-19: Questions, Quiet, Quilt, and Quarantine. The last word, "Quack" is intended to shift from a "serious" tone back to the preferred tone of a preschool class. Pattern: Q-U are best friends, Song: "Six Little Ducks." The story is "Dilly Duckling," by Claire Freedman (illustrated by Jane Chapman) about a little duck who overcomes anxiety.

* The line:  "...where quiet questions are allowed and praise of answers is aloud." comes from a poem of mine called "Wonder Is."

Mrs. K's "Cozy Little Cabin" Class 2, "P" (part 2)

Two days ago, Mrs. K posted her first session on YouTube. There are 21 students in her preschool, but that first video was viewed more than 300+ times in the first few days. We welcome all of you.

This session continues with the letter "P," and includes activites: two poems, Story: "If You Give A Pig A Party" by Laura Numeroff (illustrated by Felicia Bond), counting to seven, making popcorn, more patterns, etc.

Note: Many years ago, I had a small video business that kept me busy in the summers. During the school year, I also taught journalism which included TV production. My students used to do "news" reports, etc. All of that changed when I moved from the classrooom to administration. It also changed because all of my cameras and editing equipment were "analogue," and digital technology has completely changed videography since the 1990's.

Making these simple, short programs with nothing but an IPhone smaller than an index card is something I would never have imagined 30 years ago. Mrs. K spends a few hours preparing each lesson; then it takes a couple hours to "shoot" the program; then it takes a couple more hours to "edit" in IMovie on my phone; then it take about an hour to upload to YouTube (this takes longer than usual because of the high volume of of educators relying on Google-owned services like YouTube at this time.) But, hey, what's time when your pretty much confined to a cozy little cabin?

Mrs. K's "Cozy Little Cabin" Class 1, "P"

This class introduces the letter "P" and includes activities such as: introducing "friends" that start with the letter "P", counting by size, tasting things that start with "P," Story: "Penguin's Big Adventure" by Salina Yoon, and "patterns."  (The comments that Mr. K adds in the lower-left corner are intended for parents, and may not always be of instructional value.)

Mrs. K does not like the "screen shot" below, but YouTube selects that image randomly. I may figure out how to pick the picture myself, but in the meantime, pretend she is smiling.

Mrs. K has taught 4-year-old preschool for 30 years, but never quite like this. These 15-minute sessions were born of necessity beginning the week of March 16, 2020, when our nation's preschools, K-12 schools, and colleges were closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The "Cozy Little Cabin" set will be explained in a future video. It was created in 2002.

For nearly all those years, Mrs. K has kept her collection of books and "friends" (for all letters of the alphabet) in this corner of the "cabin," taking them to the actual preschool as needed. With two-days notice, and an IPhone, Mr. and Mrs. Kapanka began making the MWF segments in hopes of maintaining the instruction and relationships she has with her students and others who may enjoy visiting her cozy cabin. All of the CCS teachers are engaging in age-appropriate lessons each school day with their students.

Mr. K uses his phone to film, edit, and upload each program. His little notes in the corner are intended for parents, and meant only to bring a smile during these challenging times.

Mrs. K's Final Talk from the Preschool...

Beginning March 16, 2020, the school family of Calvary Christian Schools (along with schools in all 50 states) faced an unprecedented challenge of maintaining that special bond between teacher and student while both are in their own homes. This video was made on the last day the actual preschool room was available to Mrs. Kapanka.

Future sessions will take place in her "Cozy Little Cabin."