Lincoln Early Childhood Center

In our Pre-K classrooms, Choice Time is so much more than play — it’s where learning truly comes to life! 💫 When children explore, build, create, and collaborate during Choice Time, they’re: 🧠 Building student agency by making decisions and following their curiosity 💬 Applying new vocabulary through meaningful conversations and pretend play 🤝 Strengthening social-emotional skills like sharing, problem-solving, and teamwork 📚 Reinforcing academic concepts in hands-on, developmentally appropriate ways Through exploratory play, our young learners become confident thinkers and communicators — taking ownership of their learning one choice at a time! 💕

🍎 Snack Time = Social Growth Time in Pre-K! 🧃 In Pre-K, snack time is so much more than just crunching crackers and sipping juice! Each day, our Special Person provides a snack for the entire class—sparking moments of sharing, conversation, and connection. Tiny hands practice hand hygiene, brave hearts try new foods, and curious minds engage in expressive communication and active listening. Whether it’s asking politely for a snack, offering a friend a napkin, or chatting about favorite fruits, every bite builds confidence and community. 🫶

🌙✨ Our young explorers dove into the mysteries of the night this week in Social Studies! Students studied nocturnal animals—including fascinating creatures like bats and aye-ayes—to discover how they thrive after dark. 🦇🌴 Through this adventure, we also became text detectives! Students were exposed to features of nonfiction texts, from brief articles that shared amazing facts to captioned photographs that brought these nighttime animals to life. 📚🔍

🌟 Learning Through Play in Pre-K! 🌟
This week, our Pre-K students have been exploring the important concepts of sharing and cooperation through hands-on play! From working together on tabletop activities to taking turns and building friendships on the playground, our learners are discovering how teamwork makes playtime even more fun. 💛✨

This week, our young mathematicians explored ten frames using counting bears! We reviewed five frames and discovered how ten frames help us show numbers up to 10. Students practiced placing one bear in each space to represent numbers like 5, 6, and 10.

We wrapped up with a number wheel challenge, where each table showed the spun number in different ways on their ten frames. Such a fun, hands-on way to build number sense and confidence! 💛

🔢✨ In kindergarten, math is all about hands-on learning and teamwork! Students worked in partnerships and small groups to sort and classify objects, building both their math sense and social-emotional skills along the way. Through collaboration, conversation, and curiosity, our young mathematicians are learning that math is more than numbers—it’s about thinking, sharing, and growing together! 💛

🎃🍂 Our PTO-sponsored Pumpkin Patch was a fall favorite! Students enjoyed pumpkin picking, decorating, games, and a festive story time. Huge thanks to our amazing PTO and volunteers for making this memorable event possible! 💛

✨ Partnerships with parents and caregivers make our learning community shine! 🌟 This week, we were thrilled to welcome a parent who shared about Diwali, the Festival of Lights. Students learned about the traditions, colors, and joy that make this celebration so special. By partnering with families, we gain meaningful insights into the many cultures and observances that enrich our school year. Together, we’re helping students build curiosity, respect, and a deeper understanding of the world around them. 💫

🔥 Fire Safety Visit! Today, our students enjoyed a special visit from members of the Westfield Fire Department for our annual Fire Safety Assemblies! The firefighters shared important tips about staying safe, practicing fire drills, and what to do in case of an emergency. As a follow-up, families are encouraged to visit Sparky’s Schoolhouse for practical advice and age-appropriate activities about creating a family fire plan and other fire safety resources. It’s a fun and engaging way to help children learn how to stay safe at home!

🌟 Bucket Filler Assemblies! 🌟 To kick off the Week of "Extra" Respect, our Kindergarten students came together to celebrate being bucket fillers! 🪣💛 Through songs, stories, and smiles, we recognized how following our school-wide expectations — Be Safe, Be Kind, and Be Responsible — helps make our school a happy and caring community.💫

Our little mathematicians explored shapes today using new vocabulary—words like straight line, curved line, and points—to describe their unique qualities. 🟦🔺⚪ For hands-on fun, students partnered up to sort shapes, comparing and discussing what makes each one special. Collaboration + vocabulary + critical thinking = a perfect math lesson! 💡🤝

🚛🚓🚒 Today’s annual PTO-sponsored Touch-A-Truck event was a huge success! Students loved exploring vehicles and learning from our incredible community helpers who keep us safe and supported every day. This hands-on experience also set the stage for next week’s “Week of Extra Respect” as we celebrate safety, kindness, responsibility, and community. A heartfelt thank you to our amazing parent volunteers—your time and energy made this event unforgettable! 💛

🧮✨ Our kindergarten mathematicians are on the move! Students rotated through engaging stations that reinforced counting, number formation, and real-world skills—like creating their very own grocery shopping lists. Learning math is fun, hands-on, and meaningful! 🛒🔢

✏️👩‍🎨 In Writer’s Workshop today, kindergarten authors learned how to draw a person! Step-by-step, they practiced adding details like heads, bodies, arms, legs, and faces. This kind of explicit instruction builds confidence for our emergent writers. When students feel successful with their drawings, they’re more eager to add labels and begin writing simple sentences. 🌟

🎲✨ Counting Fun in Kindergarten! ✨🎲 Kindergarteners are practicing their numbers 0–9 through guided practice and hands-on games! Using counting mats, colorful counters, and a digital spinner, students are learning to recognize numbers, count objects, and build a strong foundation in math—all while having fun. 💡💛 📚 Math + Play = Learning that sticks!

🌳✨ Outdoor free play isn’t just fun — it’s essential! ✨🌳 Running, jumping, climbing, and exploring outdoors give preschoolers the chance to build gross motor skills, strengthen their bodies, and boost coordination. Just as important, outdoor play fosters creativity, problem-solving, and social growth as children invent games, share space, and work together. A balanced preschool experience includes time to move, play, and explore — helping little learners grow strong, confident, and ready for new challenges.🛝💡💖

✨ What an amazing first day of school! ✨ Today we… 🌟 Built classroom community 🤝 Connected with new friends 📚 Practiced the routines that will help us learn and grow all year long Our classrooms are already buzzing with curiosity, kindness, and teamwork. We can’t wait to see all the incredible learning and friendships this year will bring! 💛

🍎 From kindergarten to graduation! Each “Westfield Apple” is carefully crafted in the Westfield High School Wood Shop and gifted to our youngest learners — a keepsake they’ll carry with them through their school journey and proudly wear at graduation in 2038. 🎓 Special thanks to Tom Paterson, K-12 Supervisor of Science, for overseeing the production process!

Summer Playdates at Lincoln School Playground! 🌞 All families are invited to join for informal summer play dates, hosted by members of the PTO! It’s a wonderful chance for children to play, meet new friends, and for families to connect with one another. ✨ Bring your smiles, snacks, and water bottles—and enjoy some summer fun together! 📅 Dates & Times: • Thursday, August 21 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM • Thursday, August 21 | 5:00 – 6:30 PM • Thursday, August 28 | 5:00 – 6:30 PM • Friday, August 29 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM 📍 Lincoln School Playground We hope to see you there! 💛