📰 Newsletter Text

Theme: I'm Special / I Like Myself. This week's words: me, like, can, happy, smile. One word plus a gesture was a win — "Me!", point to self, thumbs up, copy the actions.

Theme: I'm Special / I Like Myself. The week built up to sentence frames such as: "My name is ___."; "I like ___."; "I can ___!"; "I like myself!"

Theme: My Body. This week's words: body, hands, feet, jump, heart. One word plus a gesture was a win — "Hands!", wave them, pat your chest, copy every action.

Theme: My Body. The week built up to sentence frames such as: "This is my ___."; "I have two ___."; "I can ___."; "My body helps me ___."

Theme: My 5 Senses. This week's words: see, hear, touch, smell, taste. One word plus a gesture was a win — "See!" (two fingers to the eyes, then point); "Hear!" (cup both ears, lean in); "Touch!" (wiggle all ten fingers)

Theme: My 5 Senses. Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "I see a red apple."; "I hear a bell."; "I touch something soft."

Theme: My Feeling. This week's words: happy, sad, angry, scared, calm. One word plus a face was a win — "Happy!" (huge smile, both hands to the cheeks); "Sad!" (one finger draws a tear down); "Angry!" (stamp once, then blow it out)

Theme: My Feeling. Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "I feel happy today."; "He is sad. I can help."; "I am angry — I need a big breath."

Theme: Autumn (1). This week's words: autumn, leaf, red, yellow, windy. One word plus a gesture was a win — "Leaf!" (flutter one hand down to the floor); "Red!" (point at something red); "Windy!" (whoosh both arms sideways and sway)

Theme: Autumn (1). Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "It is autumn."; "The leaf is red."; "The wind blows the leaves down."; "The tree changed while we were away."

Theme: Autumn (2). This week's words: tree, fall, cold, harvest, climb. One word plus a gesture was a win — "Fall!" (hand drops from high to the floor); "Cold!" (hug yourself and shiver, brrr); "Climb!" (both hands pulling up a ladder)

Theme: Autumn (2). Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "The leaves fall from the tree."; "It is cold in autumn."; "We climb up high."

Theme: Five Food Groups. This week's words: fruit, vegetable, grain, milk, egg. One word plus a gesture was a win — "Fruit!" (big bite out of an invisible apple); "Milk!" (drink from a cup, then a milk moustache wipe); "Egg!" (crack it on the edge of your hand)

Theme: Five Food Groups. Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "An apple is a fruit."; "Corn is a grain."; "Milk is a dairy food."

Theme: Healthy Food & Healthy Habits. This week's words: healthy, water, wash, brush, share. One word plus a gesture was a win — "Water!" (drink from a cup, long aaah); "Wash!" (rub both hands together); "Brush!" (brush up and down on your own teeth)

Theme: Healthy Food & Healthy Habits. Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "An apple is healthy."; "Sweets are sometimes food."; "I wash my hands before I eat."; "I share my food with my friend."

Theme: Family Members. This week's words: family, mum, dad, sister, love. One word plus a gesture was a win — "Mum!" (pat your chest); "Dad!" (lift both hands up high); "Love!" (both hands over your heart, then blow a kiss)

Theme: Family Members. Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "This is my family."; "This is my brother / my sister."; "Families are different."; "I help my family."

Theme: My House. This week's words: house, door, key, kitchen, bed. One word plus a gesture was a win — "House!" (both hands make a roof over your head); "Door!" (push an imaginary door open, knock knock); "Bed!" (hands to cheek, head tips over)

Theme: My House. Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "This is my house."; "I sleep in my bedroom."; "We cook in the kitchen."; "The key opens the door."

Theme: The Cycle of Plants. This week's words: seed, root, leaf, flower, fruit. Littles built these into single words and actions: "Seed!" (curl up tiny on the floor); "Grow!" (rise up slowly); "Flower!" (hands bloom open)

Theme: The Cycle of Plants. Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "I plant a seed."; "The roots go down."; "The flower is beautiful."

Theme: Thanksgiving Day. This week's words: thank you, please, share, turkey, pie. Littles built these into single words and actions: "Thank you!" (flat hand from the chin forward); "Please!" (palms together); "Share!" (hand it to the child beside you)

Theme: Thanksgiving Day. Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "Thank you, ___."; "Please may I have some?"; "I want to share with you."

Theme: Community Helpers. This week's words: doctor, firefighter, police, bus, help. One word plus a gesture was a win — "Help!" (both hands waving); "Doctor!" (listen with a stethoscope); "Bus!" (steer a big wheel)

Theme: Community Helpers. Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "This is a doctor."; "The doctor helps me."; "Who helps you?"

Theme: Tools & Transportation. This week's words: tool, wheel, car, bus, train. One word plus a gesture was a win — "Wheel!" (both hands turn a big circle); "Car!" (steer, brrrm); "Train!" (elbows pumping, choo-choo)

Theme: Tools & Transportation. Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "A hammer is a tool."; "The bus has six wheels."; "I go to school by car."; "The train goes on the track."

Theme: Christmas. This week's words: tree, star, present, bell, Santa. Littles built these into single words and actions: "Tree!" (arms out like branches); "Ho ho ho!" (pat your belly, big laugh); "Present!" (shake a box beside your ear)

Theme: Christmas. Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "Merry Christmas!"; "This is a present for you."; "I can see a star on the tree."

Theme: Winter Is Coming. This week's words: winter, cold, snow, coat, boots. Littles built these into single words and actions: "Cold!" (shiver, rub your hands, brrr); "Snow!" (fingers fluttering down); "Boots!" (stamp, stamp)

Theme: Winter Is Coming. Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "It is cold."; "I put on my coat."; "Winter is here."

Theme: Weather. This week's words: sunny, rainy, windy, cloudy, snowy. Littles built these into single words and actions: "Sun!" (big circle with both arms); "Rain!" (fingers pattering down); "Wind!" (whoooosh — sway)

Theme: Weather. Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "How is the weather today?"; "It is sunny today."; "I need my umbrella."

Theme: Beijing. This week's words: Beijing, wall, red, lion, home. Littles built these into single words and actions: "Beijing!" (point straight down — right here!); "Red!" (run and touch something red); "Lion!" (lion paws, big roar)

Theme: Beijing. Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "I live in Beijing."; "The Great Wall is very long."; "My home is in Beijing."

Theme: China. This week's words: China, red, dragon, wall, panda. One word plus a gesture was a win — "China!" (hug yourself); "Red!" (wave the red cloth); "Dragon!" (wiggle both arms)

Theme: China. Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "I live in China."; "The flag is red."; "The wall is very long."

Theme: Chinese New Year. This week's words: red packet, lantern, dumpling, lion, visit. Littles built these into single words and actions: "Red!" (hold up a red packet); "Boom!" (clap — firecracker); "Lantern!" (hands make a round shape)

Theme: Chinese New Year. Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "Happy New Year!"; "I have a red packet."; "We eat dumplings together."

Theme: The Seven Continents. This week's words: world, map, seven, continent, Asia. Littles built these into single words and actions: "World!" (hug a big invisible ball); "Map!" (flatten both palms); "Seven!" (seven fingers up)

Theme: The Seven Continents. Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "This is the world."; "There are seven continents."; "I live in Asia."

Theme: The Five Oceans. This week's words: ocean, water, fish, blue, boat. Littles built these into single words and actions: "Blue!" (point at something blue); "Fish!" (palms together, swimming); "Splash!" (splashing hands)

Theme: The Five Oceans. Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "The ocean is blue."; "Fish swim in the water."; "My boat can float."

Theme: One Continent — Africa. This week's words: Africa, lion, elephant, hot, drum. Littles built these into single words and actions: "Africa!" (pat the floor twice); "ROAR!" (big open mouth); "Hot!" (fan your face)

Theme: One Continent — Africa. Bigs practiced full sentences such as: "This is Africa."; "The lion is big."; "It is very hot in Africa."