I hiding!
Playing with our snowy sensory farm!
Today was such a wonderful day. We made a snowy farm using corn starch, shaving cream and a little glitter we used our animals and farm houses. We also decorated our pinecones using glitter and clay. Have a great weekend!
Exploring our identity and what we like through different types of clothes. When Dylan noticed that Nina was wearing a beautiful blue skirt this morning, he just had to try on a matching pink one. He kept the skirt on the entire morning!
Making new connections and friendships. Katerina showing her new friend Levi how to use the gym's rocking cow. It has been really special to watch the 2A students take on a nurturing role in inviting Levi into their classroom community.
Today, we asked Jackson if he wanted to put an ornament on 2A's holiday tree - he promptly replied yes and placed the ornament in a box full of fir branches (this was his connection to a Christmas tree). We explained to Jackson that this was actually a box of branches and guided him to the actual tree in which he exclaimed: "Jingle Bells! This tree needs a star!" (Unfortunately, we did not capture this moment on camera as he quickly moved onto his next activity, but we wanted to share the moment!)
Making ornaments for our holiday tree and working on our fine motor skills and spatial reasoning.
We've noticed as of late the 2A students have really been into playing peek-a-boo. As children progress throughout their development, you may noticed them seeking out quiet and private corners - this is usually a space where they can let their creativity take flight and often begin engaging in cooperative play behaviors with their friends
Making connections and fostering friendships at the light table. Engaging in emerging cooperative play skills yet again, bravo Max and Nina!
Charlotte playing Peek-a-boo with her teacher
Making sugar cookies, thanks to Parker's Mom Tara! We explored our senses through smell, touch, taste, and listening for directions. We also worked on counting through one to one correspondence. Such a fun activity!
Supporting one another in potty adventures
As a means to encourage our students in shifting from parallel play to cooperative play we have been encouraging them to swap toys with one another (sharing), verbalize their feelings and thoughts, and we strive to create opportunities that will give them a chance to work cooperatively together.
Our students have been fascinated with transportation, which led to the question - how do you get to school? Many children replied that they get to school in a stroller. So, we brought a stroller into the classroom! The children did a wonderful job of sharing and working cooperatively to use the stroller together - thus, demonstrating their use of cooperative play skills!
Katerina using socks as "mittens" - imagining objects as something else is a key toddler play skill
We finally got our Christmas tree!
Soccer with Coach JoJo - he is probably one of our most beloved specialist teachers. The smile on the children's faces makes the joy he brings to them every Wednesday so evident.
Meet the newest member the 2A community: Levi! Levi is sweet, inquisitive, and kind. We are so excited to have him join our little classroom!
"I a princess" - Nina
We're starting to delve into more and more fantasy play, in which we explore imagery and symbols from our environment and stories. We strive to encourage cooperative and fantasy play within our curriculum. It is through fantasy play that children have the opportunity to interpret the world around them. For the past few days Nina has very much enjoyed pretending to be a princess.
In case you were wondering, 2A has started a band. Our band name is a work in progress, but we'll keep you posted. Stay tuned for concert dates!
Exploring the word experiment. An experiment is when you have a question, you try it out, and then find out! Today, we wondered what would happen if we mixed water, purple water color, baking soda, corn starch, and salt. A few responses included:
"So wet!"
"Purple!"
"More salt!"
"Again, again!"
"AHHHHHH!"
Exploring puzzles - puzzles are a wonderful mathematical tool in spatial awareness, problem solving, and trial and error thinking. The tape is an added support in helping are little learners work on their fine motor skills - much needed for pre-literacy skills!
Painting cars...and our bodies!
We all had a productive day today, we started with our soccer class with coach Jojo. Then we had our cooking class and today Nina brought in the ingredients we made a delicious vanilla cake, of course everyone helped. We sure enjoyed our cake. - Mitzi
We missed Bridget today but we had such a wonderful day most of the students were confused because we rearranged the classroom, we have so much space now. We danced with the teachers Mitzi and Yudennis and during circle time everyone loved "Pete The Cat and His White Shoes".
Mitzi
Today we celebrated Dylan's 2nd Birthday we had delicious cupcakes in the morning. For cooking Nicholas brought in the delicious ingredients for our delicious mini pumpkin pies.
The 2A class has a deep love for the book Subway by Anstasia Suen. It is by far our most requested book in the classroom, and the children love singing along to the familiar lines and melody of the song. This week, we decided to show the children footage of an actual subway. The children were riveted by the subways comings and goings. Words over heard from our little learners included:
"Woah!"
"Bye, bye subway!"
"Subway come back!"
"One more time!"
"People go bye bye on subway!"
Our class is making connections to the world outside of them through this deep interest, and we plan on exploring this concept further throughout the next month.
Painting our subway!
Cooking french toast with Mitzi - cooking is a wonderful tool in science and mathematics. We're exploring cause and effect, measuring, and comparing and contrasting the ingredients.
This week we began exploring music through the Kodaly method. The kodaly method incorporates hand movements and solfege syllables to encourage individuals to learn musical notation. The children really enjoyed exploring music through movement and were articulating note values
"Whole note!"
"Half note!"
"Tah tahhhhhh!"
Working so so hard on our Kodaly syllable - such dedicated musicians!
"One more time Bridget!"
"More music!"
"Violin!" - Nina
Viewing an orchestra playing Aaron Copland's "Rodeo Hoedown"
Exploring the world through a different lens
Going for a walk through the neighborhood!
"EXCAVATOR!"
"WOAH"
"WOW"
Stumbled across this delightful surprise on our walk today - it definitely made 2A's day.
Intently watching the excavator
Science - this week we explored corn starch and dish soap. The children really seemed to enjoy getting into this concoction that they created.
"So slimy"
"More!"
"Yeahhhhh!"
Katerina also very much enjoyed science and exploring the corn starch but gave a very firm "no" when asked if she wanted to explore the slime.
"I am happy to be super soccer stars!"
Soccer this week with 2A's favorite guy, Coach JoJo (he's kind of a celebrity with our little learners)!
Spanish with Michelle!
Nicholas passing out instruments at circle time