Weekly Recap: 10.20.17

Flickr Pictures: https://www.flickr.com/gp/153109797@N03/U6328k

On Monday we began working on Halloween costume ideas, started self-portraits, made paper jack-o-lantern, painted with white paint on black paper, explored the block area where an image of a running creek was projected onto the wall, and explored our sensory table filled with green water and water-filled gloves.  It was a great start to a wonderful week!

On Tuesday we painted on white paper with black paint, explored with a new manipulative (pentominoes), had our first fire drill (the children did a wonderful job of listening and following instructions), had a picnic in the kitchen area, had Spanish with Michelle, some animals needed some care from the doctors, worked on a Halloween matching game that Diane made for the class, explored submersible lights in the sensory table, and the children signed in the sign-in book for the first time.

On Wednesday we had soccer with Coach JoJo, explored submersible lights in the light table, had a major paper cutting session (almost every child sat around cutting and ripping paper), made tea sandwiches with Diane (apple butter, cream cheese, and an apple slice), and continued coming up with our costume ideas.

On Thursday we combined with the 3B class.  The children had a wonderful time playing with their new friends.  We'll be combining once a week to collaborate on work/projects.  The children built with magna-tiles, explored the block area (jungle animals with jungle/forest sounds in the background), had music with Evan, played a letter matching game, and completed an obstacle course in the gym.

On Friday, 3B came to visit us.  Melissa and Ada acted out The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything.  The children enjoyed the show.  Afterward we went to the park!  The children did a wonderful job of staying on the rope, coming up with park rules, and listening to the teachers when we got to the park.

Child Identity Update

The children have been showing a lot of interest in the letters of the alphabet, particularly the first letter of their names.  We have decided to take this interest and tie it in with our Halloween costumes.  

Earlier in the week we showed the children a video of a former BMS class that came up with a short play about the alphabet.  The children of our class were inspired and wanted to work on something similar for their costumes. 

The children came up with objects that begin with the same letter as their first name.  They are all excited and we can't wait for you all to see their work.  We'll be starting our work next week.

Watching the ABC Show created by a former BMS class at the 13th St. location

Weekly Recap: 10.13.17

On Tuesday we started the day by saying hello of our new classmate: Rex.  Afterwards, Dylan requested that we find out how many O's are in everyone's name.  This past Friday we did A's.  The sensory table had soapy water with kitchen materials (pots, pans, and utensils).  The children really enjoyed exploring the water.  We also had Spanish with Michelle.  They learned the words for circle, triangle, and heart, in addition to what they go over on a weekly basis (hello, good-bye, thank you, various body parts, and colors.)  At the end of the day we celebrated Elle's birthday.  Her mom read If You Give a Pig A Party.  Afterwards we sang Happy Birthday and had cupcakes.  Happy 3rd birthday Elle!

On Wednesday half the class went to Riamede Farm for our apple picking trip.  When we got there they we had apple cider and donuts.  Then we took a hayride to the pumpkin patch, and a short walk to the apple trees.  We had a wonderful time and made sure to bring back a pumpkin and some ghords for the classroom.

Back at school, friends from the 3A and 3B class went for a walk to purchase some pumpkins for the classroom.  When they got back to school they decorated their pumpkins using sharpie markers.

On Thursday we started morning meeting by recognizing the first letter of everyone's name.  We're hoping to tie their interest in letters to their Halloween costumes.  Afterwards we had gym, followed by cooking with Diane.  Today we made apple pie.  It consisted of pie crust, apples, cinnamon, and honey.  We ate it for snack the following day.  Throughout the day, the children explored the sensory table (gloves filled with glow sticks), created a car using a box and a few blocks, and worked on observational paintings of pumpkins and gourds.

Friday was a busy day.  We started the day with shared snack: our apple pie that we made with Diane yesterday.  The children were busy playing in the dramatic play area: they played car, played with the babies, and acted out the role of construction worker.  For art they painted with orange and red paint, and explored clay.  After class, in gym, we set up an obstacle course and the children loved getting their energy out in a new way.  At the end of the day we celebrated Milo's birthday.  Him mom and grandmother came in to read From Head to Toe and Little Quack's Hide and Seek.  Afterwards we had lunch and then celebrated with cupcakes.  Happy Birthday Milo!

Weekly Recap

On Monday, for our music/movement theme, we played a new game with the children.  While music was playing, the children would dance around the room.  When the music stopped, they had to find a hoop to stand in.  Each time the music stopped, a hoop was taken away, causing the children to share their hoop with other friends.  We also went for our first walk around the block!

On Tuesday we had our first Spanish class.  The children learned words for hands, feet, head, slow, fast, yellow, blue, green, purple, orange, hello, good-bye, thank you, and high five.  The teachers, Michelle and Mimi, were great and keeping the children engaged with lots of interactive songs.

On Wednesday we had our first soccer class with Coach JoJo.  The children worked on their kicking skills by kicking balls, tall cones, and short cones into the nets.  We also had cooking/science with Diane.  She brought in apples from the farmer's market and the children tasted them along with lemons, lime, cinnamon honey, and wildflower honey.  Afterward we talked about which flavor we liked the most.

On Thursday we had our first music class with Evan.  We also continued our child identity study, focusing and talking about what the children think they are best at and what makes them special.  At the end of the day we celebrated Joseph's 3rd birthday!  There was a pinata, balloons, pizza, and cake.  Happy birthday Joseph!

 

On Friday we started our day with shared snack.  Angelo brought in goldfish crackers and apples.  Then we set up two activities for the children: marble painting and a drawing prompt (googly eyes glued to a piece of paper).  The children loved the activities.  We also continued our child identity study where we asked the children what they are great at doing.  Something we have noticed developing this week is how the children identify themselves according to the first letter in their name or any of the letters in their name.  To foster this interest, we graphed how many children had the letter A in their name.  We discovered that two children have two A's, four children have one A in their name, and two children have 0 letters in their names.  We will continue graphing and discussing letters as the weeks go on.  Lastly, William and Milo worked together to build a house for our stuffed animal bunny.  (More pictures will be added on Tuesday from today)

Child Identity Study Update

This week we began asking the children, "What are you great at doing?  What makes you special?"  Once they answered the questions, they drew pictures of what they said.  We still have more drawings to do over the next week or two as we are sitting one on one with the children.  We noticed that when the children are asked in a group, they are influenced by their peers.

On October 27th, we will be having a curriculum celebration where the children's answers and work will be on exhibit for you all to see.  Make sure to mark your calendars for the 27th from 9am - 10am.

Weekly Recap

Though it was a short week, it was a busy one.  We started off the week exploring clay.  The children poked, pushed, pounded, and created lots of cherry and vanilla flavored lollipops.  Soon we will start conducting clay workshops, introducing the children to a variety of new ways to create.

The children showed a lot of interest in creating with the magna-tiles and dinosaur manipulatives.  Many children created boxes for individual dinosaurs.

The children are still loving the gym.  One organized game we played this week was tossing balls into the net.

For art the children made dots using pom-poms dipped in tempera paint.

The children have been very interested in the block area.  We will soon start conducting block workshops to help the children learn how they can use different blocks to build structures.  This week they were interested in creating seats for the firetrucks.

We celebrated Hunter's 3rd birthday on Monday.  Shari, Hunter's mom, read Press Here.  Angelo then presented Hunter with a picture of Hunter playing with magna-tiles.  We hope you had a wonderful birthday Hunter!

We had our first shared snack on Wednesday.  Aayush brought in strawberries, pretzel sticks, and goldfish crackers.  Thank you Aayush!  

We read Little Red Rosie and also had challah and honey from Joseph to celebrate Rosh Hashanah.  Diane also came in and we tried apples and honey.  Happy New Year to those who celebrate!  Thank you Joseph and Diane!

Child Identity Study Update

Children often enjoy looking at themselves in the mirror, allowing them to learn more about their feelings, how they look, and overall becoming more aware of their features.  To kick start our study, we began working with the children on creating their first self-portraits for the year.  The children will draw a new portrait, every month, in their self-portrait book.  This will allow them to see how their observations of themselves changes over time.

Since it was a short week, we will continue working on self-portraits with children who did not get a chance to work on their's this week.

First Week of School

We had a wonderful first week of school!  The children have been reacquainting themselves with their peers and getting to know new ones.  Here are some highlights from our week.

Pinky has helped many friends feel comfortable at school.  The children love going up to her in the mornings to say hello.  It has become a part of their morning routine.

Something the children loved doing this week was exploring the art area.  They drew, colored, and created a variety of things.  Milo drew pictures of his teachers, Elle drew pictures of her family and her sister's  teachers, and Joseph drew a picture of his family.  Dylan made a trumpet out of paper and blew into it to give it sound.

The children also worked on making collages, created with play-dough, explored tape, painted at the easel, and painted with tempera cake paint.

The one thing that was uniform throughout the days was how well the children socialized with each other.  Weather it be in the kitchen area, feeding the babies, or playing doctor, the children were busy learning how to navigate social rules.

Magna-tiles, unit blocks, and hollow blocks were also used a lot this week.  It is wonderful to see the beginnings of their knowledge and we're excited to see how it will progress throughout the year.

The children were also very excited to have gym time.  They had a wonderful time exploring the new gym.  Next week we will start playing some structured gym games.

We ended our week by celebrating Ava's 3rd birthday on Friday!  On Thursday, Alexander, Elle, and Angelo worked on a drawing and painting for Ava as her present.  Unfortunately we forgot to give it to her today, so we'll be sure to give it to her on Monday.  Alexander, Elle, and Angelo thought that Ava would like a dog, so they each took turns drawing the body.  Happy Birthday Ava!