Good Afternoon!

Here is a letter from Miss Katelyn who is our current student teacher from IUSB:

Dear Wee Friends families,

I will be working alongside the staff at Wee Friends. I am currently a student at Indiana University South Bend pursing a career in elementary education specializing in early childhood education. In the past, I have worked with children ages 2-5 at early childhood development centers. I currently live in Elkhart with my husband and our 2 year old daughter. I have always loved working with children and have participated in different mentoring programs as well as volunteered in different classrooms. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and playing outside with my daughter. For the next four weeks, I will be assisting staff members through morning activities and free play. I will be focusing on the importance of early childhood education as I interact and learn more about childcare and the development of children. I am very excited to be at Wee Friends and I know these next four weeks will be full of fun! I look forward to working with you and your children.

Sincerely,

Katelyn Baldwin

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Our Thursday morning consisted of choosing different stories that interested us! Reading stories with a group of friends or a teacher is always such a relaxing way to start off each day.

As I started to make the rice, it sparked quite an interest. A couple children joined me in measuring the rice and choosing different spices to add to the rice. This group of children is always so eager to learn and anxious to help with anything in the classroom!

Before heading outside, Miss Melinda gathered friends in the science area where we started talking about the caterpillars that are in our aquarium. A few friends had put a couple of leaves in the aquarium two days ago and the leaves are GONE! So, the book ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ was read which gave us some good insight into the caterpillars mindset .

Children were actively engaged as they listened and asked questions that they had.

A science book was retrieved to use as a reference. Children were able to see what the caterpillars are going to look like eventually.

We headed outside and enjoyed the absolutely beautiful day.

Children are enjoying taking advantage of the new bug containers that we got! There were a few caterpillars found this morning with a TON of rollie pollies. At this point, I’d say most of us would be considered experts…

In Kindergarten today:

We read ‘My Many Colored Days’ which incorporated feelings and emotions into the FAB for the week. After discussing how each of us felt, each child was given a certain day. After looking at the calendar and dissecting the days of the week, we got into order! If a child wasn’t quite sure, their peers did a great job at figuring out what came next in the chain.

Journaling involved a lot of colors today! At this time during the day (among others), children are allowed to voice or write how they’re feeling, what they’re thinking, or maybe expressing a ‘favorite’ that they have. Not only do I get to know them on a deeper level but the conversations that they have with their peers during this time allows for the connections between one another to become that much stronger.

Breakfast– whole grain cheerios and PPC peaches.

Lunch– brown rice with shredded cheese, banana, and cauliflower.

PM snack– pumpkin seeds and ‘Simply Fit Baked Crackers’

Wee Sprout– cauliflower.

Have a lovely evening and hope everyone can enjoy this weather!

-Mindy

Link to pictures: WF 5/19