Happy Monday!

**I’ll have another reminder later in the week but we’re planning on doing a pajama day/nail day on FRIDAY! (we’ve had several requests..)

We introduced a few new items to our classroom today!

This morning, we came in to find new pattern blocks that Miss Tami had bought us over the weekend! Using patterns squares, children use the wooden blocks to duplicate the pattern!

I made new play-dough over the weekend using essential oils! We did a smell test and found out that we had three different kinds: peppermint, lemon, and grapefruit!

Friends would randomly smell the play-dough or their hands during their time at the table . The favorite seemed to be the peppermint!

There are so many benefits to play-dough. I found an interesting article that can be found at: https://families.naeyc.org/learning-and-development/music-math-more/playdough-power.

Yay for water day! We were quite excited to be able to explore the water this morning.

We had three different areas that children could venture to including the water table, sprinkler, and sandbox (aka mud pit).

We all explored the water to some degree and enjoyed getting a little wet and/or dirty!

Thank goodness we had a hose to help us get clean!

Breakfast– Bagels with cream cheese and peaches.

Lunch– Whole wheat pasta with beef, watermelon, and cooked broccoli.

PM snack– Whole milk yogurt and peaches.

Wee Sprouts– Carrots.

Have a terrific evening!

-Mindy

Link to pictures: WF 6/20

Today was a water day!

The water table was a big hit with our friends. They had a blast dipping their hands in the water and splashing around! There was also plenty of toys for them to fill with water and then pour out.

We also had a sprinkler for friends to keep cool with. Ruby and Franklin loved it! They didn’t hesitate to stick their hands or whole bodies through the jets. Ruby would wait for the sprinkler to start tilting in her direction and start running when the water started falling on her!

Breakfast was whole wheat toast with butter and cinnamon and bananas. Wee sprouts was corn. Lunch consisted of whole wheat pasta with shredded beef, watermelon, and corn. Afternoon snack was organic whole milk yogurt and pears.

Have a great night!

Amanda

Link to photos: https://1drv.ms/f/s!AtTCDmdhjIulheJXWNjXf7wufKM8JA

Happy Friday!

While outside, Franklin was searching for squirrels in the tree. A couple of our other friends came over to help him look. They all climbed onto the bench so they could have a better view of the branches. No squirrels were spotted, but we enjoyed ourselves!

Also this morning, the older kids started kicking balls across the yard with Miss Marty. Our younger friends happily joined in!

Sophia helped a couple Wee Frienders  in the sandbox (her favorite spot outside) with filling up their bucket.

And Maggie joined Rosemary on the teeter totters and other older friends on the bikes!

Breakfast was Whole Grain Cheerios and pears. Wee sprouts was corn. Lunch consisted of whole wheat tortilla with turkey and cheddar cheese, pears, and corn. Afternoon snack was pretzels and string cheese.

Have a great weekend!

Amanda

Link to photos: https://1drv.ms/f/s!AtTCDmdhjIulheERhe21_ibN05KZ4g

Happy Friday!

**We are TENTATIVELY planning to have a water day on Monday. It’s supposed to be pretty warm but if we do it in the morning, we SHOULD be okay. Please have a suit here for your child on Monday!

 

In large group, we read the story, “The Ugly Duckling”. After we read the story, the words ‘theme’ and ‘moral’ were discussed. Here’s a few comments that were mentioned:

“I learned that you should be nice to everyone.”

“Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.”—(This was discussed and talked about IN DEPTH!)

“I felt bad for the little duckling.”

Here are a few pictures from our day.

Breakfast– Rice cakes with no nut butter and pears.

Lunch– A mixture of hummus sandwiches and turkey/cheese sandwiches, oranges/pears, and carrots.

PM snack– String cheese and raisins.

Wee Sprouts– Carrots.

We had a terrific Friday. Hope you did as well.

-Mindy

Link to pictures: WF 6/17

Our day was filled with dancing…

Fresh air and exercise…

Trying new looks…

And enjoying stories together!

Breakfast was farm fresh eggs with cheese and pears. Lunch consisted of whole grain brown rice with chicken and cheese, peas, and oranges. Afternoon snack was wheat crackers and string cheese.

Have a great night!

Amanda

Link to photos: https://1drv.ms/f/s!AtTCDmdhjIulhd92FYXPyHrIEz6ZBQ

Good Afternoon!

As an early childhood educator, I throw out the word ‘play’ a lot in my daily blog. Not because what these children do is ‘play’ all day, I’m referring to ‘play’ in it’s most abstract form. Through different professional development opportunities that I’ve had along with other teachers here, the tremendous of importance of play concerning the early development of the child is found to be critical. We love to ‘play’ here. It’s vital. Please feel free to read this article that I retrieved from the NAEYC website on this topic, specifically pertaining to pretend play!

http://www.naeyc.org/content/research-news-pretend-play-is-important

Breakfast– Kashi’s Blueberry Clusters, boiled eggs, and pineapple.

Lunch– Brown rice with cheese and chicken, a vegetable salad containing tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers, and pineapple.

PM snack– Triscuits and sunflower seeds.

Wee Sprouts– Our cucumber/tomato/pepper salad.

Have a terrific night.

-Mindy

Link to pictures: WF 6/16

Please note: Did anyone accidently take home a light blue zip up sweater? One of our friends is missing theirs.

Today we played with goo sensory bags! The goo is made with water, corn starch, and sugar mixed together and heated on the stove until it thickened. Then we added some blue liquid watercolor and glitter before putting a couple scoops into baggies.

Our friends all enjoyed squeezing, poking, shaking, and smooshing their bags. The goo has the same consistency as hair gel and you can feel it squishing between your fingers as you move it around in the bag. Our friends thought it was a very interesting feeling!

Breakfast was Kix and apples. Lunch consisted of homemade French toast casserole with blueberries, apples, and corn. Afternoon snack was wheat crackers with sweet pea butter.

Have a great night!

Amanda

Link to photos: https://1drv.ms/f/s!AtTCDmdhjIulhd5HGhZUkFuKxkh0Xg

Good Afternoon!

Owen and Anna started off their morning with a little sibling snuggle time. Owen said, “Miss Mindy. With us, two fit in this chair.”

They went up to the island to join siblings, Sloane and Tate. Each child was completing their own puzzle! It’s lovely that our pairs of siblings can continue to build their relationship while at school.

Conversations occurred in the habitrail area about different building strategies. Every child has an end goal in mind; what they want their creation to look like. When we’re working with a group, it’s important to voice anything we’re thinking or feeling! We work great as a team this way!

Boy, was it a little humid this morning! Friends took it in stride though and had a great morning! Thankfully, we have a little shade that we took advantage of today!

Clara started up another gymnastics/yoga class. Sloane helped demonstrate different moves to do!

Their students were great listeners and pushed their limits! Owen said, “Wow, I’ve never done this before.”

Clara: “Ok, students. One. Two. Three. Star jump!”

In large group, we read two different stories that our friends Addi and Owen brought in! It’s absolutely wonderful the amount of literacy that this group strives for. Whether it’s working at the art table or reading/listening to stories in the reading area, our thirst for knowledge is always prevalent!

“One of the greatest gifts adults can give—to their offspring and to their society—is to read to children.”

—Carl Sagan

“There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.”

—Jacqueline Kennedy

Breakfast– Whole grain oatmeal with PPC pineapple.

Lunch– Homemade organic blueberry french toast casserole, banana, and broccoli.

PM snack– Hard boiled eggs and blue corn chips.

Wee Sprouts– Cucumbers and cauliflower.

Hope everyone has a great night!

-Mindy

Link to pictures: https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=A58B8C61670EC2D4!93885&authkey=!AF31gFsRv_S_IW4&ithint=folder%2cJPG

Enjoy the pictures!

Breakfast was Whole Grain Cheerios and apples. Lunch consisted of whole wheat flat bread with turkey and cheese, corn, and oranges. Afternoon snack was homemade whole wheat lemon blueberry muffins and string cheese.

Have a great night!

Amanda

Link to photos: https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=A58B8C61670EC2D4!93758&authkey=!ACGKAUNBmvnJoZM&ithint=folder%2cJPG

Hello!

When children walk into the door at Wee Friends, they can expect a few things:

Breakfast to be on the table and a morning message board awaiting their John Hancock!

There was a rousing game of ‘category’ that was occurring at the round table this morning. A few of the older kids took the reigns which allowed for the game to run smoothly!

This morning, we gathered around the island where we made homemade lemon-blueberry muffins! Using blueberries and the zest of two lemons along with many other ingredients, we followed the directions of the recipe.

Everyone always enjoys getting to do a special part. After every ingredient was added, we passed the bowl around so that everyone got a chance to stir it.

In the recipe, it said that you could add granola to the top so as a group, we decided to do half of the muffins with granola and leave the rest plain!

The result was fabulous! They were delicious.

When we went outside, we used our gross motor skills to throw and kick the balls! A couple friends spaced themselves out and kicked the ball to one another while other friends just threw or kicked the ball to themselves.

One of our friends found rollie pollies and put them in a bug container. After he did this, he noticed small white bugs: rollie pollie babies! I found a video on my phone that showed the exact same thing we were seeing! The circle of life right in front of our eyes!

Our large group concentration today stemmed from a lunch conversation that occurred at one of the tables today. I had a small piece of cake that Cassie’s mom, Michelle, had made us yesterday. There were a few (or all) children that commented how much they wish they could have a piece. “I wish I could fast forward and be an adult so I could have a piece of cake like you!” The dilemma: to fast forward in time or go back in time…

Child 1: “I would have things falling from the sky!” (She wanted to go back in time )

Child 2: “Oh. Like what?”

Child 1: “Pandas!”

This conversation turned into, “If we could have one thing fall from the sky, it would be ______.” Insert, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.” After reading the story, friends came up with their own titles. “Does it have to be food?”, a child asked. Well, no of course not! It’s your story!

Breakfast– Corn chex and pears.

Lunch– Turkey and shredded cheese on flatbread/tortillas, apples, and carrots.

PM snack– Our homemade lemon-blueberry muffins with block cheddar cheese.

Wee Sprout– Carrots.

Have a great night!

-Mindy

Link to pictures: WF 6/14