Quick Notes:

• When your swimmer is getting dressed tomorrow morning, please keep in mind that leggings and tights are terrifically difficult to take off/put back on. We all appreciate loose fitting pants on swim day! Thank you so much!
• Jen Tank, Finn’s mom, has invited Wee Friends families to join a program she is running at St. Patrick’s Park called “Science Sunday”. See below for more details.

ND-LEEF to host Science Sunday The University of Notre Dame Linked Experimental Ecosystem Facility (ND-LEEF) will host its inaugural “Science Sunday” from 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 29 at St. Patrick’s County Park in South Bend. Scientists from Notre Dame will be on site to discuss their current research at ND-LEEF. —-ND-LEEF is a globally unique research site housing multiple experimental watersheds, each with a linked stream, pond and wetland system. Each watershed hosts cutting-edge ecological research in a setting that mimics nature, yet is highly controllable and replicable. ND-LEEF will be critical in solving major environmental challenges facing society by bridging the gap that has traditionally existed between the laboratory and field research.—Participants in Science Sunday will learn how hydrologists study the flow of water and how aquatic ecologists study complex interactions of living organisms in the water and see science in action. There will also be hands-on exhibits for children to learn more about aquatic life and water flow.—-ND-LEEF is located at St. Patrick’s County Park. The entrance to ND-LEEF is off Laurel Road between the main park gate and the Park Gate House. This event is open to the public and free of charge. Complimentary light refreshments will be provided.

We are building a Wee Community, each day, at Wee Friends. From letters to life skills, we are covering bases that we hope will prepare your child for what lies ahead in their life journeys.

Melinda welcomed friends today with a letter identification activity. Using life skill phrases such as “Please” , “Thank You” and “I’m Sorry”, friends were encouraged to match the Montessori letters to the words on the page.

Letter/word books have become a project of interest to several friends. On lined paper, friends choose words they are interested in and either kid spell the words, or work with a teacher to trace/copy or produce the letters. Whenever and however writing is being created, we celebrate and encourage.

A large group gathered around Melinda to hear Cinderella read out-loud.

 

Thorough hand washing has been an area of great work over these last several weeks. In truth, this is one of the most satisfying sensory life skills we work on! Water and suds feel wonderful. Rubbing up, down and all around is delightful. Some friends wash their hands over and over. Others enjoy each one of their 5 minutes or more washing hands. Some friends insist their hands are clean while others check with a teacher and happily re-wash if needed.

And as you all know, the sandbox affords us LOTS of time to master the skills of taking off/putting on shoes and socks. (Our friends LOVE the sandbox-thanks for working with the large quantities of sand that make it to your living rooms!)

Building life skills, language and community, day by day.

Wee Sprouts: Carrots. Breakfast: Cheerios and bananas. Lunch: Flatbread with hummus, cantaloupe and salad with French dressing. Snack: Goldfish and orange slices.

Happy Monday!

Hope everyone had a terrific weekend!

**With the cooler months approaching, we’re asking that each child has two/three pairs of pants and long sleeve shirts/sweaters in their clothes bin in the bathroom. Thanks!

Our baby friends are growing and maturing day by day. Maya, Tate, and Lucy are getting more and more acclimated to their friends and teachers. We’re rolling over, developing baby talk, and interacting with everyone we come into contact with!

Along with our baby friends, our older friends are engaging in play with one another, using verbal words/sentences throughout the day, and overall thriving in their environment. They truly enjoy talking and interacting with their baby friends. It makes them feel like a big kid and they LOVE that!

It’s a nice blend .

For breakfast, children had eggs and craisins. Lunch consisted of whole grain noodles with black beans, banana/grapes, and mixed vegetables. PM snack was cheddar cheese slices and crackers.

Have a great night!

Week Four on the Blue Bus and the kids worked on the rings and the cartwheel mat. On the ring, they performed tuck and “L” hangs. They practiced a “skin the cat” flip on the swings. They did lunges and handstands against the wall. On the cartwheel mat, they practiced mini and full cartwheels.

Enjoy this beautiful day!

Wee Sprouts: Cucumbers. Breakfast: Bagels with cream cheese and bananas. Lunch: Whole wheat pasta with black beans, grapes/bananas and mixed veggies. Snack: Apple slices and cheese.

*Quick note! Please label (initials on tag) your child’s extra clothes as you bring them in! This will help us ensure that you get the same clothes back! Thank you so much!

The conversations and information shared throughout the Wee day create inspiration. They also create giggles, confusion, amazement and lesson plans. Here are a few things your children have shared this Friday:

“I got a cherry sucker because I pooped. When I was pooping, my mommy painted my fingernails.”

“I want my Momma. Do you want your Mommy Miss Laurie?”

“Thanks for the nice breakfast, Miss Lisa.”

“Why is the garage door so damaged and why can’t a car fit in there?”

“Would you like to build a Magna-Tile house that the boat can crash into?”

“You’re the biggest one in the rocking chair, I’m the medium one and the baby is the smallest.”

“This time let’s not bonk ears!”

“Hey guys! Look at all the water! IT’S A FLOOD!!!!!”

“We’re working with water. It’s a big kid job. We are mixing leaves and sand and we are checking it out to see if there is life in it.”

“There are some ripe tomatoes in the garden.”

“You are not the marker, I am, but you can be my consistent.”

“10-11-12-17-18…17-18…..17-18…17-18-19-20.”

“Is 70 a number? Is 80 a number? Is 90 a number?”

“Infinity IS a number. 1000 IS a number.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Yes, it is.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Let’s climb up there.”

“Ok.”

Have a great weekend.

Wee Sprouts: Sweet red peppers. Breakfast: Kix, pears and bananas. Lunch: Whole grain rice with roast beef and carrots, apple slices and carrots/cucumbers. Snack: Homemade whole wheat bread and peanut butter.

Happy Thursday!

It rained cats and dogs outside today! As a group, we had a relaxing morning and afternoon! Friends gathered in the habitrail to watch the rain and listen to the thunder and lightning. Individual play took place along with group activities such as building, gross motor play, and stories.

For breakfast, children had kix and apples. Lunch consisted of turkey, tortillas, apples/banana, and mixed vegetables. PM snack was apples with yogurt/soy butter dip.

There won’t be a blog tomorrow so hope everyone has a great weekend!

…..said Sloaners when asked “What do you like at your bedtime?” We try to make Fun Choices! our mantra at Wee Friends. Fun Choices create great learning moments. Here are some of today’s Fun Choices!

Within these Fun Choices! we were able to  integrate these FABS (Framework for Academic Balance):

Literacy FAB K.7.3 – “Describe people, places, things, locations and actions.” *Friends gathered around the table and described the Little People person they chose out a basket. Later, Lisa read a story aloud and helped friends identify the people, places and things within the story.

Literacy FAB K.1.20 – Identify….words in basic categories. “*At the ballet bar, friends learned ballet vocabulary.

Math FAB: K.1.5 – “ Divide shapes into equal parts.” *Friends identified named ‘half’ and ‘whole’ while working with shapes.

Fun Choices! Fun Play! Fun Discoveries.

Wee Sprouts: Elliott’s garden tomatoes (thanks you!). Breakfast: Whole wheat bagels with cream cheese and bananas.Lunch: Tortillas and ham, fruit salad (bananas/pineapple/pears) and Cassie’s garden tomatoes (thanks, Cass!). Snack: Yogurt and animal crackers.

 

Happy Wednesday!

Here are a few pictures that were taken throughout the day!

For breakfast, children had cheerios and apples. Morning snack was string cheese. Lunch consisted of cheese tortillas, apples, and corn. PM snack was cheddar cheese slices and oranges.

Have a great night!

Happy Wednesday! From Magna-Tiles to the Farm, our day has been filled with the daily Wonder and Surprises! Enjoy.

Wee Sprouts: Cucumbers. Breakfast: Cheerios and pear slices. Lunch: Farm fresh egg casserole, peas and grapes. Snack: Farm apples and homemade rice pudding.

 

Good Afternoon!

Friends engaged with one another this morning in the habitrail. Mimicking took place during this time. When one friend did something, the others followed. The group of two year olds that we have learn an awful lot from one another each and every day. Each child brings in a different set of knowledge and skills that they get from their family and friends (home environment).

We’re seeing parallel play happen with some of our friends. Parallel play can be described as children sitting next to one another during play but not necessarily playing WITH them. Once our friends get older, they’ll start to interact/talk to one another during this play time. Our play is ever changing and ever growing. This is one of the many benefits of multi-age classrooms. Throughout the day, we observed our younger friends watching our older friends intently. “They do it so I can too!” is the mentality that we see .

Miss Monkey Emma had a blast outside pretending to be a monkey! She loved climbing on the log house and she had friends join her in her pretend play. The monkey play soon turned into lions growling around the yard!

For breakfast, children had cheesy eggs and oranges. Lunch consisted of tuna, whole grain bread, banana, and peas. PM snack was cottage cheese and chex.

Have a great evening!

 

We will be taking Farm Group B to the farm tomorrow. Here are the Wee Friends in FG-B (): Finn, Max, Ellie, Elizabeth, (Sloane), Elliott, Lea, Aislinn, and Owen. We try to have the kids here and ready to go by 9:30 as our departure time varies. Thank you!

The swimmers reported another great swim session! They practiced jumping into the water and getting their heads below the surface. The kicked their feet using a barbell. The door step to poolside routines are setting in and everyone had fun!

Back in the classroom, we offered friends long sheets of paper upon which to draw something of interest to them. after they drew it, we encouraged them to tell us about it, using descriptive words and details. (Literacy FAB K.7.3-Describe people, places, things (their size, color and shape), locations and actions. Friends drew moms and dads, rainbows and soccer balls, ballerinas and a variety of letters and shapes.

Leo asked Mel to read Going to the Zoo. After she read it, she played the song on the piano and taught Leo the lyrics. After they read The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, Mel  invited friends to the art table to re-create, with markers, the butterfly “who pushed his way out.”

The swimmers returned and joined their friends outside. The wood cutters got to work and found another beetle larva deep within the wood. Tami created an aquarium to house the larvae as the wood cutters discover them.

Lisa practiced Blue Dog (trucks) safety with a game of “Red Light/Green Light”.

A Happy Day. Hope your is too.

Wee Sprouts: WG garden carrots. Breakfast: Cheerios and pear slices. Lunch: Tuna fish on whole wheat, bananas and carrots/cucumbers. Snack: Pretzels and cheese sticks