What began as a kindergarten math lesson, evolved into a morning of playing games!

In addition to the literacy and math skills board games offer, there is an opportunity for our friends to continue developing an understanding of how to work together in a group, how to articulate themselves, how to work with a leader (Jane goes first, Macy is second etc…) and how to take turns.

 

With these developing social skills, friends gain confidence and pride in their ability to help others and successfully navigate their social course throughout the day.

 

 

Last year of WF anthem was “Wee Friends, Wee Friends, mighty, mighty Wee Friends….” We are kicking off this new school year with a new anthem! To the tune of “This Land is Your Land” we have been practicing:

I am your Friend,

You are my Friend,

We are all Friends at Wee Friends.

I am your Friend,

You are my Friend,

We are all Friends at Wee Friends!

Today, Melinda led the chorus of singers on her accordian. We sang our new anthem. The Wee Friends Chorus is amazing!

 

 

 

Today for lunch, we served ground turkey cheese melts on whole wheat bread, cantelope and fresh WF tomatoes.

Have a terrific weekend!

Today was the first day of swimming!

This morning a group of friends were building in the truck room with wooden blocks. Two friends determined that what they built was a cave. Another friend insisted the piled up blocks was a slide. After much conversation friends understood that it could be both things at once! We discussed the idea that what one friend has in mind may be completely different than the other friend-but both are ok!

We set out Play-Doh this morning and one of our toddlers exclaimed “I cut this in half!” after using a plastic rotary ‘blade’ to do so. We continued this mathematical concept by discussing half/whole and other shapes being created.

When Melinda began playing her accordian, friends gathered quickly to sing/dance. After a while, the musicians settled into a comfortable rhythm, finding an instrument and seating position to make music. Each friend found his/her place whether it was dancing, singing or beating a drum.

With our classroom dynamic changing (new friends/different ages etc) it is exciting for us to see friends find their WF voice! Many of our friends who were previously younger are taking on a leadership role that includes helping/teaching friends.

For lunch we served ham/cheese on whole wheat tortillas, fruit salad and mixed veggies. Have a great day!

Together with Creative Curriculum for Preschool, Wee Friends regularly incorporates Foundations to the Indiana Academic Standards for Young Children into the planned and emergent lessons each day. Three of the standards directly involve teaching our friends to follow directions.

F.7.4 Follow one-step spoken directions without prompts (e.g., Get your shoe).

F.7.12 Follow two-step spoken directions with prompts. (e.g., pick up your plate and take it to the kitchen)

F.7.31 Understand and follow a one-step direction. (e.g., get the red shoe)

Here are some ways this translates into our play-based/child initiated environment.

This morning Annie asked if she could continue working with beads. The one step direction to create art is well understood: please sit down on a chair or stool. The two step direction to produce beadwork is also clear: hold the pipe cleaner with one hand and place the bead onto the pipe cleaner.

 

During Creative Music we made a circle of dinosaur nests. As we sang the one step direction was: walk in a circle on the nests.

 

 

 

Missy Little brought in a new collection of stickers-Thank You!!! Melinda’s directive was clear: choose THREE stickers and stick then to your paper. Friends counted as they stuck stickers to the paper. When friends chose to stick more stickers on the reminder was “…I see you chose 6 stickers….remember the direction was to stick 3…let’s count how many you have on your paper…” and the lesson is further explored.

Early Childhood Today Journal contributor Susan A. Miller, EdD suggests “Preschoolers’ individual learning styles also influence how they receive, understand, and follow directions. Analytic children enjoy having directions broken down into small parts step-by-step; global learners need to see or understand the whole picture. A child who learns best visually says, “Let me see how to do it,” while the auditory child says, “Tell me the way to do it,” and the tactile child states, “Let me do it.” It’s important to give children directions that relate to their learning styles and involve open-ended questions and two-way communication.”

We are always working toward cultivating cooperation and developing listening skills in a variety of cross curricular opportunities as we guide our friends through their busy days! As language develops and vocabulary expands, comprehension increases and the benefits of these covert learning opportunities come to light!

For lunch we served cheese pizza on whole wheat muffins with homemade WF marinara! Along with the pizza we had watermelon (Thank You, Jennae G.!) and carrots.

Have a terrific weekend and remember WF is closed Monday! See you Tuesday!

 

Paulina came to school today with new glasses! The children’s observation of this led to a fine motor activity: creating eye glasses with pipe cleaners.

 

Jane knows every lyric to Puff the Magic Dragon. When a few friends put hand puppets on (including the dragon!), we played the song and followed along to the beautifully illustrated book. Jane turned the pages and led the chorus of singers as they belted out the refrain!

Singing Puff led us to a music exploration using our rhythm sticks. We practiced rhythm by tapping our sticks together in different ways, listening and following directions and exploring the musical dynamic ‘rest’. We stretched our bodies and accelerated our heartbeats by moving to Hap Palmer’s Stuff it in the Closet. Creative Music ended with a sensorial meditation in which friends were visited by butterflies (fingers), caterpillars (kitchen sponge), swishy fish (drops of water) and snowflakes (bag of ice).

Paulina led a small group to the front porch where she read My Granny Went to Market by Stella Blackstone. She read it in English but in the book, as Granny visited other countries, they discussed different languages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

They practiced counting in Spanish and sang the Spanish version of Wheels on the Bus.

Outside, Melinda supervised friends as they lathered up WF chairs with shaving cream. Friends gave the chairs a good scrubbing!

For lunch we served ham and cheese on whole wheat tortillas, WF cucumbers/carrots with Ranch and fresh peaches-thank you, Matt D.!

We hope you are enjoying your day!