WF Daily Explorations Monday 11/14

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Wee Friends Teachers

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Over the weekend, Tami turned our sensory bin into a light table. The top lid is white and the bin itself, she painted metallic silver. She added three small fluorescent lights inside the bin. Throughout the morning, friends took turns creating structures with the translucent Magna-Tiles.

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Our older friends were the first group to hop aboard the gymnastics bus. Today both groups worked on the cheese mat and resi-rocker. They did forward rolls, backward rolls and straddle rolls. On the resi-rocker, they did cartwheels over the top of the mat. Ask your gymnast about

the rocket ship they ended class with!

While the big kids were on the bus, our toddler friends played a path game in which they rolled the die and moved spaces 1-6. We drew dots on the game, in the same configuration as a die and they matched their roll accordingly.

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In preparation for our Thursday Fall Concert (Nov. 17th, 4:30pm), we created crowns out of orange construction paper, glue and sparkles. Older friends used scissors to create zig-zag triangular borders while younger friends used the scissors to practice cutting. Nate identified circular and star shaped sparkles.

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We did get outside this morning for about 15 minutes, but came in when it started to rain. We read books, explored how our bodies and voices turn into turkeys in an imaginative musical improv. We rehearsed our concert songs and brainstormed different foods to prepare for our Wee Friends Thanksgiving lunch next week. Pizza, ice cream and spaghetti were among the favorites!

Melinda led a message board exploration on “What kind of game should we make in hopscotch?” Our plan is to convert hopscotch into a life-sized game board.

For lunch we served whole wheat pasta with cheesy white sauce and peas, banana/orange fruit salad and carrots/peas.

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Have a terrific day.

WF Daily Explorations 11-11-11

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Wee Friends Teachers

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Next Thursday, Nov. 17th at 4:30 Wee Friends will sing several of the songs we have been working on all year-and a couple new ones! Melinda taught us the Chicken Dance!

Each time we rehearse, we instruct the children “If you are a taller friend stand on the back row. If you are a smaller friend, stand on the front row.” With our guidance, and the help of each other, friends organize themselves accordingly. Today we determined that our smaller friends would be more comfortable sitting down. After we are all assembled, we sing through our songs. The two main points we work on are 1) singing in a natural inside voice and 2) singing all together. Wait until you hear your singers! They are amazing!

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In the art room, Annie asked if she could make another alphabet letter game. This led to a Thomas the Tank Engine sticker exploration. Elliott, an avid train lover, began his day very happy! Owen helped Elliott unstick some stickers and Simon knew the names of each train!

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In housekeeping, Kai, Annie, Macy and Nate set up shop, selling babies and stuffed animals. They used wooden chips for money and counted out loud as they popped them into the cash register.

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Back in hopscotch Jane, as the teacher, instructed, helped and cheered on friends as they jumped off blocks.

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Friends played with sticky floam, sorted teddy bears and ships into corresponding colored cups, built structures with Magna-Tiles, explored a pirate ship and played dollies in the loft.

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Today for lunch we served whole wheat pasta with chicken, green beans and pears.

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WWF,

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Wee Friends Teachers

It was a busy fun morning at WWF! Our morning began with some cereal and fresh fruit for breakfast.

We moved into the main room to play our donut shop game, and then read two book on monkeys. We then listened to the “Five little monkeys” CD and danced to it.

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Ozzie, Jada and Max played with our new castle. Sloane, Eleanor, Ozzie, Max and Jada joined Miss Lisa in playing with our colored peg game, matching the number of circles in their wooden shapes to the number of pegs on our peg board. We also learned shapes and colors at the same time. A few of the children did Pla-Doh in the kitchen.

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Clara and PK played with different textured fabric squares, while Miss Amy made a fort on our jungle gym. Different textured fabrics were draped over it, and the children had a great time with it. They played Hide and Seek under it.

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Our mid-morning snack today was cheese. The children enjoyed this outside today. Please know that several of our WWF did not have gloves or mittens today, so their outside time was very limited. Winter jackets are encouraged at this time.

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Enjoy the weekend!

WF Daily Explorations

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Wee Friends Teachers

At Wee Friends, each, day, we have the opportunity to observe the many benefits of a multi-aged classroom setting. Stanford PhD and international leader in early childhood education, Lillian Katz, expresses:

“Young children who are encouraged, comforted and nurtured by older children will be able to emulate their older classmates when they themselves become the oldest in the group. Children need opportunities to not only observe and imitate a wide variety of competencies, but also to find companions among their peers who match, compliment or supplement their interests in different ways. In a mixed age group, younger children are capable of participating and contributing to far more complex activities than they could initiate if they were by themselves.”

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Game playing has emerged as an area of great interest. After breakfast, Kai asked if he could set up a game of “Zingo!”. Alexandra and Nate were the first two friends who joined in. As Kai called out the object, he helped both friends recognize if they had a match on their board. Later, Ada and Arleigh requested that they play on the board’s red side. Simon worked diligently at replacing the tiles into their rightful place.

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We introduced a new game yesterday called “Buckaroo!” which requires players to hang different objects on the donkey’s saddle, making sure the donkey doesn’t buck his hind legs with the growing weight on his back. Alexandra carefully placed objects on his saddle while Annie showed her how to press his tail to get his legs down again.

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In both scenarios, our Wee Friends were able to work collaboratively on the same game at different developmental levels.

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At the art table, we set out long strips of construction paper, pieces of paper with numbers 1-10, glue and sparkles. Again, each friend mastered this math/art experience according to their own developmental ability and momentary interest!! Macy sequenced numbers 1-7. Annie chose various numbers and then glued the corresponding number of sparkles to each one. Nate exercised fine motor muscles by squeezing the glue bottle and gluing multiple numbers to the paper strip. Arleigh combined numbers and sparkles in an artistic, creative way. Addie sequenced numbers 8-9 and studied the various sparkly shapes in the bowl.

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Umi, Alma, Alexandra and Nate gathered in the reading area. They took turns reading books and together, retold the stories and then acted them out. They sat together and talked to each other, sharing ideas and listening to one another.

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Alexandra tucked her two older friends in bed and read them a bedtime story.

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With his two older buddies, Stephen explored Simon’s (on loan!) new washing machine experimenting with all the different items that would fit inside it. Ultimately, we all decided clothes were the best and safest fit! 052

Whether it’s working a puzzle, snapping beans or sitting in parallel play with a new friend, Elliott fits right in and participates the many activities we explore each day!

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Multi-aged classrooms teach children to “…appreciate their own progress and to develop a sense of this continuity..” -L. Katz

We rehearsed for our upcoming THURSDAY NOV 17th CONCERT at 4:30, introducing a new song! We ate a delicious lunch of peanut butter on whole wheat bread, applesauce and cucumbers with cream cheese.

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Have a fabulous day.

WWF Curious? Just ask Curious George! 11-10-11

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Wee Friends Teachers

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Our morning began with some dancing with various types of hats on the children’s heads. From there, the children came and sat in a circle, as Sloane pointed to our donuts and wanted to play the donut shop game, so of course, we did! We also did a few additional dances before we read “Frosty the snowman.” The children were very engrossed with this. We discussed what we will be wearing on our cold winter days.

Ozzie brought in his Curious George to share with us today. He was a big hit. In honor of his visit, we pulled down our Curious George color and matching game. It was a big hit! Curious George joined us in our circle! Some of our older friends worked on cutting paper in the kitchen. Others enjoyed a fun sensory activity with our rice tub. The strips the children cut were then glued on to paper.

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For breakfast today we had pancakes and bananas. Our mid-morning snack was fresh avacado and crackers. Brrr….after a brisk morning of being outside, our chicken and rice soup just hit the spot! We had that with a fresh vegetable and apples.

Speaking of the cold weather, please remember to dress your child accordingly, as we do try and go outside, temperature permitting. As it is damp outside, please anticipate your child to have some soiled clothing. We had a few friends today who enjoyed filling cups with dirt and transporting it to our playhouse.

Hope you enjoy our photos from today!

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WF Daily Explorations, Wednesday 11-9-11

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Wee Friends Teachers

Happy Blustery Wednesday!

032 This morning was filled with more “gaming”. The children all seem very enthusiastic about this new topic, which may become our next study. Children filled the artroom working with Miss Laurie and Miss Tami on creating their own letter board games with large paper, markers, dot paints, and stickers. They had discussions about the counting of the dice, the paths the counters took, & the rules of their own game. Children recognized that the board games were the first letter of their name and their friends name. Some even realized that Kai was working on a letter A board, which was not the first letter of his name since he was spelling out his name in 3 board games. F.1.16 Identify first letter of own name.F.4.5 Draw at the top or bottom of the page, when requested.F.4.8 Write using pictures, letters, and words.F.6.1 Write from left to right.
F.6.2 Combine strokes and shapes to represent letters.F.1.18 Apply one-to-one correspondence with objects and people.F.2.1 Identify “first” and “last.”F.3.7 Give reason of placement of objects.F.5.16 Tell what comes before and after.

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While our friends kept the artroom busy all morning, other friends played in housekeeping, played in the workshop, sang, played with floam, read books in small groups with Miss Melinda, and enjoyed a short visit from Jacob who likes to visit his old Wee Frienders.

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For lunch we had home-made roast pork and brown rice soup, whole wheat bread slices, and bananas.

Have a great day!

WWF, Cooking, Matching, and pipe cleaners coming out of everywhere!

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Wee Friends Teachers

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Our morning began with some dancing accompanied by maracas to “BINGO,” our fire truck song, and “She’ll be coming around the mountain.” From there, we ventured off to another journey to our do nut shop game. Chloe joins us in our circle and begins the motions to the song prior to us even starting! She has it “down pat,” as do all of our friends. Jada did a wonderful job this morning joining us in our two dance songs, jump and wiggle, and who is in the middle.

Some of the children worked in the kitchen playing again today with our strainers and pipe cleaners. What fun for a dreary morning. Straws were added to our “mix,” and seemed to be a big hit with the children.

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The children also enjoyed our matching game yet again, today. Ozzie and Marta are really into our transportation cards. Chloe amazed us with recognizing some animals on hers, and placing the matching card on them. Jada was intrigued with this, as was Oliva, Marta, and Sloane.

“Too many chefs spoil the pot” is not true here! Sloane, Olivia, Marta and Ozzie were busy in the kitchen as well.

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We did take advantage of yet another day of nice non typical November weather. Olivia and our WF, Nate from next door, played the Limbo with connecting a broomstick to the gate. They had a lot of fun. Chloe is trying diligently to ride one of our little bikes. Sloane and Olivia were busy in our little play house, and Ozzie was riding his Blue Dog down the hill. Go Marta, go! She is peddling our training wheel bike all over the round about, and now says, “Excuse me” if someone is in the way!

Our breakfast this morning was cereal. Our mid-morning snack was served outside. All of the children should do well with eye exams, as they are really into eating their carrots! For lunch today we dined on grilled cheese on whole wheat bread, carrots (of course!) and fresh pear slices. Our afternoon snack will be graham crackers and raisins.

Marta and Sloane have done a great job today telling us when they need to use the potty. We are progressing wonderfully in this area. For those of you that might have some of our WWF change of clothes due to some accidents, we kindly ask that once you have laundered them, you do return them to us. They sure do come in handy in situations such as these.

Clara and PK are becoming quite the “baby buddies,” and it has been enjoyable to seem them play and communicate together.

Enjoy the falling temperatures~

WWF, Cooking, Matching, and pipe cleaners coming out of everywhere!

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Wee Friends Teachers

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“Too many chefs spoil the pot” is not true here! Sloane, Olivia, Marta and Ozzie were busy in the kitchen as well.

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Clara and PK are becoming quite the “baby buddies,” and it has been enjoyable to seem them play and communicate together.

Enjoy the falling temperatures~

WF Daily Explorations Tuesday 11/8

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Wee Friends Teachers

Today the older swimmers practiced jumping off the bloc with a barbell shaped float. They worked on the back stroke as well as swimming from the deep end of the pool to the shallow end. The younger swimmers also swam from one side of the pool to the instructor near the rope. They swam to capture plastic duckies tossed ahead of them. They also practiced twirling their arms in circles under the water.

We’ve been talking about Thanksgiving, the pilgrims, the Native Americans and the Mayflower. Most of the conversations settle around the things we are thankful for. Yesterday we created a message board asking “How are the Pilgrims and the Indians Different/The Same?”

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For the last two days, we have studied math by playing Letter Long Path Games. Using the letters ‘S’ and ‘K’ (so far!), we roll the dice and advance along the path of the letter according to the amount shown. The ‘S’ game has spiders that, when landed upon, makes the player return to Start. The ‘K’ game has a river and a mountain to get across to reach Finish.

Simon brought in a rockin’ CD and we all gathered in the truck room and moved our muscles to James Brown, the Beach Boys and many others! Thank you, Simon!

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Here’s what the Wee Toddlers were up to while the swimmers were away!

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For lunch we served melted turkey and cheese on whole wheat tortillas, peas and apples.

Have a great day!

WWF, Strainers, Pipe Cleaners, and Straws 11-8-11

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Wee Friends Teachers

It was a great morning at WWF! The children had a great time in the kitchen using Pla-Doh, straws, pipe cleaners and strainers. Many of them put the pipe cleaners into the straws, then into their Pla-Doh. Long and short, big, little and many math concepts were learned. We also did our famous “Down around the corner at the donut shop.” It was so great to see Eleanor and Ozzie partake in this. We also burned off some energy with our wiggle and dancing in the middle song and dance. Ozzie as definetly flattering us with all of his dance moves! Some of the children also played our matching memory game. Elizabeth and Marta enjoyed their matching animal cards, while Ozzie loved his transportation card, Sloane, her fruits and vegetables, Olivia loved her zoo card, and Chloe enjoyed joining in the fun. We also danced to our “We all sing with the same voice” CD and book. Eleanor really enjoyed this, as did the others, we listened to it three times. Our breakfast this morning was cinnamon toast and fresh fruit, and for our outside mid-morning snack we had sliced cheese. Our lunch today was scrambled eggs with ham and cheese, avacado and bananas, and pancakes. Our potty trainers are making strides! Two of our three are now telling us when they need to use the potty. Marta is enjoying her book selection at the same time, so we added more to our bathroom library! Enjoy the afternoon, the warm and temperature, and prepare for the morning snow this Thursday. (Yikes)Make it a great day!