On farm mornings, Wee Friends is abuzz with excitement. Today was no different! Friends were very busy as the clocked ticked toward 9:30!

Each day, Melinda brings a bag of veggies to snack on mid-morning. She also enjoys dipping her veggies in ranch-a luxury we seldom offer to our Wee peeps!  But they see her Ranch and they hover……..and every now and again, (TAMI BARBOUR PLEASE STOP READING HERE AND SKIP TO NEXT PICTURE) she will offer them dips of her Ranch. Well today, as Wee Friends dipped their celery sticks into Mel’s Ranch dip, they observed the patterns that the celery stalk created in the creamy dip! This led to an art exploration using the celery stalk and leaves as paint brushes!

Well, Farm Group B had a great time this morning. We started by watching Grace and friends run/trot and exercise Star, Tony and Taffy.

When we tired of that, we ran over to look for caterpillar cocoons in Miss Charlotte’s fruit tree orchard, only to be beckoned by perfectly sized climbing trees calling out “WEE FRIEND!!! COME TO ME! CLIMB MY BRANCHES!”

We visited with the chickens and goats.

And we headed to the woods. Caitlyn and Chase found and showed us a sassafras leaf. They scrunched it up and we smelled it. They told us it’s the stuff root beer is made of.

We also studied how the light changed once we found ourselves under the canopy of the tall trees.

We played in our favorite tree stump forts and log cabin, collecting nature’s treasures along the way. Then we made our way home.

Enjoy your day.

Wee Sprouts: Celery sticks. Breakfast: Oatmeal Squares and apple slices. Lunch: Whole wheat rice with pork, mixed veggies and pineapple. Snack: Orange and cheddar cheese slices.

Good Afternoon!

With this group of children, we’re really starting to work on verbal skills along with self help skills.

Our friends hear a lot of conversations throughout the day. They hear language from teachers, other children, and wee friends when we’re outside. Not to mention language and conversations they hear at home. The language levels vary throughout the classroom so making sure that all children have access to new words and the “HOW” and “WHEN” skills to use language is very important.

Whether we’re getting ready to go outside and making sure our shoes are on or getting dressed up in play clothes, self help skills are vital as children get older. The importance of asking for help is also pivotal. Eve tried putting her shoes on for some time but couldn’t get her shoe all the way on. She did a great job trying but eventually just needed that little extra push! The next time she tried to put her shoes on by herself, it was successful! Helpful hints from other peers and teachers will give us the tools to succeed!

Clara sorted through her vocabulary and let us know, “This place is a mess! Oh man!”

Hey, it’s a good thing our play extends throughout the whole house. We’re also working on cleaning up after ourselves .

For breakfast, children had cheesy eggs and oranges. Lunch consisted of pita bread, ham, cheddar cheese slices, mixed fruit, and mixed vegetables. PM snack was whole grain crackers and hummus.

Have a lovely evening!

-Mindy

 

• Tomorrow Tami is taking Group B to the farm. That is: Jane, Arleigh, Elizabeth, Sloane, Marina and Eleanor.
• Leslie VanParys, Wee Friend’s swimming teacher from the Y emailed Tami yesterday with these kind words: “Please share with your Wee Friend Moms and Dads how much we enjoyed having their wonderful children be a part of our program. Please let the soon-to-be kindergarteners know how much they will be missed at lessons!”

 

River Park is an awesome community. We were reminded of that once more today, as Jennifer, from Active Health and Wellness Center (3027 Mishawaka Blvd.(574) 259-WELL), welcomed us into this River Park chiropractic care center. She began our field trip by talking to us about the importance of stretching our muscles each day.

Then we met Dr. Lisa. She took us to the Firefighter’s Room (each room in the clinic has a theme) and she explained how some patients have their muscles massaged. Everyone got to feel the huge vibrating massage tool.

Dr. Lisa took us into another room with a pretend spine. She showed us a 55 year old person’s spine through an X ray.

Jennifer gave everyone an Active Health and Wellness Center coloring page and a balloon, we sang a thank you song and were on our way.

THANK YOU so much Jennifer and Dr. Lisa of Active Health Wellness Center! Your warm welcome and excellent manner in working with these 16 wee people made our day!

And would you believe that on the walk back, who did we see, but our neighborhood superstar, Mail Carrier Kevin, of course!

Once we got back to Wee Friends, we headed straight for the backyard and here’s why: Max has had a vision. A vision of a soccer game with Wee Friends vs. Wee Teachers and Parents. He brought goal posts and balls to start training with his buddies.

What do you think? Please offer feedback to Lisa, our field trip organizer. We’ll look forward to your responses.

Wee Sprouts: Cucumbers. Breakfast: Hard boiled eggs and orange slices. Lunch: Whole wheat flatbread, ham, cucumber slices and orange/banana fruit salad. Snack: Peanut butter yogurt dip and animal crackers.

Have a great day!

 

Here are a few things the YMCA teachers shared about each of the Wee swimmers!

• Sloane Marina and Sophia are now called the “Queens of the back float”.
• Jane is excited to be doing her bobs.
• Finn loves to be thrown in the air!
• Elliott is happy with everything.
• Macy has mastered the “chicken airplane pencil”.
• Lea loves to jump in!

Each swimmer will be coming home with a skills checklist and bag of gummy yummies! Congratulations Swimmers!

Back in the classroom, we created collage art, read books, played instruments, danced to our favorite tunes…and talked!

AND…

Sang Happy Birthday to our Dear Melinda! HAPPY 29th BIRTHDAY MEL!!!

Breakfast: Raisin Bran and bananas. Lunch: Organic peanut butter sandwiches, peas and pear slices. Snack: Mel’s Bday surprise treat and cheese sticks.

Have a great day.

Good Afternoon! Hope everyone’s weekend was splendid.

**We’re asking our parents to make sure that when you leave Wee Wee Friends that the front door is securely locked and shut. One day last week the front door was not all the way shut and when teachers arrived the following morning, the door was wide open. So, again if everyone could help in this DAILY effort to make sure that the door is shut and locked, it’d be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

We started our week off with a great day! The morning consisted of listening to music. We danced silly. We danced slow. There were many variations of dance moves throughout music time. When we headed outside, we said hi to our Wee friends! The sandbox was a big hit and most of our friends got a tad sandy

For breakfast, children had kix and oranges. Lunch consisted of whole grain noodles with tuna, asparagus, and oranges. PM snack was cottage cheese and whole grain crackers.

Have a lovely evening.

-Mindy

Good Day!

• Make sure you pop into the Wee bathroom and check out Charles and Tami’s weekend work!
• Many friends had lots of clothes in their old cubbies. The new cubbies can fit, just about one change of clothes and a few changes of underwear and socks.
• She noticed several friends were actually running short in the underwear/shorts /tee shirt categories, so please remember to these items in to school this week.
• Lastly, we are in dire need of girls underwear. Please feel free to donate any gently (and we mean gently) used or extra panties for girls.
• Incidentally, we’ve been creating some new Wee compositions about the potty. Should you hear your Wee Friends singing snippets that include “poo-poo” or “plop”, it is intentional, and I assure you, very appropriate!!!!

So, onto the day. Melinda began with a message board that explored what happens when you mix certain colors together. She invited friends to the table, to find out!

Caleb and Finn played the Magna Tile/dice game.

A large part of our work each day is listening to and side coaching negotiations. Today I was struck by how smoothly Wee negotiations have become. Friends are choosing to use words (most of the time!). If a conflict arises, many times, they follow through with words and work at listening to one another and understanding, well, what it means to be understanding!!! Big work—-for everyone! These negotiations involve rules of games, roles to be played, ideas to be executed, physical space to be shared, accidental injuries, intentional injuries and getting a teacher’s or friend’s attention. They involve waiting…and being patient. Endless educational negotiations.

Hope your negotiations have gone smoothly today.

Wee Sprouts: Cucumbers. Breakfast: Whole wheat toast w/peanut butter and pear slices. Lunch: Whole wheat penne pasta with chicken, apple slices and cucumber slices. Snack: Bananas and string cheese.

PS: The Wee/WeeWee staff would like to thank Tami for the beautiful summer teacher’s lounge! It will be greatly enjoyed!!

Happy Friday!

A friend suggested that we paint. So we did.

The wonderful thing about our set up is that activities and ideas throughout the day are initiated by our wee wee’s. They are invested in their play and learning because it’s meaningful to them.

Through sensory play, children go beyond the boundaries they set for themselves. During our last painting extravaganza, one of our friends painted but didn’t explore the sensorial aspect of paint. Today, that changed and that child had a blast feeling the paint on her fingers. New and interesting experiences make our knowledge grow and learning happen.

For breakfast, children had cheesy eggs and oranges. Lunch consisted of hummus on pita bread, banana, and cucumbers. PM snack was craisins and rice cakes with cream cheese.

Have a lovely weekend. See you in June.

We had two big events to celebrate and bite our educational teeth into today: Ada’s first plane ride and delivering mail with River Park Mail Carrier, Kevin. Lots of interesting works were experienced leading up to these large group activities.

We began Creative Music with a game of “Please Mr. Postman”, passing a letter around ‘til the music stopped. Whoever was left holding the envelope stood up and answered a question. After everyone had a chance, we turned the Carpenters off and played “Leaving On A Jet Plane”. We presented Ada with an airline read and then took flight into an improvised airplane story.

The clock was tickin’ toward 10:15, so we landed on the front porch and made up stories as we waited for Letter Carrier Kevin.

Here’s what we learned about Letter Carriers as we traveled, this time on foot, around our block:

• First, they are called mail carriers, not mailmen or mailwomen.
• There are over 200,000 mail carriers in the US.
• Rain, shine, sleet or snow, mail carriers deliver your mail.

• The Post Office has LOTS of rules, including no one else can touch Kevin’s mail or get into his truck.
• Advertising makes up 1/3rd of Kevin’s daily mail deliveries.
• Mrs. Parker is turning 97 on June 8th!

• Kevin walks 13 miles a day on his route!
• He’s had this River Park route for 10 years.
• If he can’t deliver his mail, the post office gives his route to another mail carrier, or splits it up for several carriers.
• You don’t call them mail boxes, you call them “mail receptacles”.

• You must drink lots of water if you are a mail carrier.
• The door on a mail truck slides and the steering wheel is on the passenger seat side.
• And most importantly, shared Kevin, “Regular mail is better than email, because it ALWAYS gets through.” And if it fits, it ships.

Wee Sprouts: Cucumbers. Breakfast: Chex Cereal and pear slices. Lunch: Hummus on whole grain flatbread, bananas and celery sticks. Snack: Hard boiled eggs and pretzels.

Have a terrific weekend!

Sorry, this failed to publish to the blog yesterday!

Well we finally made it to the farm! And it was wonderful. Baby chicks, Taffy rides, cable swings, planks turned pirate ship and petting the baby goat were among the magical moments. We studied a deer skull and different colors of tree mold. We held a silver dollar sized turtle!

Back at school, they made more postal preparation, getting ready for tomorrow!

Wee Sprouts: Carrots. Breakfast: Kashi and bananas. Lunch: Ham and cheese sandwiches, watermelon and mixed veggies. Snack: Cottage cheese and apple slices.

Have a great day.

Good Afternoon.

Children explored shaving cream today. We felt it on our hands, face, and even hair! Clara took a big breathe in and blew air toward the shaving cream making some of it fly into the air!

There were varying degrees of activity throughout our shaving cream experience. A few of our friends loved diving in and getting their hands dirty. Others chose to be cautious while still testing out the shaving cream. We all tried it though. Yay!

At the end of the activity session, friends had a smile on their face and shaving cream in their hair .

For breakfast, children had chex and oranges. Lunch consisted of couscous with kidney beans, green peas, and banana. PM snack was cheddar cheese slices with whole grain crackers.

Have a terrific evening.

-Mindy