Good Afternoon!
Here are a collection of pictures that were taken throughout the day!
For breakfast, children had cheerios and banana. Lunch consisted of soy butter sandwiches, snap peas, and pears. PM snack was rice cakes with cream cheese.
Have a great evening!
-Mindy
Back at the Ranch.
Wee Sprouts: Carrots. Breakfast: Raisin Bran and bananas. Lunch: Peanut butter sandwiches on whole wheat bread, orange slices and pea pods. Snack: Goldfish and raisins.
Enjoy this beautiful day.
Good Afternoon!
Daniel and Clara each got a piano this morning. They sat together and played music with one another.
This morning, children were involved in coloring using markers and crayons along with painting. Our friends took turns in the kitchen where they made different pieces of artwork.
Clara enjoyed taking control of her art session. When she was done with something, she let Miss Mindy know.
P.K. took the marker and crayon in each hand and colored with both at the same time.
Daniel took the paint brush and pushed it down making a special print.
Eren really worked on holding the marker, crayon, and paintbrush in his hand. His fine motor skills are improving daily. He loves the feel of paint on his hand!
Children took a break in their morning to look at the fish!
Zoey crawled all over the place today! She’s putting the motions together and loves being able to navigate to another spot in the classroom.
Children pulled out the donuts this afternoon. They shared with other children and teachers. We talked about the colors of each donut as our friends pulled them out.
For breakfast, children had cinnamon oatmeal squares and banana. Lunch consisted of roast beef, couscous, green peas, and banana. PM snack was hard boiled eggs and goldfish.
Have a great night!
-Mindy
*Tomorrow is farm day for our younger Wee Friends, weather permitting. Please dress your Wee Friend in warm clothes, jackets and gloves.
Wee Friends have incredible Playground Prowess. They master a variety of daring outdoor skills with fearlessness and courage. But what about the screaming part? Should we just accept that it’s part of Feeling Free at Three? Is it ok when it goes on and on and multiple children join in to create a cacophony of LOUD screeches? It’s something we talked about today and here’s what we think: It’s ok. Not the pretend blood curdling cry that never ends or the red flag scream that alerts us to an injury, but the playful squeals that start at the highest pitches in the voice and go on and on and on. So, we’ll listen and watch carefully for the screams of injury and then settle in and let the kids be kids because if you can’t scream outside a little, where can you scream?
..and scream screeches come in handy when stirring the witch’s brew!
Wee Sprouts: Pea pods. Breakfast: Whole wheat toast and bananas. Lunch: Cous Cous, roast beef slices and peas. Snack: Yogurt and oranges.
Have a good day.
Good Afternoon!
Our Tuesday started with trains. While this is a lovely group or individual activity, we found that this morning it’s also a great problem solving activity. While the train track is a great fine motor skill tool, friends found out that it can be hard to put together. Who do I ask for help? Do I ask a friend? Or a teacher? Children asked for some assistance today when they needed help.
We saw a few confused and frustrated looks. However, when everyone pitched in, we built a wonderful train track!
Sharing was another concept that we saw during this play time.
Children jumped and wiggled at the jungle gym. Clara jumped up and down while P.K. maneuvered himself into different holes and crevices.
Clara and P.K. pointed out that our friend Daniel had arrived!
We put on finger puppets and played pretend! The finger puppets talked to one another.
Clara worked hard to get her finger puppet just right on her finger.
After all the morning play, P.K. and Daniel needed some “chill” time where they each relaxed for a while. It’s wonderful when our friends know they need a breather from play time.
Friends dipped their hands into paint today! We used green, yellow, orange, red, and pink today to paint lovely pictures!
A few friends resorted to the sensory filled paint which included using their hands!
It was somewhat chilly this morning so we put our hats and coats on.
The pea gravel was an attraction this morning that our friends enjoyed.
We scooped the rocks. We dumped the rocks.
We used different tools to do this. P.K. chose a funnel where he scooped the rocks into and then they fell out of the bottom. Clara and Eren used shovels to scoop with. We found out that any tool worked!
The steps are always interesting to our friends. A few choose to hold onto the railings while going down the stairs and some choose to walk through the sand box instead.
There are a few sensory filled trees outside! Clara enjoyed having the leaves brush up against her face. Friends followed and soon all of the Wee Wee’s were enthralled in the tree!
Zoey enjoyed moving around today. She would go from one position to another within seconds. We’re noticing that she’s really starting to get the hang of crawling and putting together the two steps: moving arms and moving legs!
Emma enjoyed quiet reading time during nap. She loves reading to herself and has those few special books she pulls out every afternoon.
For breakfast, children had cheerios and banana. AM snack was cucumbers. Lunch consisted of hummus on tortillas, pears, and snap peas. Afternoon snack was string cheese with animal crackers.
Have a good evening!
-Mindy
Lisa reported that today’s swimmers practiced jumping off the diving board and swimming the length of the pool. Ms. Leslie, the instructor continues to express how well the Wee swimmers are doing!
Back in the classroom, we created not a Light Bright, but a Pound Right! Using bright colored golf tees, we worked on our usual pounding the tees into Styrofoam, but today Mel added a twist: she wrote the initial of each Wee Friend onto the Styrofoam form. Friends mastered the task of pounding the right number of golf tees to create their initial. Afterwards, Elizabeth asked if she could create a Pound Right house!
Later, in housekeeping, Lea shared that she was getting ready for a wedding. This led to a spirited discussion about weddings. Who gets married, what happens at a wedding, what music is played and what food is served were some of the questions explored. As soon as Lea’s girlfriends heard there was a wedding in the house, they all gathered around her to be a part of the ceremony.
We asked if someone could take pictures and Sophie expressed “I’ll take pictures with my phone.” The chairs were covered in scarves.
And then the bride became a doctor (and patient).
When “Ode to Joy” was loaded, Mel showed Lea how brides walk solemnly (and joyfully!) down the aisle. And how they hold flowers.
We rolled the white carpet and Lea’s bridesmaids joined the procession.
When we prepared to go outside, friends jumped off the white carpet into the cubby area and got themselves ready to go outside.
During Lisa’s after lunch group, they read Autumn’s First Leaves by Steve Metzger. Afterwards, they talked about colors, identifying the different colors of autumn leaves.
Laurie’s group has been talking about different everyday print materials. We have a word bag that contains a newspaper, flyer, magazine, brochure and a hardback and softback book (Literacy FAB: K.2.4 Identify types of everyday print materials). We are starting to learn spooky songs and this week’s song is based on the deliciously creepy, The Dark at the Top of the Stairs by Sam McBratney (Literacy FAB: K.7.4 Recite short poems, songs and rhymes).
Our Math FABS this week are: K.3.1: Identify, sort and classify objects. K.3.2: Identify, copy and make simple patterns with shapes.
Wee Sprouts: Celery Sticks. Breakfast: Corn flakes and bananas. Lunch: Turkey on whole wheat tortillas, pea pods and bananas. Snack: Cottage Cheese and Pineapple.
May the beginning of your (week) together be filled with happiness.
Happy Monday!
Our friends started their Monday off with different stories that they wanted to read. Marty sat on the floor with children while books were read.
Children went off to participate in individual activities. P.K. enjoyed working with the bus while Daniel worked with baby dolls. Eren spent time in the kitchen where he explored the different gadgets and food that were available.
It was chilly this morning so we bundled up with our coats and hats.
Children spent their time outside doing a variety of activities such as the wooden house and rock play!
Our newest little friend enjoyed watching and listen to a new toy. There is a bell inside of the toy so she watched it move as well as listening to the sounds it made. She got so excited she started kicking her legs and moving her arms!
Zoey and Emma enjoyed each others company. Emma gave Zoey a few toys to play with.
Zoey is enjoying strings on sweatshirts as well as shoe laces. She likes to feel them with her fingers.
Lately, she’s been trying to pull herself up using shelves or chairs. She’s using those legs muscles as well as her arm muscles as she’s pulling herself up.
For breakfast, children had bagels with soy butter and pears. AM snack was cucumbers. Lunch consisted of whole wheat noodles and marinara sauce, banana, and corn. PM snack was string cheese and graham crackers.
Have a terrific evening!
-Mindy
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLIOTT!!! Today Elliott turns three. What’s it like to feel free when you turn three?
The wild abandon of being three (and every other WF age…including the grown ups 
) began with the Blue Bus. They worked on the balance beam and the obstacle course. On the beam, the practiced a routine with high kicks, tuck jumps, scales and pivot turns. They walked forwards and backwards. The culminated in a combination of all the skills!
We saw it all day as we began our work and play. The sense of freedom that total pride in a creation brings.
The freedom of friends knowing they can do something…..all by themselves.
The freedom of having big kid friends looking out for you. And having little kid friends to take care of.
Daddy love. The ultimate feeling of freedom!
Same with Mommy Love.
Freedom comes with independent explorations. Figuring things out for yourself and learning to use materials.
Contagious Happy Birthday Freedom when you are a part of making a gift for a friend.
Feeling safe in a circle with a teacher, hearing a new story and laughing out loud!
Finding slugs and worms and bugs. A feeling of abandon that only nature’s wonder can wrap around us.
Finding the place that makes you smile. And sticking with it. Sweet Freedom.
And the lunch bells. They make friends run and squeal and they fill teachers up with the sweet sound of a church bell chiming and singing its song.
Wee Sprouts: Cucumbers. Breakfast: Cream cheese on whole wheat bagels and bananas. Lunch: Whole wheat penne pasta with marinara, corn and banana/orange fruit salad. Snack: Elliott’s Birthday Celebration Banana Bread.
Have a great day.
Happy Friday!
Our friends were involved in play for most of the morning.
Some children chose to work in the kitchen where they set the table and served a variety of food.
Others chose to use household items such as purses to indulge in play with. P.K. enjoyed snuggling with a bear and a play baby.
A few friends played with different toys that they found enjoyable.
Whatever the play involved this morning, children enjoyed being with one another.
Emma used her balancing and concentration skills as she walked up hills and different terrains outside.
Say “cheese”!
Children enjoyed crawling and climbing outside. It was a little muddy from the rain the night before. However, that didn’t stop our friends from indulging in everything the outside environment has to offer.
Clara rocked back and forth on the teeter totter as she talked with friends across the yard. Daniel was determined to ride the tricycle.
Friends Emma and Zoey sat together while reading books. It’s a wonderful, quiet activity that children love to do while their other friends are sleeping.
Cars were a popular activity this afternoon. Children pushed the cars and said, “Vrooom!” Friends enjoy pushing the cars back and forth to one another or to a teacher.
For breakfast, children had cinnamon toast and apples. AM snack was corn. Lunch consisted of whole wheat tortillas with melted cheese, oranges, and mixed vegetables. PM snack was rice cakes with cream cheese.
Have a terrific weekend!
-Mindy
A ripped book was found today. There were lots of questions about how and why the book was ripped. And then it all came pouring out. Lisa grabbed a marker and wrote as fast as Finn and Nate could dictate.
“Emergent literacy is defined as writing and reading behaviors shown that develop and precede into conventional literacy. It explains that a child has a knowledge of reading and writing before they ever learn to read and write.” Here is one explanation of emergent literacy and an example of how we foster it each day.
When the story was completed, Lisa read it aloud to a group of friends. Afterwards, they created illustrations for the book. These can be found on the wall near the habitrail.
We’ve been spending a lot of time reading and singing nursery rhymes. After exploring “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”, we set out to create our own spider’s web.
Max and Ada used the string to measure their height.
We moved our study to the art table to create webs with paper, glue and string.
Still interested in the string, Ada and Max created God’s Eyes.
Lisa worked on math skills with a counting/pattern game.
Melinda played a montage of different songs and friends jumped in to exercise their bodies and their voices.
When a song about falling leaves played, Mel ran outside, collected a basket of fall leaves and invited friends to the art table to talk about autumn leaves and then, create art using them.
Wee Sprouts: Cucumbers. Breakfast: Corn Flakes and pear slices. Lunch: Whole wheat tortillas with melted cheese, oranges and mixed veggies. Snack: Elliott’s WF Zucchini bread and milk (thanks, Amy and Bill!).
Have a great weekend.