Happy Thursday!

We started the day off working with insects of different shapes and sizes. P.K. and Clara emptied the bug bin and put all of the insects on the table. They played pretend with them and lined them up in a circle and a line as well.

Emma enjoys swaying on the swing while she’s outside. She likes to sit with her friends and teachers.

P.K. gravitated towards the green tractor this morning. He used his leg muscles while he pushed it along the pavement.

Since Fall is approaching quite fast, our friends walked through the garden picking what they choose. They enjoyed pulling the flowers as well as any left over tomatoes. Friends helped one another as they looked for certain items.

Friends sat and studied their findings.

P.K. found a tomato that an animal must have gotten to!

Children used their touch to feel different vegetables and leaves.

Emma was determined to walk up the hill by herself. She took her time and used her balancing skills as she climbed the hill.

Zoey enjoyed getting pig tails today! She is getting a new tooth and loves to put different things in her mouth. While on all fours, she spreads her legs out and bounces. Her strength is getting greater day by day!

For breakfast, children had raisin bran and pears. Lunch consisted of ham and bean soup, bread with butter, and apple. Afternoon snack was animal crackers and banana.

Have a terrific evening!

-Mindy

“We’re goin’ on a seed hunt, we’re gonna catch a bunch, it’s such a beautiful day, we’re not scared.”

Farmer Charlotte spent the whole morning with us, as our Trail Leader, pointing out every kind of seed she spotted as we walked through the woods. Here’s the list of seeds Wee Friends explored today: red bud tree seeds, asparagus red seeds, Morning Glories, raspberries, sunflower seeds, two kinds of tall grass seeds, grasshopper seeds, milkweed, Purple Aster, moss, wild leeks and acorns.

We chased/fed the chickens and found a fresh egg. We ate raspberries and comforted the weaning calf. We watched milkweed seeds fly and hid under the root system of an uprooted tree. We cracked and ate seeds from the harvested sunflowers. Beautiful earth. Beautiful day.

Before the farm …….A friend said something akin to “here’s a ticket for the airplane.” Joe Cocker popped into the environment via “The Letter” and our envelope/letter art work became an airplane ticket making project, amongst other things. We practiced cutting and identifying favorite colors. We had a long conversation about Halloween and friends shared their costume plans. Lisa guided a small group of housekeepers and even got her hair cut.

 

“Give me a ticket for an airplane. I ain’t got time to take a fast train. Lonely days are gone, I’m a comin’ home, Jane wrote me a letter.”

Other friends read with Lisa and independently.

Math work in disguise with Magna Tiles and matching.

Wee Sprouts: Carrots. Breakfast: Kashi and bananas. Lunch: Ham and bean soup, buttered whole wheat bread and pear slices. Snack: Pretzels and bananas.

Have a great day.

Good Afternoon!

Welcome our two newest friends to the Wee Wee classroom! We’re thrilled to have new friends with us!

P.K. and Clara enjoyed playing hide and seek in the cubbies with one another this morning .

The sensory filled morning started with play-dough! We played with red play-dough using golf tees. Friends stuck the tees into the play-dough to make different designs.

Children love showing off their work.

Next, we dipped our hands into oobleck. When the mixture is being rolled or played with it is in a somewhat solid state but once you let it go, it turns into a liquid! Our friends weren’t sure about it at first but most of our friends tried it which is great!

Our gross motor portion of the morning started with jungle gym madness! Friends crawled through different holes and crevices.

Then, we worked on the gross motor tool with the stairs and steps. Clara ran around the room moving her arms all around.

Zoey rocked it out on the piano making all sorts of wonderful music.

While outside, Zoey was ecstatic to have alone time on a big blanket. She played with different toys while listening to the sounds of nature.

For breakfast, children had cinnamon toast and apples. Lunch consisted of brown rice with beef, watermelon, and broccoli. PM snack was rice cakes with cream cheese and raisins.

Have a wonderful evening.

-Mindy

 

Wee Sprouts: WF garden green beans and kale. Breakfast: Oatmeal and bananas. Lunch: Whole grain rice with beef, watermelon and salad. Snack: Goldfish and cheddar cheese slices.

Have a great day.

Good Afternoon!

Zoey made tons of bubbles today! She loves putting her tongue out and showing her friends and teachers! While on the floor, she did some baby stretches where she stretched her body to one foot then the other!

Friends started off their Tuesday morning by having group play in the kitchen. Children worked together to prepare food.

Emma enjoyed reading stories this morning. We enjoy listening to her read aloud to herself!

P.K. loves being around baby Zoey. This morning, he enjoyed softly tickling her feet and listening to a story with her.

Clara bounced on a purple bouncy ball while outside. She also shared the basketball with her friend P.K.!

The sandbox is a great place where friends share their toys and also where great communication skills take place.

Emma worked in insects at the kitchen table after lunch. They are scaly and have an interesting feeling to them. Emma loves taking her fingers and running them up and down the insect.

P.K. worked independently on building trains. He worked on his fine motor skills as he tried to put each piece on the train as well as his helping skills. When he needed help, he asked a teacher for “help”.

Daniel enjoyed bouncing up and down on the jungle gym this afternoon. He works on his gross motor activity a lot. He loves jumping and running in the house as well as outside!

Clara walked the Cookie Monster car around the living room this afternoon. She said, “Ride” as she was pulling the car along.

For breakfast, children had apples and cheerios. Lunch consisted of egg salad on tortillas, banana, and mixed vegetables. PM snack was graham crackers and banana.

Have a terrific evening!

-Mindy

It was swimming Tuesday for our older Wee Friends and Music Making Tuesday for our friends in the classroom. From the “Hokey Pokey” to “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”, friends delighted in making their bodies move and voices sing.

Music plays a big role in our Wee house. It is a transitional tool. Today a friend was missing her mommy. Melinda composed a song to help this friend transition into a peaceful activity. Music is a Life Skill Aid. Many friends tell us, after they’ve gone potty, that they have flushed and washed: “Flush and wash, flush and wash, when you go potty, flush and wash!”. When we gather our bodies close together to create music we sing “My space, my space, here I am in my space, my space, my space only me.”  Music cultivates literacy “Ada’s here today, Ada’s here today, let’s all clap together, ‘cuz Ada’s here today! A—da,(clap)   1—–2! Ada’s name has two claps!” Musical rhythm helps kids understand math concepts. We count keys and beats and hunt for time signatures (hearing the three count in a waltz).  Music develops brain cells, memory and musical preferences! Our new class of three year olds have three favorite songs in their repertoire: “Twinkle, Twinkle”, “ABC’s” and “Bah Bah Black Sheep”. Music comforts and soothes. When we play “Puppy Love”, it calls friends to find their lovies and lie down on the oval rug for music meditation. Music fills the house at naptime to create a calm and quiet resting time. Music is happy and fun. “Dynamite” is still the most requested song at Wee Friends.

What part does music play in your house?

FABS– Week of 9/24-Literacy: K.1.14-Match all consonant sound (mad, red, pin) to appropriate letters. K.1.7-Listen to two or three phonemes (sounds) when they are read aloud, and tell the number of sounds heard. Math: K.1.7-Find the number that is one more/one less than any whole number up to 10. K.1.6-Count, recognize, represent, name and order a number of objects. K.1.8-Use correctly one/many, none/some/all, more/less, and most/least.

Wee Sprouts: Broccoli. Breakfast: Cheerios and bananas. Lunch: Egg salad on whole wheat tortillas, mixed veggies and orange slices. Snack: pb/vanilla yogurt and apple slices.

Have a great day.

Happy Monday!

Zoey enjoyed her floor time today. She sat with her legs spread out which allowed her to work on her balance while sitting up. She has been working on going from sitting up to on her belly or visa versa.

The lion was a popular toy this morning. Friends swayed back and forth while riding it.

The blue gymnastic bus came next door to Wee Friends. Clara and P.K. watched their older friends do gymnastics on the bus. P.K. pointed at different kids that he knew. They did their own jumping on the jungle gym!

Emma sat and had some quiet time. She picked out a book and went to sit in a chair to read.

P.K. worked on his balance and leg strength by walking around the classroom with his legs spread apart. He staggered them as he walked from one end of the room to the other.

Friends enjoy the swing outside. It’s a peaceful place to be while watching children play throughout the yard.

P.K. played with the green monster truck today. He enjoyed driving it around on different surfaces such as the grass, sand, pavement, and steps.

Daniel participated in individual play while outside. He went to the wooden house to play by himself where his friends joined him later.

We walked through the garden to look at the flowers. The flowers and vegetables will soon be gone especially with the cooler weather we’re having!

Even outside, Emma loves hipping and hopping on her knees! Although she is getting much better at walking outside. She loves the rocks and the sand.

P.K. and Clara love sitting on the passenger bike together! Even though they don’t ride it, they enjoy each others company.

The Legos on the porch allow children to work on a calm activity while enjoying the outside breeze! Emma worked with the Legos for some time. She got one Lego out at a time and put them in a straight line.

For breakfast, children had soy butter toast and apples. AM snack was string cheese. Lunch consisted of cream cheese and ham noodles, watermelon, and green peas. Afternoon snack was goldfish and apples.

Have a terrific evening!

-Mindy

 

Finn’s teamwork song has got it right. In the Land of Life Skills, it’s all about teamwork. With five friends gathered at one table to explore, sort, pile up and identify the color of plastic gems, it’s as much about working cooperatively next to each other as it is beginning math skills. The same goes with the wonder of magnetic materials. Not only are friends learning science, they are learning how to interact in a positive way with one another, sitting/standing so closely together, elbow to elbow.  Teamwork. Talk Work instead of Yelling Work. Gentle Touch Work instead of Pushing Down Work. Sharing My Tray Work instead of Crying Work. When you are two or three or four, in the Land of Life Skills, your needs are immediate and your impulse control is still developing. And that’s ok.

“It’s mine!” “No, it’s mine!” “I had it first!” “You took my spot!” “She has more than me!”

Learning to share. Life skill extraordinaire. It feels good to share with you and it makes you feel good when I share. Look what we can create together, when we share.

In our Land of Life Skills, we watch our older friends role model life skills beautifully.

In the Land of Life Skills sometimes Muppet Mascots help us along. Ideas like “Please don’t grab my face when you want to speak with me.” or learning a new song:

“It’s a hard day                                                                                                                            when you don’t get your way!                                                                                                      And Hey!                                                                                                                                      Sometimes I feel the same way!”

It’s been a fabulous day in our Land of Life Skills. What’s it Gonna Take? Teamwork. Thanks Finners.

Wee Sprouts: WF garden zucchini. Breakfast: Whole wheat toast with butter and cinnamon and pear slices. Lunch: Egg noodles with ham, peas and watermelon. Snack: WF garden zucchini muffins and bananas.

Happy Friday!

Starting on Monday, Marina will be transitioning to Wee Friends next door! We are excited for her to start this journey. We know she’ll do great things and have a fantastic time! However, we will miss her!

P.K. and Emma put puzzles together this morning.

A group of friends gathered to listen to a story.

P.K. worked with an Elmo truck and listened to the music.

Zoey loves sticking her tongue out. She is getting a bottom tooth and loves to feel it on her tongue.

Friends gathered this afternoon to build a choo-choo train. They did a great job at working together to build it as well as get the trucks and trains together.

Emma enjoyed working in kitchen as well as on her gross motor skills on the jungle gym.

For breakfast, children had bagels with soy butter with raisins. AM snack was string cheese. Lunch consisted of egg casserole with cheese, sausage, and hash browns along with oranges. PM snack was crackers and cheese.

Have a great weekend!

-Mindy

Wow. What an incredible morning! WNIT was here from 8am-1pm filming segments for upcoming Sesame Street episodes. They shot footage for the planned five segments and your young actors and actresses were unbelievable! They were camera ready at a moment’s notice, flexible when it came to who was a part of which segment, articulate when given a line to speak and ready to take direction and execute! We are so proud of Wee Friends for their hard work this morning. We also want to say thank you to Mary Collins, Angel Hernandez, Chris (sound man) and Dana (camera man) of WNIT for choosing Wee Friends to be a part of this incredible process of creating art. We also thank Matt and Rachel, interns, who were also in the house, working and playing with all our friends on and off camera. Here’s what happened:

We learned that these episodes will be aired in the Midwest, and possibly nationally.

We had a picnic outside today with egg casserole, goldfish and pear slices. For snack we are having apple pie!

Have a great weekend.

And cut.