June 15, 2008
Hello!
Thank you all for sharing your toddler with me these past 9 months and for helping to make this school year such a success! Have a fabulous summer!
Cheers,
Mary
May 29, 2008
As I observed the children this week, I noticed how purposeful the activity in our classroom has been. The children have been busy picking flowers to place in vases, mopping and cleaning, caring for the plants and animals, creating beautiful pieces of artwork, and continuing to follow their inner being. Many of the children have particularly enjoyed listening to stories read by the Extended Day students who have been visiting us from the Primary Wing.
Outdoors, we have been taking walks through our many gardens to soak up some sun and enjoy the Spring weather. The Lilacs are now in bloom and smell simply wonderful! The toddlers who will be moving to Primary this fall have been spending time on the Primary Playground as a step toward familiarizing themselves with the Primary Wing and beginning to feel like a "BIG" kid. :)
Crepes were the snack of the week. We made some delicious crepes to eat with a variety of toppings including fruit salsa, cherry jam, pineapples, and syrup. Yummy!!
As we head toward the final stretch of the school year, I wanted to remind parents that the toddlers need to be picked up from school by 10:30am next Friday (June 6th). This is so that we can all enjoy the traditional Dance of the Cosmos, followed by a fabulous family potluck. Can't wait to see you all there.
Cheers,
Mary
May 22, 2008
Hello!
Where there's toddlers, there's cheese! We made quesadillas this week to dip in some delicious Cherry Republic salsa. Quesadillas are always a favorite dish in our classroom!
Our object shelf is now featuring boats of all shapes and sizes. We have been learning about sailboats, tugboats, motorboats, windsurfing boards, canoes and more. As you visit beaches this summer, have some fun looking for these different types of boats.
During the past few weeks, we have been working on several complicated jigsaw puzzles. One jigsaw is a jungle scene and the other is a collage of different modes of transportation. I have enjoyed watching the children progress from needing guidance from Erin, Doug, and I, to completing these puzzles by relying upon one another for their successes.
The weather has caused us to cancel the toddler picnic once again this week, however I am very excited to see everyone at the all school family picnic on June 6th following our closing ceremonies.
Cheers,
Mary
May 15, 2008
Hi!
We learned a new song during group this week, allowing us to jump and wiggle as we sing about spring. The song, entitled "Gray Squirrel", is about a gray squirrel who shakes his bushy tail and wrinkles his little nose.
After having so much fun with sidewalk chalk during "Spring Fling", chalk has now made it's way into the classroom. We have a new chalk board on our art shelf where the children have been busy fine-tuning their art skills. New artists have been emerging daily!
A few rainy mornings have brought us into the gym where we have been busy playing call and endeavoring to conquer the climbing wall. Due to the weather, the picnic has been postponed one more week in hopes that we can all enjoy some warm sunshine together next Wednesday, May 21st, at the Elmwood township park located off Cherrybend Rd at 5:30pm.
Cheers,
Mary
May 8, 2008
Hi!
Every month our school has a "plant of the month", and this month the plant is asparagus. We decided to try asparagus in our room this week. Out of the many ways to cook asparagus, we chose to steam the vegetable and serve it along with some melted butter. Did you know that asparagus was first cultivated by the ancient Egyptians?
We have a new puzzle on our shelf which features a variety of shapes. The shapes range from familiar shapes such as a circle, square and triangle, to somewhat unfamiliar shapes such as tripods, semi-circles, and diamonds. Several of the children have been noticing the subtle differences between a hexagon, pentagon and octagon.
A few more popular activities in the classroom this week have included mopping and window washing. I think I can feel spring cleaning on the horizon!
I'm still looking forward to our class picnic. Our rain date is the same time and same place next Wednesday. We'll see you there!
Cheers,
Mary
May 1, 2008
Hello Everyone!
It's been a great week! We ended last week, and began this week by celebrating Spring Fling. This is an opportunity for the entire school to spend a few hours outside together. Although some of the toddlers were just finishing up their naps, over the course of this week, everyone has had the chance to try out our new shovels & buckets, sidewalk chalk, and miniature airplanes.
Our Radio Flyer bike arrived this week, so we spent a morning building the bike together. The children learned about the axle, the wheels, the seat, and of course the children's favorite part, the bell. Putting together the bike required a wrench, screwdriver, and a hammer. We have had so much fun taking turns riding the bike around the classroom. Waiting for your turn can be such a great test of patience!
Myrtle received some new bedding in her house yesterday. After several of the children immediately notice the change in Myrtle's environment, I had many questions to answer about where the wood chips had gone, and where the sand came from. The sand allows us to see Myrtles tracks as she travels around her house. Her tail makes an "S" shaped track as she glides through the sand.
I'm looking forward to seeing you all at the toddler picnic next Wednesday at Elmwood Park (Cherrybend Rd). The picnic will be at 5:30pm. Look for the flyer that will be coming home with your toddler this week giving more details.
Cheers,
Mary
April 24, 2008
Hello!
In celebration of Earth Day, we have been busy playing with dirt and planting flowers. We planted Cosmos seeds in small peat moss pots, which we will water daily and transfer to our garden as soon as they begin to sprout. We also planted several yellow and purple Pansies in a large clay pot to add some color to our classroom. Lastly and perhaps most exciting, a new Crab-apple Tree was planted in our toddler playground this week. The children were able to watch the planting process and a few children chose to help fill in the dirt and wood chips. We are looking forward to seeing the Crab-apple's beautiful white blossoms.
Aside from our Earth Day extravaganza, the children have been busy baking banana bread, listening to Erin play the flute, and looking through the new photo album containing pictures of themselves. The pictures have triggered wonderful conversations about families, holidays, and vacations.
I look forward to seeing some of you at the Gala this Friday. A night in Venice, how fun! Can't wait to see you there. :)
Have a great weekend!
Mary
April 17, 2008
Hello Everyone!
What a revitalizing week. With all of this beautiful weather we can't help but feel exhilarated! Outside we have been taking walks and continuing to research our birds. We checked the bird houses throughout campus to see if any bluebirds have begun to nest. A few of the children curiously discovered several tulips protruding out of the ground on our playground. Bugs have also started to creep and crawl on the playground, giving us a number of things to explore in the outdoors.
This week we made stir fry in our wok. We used a variety of vegetables and a tasty stir fry sauce to create a delicious meal that was new to many of us. I love watching the children work together as a community to have a successful snack. Each child plays an important role as he or she chooses to set the table, clear the table, sweep the floor, cook the food, or help serve the other children. Snack is a favorite part of everyone's day.
Inside the classroom, we have been busy working with playdough, building towers, and learning how to use a lock and key. Our object shelf currently features frogs and turtles. One of the children asked me yesterday what the difference was between a tree frog and a bull frog. What an insightful question!
Cheers,
Mary
April 10, 2008
Hi There!
With the snow primarily melted and the arrival of many new sandbox toys and trucks, the children have been asking to go outside more often. It won't be long before we are taking walks in the garden again and growing
flowers outside our classroom door. If anyone has seeds that they would like to donate, we will be planting seeds soon in preparation for our classroom garden.
I am still hoping to put together a new picture book for our shelves, so if you have not sent in a photo and would like to, please send one to school or e-mail it to mary@traversechildrenshouse.org. Pictures of vacations, pets, and family fun are all wonderful.
Mark your calendars for the following dates... Wednesday, May 7th will be our spring toddler picnic (stay tuned for the location and time). Also, our room-parent Krista, has graciously organized an all-school spa
day for the Mom's on Sat, May 3rd just in time for Mother's Day. Living Light Massage and Wellness Center is giving a generous 20% discount for Mom's to get much needed massages. They are open from 8 am until 9 pm which works out great for all of you busy Mom's. Hurry and book yourself a well deserved spa day!
Have a great week! Mary
March 27, 2008
As the snow continues to melt, the children have been able to move around the playground with much more ease. Not only can they run, jump, and play, but they look so much taller!! Yesterday we spotted two Sparrows perched on our birdhouses. It was our first Sparrow sighting of the season.
Bubbles have made an appearance in our classroom. Blowing bubbles, popping bubbles, looking at the beautiful iridescent rainbow within bubbles have all been a big hit this week. We even decided to take on a science project and make our own bubbles by combining glycerin, dish soap, and water.
Our cooking project for the week was grilled cheese and tomato soup. We thought we would go with some good old comfort food as we say goodbye to the last of the cold weather and look forward to sunny days and bright skies.
Have a wonderful week!
Mary
March 20, 2008
All of this recent sunshine has brought with it much anticipation for the Spring. As we have been talking and preparing for Spring, we have gotten out our bird watching book, bird vocabulary cards, and binoculars. We will be waiting and ready when the birds arrive. The most common birds on our playground are Wrens and sometimes Chickadees.
Quenten brought in a Hyacinth bulb this week. So, we now have Daffodil bulbs which look as though they are about to bloom, and a Hyacinth bulb which is just starting to bud. As the Hyacinth bulb grows in a glass vase of water, we will be able to watch the roots grow as well. We also have Cheery tree branches and Apple tree branches which we have place in water to see if they will bloom.
After months of looking at our pictures from Thanksgiving, I have decided that it is time to change the pictures. If you would like to send in a photo and a short sentence or two we would love to make a new book for our shelves. Pictures and stories about family pets, recent vacations, or simply a family outing or Spring tradition, would be wonderful. You can e-mail them to me at mary@traversechildrenshouse.org
Cheers, Mary
March 13, 2008
Louis brought in some Zucchini bread to share with the class this week. This sparked a discussion about Zucchinis. What are Zucchinis? What do they look like? Does Zucchini bread taste the same as a plain Zucchini? By the end of the week, I decided to bring in some fresh Zucchini for the children to taste and compare.
During group we have been singing songs about different parts of the body. Of course, "Head Shoulders Knees and Toes" is always a great song for learning body parts. "The Hokey-Pokey" is another one we have been having fun dancing and singing to. The author Eric Carle has a wonderful book called "From Head to Toe" that talks all about shrugging shoulders, wiggling toes, arching your back, and much much more.
Once again, I loved seeing you all at the developmental meetings this week. I enjoy the sense of community we build together as well as the opportunity we each have to share and learn individually and collectively. I hope you all enjoyed yourselves as much as I did and please call or e-mail me if you feel that you would like to meet with me to continue our discussions.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mary
February 28, 2008
Hello!
There is a Toddler Family Outing this Saturday (March 1st) from 10am to 12pm. Join the fun at the Great Lakes Children's Museum where there will be lots of friends, family, boats, water, and more!!
The Upper Elementary Theater Troupe performed their annual Theater Production on Tuesday morning. We joined the rest of the school in the gym for plenty of laughs. The children perform skits from the author Dr. Seuss as well as several traditional nursery rhymes. The toddlers were an excellent audience and enjoyed themselves immensely.
Breakfast was our cooking project this week. From homemade syrup and pancakes, to freshly squeezed orange juice and scrambled eggs, we filled our bellies up full with delicious breakfast foods.
Save the date! On March 11th and 12th, we will once again get together in the evening to discuss development as is relates to your children. So much growth has occurred since we had our meetings last fall. I am looking forward to a great group discussion. Please look for the handouts that will be coming home with your child containing further details.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mary
February 21, 2008
Hi There! We have had so many requests lately for music and group time, that I decided to bring out the headphones once again to ensure that music can be enjoyed individually throughout the entire morning. Several of the children have been listening to drum and percussion beats, while others have chosen to hear the story of Peter and the Wolf.
The water in our water table has been replaced by bags and bags of rice. Aside from serving as a wonderful sensory activity, the rice has provided an opportunity for pouring, dumping, measuring, and digging. Excitement is in the air!
We have an upcoming group of children who have been working hard at using the toilet. The children who have already mastered the toilet are setting a great example for those who are learning, as well as those who have yet to try. Remember, the more time you consistently commit to the toilet and wearing underwear, the less confusion for your child and the quicker the process. Yippee for underwear!
Don't forget that next Wednesday is a guided observation day in the Toddler wing. I will spend the morning in the observation room, available to talk, observe, and giggle with each of you. Hope you can make it!
Have a wonderful week,
Mary
February 14, 2008
Happy Valentines Day! With the help of our room parent, Krista, who baked us some delicious cookies, the children were able to decorate Valentines Day cookies to bring home to the family. We had fun picking out what color sprinkles to use just for you. We also spent some time talking about love and who and what we love in our lives. A BIG HUG, is a wonderful caring expression of love toward friends and family.
Austin brought in five Daffodil bulbs for us to plant. After spending some time dumping the soil into our pot, burying each bulb within the soil and watering
the bulbs, we placed the pot next to a sunny window. We also looked up several pictures of Daffodils so that we know what to expect as our plant begins to grow. We are looking forward to having some beautiful fragrant flowers growing in our classroom very soon.
Early in the week we made fresh squeezed orange juice. The children had the option of using the juicer to squeeze and orange for their own glass, or to simply try the juice after it had been prepared. We also made mini pizza's. English muffins covered in tomato sauce, cheese, and a bit of pineapple was a snack that everyone seemed to enjoy.
February 7, 2008
Hello!
This past week we joined the rest of our school in the Barn for an all school sing along. The Upper Elementary students immediately offered extra laps for the toddlers to sit on and extra voices for us to sing with. We had a wonderful time both singing songs we already know such as "The Apple Tree", and learning ones. Perhaps the most exciting part was singing in rounds. The toddlers listened with wide eyes as the entire school sang in beautiful rounds.
Not only have we been visiting with Elementary students in the Barn, but we have been visiting them in their classroom as well. During the week, small groups have had the opportunity to choose their favorite book from our classroom and to bring it down to the Elementary students who love to read to us. The toddlers were not only greeted by the Elementary students, by Darwin, the guinea pig as well.
Grilled cheese has filled our room with a delicious smell. We used our griddle to make some warm grilled cheese accompanied by tomato soup. Earlier in the week we spread yummy raspberry jam on toast using fresh bread from the local Bay Bread Bakery.
A wonderful tradition here at the Children's House is our annual Chinese New Year Celebration. After spending time studying and preparing for their Chinese New Year Dragon Dance the extended day students performed the dance for us in the Barn this week. Each year the dragon grows longer and longer as the day students add their personal touches and decorations.
Please join us at the Spider Lake Retreat on Valentines Day for our big Gala kick off. The wine party will be a blast and raffle tickets will begin going on sale for our Gala on April 25th.
January 31, 2008
After enjoying a wonderful birthday snack, we talked about the different fruits that went into our baking project. We used blueberries and bananas in our muffins and had apple slices on the side. You can eat the skin of some fruits, while others need to be peeled. We also discussed where the fruit grows, is it found on a tree or a bush.
What fun it was to see such a great turnout for the parent observation day last Friday. It is a joyful experience to watch the children work and I love being on hand to answer questions and take delight in observing with you. Please don't hesitate to call or e-mail me if you find yourself with more questions after the observation.
Music has a been a running theme recently in our classroom. This week I brought in my clarinet to play a few scales and notes for the children. The sound of a woodwind instrument is very different from that of a drum and string instrument. We have had a blast exploring the variety of instrumental sounds as well as discovering the many different ways to play instruments. The clarinet requires both the use of your hands as well as your mouth.
Have a great weekend!
Mary
January 24, 2008
Hello!
Doug (our on-site crepe expert) taught our class how to make whole wheat crepes. We filled the crepes with a yummy mixture of whipped cream and some local raspberry preserves.
The cold weather (burrrr) has brought us to the barn most mornings rather than outside. So, by the end of the week, we decided to bring the outdoors into our classroom. We added snow to our water table and a few drops of food coloring. The toddlers enjoyed touching the sticky snow and feeling it melt on their tongues.
We have been spending some time learning about instruments. Our instrument vocabulary cards have given us the opportunity to learn about the clarinet, drums, oboe, guitar, French horn, and violin. We also have a Djembe drum in the class to play beats with, as well as a small guitar. Next week, I hope to bring in my clarinet for a little song and dance.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mary
January 17, 2008
Hi!
We began our week with Music on Mondays down in the Barn. Our friends Marc and Dede Alderman came to perform for us with their funk band. We enjoyed music ranging from funk, to jazz, to exotic drum duets, and even an original song about a caterpillar. The children enjoyed grooving to the different beats and sounds. To continue the fun, we used drums quite a bit during group this week.
This week we spent time baking birthday muffins! Birthday muffins are always a big hit. We used whole wheat, blueberries, and bananas. Yum!
The water table has become home to many water animals. We have been learning about a variety of whales, dolphins, fish, and even an octopus. Studying animals that can be found in water has given us the opportunity to discuss how they survive underwater, where they find shelter (or a "house"), and what they eat?
Have a wonderful weekend! See you next week,
Mary
January 10, 2008
Welcome Back!
I hope you all had a wonderful winter vacation. The children came back ready to jump right in and continue their classroom routine. We had three new students join us in January and we are enjoying their wonderful new presence in our classroom.
We began the New Year with quesadillas. In addition to cheese, we added a few peppers and plenty of salsa. Our new water table has been a big deal. The children have been perfecting their ability to carry water back and forth across the room as they fill the table each morning. The water table has been a joyful activity for the toddlers.
The Potluck on Tuesday evening was so fun! Everyone seemed to be having a blast. Thank you for coming to share your smiles and delicious appetizers. For those of you who were unable to make it to this potluck, we will be having another class social in the Spring and look forward to seeing you then.
You are invited to join me in the observation room on January 25th. I will be in the observation room between 9am and 10am to talk with you and enjoy watching your toddler work in the classroom. Hope to see you there!
Cheers,
Mary
December 13, 2007
During the winter months, our Tortoise, Myrtle, requires frequent baths. The children have enjoyed watching me give Myrtle her warm bath, allowing them to really look at her in close proximity. The water enriches the beautiful colors in her shell.
Smoothies were a great choice for snack this week. We blended the fruit, ice, milk and yogurt by hand and then sat down to enjoy the wonderful flavor of so many different fruits. Thank you to those of you who contributed fruit to our smoothie endeavor.
Much time has been spent in the coat room these days, taking mittens, hats, snow pants, and coats off and on. This very sunny week has allowed us to enjoy the outdoors.
The Holiday Sing Along is next Wednesday at 2pm. Please pick up your child from the Toddler Wing by 2pm and join us in the Barn for our wonderful all school traditional sing. Campus will close that day at 3pm.
December 6, 2007
Hi There!
The snow on the ground has brought us to the Barn several times this week to run, skip, and dance. We put on a favorite CD so some of us can groove to the beat, while others choose to work with the balls and sit & spins.
Aside from the Barn, we have also braved the windy weather, and enjoyed several mornings outside in the snow. On our first snow bound morning, before any tracks had been created in the snow, we each bent over and scooped up a pile of fresh snow to taste on our tongues. Mmmmmm, wet!
I've been inspired by one of the toddler families to make smoothies next week for class. If you would like to donate some fruit or berries for our smoothies, any and all fruit is welcome. I'm looking forward to talking about each fruit as we add it to our smoothie blend. Do you know the Spanish name for your fruit?
What a joy it was to speak with a few of you in the observation room last week. Observing is a unique opportunity that many of us forget to take the time to do, but so much can be learned from watching the toddlers sculpt and form their morning.
If you would like to spend some time getting to know more Toddler families, mark your calanders for the Toddler Family Outing on December 15th at the Festival of Trains, which is at the Grand Traverse Heritage Center.
Have a great weekend!
Mary
November 29, 2007
Welcome Back. I hope you each had a wonderful Thanksgiving! If you haven't put together a picture and short description of your Holiday yet, there is still time. I haven't put the book together yet. It may be easiest just to e-mail them to me. Please don't worry if you forgot to take a picture, or didn't have the opportunity, this was an activity that I mentioned simply because I thought it would be fun for the children.
We celebrated two birthdays this week! We sang our Birthday song and baked our delicious blueberry muffins. Thanks again to all of you who have donated food to our classroom. We sure do love cooking!
As we continue to get snow, we will pull out the sleds and shovels for the playground. I am looking forward to going on some snowy walks through the gardens, so be sure to send warm (labeled) clothes to school.
The December calender was sent home with your children this week, so be on the lookout for upcoming events such as the all school Holiday sing-along, which will be held on Wednesday December 19th from 2 to 3pm. The entire campus will close at 3pm on the day of the sing-along. Join the toddlers January 8th for a potluck in the Barn (gym) at 5pm. We plan on having a great time with families and classmates. See you there!
Cheers, Mary
November 15, 2007
Hi! Thank You for all of the books from Horizon Book Day. The children instantly noticed the new books and have been reading them every since. We appreciate your gifts to the school and the classroom. This Friday and Saturday, come check out the Holiday Art Market held in the Barn. It is one of my personal favorites!
Our week has been full of energy. The beautiful weather has brought us outdoors daily to soak up the sun and enjoy fall to its fullest. In the classroom, we have begun to learn about the seasonal fruit, squash. We have already roasted Buttercup squash, Winter squash, and Cinderella squash. If you have any squash that your family would like to share with us, we would love to try it.
The Harvest Feast is next week and I can assure you that our stomachs are looking forward to all of the delicious food. Harvest Feast is always a memorable day as we discuss feeling thankful, the act of giving, and those whom we love most. As an assignment over Thanksgiving break, I would like to invite you to take pictures of your family's Thanksgiving tradition and write a few words about what you did to celebrate. I thought it would be fun to put together a book for our classroom that documents each of our Thanksgivings. Only one picture is necessary, with a few words or sentences describing your Holiday. I will be returning with pictures from my Thanksgiving as well.
Have a wonderful Holiday! (Click here for a copy of the Harvest Feast handout describing what each of you has been assigned to bring for our wonderful meal)
Cheers,
Mary
November 8, 2007
Hi!
Winter is here! The time has come to be sending boots, hats, mittens, coats, and yes, even snow pants. At this point in the year, there may not always be snow, but the ground is usually wet and the wind is cold. So, please be sure to send warm clothes for your children because we love to make use of the beautiful grounds and gardens that our school has to offer.
On that note, please remember to label everything that comes to school. We do our best to remember who came with what, but as the children work hard to help hang up their own coats and hats, things do get mixed up from time to time and labeling helps us tremendously.
In the classroom this week, we have kept busy baking banana bread, dancing together at group with an array of colorful scarves, and enjoying the fresh snow!
I'm so glad to hear that the Great Lakes Children's Museum was such a big hit last Saturday! I look forward to seeing some of you this Thursday at the family potluck beginning at 5:30pm. I'm also excited about Horizon Book Day which is this Saturday. Whether you choose to purchase a book from the classroom wishlist, or to begin some early Holiday shopping, 10% of all sales go directly toward The Children's House. Please be on the look out for the Harvest Feast handout which should be coming home with your child this week.
Enjoy your week,
Mary
November 1, 2007
Pumpkin Fun Day was a blast! We baked pumpkin muffins as well as pumpkin seeds, so we were able to enjoy our pumpkins both sweet and salty. Some of the children chose to paint their small pumpkins, while others decided to wash them clean. Lastly, Doug carved several faces on our large pumpkin, as the toddlers helped scoop out the seeds and guts.
If you would like to donate some cream cheese or hummus to the classroom, we will graciously accept it. The children enjoy using a butter knife to spread cream cheese and hummus on their crackers for a small snack. Yummmm!
Save the date for this Saturday. There is a toddler family outing at the Great Lakes Children's Museum, beginning at 9:30am. Next Thursday, come have fun at the all school potluck dinner in the Barn. There will be live music and dancing! Lastly, be on the lookout for more information regarding Horizon Book Day which will take place on Saturday November 10th. See you there!
Have a wonderful week!
Mary
October 25, 2007
Hello Friends!
As the weather continues to change, we have ventured to the gym for several rainy days. The excitement for balls, open space for running, and basketball hoops is huge!
This week, we have been busy baking birthday muffins. With one birthday to celebrate, we enjoyed singing a baking together in celebration. Many thanks to the families who have provided cooking supplies and flowers to our classroom this fall. Cooking is a highlight every week.
I've heard that Mom's Night Out at 310 Restaurant last Friday was once again an enjoyable evening for talking and laughing. If you would like to join the November Mom's Night Out, it will we held at the Red Mesa Grill. For details and more up coming events, please look for the November calendar which will be coming home with you at carline this week.
Have a wonderful week!
Mary
October 18, 2007
Hi everyone,
In spirit of the fall season, we decided to make our own applesauce. We used a combination of apples left over from our fall festival last Sunday, as well as some locally grown apples from the grocery. Peeling apples was especially exciting because we used a tool that peels the apple skin in one long curly piece. The children were interested in turning the crank to watch the apple rotate as it peeled and in tasting the LONG colorful peels. As for the applesauce, it was delicious. We added a little honey and cinnamon for additional flavor.
After spending sometime observing the class, it has become apparent to me that many of the children are working on taking shoes on and off, as well as clothing. I have placed a basket of mittens and hats on the shelf for everyone to explore and practice dressing themselves. As we approach cooler weather, this would be a great time to begin working on clothing at home as well. Before we know it, we will be in snow pants, boots, hats and mittens.
I felt really good about the way conferences went this week. I always find group discussions valuable, and I hope that each of you did as well. If you have any ideas or thoughts (pros or cons) on how this format worked for you, Hillary and I would love to here them. Again, please don't hesitate to let me know if you ever would like to set up a private phone call or meeting with me to talk more specifically about your toddler. I am more than happy to sit down with you and chat.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mary
October 11, 2007
Hello Everyone!
Thank you so much for all of the baking supplies. We had so much fun making pancakes this week. Cinnamon was added on Wednesday, and Pumpkin Spice on Thursday. The Maple Syrup was sweet and delicious. We look forward to trying applesauce next time around.
After lifting, feeling, and exploring the pumpkins in our classroom, we decided to find a new purpose for them this week....pumpkin washing!! Does it get any better than combining pumpkins and water?! I have enjoyed watching the some of the children become so focused on the activity that they spend time scrubbing every last groove on the pumpkin.
This weekend is full of family fun. On Saturday morning their is a toddler get-together at Gallagher's Farm Market beginning at 9:30am. Have fun petting animals, tasting apple cider and visiting with other toddler families. On Sunday, there is an all school Fall Festival, which will take place at the Timber Ridge Campground from noon- 3pm.
Have a great week!
Mary
October 4, 2007
Did you know that one of my favorite parts of the morning is group time. Group is a favorite because it is a time when the entire class comes together as a community to sing, learn, and laugh. After a few weeks of listening to me sing songs such as "Trot Old Joe" and "Three Little Monkeys", the children are beginning to recognize a few of the songs and sing along with me. Sadly, this means that my solo career has come to an end, but I much prefer the joy of having the children sing and dance along with me each morning.
This week's cooking project was quesadillas, yummmm. We sprinkled three varieties of cheese on the tortillas, and cooked them up on our griddle. Perhaps the best part was watching the children try a little salsa. I only saw one or two looks of utter disgust, while many of the children enjoyed spreading salsa on their quesadillas. :) Hopefully in the future we will make quesadillas again and add a few peppers or fresh tomatoes.
I'm really looking forward to Janis Keyser's talk entitled, "Becoming the Parent You Want to Be". The talk will be at 5:30pm tonight (October 4th). I'm sure it will be a fun and informative evening. Can't wait to see you there!
Cheers,
Mary
September 27, 2007
I think we can safely say that fall has officially arrived. The leaves are changing, and the mornings are brisk. In celebration of fall, we have several pumpkins in the room, as well as a basket of Indian corn and gourds. Each vegetable has a unique shape, a different texture and a variety of colors to observe. I have noticed that the children enjoy moving the pumpkins and corn around the room from table to table, decorating as they see fit. Speaking of decorating, thank you to those of you who have been keeping up with our flower calendar! At the beginning of each week, we have been sitting down to cut our fresh flowers and arrange them in vases. Again, the toddlers enjoy moving the vases around the class to beautify our "home" away from home.
After celebrating two birthdays last week by cooking delicious corn muffins, we were able to start our cooking routine this week. Scrambled eggs (with cheese), fresh fruit, and toast are what we chose to cook up in our classroom. I am tickled to say that almost every child took at least one bite of eggs! We would greatly appreciate your help in donating a bag of whole-wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, smart balance omega-3 oil, a bag of sugar, and eggs. Thank you for all of your help.
Well, the picnic was a big hit. I always enjoy seeing all of the toddler families together. What a great opportunity for us to get to know each other better. Please look for the yellow October calendar which I have been handing out at carline. Attached to the calendar is the date and time of your child's parent meeting, which will be on October 16th, or 17th. Lastly, don't forget to sign up for our evening with Janis Keyser on Oct. 4th! This talk will be useful and practical for our favorite group of toddlers, and is a part of our Parent Education series here at The Children's House. You can RSVP at the front desk.
Until next time, :)
Mary
September 20, 2007
Our lovely garden now has several BIG pumpkins. In the afternoons the children have been taking walks out to the pumpkin patch to explore and learn about pumpkins. A few of the children have had fun attempting to push the pumpkins over, only to discover that they wouldn't budge, while others admired the beautiful yellow blossoms. We will continue to explore pumpkins as we move further into the fall.
Painting has been a favorite this week. In the toddler room, we start by using the primary colors, red, yellow, and blue. This allows us to eventually begin mixing colors to see how we can create purple from red and blue, or orange from yellow and red. I will be saving your child's artwork and putting together a small portfolio which you can look forward to receiving at the end of the school year.
"I'm as Quick as a Cricket" by Audrey Wood is one of the many books we have spent time reading. Each page beautifully illustrates a different animal and perhaps its' most well known character trait, such as the quickness of a cricket, or the happiness of a singing lark. This book is a great resource for learning how to express emotions. Ask your child how he or she is feeling today?
Mom's night out was a success! Thank you Erica for putting that fun evening together. If you didn't have an opportunity to join the mom's this time, there will be many more. :)
Cheers,
Mary
September 13, 2007
Our classroom has begun to settle into its' daily routine. Feeding the classroom tortoise, Myrtle, is perhaps the most popular part of our morning routine, followed by playing instruments during group and of course snack is always a big hit. I am enjoying my observations of your children, carefully taking note of what activities they each seem to choose as their favorites.
Please don't forget to RSVP for Mom's Night Out! If you would like to participate in a fun filled dinner of talking and sharing from one mom to another, call Erica Chadwick (922 0374). Dinner will be at Minerva's Restaurant beginning at 6:30pm.
It was wonderful to see so many of your faces at the parent orientation meeting. As the month continues, please feel free to contact me with any more questions you may have.
Warmly, Mary
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