Back at it!

From the moment children walked into class this past monday the room was active and full of joy. 

Natan: The Y.

Judah: That is the Y, but where is the z?

Gracie: I have 7 stars.

Ella: I have 5 stars. I lined them up.

The Gan is a special community for many reasons. This week a few in particular stood out to me.

We all work together; we all have our jobs/roles.

The teachers create an environment that is exciting and rich with interesting activities.
The children play and engage, through which they develop independence, and an understanding of their world.

Anton: The dots are just staying.

Jack: This one is going down but it is stuck in the oil.

Anton: Now the colors at the bottom are mixing.

Jack: The water colors dropped down.

Natan: Two drops are still on top!

Morah Katie: Do you think they will still be on top when we get back from outside time?

Jack: No, they will be at the bottom.

Gracie: The colors exploded.

The Gan is a place where each child is honored for who he/she is and where he/she can express their individuality, and their point of view.
As they do this, they flourish and grow.

Gracie began to "read". 

Gracie: Morah Katie I can't actually read the words.

Morah Katie: Gracie, do you know the story? Can you share it with your friends?

Gracie: "There once was a bull who only liked flowers. He didn't like to fight. Then there was a bee…" 

                                                                  (From Ferdinand)

Ella: I just got 5, so next is…….6!

The joy that comes from awareness of "I Can" makes the world a more beautiful place.

Jack: I put my hood on then I get my arms.

Sroli can lay his jacket in front of him, slide his arms through the sleeves,

lift his arms up over his head and

Sroli: My jacket is on!

Attempts at independence may be messy or take longer than we as adults may like, but the resulting pride the child acquires more than makes up for the spilt paint or delayed next activity.

The creation of a safe and nurturing environment consists of respecting each child's learning style and personality.
The teachers reflect and think about each individual child; they observe and try to understand the motives behind a child's choice.

How does the child learn? What sparks the child's imagination?  What helps him/her feel comfortable and safe?

Amelia: It is little snowflakes!

I like the frosty slide!

When children feel free to follow their interests, feel safe to take risks and make mistakes, amazing things bloom and grow.

Abigail: I am making a rainbow fish.

Efraim: I am making a shark.

Judah: My sea animal is made of glue.

Sroli: This one is 7, Isaac will have to get 8 next. Anton got 6.

Efraim: This is oil. 

Morah Katie: We will find out for sure at group time.

Group time

Morah Katie: I am going to add red water to our jars, how will we know which one is the water? 

Efraim: It will be orange.

Morah Katie: Yes! red and yellow make orange! What will happen to the oil?

Gracie: The water will drop and not mix.

 

Morah Katie: Do we need to switch our labels?

Kids: YES!!!

 Letters can create images,

  Natan: This one is a mama!

Letters also create words.

Isaac: It is still mixing, now the green is on top again.

Zim: I found a lot of ice. This one has rocks on it.

Morah Katie: How did that happen?

 Zim: The water got so cold in the dark it froze and the rocks were close to it so they stuck together.

If the frost on the inside of the globe is scraped off,

 
Anton: IT SNOWS INSIDE!!!!

 Mr. Potato Head can create quite a stir:

Isaac: Look at Mr Potato Head. 

Gracie: MR POTATO HEAD HAS A NOSE FOR EYES!!!

Anton: IT SMELLS WITH ITS EYES!!!

Ella: OH MY GOODNESS! WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS FACE?

Sroli: HE HAS HIS NOSE……..FOR HIS EYES!!!

Of all the educational tools available, love is most potent.

Gracie: I can help you Sofia.

Sofia: Thanks Gracie.

Amelia: Gracie I love you. And I love you Ella.

Gracie: I love you too.

Efraim: I love you Gracie.

Gracie: I love YOU Efraim.