Friday, November 17, 2017

Morah Katie: Last week many of you mentioned how grateful you are for your friends. How can you show your friends you are grateful for them?
Lochlan: Sharing with them.

Jade: Inviting them to play with you.
 Matan: Helping them.
 
Colette: Just playing with them.

Lakshmi: Making art for them.
Maya: Smiling
Morah Katie: What type of words will you use to show your friends care about them?
Maya: Kind words.
Aura: Saying I'm sorry.
Jade: Saying please.

Sometimes it can be a challenge to show our friends how much we care about them.
There are times when our space may feel invaded, or we don't get to use the toy we want or the game isn't going quite how we planned.
As leader of the day, Miles graciously helped me role play peaceful problem solving.
I played a cranky friend who felt as if I didn't have enough space, and complained at Miles.
Morah Katie: You're too close to me, you need to stop being near me. (box 1)
When my friends pointed out that I was not being kind, we role played a solution in which I didn't say anything to Miles, I looked around, saw I had plenty of space to my right and made room for myself. (box 2)
The friends sitting at circle noticed both Miles and I were smiling.
For boxes 3 and 4 we start from the beginning. Again, I feel as if I don't have a lot of space. This time, we use our kinds words.  
Morah Katie: Miles, can I have some more room please? Perhaps a hand space?
Miles: Sure! 
Problem solved! We are definitely both feeling happy and sweet like honey.
As we sing in a friendship song:
You help me, 
and I'll help you
 and together 
we will see it through
Friends invite, share, spilt things in half, smile, say sorry, hug, give gifts and help.
It is wonderful to have so many at The Gan.











Friday, November 10, 2017

We are a grateful bunch at The Gan.
Everyday we sing our gratitude.
"Oh every morning when I'm through sleeping,
I open up my eyes and say
 Thank you Hashem for my neshama, (soul/life)
 and for giving me another day."
As we come into the Thanksgiving season, we have been having discussions about some important things people need to be healthy and happy.  
Having these things cause us to feel grateful, happy and loved.
Morah Katie: What shapes did I draw?
Matan: A rectangle.
Colette: A triangle.
Morah Katie: What does it look like?
Colette: A house.
Morah Katie: Is it helpful to anyone if a house, shelter, is empty? What if you were alone inside with no to keep you company? 
Colette: No.
Maya: I'm grateful for my house.  And my Shoshie and mom and dad and Judah.
Morah Katie: Who was grateful to come inside the building this morning?
Kids: Me!
Morah Katie: Why?
Matan: The walls will keep the wind out.
Morah Katie: Why are you grateful your families have homes?
Lochlan: They would be out of the rain and heat and the cold.
Aura: Playing.
Carson: Books.
Maya: The shelter.
Jade: Beds.
Colette: Quilts.
Lochlan: Sinks
Jade: Clothes.
Carson: Coats.
Lakshmi: Toys.
Miles: Food. They would be grateful for food to cook.
Aura: The flowers they get to look at.

Moshe created a shelter for our doll house family.
Eli made sure they had food to eat.
Each day, we took a break to stop and share what we were thankful for.
Each circle had wonderful gems of thanks:
Max: Friends
Lakshmi: I'm thankful for the Morah's and my friends.
Emily: I am thankful for all my friends.
Ozzie: I and grateful for my friends and mountains and planets.
Miles: I am thankful for trees.
Maya: I am thankful for Shoshie.
Lochlan: I am thankful for pens, pencils and markers, and paper.
Sophia: I am thankful for my friends.
Rowen: I am grateful for Lochlan and Jade.
Maia: I am thankful for my baby brother.
Moshe: Mommy and Daddy.
Jade: I'm thankful for food.
Maya: I'm thankful for water.
Lochlan: I am thankful I sleep on my own.
Matan: I am thankful for my mom and dad and Ari and all my preschool friends.
Colette: I am thankful for monkeys.
 
Evan: I am thankful for my penguin videos.
Jade: I am grateful I can ride my bike.
Eli: Mommy and Daddy.
Carson: I am thankful for shelter, my home.
Aura: I am thankful for food.
Lochlan: Earth.
Morah Katie: Even when you don't come to preschool, I am still grateful for you. Every day.



http://www.preschoolvancouver.com/home.html