Meeting Abigail

Earlier this week Olivia made the observation that she knows the teachers and kids at school, and she knows her sister, Abigail, but we don't know each other.  We thought about ways we might get to know Abigail and decided to invite her in for a visit.  It turned out Kindergarten was cancelled today, so Abigail spent the morning with us.  We had a great time playing and learning together.  Thanks for visiting Abigail, and thanks for the great idea, Olivia!

Who You Gonna Call?

Is your friend taking wayyyy toooo long with your favorite car?  Did someone knock down your block tower?  Do two children want the same toy at the same time?  First, we try to problem solve with our classmate.  If that doesn't work we can ask a teacher for help.  In the Etzim class we now have an additional resource, our Problem Solver!  This week that role belongs to Julia, who has been very busy helping children think through some of the problem solving strategies we have been learning.  Julia has gently suggested "How about you take a turn and then he takes a turn?" or "Maybe you could give it back and then say sorry.". We then check in to see if all parties agree.  Julia has extended this role to the playground, helping younger children and peers.  Go Julia!We also learned what the symbol on Julia's necklace means!

Discovering the world of insects/bugs!

Discovering the world of insects/bugs! Some of the children have developed a sense of responsibility for the little insects they find outside on the playground. They seem to feel a true sense of pride and accomplishment when the relocate one of Gods creatures to a safe location or simply to observe and not disturb an insect/bug. Everytime Noah finds an inchworm he gently picks it up and carries it to the garden. He places the worm gently on one of the plants. He found 5-6 inchworms on the fence, and on his way over to the quiet safe garden, he stopped to show Jesse what he found. They counted them together. Adam and Josh were very excited to show everyone the 50-60 baby spiders in the house on the playground! It was really cool to see so many tiny little spiders all together in one web.

Peer Teaching

One thing that is often taught in the Haifa class is to ask when you have a problem or a question. There will always be someone there to help if you need it. The students have really taken this to heart, and come to Sauci, Liz, and myself frequently when they are trying to work through something with a classmate, trying to understand something, or are having trouble completing something. We are frequently willing to help our children through these processes. But we are also working with the children to help each other.

While teachers can give a quick and easy fix, sometimes the best person to ask is your peer. During a rainy day last week, Ben G. was wondering what he could do with an obstacle course that we had set up. He had already walked through it without falling off, and then came to me to ask what he could do next. I directed him to Harper to see if she could give him any ideas of what to do, and she quickly jumped up to show him how to walk backwards. You can see in the photo above that Ben and Abby are both watching Harper, even practicing what she is doing. She not only showed them what to do, but also walked them through it, and helped them when it was their turn.

Seeing our students help one other through tricky situations is so wonderful to see!

-Alison

Thank You Mia!

If Mia was not a student herself I would ask Ellen to hire her! Mia is so positive with Adam and his friends!

  Mia volenteered today in the Tel Aviv classroom!  She was so helpful...Mia planned an art activity, read us a few books, helped support the teachers and children as we practiced our Passover Play! 

Mia thank you for coming in and spending time with us!  Come back soon!

Sit. We'll Read To You!

We love to read books in the Etzim classroom, and lately the children are asking the teachers to sit so they can read to us!  Sophie brought a book from home called Yes, No which she read to her friends and teachers.  The children loved it so much, Sophie read it three times.  We laughed all day, incorporating themes from the book into our circle time and outside play!

 After watching Sophie read her book, other friends found favorite books to read to their friends as well.  It is always so impressive to watch how children can not only attend to their peers, but learn from them as well!

A Good Read

Children are always invited to bring books from home to share in our classroom. These are popular read-alouds, but also provide a nice opportunity for one peer to read to another. So, the next time you read that book at home five times in a row, remember your child might come in and read it to the class the next day!

Sisterly Love

Today Mia's sister, Sadie and Olivia's sister, Isabelle, came to visit the Etzim classroom. 
Isabelle, who is in second grade, read us two books.  Sadie, who is in Kindergarten,
shared some stretches with us and then recited a poem.  Everyone enjoyed
some time with our special guests.  Thank you girls.  We hope to see you
again soon.  We loved having teaching assistants!  We will work on our
flexibility, Sadie!

Experimenting with color and making paint...

 

The Question of the day was, "Who would like to make paint and experiment with color?"  The entire group gathered around the long rectangular table eager to hear more.  We talked a little about some of our experiences experimenting with color, over the last several weeks. Then we talked about the materials on the table in front of us...salt, four, water and water colors.  The group was asked, "What colors can we mix together to make another color?"    Noah responded with, "Blue and red makes purple and red and yellow makes orange."   Then we looked at the water colors on the table, blue, orange, green and purple.   Unfortunately we did not have all the primary colors available to us today, so we worked and experimented with what we had.

First the children decided what ingredient they wanted to measure out and pour into the bowl.  Then we went to work.  It was amazing to see how well the children worked together waiting patiently for their turn.  Once we added the dry ingredients we added the water and water colors.  The children observed and watched the colored water  change the color of the white salt and flour.  Then we took turns mixing the two bowls of paint.  When we were done we had a bowl of sea green paint and gray paint.

Then the children decided to paint with q-tips.  When they were done painting they brought their art work over to the other table near the window and were asked to write their name.  Josie, asked the teacher to make a J for her.  Elias walked over and said, "Joise I can make a J for you!"   Micah R asked the teacher to make a C and Josie offered to make C for Micah.  Writing their names became a  collaborative team effort!

Tomorrow the children expressed their preference to paint at the easel with the sea green and gray paint, with "the big brushes."

Roads Everywhere!

After lunch the Tel Aviv children decided to build a road with the wooden blocks, the length of the classroom.  Josh walked over to where the road ended and said, "This is where  California is."   Charlotte moved her toy car along the wooden road with her hand, all the way to "California".   When she turned her car around and went the other way she said, "Let's go this way, back to Natick!"

Elias, Micah and Adam asked me to help make their wooden road "bigger".   I asked them if they had any suggestions as to how we could make the road bigger?  Elias asked, "Do we have any tape?"  We asked Jesse if we could borrow her tape and then went to work!   We proceeded to extend the wooded road with the tape all over the blue rug.

In the Art Center Micah, Adam and Josh shifted gears and announced ,I am going to make roads on my paper!"   Micah Gladstone suggested we make traffic lights for our roads.   He said," I am going to make four traffic lights because I am four years old."

Roads here, roads there, roads were everywhere!

Peer Mentors

At the ripe age of four, our students have become very independent in a lot of ways. Be it taking off their coats by themselves, or choosing where they want to play independently, it's really nice to see our students show their confidence in themselves throughout the day. But sometimes, there are times that they still ask for help!

One of the most popular choice time activities in the Haifa class is the dramatic play area, if only for the pretty shoes that we have available. Boys and girls alike love taking off their shoes from home in exchange for the sparkly shoes we have in dramatic play. As a way to help transition to clean up time, we give a five minute warning to signal that choice time is drawing to a close. When that happens, if we aren't wearing the shoes we came to school in, they have to change back.

Today during that time, Harper lovingly and willingly helped Olive change from the dress up shoes into her home shoes safely and securely. Seeing the two girls working together was such a treat because it was so natural and showed a true love between the classmates!

-Alison and Sauci

Peer Mentors!

Young children are very egocentric. They see the whole world in relation to how it affects them. Most young children appreciate the value of adults. After all, adults are the ones who feed them, bath them, take them out for dinner and read them books. Dyad play requires that children begin to see their own peers as valuable resources as well. Throughout the school year we will encourage the children to share their talents and strengths with each other.

Today on the playground the children had the opportunity to play with the hula- hoops. Charlotte repeatedly picked up the hoop and moved her hips around and around very slowly and the hoop kept dropping to the ground and would not stay on her hips. I suggested that Charlotte move her hips a little faster and to keep practicing. After a few more tries Charlotte said in an overwhelming voice, "I can't do this! Hannah was watching near by and said in a friendly voice, "I can show you." Hannah picked up the hoop and showed Charlotte how to keep the hoop moving around her hips. I asked Hannah to give Charlotte some " hula tips". Hannah's response, "You do this, this and this!" After a quick lesson, Charlotte tried it again and had some success!

Charlotte was the mentor this time...Charlotte was sitting on the edge of the slide balancing with no hands which is great exercise and really challenges your core muscles. Noah was watching her and asked her, "How do you do that?" Charlotte was more than please to teach Noah how to balance with no hands on the side of the slide!

We should all continue to seek out child mentors both at home and at school. When a child is struggling at a particular time of the day, such as snack, buckling their own car seat, cleanup, catching a ball, pumping on a swing, help them find a child mentor to partner with.

Basketball Fun!

Hannah challenged me to a one on one game of basketball! When Sarah and Nathan saw us playing they asked, "Can we play too?" Hannah took the lead and showed them how to play defense, dribble and shoot the ball! We all had a lot of fun!

Creative Vision

 Just another example of the creative vision of the Kohavim boys and girls. Matty took out the Straw building materials and the wooden tree pieces. He worked and created this car and then explained the process of building to his classmates. The next day Teddy Post said " I had it in my mind I wanted to make one". Matty thank you for inspiring us and your peer teaching.

Car Wash Anyone??

The Kohavim boys and girls never cease to amaze with their imagination and building visions. This particular structure became a car wash. The car wash had "everything in the whole world", "a beautiful view", "it was free you could get anything you want", "lots of cars" "toys for kids in the car", "a gas station", and a "waxing station". I just stood by and watched the cooperation exhibited in creating this vision. They asked one another "What should I do with this?.  At one point there was one car, and Mia said to Sam as she gave him the car  "I ll have another one, so he doesn't have to wait." Such a kind thoughtful act. At one point Teddy Post wanted to build a ramp, but it interfered with the car wash path. They talked to one another, compromised and negotiated a way that the ramp could be built while still maintaining the integrity of the structure. At the end of the day, the group shared the process of building with their classmates. They planned out their presentation saying "Car wash meeting" before their presentation and then said "we already compromised who is going to talk". The whole process was amazing, the vision, cooperation of completion, the imagination, the thoughtuflness of presentation. One can only sit back in awe.

Peer Teaching!

One hockey stick and 6 children. "Who wants a turn to use it! What should we do?" Share it said one child, then another and a few more after that! Some of the children knew how to hold the hockey stick, and some needed a lesson on how to hold the stick properly. Jake took the lead. "I can show you how to hold the stick!" Zach chimed in with, "I can show you too, I play street hockey and ice hockey!" Both Jake and Zach were more than pleased to help the other children! It was a sight to behold!

We better ask Ellen to order a few more hockey sticks!

Let Me Show You Something Else

As mentioned in many previous blogs, the book corner has become one of the busiest places in our classroom. At almost any point during choice time, you can find a teacher reading with students. However, there are times when both teachers are busy, and then what do you do? Sara is a very accomplished reader, and she has taken it upon herself to read to students who are looking to be read to.

While reading at four and a half is definitely not the norm, it's great to see how confident Sara is in herself and her ability, and is so happy and willing to share with her classmates!

-Alison and Sauci

Let Me Show You

With the weather feeling like summer, there are a few spots on the playground that have become hot spots of learning. One of these spots is the monkey bars. Jake Goldfine has quickly mastered the art of making it across the monkey bars quickly, or falling gracefully if he can't make it. Other students have noticed, and have been drawn into trying the monkey bars themselves. One student in particular, Sara Shaff, has noticed Jake's success, and wanted to try herself.



Jake and Sara have recently developed a friendship in class, and this has extended onto the playground. Sara has been very cautious with her attempts on the playground, and Jake has been very supportive of Sara, and is constantly showing her ways to get further on the monkey bars.

With the support of her classmate and her teachers, Sara has almost made her way across the monkey bars! It's so nice seeing our students supporting and teaching one another.

-Alison and Sauci

What do you like about being free?

At circle time we talked about how the story of Passover teaches us about slavery and freedom and the right of all people to be free! After I read, Moses God's Brave Servant we asked the children "What is one thing you like about being free?"

Rachel- "If you are captured you can change your mind if you want to be free."

Eli- "This morning I had a fight with my brother and I could just walk away."

Ezra- " I can play with my brother whenever I want to, except when he has to do his homework."

Freedom is not an easy a concept for preschoolers to grasp. I was amazed at some of the children's responses. We will continue to talk about the story of Passover and remember how brave Moses lead the Jewish people out of Egypt.

Making our own books at Lunch Bunch!

Exploring and experimenting with words and letters sure is fun!