Welcome to the Shamayim class!

We had a phenomenal first day!!  

Whenever you join a new group, it takes time to navigate your surroundings, get to know each other and form friendships.  Today, the Shamayim children showed that they are experts at exploration.  The seeds of friendship and negotiation were sprouting, as well!

Sonia, Victoria, Ilan and Bella enjoyed imaginative play in our kitchen.  It is obvious our babies are going to be well cared for this year.

 Josh, Grayden, Bennet and Rosie enjoyed an impromptu story about a colorful car race.  They were respectful when their view was obstructed and all really enjoyed the story.

We made sparkly apples for our families as we begin to talk about Rosh Hashanah.  We all shared the glue, shapes and buttons and waited patiently for Judi to add the awesome blue and red sparkles.

Sonia helped Max and Josh with the trains.  Together they built a large track for everyone to use.

 Grayden and Victoria did some extra exploring.  Grayden found our doctor tools and road the big blue truck around the room as a doctor.  Victoria built fun trees with our legos.  She even found a little hiding place for one of our animals.

We loved spending our first day with the Shamayim children.  We know it is going to be a year filled with learning, growth and smiles!

Problem Solving at the Easel

Many artists visited the easel today in the Kohavim class. Dylan and Zack agreed to "partner paint." Partner painting can be a challenge as it involves two children painting on the same side of the easel, sharing brushes and paints, and negotiating space and ideas. While painting together, Zack and Dylan had a big problem: Who would take home the painting they made together?





We asked some of the other children playing nearby. They had many ideas about how to solve the problem:
       Eliza: You could cut it in half.
       Lily: But then you would break the painting.
          You could keep it here at school.
       Eli: Hang it up on the wall.

After hearing all of the children's ideas, Dylan and Zack agreed that Zack would take home the painting and they would make another painting for Dylan to take home. They proceeded to do a whole series of partner paintings together. Only the first day and the children in the Kohavim class are solving problems together!

Etzim Day One

Created by Laura Walsh

Cooperative Painting!

The Tel Aviv boys are already passionate about PAINT! Adam and Joshua were the first at the easel and were loving reaching up high to paint the paper in loooong snake brushstrokes. Micah Rosin started to paint on the other side and was fascinated by mixing colors. Elias walked over to Micah and asked, "Can I paint with you?" Micah was thrilled and then Zach came and joined them. Within no time, Micah R., Micah G., Elias, Zach, Joshua and Adam were ALL successfully painting at the easel at the same time! They loved mixing the colors and finding white spaces on the paper to paint.  Great sharing boys! Such amazing cooperation to see on the very first day!

First Tel Aviv Circle Time: Meeting Chester!

The Tel Aviv class had a wonderful first circle time today! We learned our Tel Aviv welcome song and passed the torah from child to child as we welcomed each to our class. Together we read a story about the first day of school and had the opportunity to learn about all the places where we play in the classroom. We learned lots of important things about being a member of the Tel Aviv class and we even got the opportunity to meet Chester and Bruce!

Chester is a raccoon from the story The Kissing Hand. Every weekend (starting in a week or two) a child from the Tel Aviv class will have the opportunity to take Chester home with them.

Bruce is a shark puppet and Lauri used exciting and entertaining voices to introduce him to the class every single child was in giggles. Our first circle went so well and I am excited to share and learn more together!

Oh No....Someone is not here today!!!

During the first days of school we are getting to know your children and they are getting to know us. There were so many highlights for today, but one that particularly warmed my heart was the kindness and thoughtfulness of your children. We signed in and started our morning meeting, but the children noticed a very important detail in the sign in board. Someone was not here. Some said he might be on vacation, and another person said he knew he was sick!

"Well what could we do?" we asked. They responded that we could make a card! What could we put on it? Well we could make a picture, put a heart in the middle, feel better, I hope you feel better, PLEASE feel better. What a kind and thoughtful group. Ryan we hope you feel better and can join us tomorrow!

Welcome Tel Aviv!

What a day we all had! We started our day with a little outside play!

After a short circle we toured the classroom and then we went right to work... to play of course! The children played with puppets, experimented with a variety of magnets, served a delicious meal in the dramatic play center, created buddy art at the easel and last but not least enjoyed a yummy group snack!

Sasha and I can't wait until tomorrow! Thanks for a great day!