F - AM Class

November 2, 2017, 08:00 AM

Hello families,

I have been asked by many parents/caretakers if their child is making friends in class. I realize this is a very important skill for children to develop. Socializing is a major part of life and we all want our children to have friends. At this age the children’s friendship are very different from how we perceive it to be. A child’s definition of a friend is someone they spend time with which I can say that all our children in our class definitely have friends then.

Children in our class play alongside each other (known as parallel play) which is age appropriate. It is still in the realm of making friends. I see the children playing with one another but they usually only play for a brief time then they move on to another activity that catches their interest. This happens during the time they are with us but they are using their social skills and developing skills to promote friendships. The exciting part of what I see in our classroom is that the children play with different peers all the time and are very inclusive of each other. They will usually gravitate to an activity they are interested in and then start engaging with the child that is also at the same activity.

We do provide many opportunities for children to make friends by building their social skills to help them form friendships. Activities like circle time, art, dramatic play, sensory play, outdoor play along with all the activities that we set up, do encourage children to play together, communicate, problem solve and to share with one another. It is important to remember that that it takes time and practice to build friendships at this age.

Until next time
Deanna

WRCC

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Dinos & Pumpkins - FAS T/Th Class

October 31, 2017, 08:00 AM

Last week in our classroom, we had a gourd and pumpkin store for children to explore. Close to it was a dinosaur set-up. At first, the children were taking turns buying the pumpkins and being the cashier. But towards the end of free play time, the dinosaurs started buying pumpkins from the store.

Mateo brought the dinosaur to the store and bought a pumpkin from Aiden. Mateo said “My dinosaur wants to buy some pumpkins”. Aiden replied with “How many?”. Mateo then said “Just one”.

Mateo & Loen brought more dinosaurs to buy more pumpkins and gourds.

Mateo said that the dinosaurs are buying pumpkins to decorate their Halloween Party. The dinosaurs bought all the pumpkins and gourds. Mateo and Loen lined up all the dinosaurs and the pumpkins and gourds. Once they were done, the party started.

When Mateo and Loen were done with their Halloween party, Lalita and Era brought the dinosaurs, pumpkins and gourds to the store. This time the store did not only sell pumpkins and gourds but also dinosaurs.

It was very interesting to see how the children combined the various materials and toys around the different set-ups in the classroom in their play and how their play unfolded. Giving more uninterrupted time for free play, allows children’s imagination and understanding of the world manifest in their own play.

Until next time,

Patricia

WRCC

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Professional Development Day – Oct 20th

October 29, 2017, 10:05 AM

I was looking forward to our Pro D Day because Gina had booked an art class at 4 Cats Studio at Garden City Centre in Richmond. It was different from other workshops, giving me a sense of how children feel when they are doing or making their own art work.

Jumping Judy was our instructor and took us to the back of the studio where we sat at a large table across from each other. I felt this was important because you can engage with one another and share ideas about the art that we were going to do just like we do at preschool with the children.

Jumping Judy began by giving us all a square wooden box. This got me thinking what could we be making with this? She then explained about a product called Liquid Vitrous, which we would mix into the paint colors we would be choosing for our box. This liquid gives the paint a runny, glossy look when it dries. Jumping Judy showed us some samples of the effects it has when mixed in paint and how it changes the pattern. I thought it almost looked like an oil spill in the sunlight, very fun to do and relaxing!!

We all began by choosing a color and began painting the outside of the box, we then went on to select our paint colors. We all had ideas of what we wanted to create. When we poured the paint mix on the surface of the boxes we quickly realized that the colors seemed to mix and create something of its own, quite different from what our ideas were. I found this to be interesting looking at this process from a preschoolers’ perspective, how he/she may be disappointed that the paint did not mix colors the way he/she planned and how would a preschooler understand what happened? I asked myself would I need to provide other materials like brushes to help the preschooler create what she had envisioned or do we allow the child to work with the understanding of the paints mixing into colors and creating whatever they do. I believe both, I think it’s important to provide the child with lots of materials but also understand that’s what happens when paint colors mix.

As we moved the paint around on the surfaces of our boxes by tilting or using tools like eye droppers to add more paint, the mixing of the paint was making different patterns. I found this to be relaxing to watch and thinking how it would make a preschooler feel? Maybe the same way, or they may even be fascinated by the colors changing the pattern.

It was exciting to see how different the painting turned out, considering that we all used the same materials. We will be displaying our art upstairs for you all to see!

Until next time

Jess

WRCC

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Discovery Walk - 4 Year Old Class

October 27, 2017, 08:00 AM

We decided to go for a Discovery Walk around the community centre, we talked about the safety of staying close by, however, being able to discover freely in the spaces we stopped to explore.

Each child was given his/her brown paper bag to collect things of interest that they would like to share or talk about later on.

Our first stop was a small grass area along side the school, The children were happy to search so carefully for things of interest on this small area of grass, (no one ran back into the playground which was close by to us.) some of the children came over shouting what they had found a stick, leaf, garbage, which opened up a conversation about where garbage belongs.

We then moved along to a small hill area just behind the school. The children enjoyed picking acorns, guessing where they came from, questioning what maybe inside the acorn, how to open the acorn? When questions of curiosity are asked we, as teachers, observe other children collaborate together for answers among themselves.

The children also organized a tag game among themselves with friends joining in as the game is in progress.

We then ran across the large field to watch a tractor digging a hole, a conversation began among themselves as to why were they digging a hole so deep and what is at the bottom of the hole? The children were surprised to see roots of a tree in that hole whilst wondering which tree the roots belong too, and how far the tree is from its roots.

On our way back in the field the children notice the chalk lines on the field and some thought it was a guide to how low down to cut the grass, while others thought its when you play with a ball, the ball has to stay inside the rectangle.

We also saw a muddy patch in the grass here the children said it could be

“A Dinosaur footprint.”

“I think it is Tracks.”

“The birds have eaten the grass.”

“Maybe the grass has not grown here just like the line.”

On our way back to the preschool the children decided that the hill space we stopped at would be named “tag hill.”

Until next post

Jess

WRCC

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“Gifts To Give…Thoughts on Thankfulness" - FAS T/Th Class

October 25, 2017, 06:00 AM

To celebrate Thanksgiving, we decided to bake “Cranberry Tarts” with the children so they could create a treat to share with their family! Before we began this experience, I sat down with all the children and explained that we would be working in groups of five to make these yummy gifts. I also asked the children to start to think of things that they were thankful for so we could discuss it later.

Each group of children washed their hands and helped to stir the mixture of melted butter, brown sugar, white sugar, egg and corn syrup. Then each child individually filled two tart shells with “5” cranberries. These baking details supported their understanding of measuring, mixing and also counting. Once each tart was filled, they were placed into the oven and we waited for them to finish baking.

When we all gathered in a circle once again, I asked the children “What are you thankful for?” Some children offered these thoughts…”I am thankful for…”

Dayna: “…for my babies”

Judy: “…the playground”

Era: “…for my baby”

Lalita: “…the playground”

Iris: “…my family and home

Loen: “…my baby”

Jerome: “…chasing bad guys”

Mia: “…for the playground”

Joseph: “…my mom; my guitar

Yusaf: “…my home”

The variety of responses represented the children’s many life experiences and how they enjoy and embrace them. Personally, I feel thankful for the many blessings in my own life and appreciate the opportunity to interact with your incredible children each week.

Sincerely,

Teacher Lori Moore