Friendships and bonding over common interests - 4 Hour Class

One of the most important question on every parents mind is “Does my child have friends in school?”


Our children form natural relationships over common interests just like adults do. Our monthly trip to the library allows children to choose a book of their interest; a book they can explore, enjoy, and then share that experience with their peers. This not only enhances children’s learning, but also creates room for children to find common grounds of interest, opening up a door for further friendships to form.


Nothing warms our hearts more than seeing these natural friendships and bonds forming among the children in our care. These are just a few candid moments of bonding.  


(Left to right; Stepan, Keane, Loen, and Jerome)


(Left to right; Mia, Linden, and Elliot)


(Left to right; Koen, Jayden, Austin, Fraser, Vienna, and Jerome with teacher Emmett)


Till next time,

Mariam 

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The Puddle by Hyewon Yum - 3 Year Old & 4 Year Old Classes

We read the book The Puddle by Hyewon Yum. It was a story about a child who was feeling bored because it was raining, she thought she was unable to go outside so mom illustrated a picture of them going outside with the right rain gear boots, rain coat, etc. This allowed them to have fun with a puddle.

After we read the story, I encouraged the children to put on boots, raincoats as we were going outside and maybe we would see some puddles that we may want to jump in!

Children benefit from exploring the changing season by using their sensory skills, which also helps in their cognitive development.

 













 
 

The joy the children found in jumping in the puddle is a perfect demonstration of how incredibly beautiful childhood can be and what it's supposed to be.

Thank you to our wonderful parents who helped with changing clothes when we got back to class.

 
Until next post
 
 

Jess
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The BIG Puddle - 4 Hour Class


 
With all the rain that we’ve been getting, puddles outside are inevitable. When we came out to the park last week, the children noticed a very big and somewhat deeper than usual puddle. Some splashed on it while others ran across it. But most of the children were more drawn to throwing things inside the puddle.
 
 
The children took turns in throwing different things they found around the park. There were leaves, flowers, rocks and sticks. Teacher Matt then asked the question, whether they think the object will sink or float. The children started giving their answers. Koen said that heavy things sink while light things float. Fraser replied with “The rock is heavy so it will sink”.

 

With this experience, the children were able to practice their turn taking skills, both their gross motor and fine motor control and the concept of buoyancy (sink or float) through their play in a natural environment.

Until next time,

Patricia



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Loose Parts - Fine Arts and Science M/W/F AM Class

We have been so excited lately because the children have been exploring with loose parts in our classroom and it has been so interesting to see how each child uses them.  The children have constructed many unique creations with the parts.  Sometimes the children will take the parts over to the other areas in the classroom and add to the other activities they are participating in.  We have found them in the sensory bins, in the dramatic areas and a lot of time the children like to imagine they are cooking a variety of foods with the loose parts.  Their imagination is endless when it comes to pretending and improvising.  The children see the loose parts so differently than we do as adults and that is the total beauty of this activity.  Sometimes, it gets messy and we do end up finding pieces all over the classroom but we have to keep in mind that this is the actual process of the materials being moved all around the room and used in a variety of ways.



 
 
We have seen the children use the loose parts to create pictures, make elaborate sculptures and many patterns.  Faces, trees, flowers, houses, and animals are some of the popular creations to date.  The children also love to take the loose parts and just simply line them up or sort them out into an assortment of baskets.




This activity gives a child to think outside of the box, to stimulate their minds and encourages open ended learning. It helps the brain to develop mathematically, scientifically and creatively by discovery, experimenting and problem solving.  It also builds fine motor skills and gross motor skills.

One of the great thing about loose parts is there is no set directions to follow which empowers the child to be the direction.  This leads to curiosity and imagination all through using simple loose parts in our classroom.
 
Until next time
Deanna

 
 
 

 


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What are we exploring? Fine Arts & Science M/W/F PM Class

After exploring about pumpkins and more pumpkins, the children have now shown interest in a variety of animals.  We started our journey with farm animals and now have gone on to jungle animals.  They have been exploring the animal’s physical features, how they are similar and different and their habitat.  We have been categorizing in a manner where the children can visually grasp how to group them and trying to make it into a fun game.  This makes it easier for the children to associate similarities and differences of each animal.  By following the children’s interest it allows us to expand more on other areas of learning because we have captured their curiosity. 



 
While we are learning about a variety of animals, we also take the opportunity to learn about numbers, colours, words, social skills, creativity, drama, music, fine motor skills and gross motor skills.  We try to incorporate and tie in other aspects of developing the children while following their lead.  The children may not know it but they are absorbing, developing, practising and making sense of the information that their minds are taking in, all why playing and learning at the same time.

The other day, the children were absorbed in creating snakes during art when Evan decided he would like to print his name.  He then started tracing out his name and saying the letters of his name out loud.  It then caught the attention of Raunik, and Aikam, who decided they would like to also practise writing their names out too.  So, Jordan and I took their lead and started printing names. This is an example of how we took their interest and ran with it while it lasted.



I believe, our job, as educators is to provide materials, activities, and set the scene for the children to be able to engross them, intrigue them and captivate them into wanting to participate, wonder and have fun.

Until next time,
Deanna

 
 
 

 






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