Choice time

We believe in children having choices. After circle time children choose from different areas and activities in the room -  the areas of the room are described during circle so they are aware what is available and as the children are dismissed they tell the teacher what they plan to do. This is called "choice time". We don't require children to do all of the activities each day, but do strongly encourage children to do the planned art activity at least one time a week - and with the preschoolers' this year, it is not hard to persuade them, they come over on their own. 
Depending on a child's interests, confidence and skill level determines which activities or areas of the room they choose. Some go to all the areas while others only go to a few. Choice time lasts between 45-50 minutes each day. It's an important time for children to really become engaged and explore materials and activities, plus a lot of learning takes place especially with teacher support and guidance. We are fortunate to have 3 lab students on Tuesday and 2 on Thursday - these children get a lot of extra support and child/teacher interactions! 

This is a favorite choice for a lot of children - sitting at this old school desk with phones, paper, markers, etc. They feel pretty important sitting in this spot!

Working on a stack of puzzles. She did finish all of them. On her own.

Sensory table - we have rice in there this week - besides the typical scooping, pouring and filling containers, there is social skill learning going on too. Some children stay at the sensory table a long time - it can be very therapeutic. (The student pictured here is Ms. Emma)

Spinning the cup around to make circles.

Sorting bears by color. 

Tuesday's dorm visit and snack

We went on an adventure to the girls dorm today (Erb Hall) - it is a learning process for all - learning to stay with partners, and stay in a line while following someone in front of you. We are gaining on it and we will keep practicing. Once we arrived at Erb hall, we climbed 3 flights of stairs to get to the third floor where Ms. Molly's room was, then we listened while Ms. Molly told us about her room and then it was snack time down at the Lark's Nest, and finally a little play time at the rocks and trees (near Lemon Center). It was a full day.

Up the stairs we go!!

Here's Ms. Molly's room - she has her name on the door.

Ms. Molly's bed is on the top and she described how she gets up there!

Yeah for Ms. Molly's room. 

And down the stairs. We are holding on!

Snack time!

We sure enjoyed snack at the Lark's Nest

 At the rocks and trees (near Lemon Center) - 

a great place for children to climb rocks and trees, it's just their size!

Can you tell who is in this tree?

Caption this!!

Kids make the funniest of faces. I don't always capture them because by the time I turn on the camera and get all situated, the child has moved on to something else, BUT today was my lucky day. I caught a few while we were out on campus. 

How would you caption these?!

These made my day!! :) 

Dorm visit and snack at the Lark's Nest

Over the next 2 weeks (in between Fall Break days) we will be venturing onto the College Campus and discovering new places. Today we visited Ms. Molly's room at Erb Hall (girls dormitory) and ate our snack at the Lark's Nest (the Lark is the college's mascot for those who may not know), followed by time at the rocks and trees. 

Erb Hall

Climbing stairs to the third floor. 

Ms. Molly's room - see the note her roommate left for us?

Ms. Molly's bed is on the top and she was describing how she climbs up there!

You can see the soccer field out of the big window!

Here we are!

Blue table snack group

Yellow table snack group 

Red table snack group

We are very glad the rain held out and we stayed dry!

Blast off!

Many years ago I learned a song but it has been filed away in my brain until a few weeks ago as I was pushing children on the tire swing.. it popped back into my head, and so it is requested every.single.day. 
10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1...blast off! 
Blast off, blast off way up high
Blast off, blast off up in the sky
Blast off, blast off way up high
Riding in my spaceship!
So on Friday as several children were swinging and I was singing, one of the girls' long, beautiful blonde hair was swooshing and blowing as she swung around. Another child noticed this and said, "Look at _____ 's hair, it's so pretty, it's flowing in the wind."

BLAST OFF!!

SALSA!

We made our snack today and boy was it tasty! 

Here are the ingredients we used: 
Roma tomatoes (about 5) 
1/2 yellow onion
2 cloves garlic
A "bunch" of cilantro
Juice of 1 lime
salt and pepper to taste. 
I was planning to add a jalapeno from my garden, but I forgot to bring one, so this recipe is mild.

First we cut tomatoes into quarters - yes, I did let them cut with a sharp knife, carefully supervised. We still have all of our fingers!

Then the smelly strong onion!

And garlic.

Then the squeezing of the lime. Great fine motor skills practice!!

It helps if you scrunch up your face while you squeeze.

And then we tasted lime pieces. Tart and tasty!

Before we "Ninja-ed" it!

And after. It took less than a minute to blend it together.

And then we ate it with chips for snack. :)

TR happenings this week

This group is a busy crew of kids! They seem to enjoy a variety of activities and it is evident in how they explore and jump into things.

Getting gloves on.

Maybe I need some help from Ms. Molly 

Painting with watercolors (Ms. Laura is helping us)

Our new friend that started Thursday. 

Lining blocks up and then driving a car on top of it. 

Drawing a monkey picture and working really hard to stay in the lines.

There was a lot of digging here and filling containers with sea shells and animals.