Classroom Updates

Hello!

We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!  We just wanted to take a minute and update you on what's been going on in the classroom.  We have been recording and observing the ideas of the children to continue to expand on in the classroom.

 We have noticed that animals, their habitats, and their lifestyle have been very interesting to some of the children.  We have been talking about pets, looking a lot at the animal figurines we have in the room, and moving/acting a lot like various animals.  We have also noticed that the idea of movement of our bodies has been an ongoing interest with the children - how can we dance in different ways, how can we move across obstacles in different ways, and how can we challenge ourselves to move in new ways?  There is also a core group of children who have been very focused on construction with the blocks.  They are building with various types of blocks, working to create stable structures.  We would like to begin to challenge them to construct with a building goal in mind. 

We are going to create a concept web in the classroom - a web of things we are exploring with the children, their ideas, and what we would like to continue to expand on.  If you have any ideas you would like to add to the web, you are more than welcome!  We would love input from our families and look forward to hearing what you think!

Cider Mill!

You are invited to join us on Saturday, October 6th from 12-4pm at Plymouth Orchards!

Our families are invited to come visit the animals, enjoy some apples and cider, and go for a hay ride!  Teachers will be coming up to enjoy the day as well.  We hope to see you there!

If you would like any other information, please let us know. 

September Beginnings

Happy October!

It's hard to believe we have been in school a month already!  We have been having a lot of fun getting to know each other and getting into a classroom routine.  All of the children seem to be settling in and getting to know each other.  

We have noticed a huge interest in dramatic play - specifically dress up, cooking, and with the baby dolls.  The children are modeling some of the things they are familiar with from home, like making dinner, taking care of babies, or dressing in familiar professions.  We would like to continue this interest to see what happens next!  

We have been getting to know each other and moving and constructing together as well.  Dancing and music as well as construction have been large parts of our day.  This is a great way for the children to get to know each other as they work and form connections.  We have also started to bring in different musical instruments and move our bodies in different ways through dance and yoga.

As we enter fall in full force, we had some pumpkins donated to our classroom from one of our families.  The children were interested in exploring the outside of the pumpkins, and today we had a group discussion about what might be inside.  After lots of ideas, we opened one up to see what was inside.  The children had the chance to explore the inside of the pumpkin in lots of different ways.  Some children just wanted to smell it, while others wanted to get their hands right in the seeds! 

It will be exciting to see where the next few weeks take us!

Welcome to a new school year!

Hello!

Welcome to Room 7!  We are excited to begin the new school year.  My name is Catie Stone and I will be the lead teacher in the classroom this year and Megan Eustice will be the Teacher Assistant for Room 7.  We are eager to get to know the children and families we will be working with this year.

Transitions to new classrooms and new schools can be tough - especially the first few weeks of a new school year.  To aid in this transition, we ask that families establish a consistent drop off routine with their children, starting the first day of school.  This will help your child with predictability and they will eventually take ownership of that routine as the school year continues.  It's important for parents to be positive, matter of fact, and consistent at drop off time.

Each family will be invited to join our Class Dojo account so we can send private pictures, update you on classroom happenings, and send direct messages throughout the day if needed.  Parents can download the app for Class Dojo on their phone and get instant notifications when we add updates.

Some families have asked if there is anything we need for our classroom for the new school year.  At this point, we can let families know that we love non-toxic houseplants, Hot Wheels cars, or any books you know your child loves that we could keep in the classroom. We also encourage families to bring a family photo to keep in the classroom in a frame.  This will help your children feel like their whole family is part of our classroom community.

We are so excited to get the school year underway and can't wait for everyone to get settled in. If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, please let us know!  Have a wonderful day.

Catie Stone & Megan Eustice