The weather is changing

Even as the weather begins to cool we will continue to spend time outside each morning. Please bring in a pull-over hooded sweatshirt. We have found that it is best to have them be a size or two larger so that they fit comfortably over layered clothing.

Please label it with your child's name as it will stay here to be used all Fall and winter.

It is also a good time to check you child's cubby and replace summer clothes with warmer ones (Don't forget a few pairs of socks).

New Milk Regulations

The USDA has sent down new regulations regarding milk for children who participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. As of October 1st they will be enforcing the provisions outlined in the Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act of 2010 (who knew there was such a thing?)

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommend that all children over the age of 24 months drink fat-free (skim) or Low-fat (1%) milk.

Although I personally do not agree with these mandates we must follow the rules of the program and will begin to serve 1% milk next week.

• Any family who wants their child to drink whole milk must get a signed Dr's note. 

• Any family who wants their child to drink almond or soy milk must write a letter stating that it is their families desire that their child not drink cows milk and state a dietary need (ie: vegan).

I am very curious what your thoughts are on this new policy and encourage your comments. 

Good Bye Summer

Say goodbye to summer and warmly greet Fall which begins tomorrow!

One of my favorite seasons ... it's so much fun celebrating the cool, crisp days of autumn. A few fun activities we have planned....

Cooking with apples (please bring in some to share and use for applesauce, apple pie and apple pizza cooking activities as well as sorting, graphing and tasting) Please see dates for these cooking projects on the calendar.

Learning about Leaves (if you find some colorful ones in your yard or while on a walk please bring them in to share)

Visiting the Pumpkin Patch Fri Oct 21st 9 am (permission slip will go out in a few weeks)

Calendar

Just a note that we will be using the blog calendar a bit more this year to inform you of more than just snack days. It will list Holidays, Scholastic book due dates, Birthdays and it will also list days when subs will be working and who that sub is (we only have two; Gina who has worked here for several years now and Janette who has been here since the Spring 3 mornings per week to work with Charlie). 

Pumpkin Patch

Save the Date! 

Join us for a morning of educational fun. Milking a cow, digging for potatoes, petting animals, cutting a pumpkin off of the vine and enjoying some fresh cheese and home made ice cream! 

Friday October 21st 9 am 

We hope that all children have a parent or grandparent who will be able to attend with them. There will be no preschool or after care.

.... More information to follow .....

Red and Blue Birds

It's been a few weeks since we began our new morning schedule and we all love it! Spending time with the small groups is allowing us to work individually with each child and focus our curriculum to be more age appropriate for the group. Each morning the Blue Birds (under 3.5) and Red Birds (3.5 to Pre-K)  spend about 35 minutes with their group.

This morning we explored apples 

First, we gathered as a large group to examine the apples; touching, smelling and talking about them.

Brandy cut them up to find out what might be inside. 

We then separated into small groups. Blue Birds sang a song about apples and then made apple print patterns on strips of paper. 

The Redbirds began their group time by reading the book Amazing Apples.

They then rotated through two stations. At one they looked at the book and colored in their own "parts of the apple" picture. We didn't label them but ask them as they should know all of the parts.

The second station allowed them the opportunity to create an apple tree (or anything they wanted) with melting crayons.

We concluded the morning by eating apples for snack! Unfortunately we also celebrated Camelia's Birthday so talk of apples ceased the minute they saw cupcakes. (which were very yummy)

Our exploration of apples will continue for the next few weeks as part of the larger theme of Autumn and Farm. If you have apples, related books or games or the like please bring them in to share.

Thank You!

Tania (Lulu) and Nina (Kylie) for the mason jars. 

They are the perfect size for crayons.

Allow Time For Repetition

"We often equate repetition with a person who is mentally slow. If someone requires multiple repetitions to remember something, we think they are not as smart as someone who gets it right away. This assumption does not apply with young children. When a young child repeats an activity, they are opening brain nerve connections and building brain architecture." John Bowman

I know we are often live hurried lives but allowing children the time needed to master a task is very important. We encourage repetition in our every day routines at school. Everything is a learning opportunity .... learning to drink from a cup, wash a table, take turns with an activity, use the potty. All of which take repetition to master. These social and self-help skills are foundational to later academic learning. The child in the video above is not being told by an adult that she is doing something wrong ... she is given time and space to explore and figure it out. It is through repetition that children make connections, discover their own errors, learn how to correct them, and master a skill.

Welcome Ripley

We have another new friend today

 

 Ripley is 16 months and will be here 3 days a week. Although he is not too sure about all of the crazy kids this morning he was happy to play outside and watch them intently.