There are many things going on that you don't necessarily get to see...

  

Here are a few things that we've been working on since we got back from Winter Break:

1. Using the theme of Helping Hands,  We started by asking the children to help us with a variety of tasks. Then we brainstormed the jobs that need to be done. We have: a Gardener, Assistant Snack Helper, Table Set-up Helper, Clean up Time Keeper, Keeper of the Materials (sharpens pencils, throws away old markers,etc.), Table Cleaners (2), and the Librarian.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             We find that Helping Hands has helped the children:  

• understand what it means to have a job or responsibility
• feel empowered through helping with real tasks 
• experience the good feelings that come from helping each othe (sometimes they help one another without being asked)
• get gain experience trying new things that they might not ordinarily choose to do

2. A Sign-up List: we started signing-up for one-person-at-a-time activities (ex: painting at the easel, getting the favorite job, etc.) This way they see their names on the list and how many children are ahead of them. Many children can now read the names of every other student in the class! 

3. Encouraging Greater Independence and Self-Help skills:

For example: The children help choose the colors for the easel. 

They pour the paint into the paint cups and pick the size of the brushes that they would like to use. 

 During snack time: they all pour their own water from a measuring cup or small pitcher. 

 3.  The Writing Center
Each week new things are added to the Writing Center. Now the children get to write with  thin markers, pencils, colored pencils and crayons, They also use: scotch tape, masking tape, a stapler (with supervision), scissors, envelopes, clipboards and a huge collection of stamps and inkpads.  A favorite job is sharpening pencils. They love to use different types, sizes, colors and textures of of paper.

Parents: If you have access to any extra or left over paper (any size or type), card stock, envelopes, greeting cards, food magazines, etc. PLEASE bring them in. They will be put to good use! 



Yesterday, they printed with a cucumber, a sponge and various other found objects.

 An observation: 
We are seeing the children enact scenes that are inside and outside of the Home and Family Living Center. In this photo, they were pretending that they were on a train to New York City. Hilary was the train's engineer and Peretz was the conductor.