Moments from today...

Over the past two days Shirel and I have noticed a significant shift in the children's level of play and cooperation. They are building more complex structures such as a Zoo (Mendel and Elet), a Bird's house (Sara), a Butterfly's house (Sara), and a pyramid (Nechama Leiba). The other children contributed to building these structures as well. Today Hilary and some friends created a train using many different sized boxes and masking tape. 

Their ability to sustain their play, solve little problems without adult help and listen to one another is at a new level. Today Nechama Leiba asked that I let her do her job (sharpening the pencils) without helping or watching her. "Morah Anne, you don't have to watch me, I really know how to do this now!" And she did. In fact, she taught Jacob how the new battery operated sharpener worked.

 Also a new game has developed. When Shirel steps out of the classroom for a minute, all of the children hide in the rug area under a large sheet. It is so funny to watch them try to hold still and not make noise! Morah Shirel asks me "where are the children?"  When she walks in. When she picks up the sheet,  they shriek with laughter. We've done this three times now and they still love the surprise! 

                    Of course, we continue to play out different aspects of the Pesach story. 
Today we compared the texture and other differences between challah and .matzah We didn't eat the matzah so that it would be special when Pesach arrived. They really seem to see and understand the differences. They are very excited for Pesach to arrive!