Two wonderful days! 

Today, Sara got to play the role of the mommy during Shabbat Live.

Back in the classroom we observed a high level of independent, cooperative play. 

                                                                                                 

Mendel, Hilary and Elet made an indoor garage together. There are so many skills, (language, cognitive, social) that go into this activity including: listening to each other's ideas, expressing one's own opinions and ideas, negotiating a solution when there are differences and handling the disappointment when our ideas do not prevail.

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After washing hands (with soap),the children made snakes out of their challah dough.

Then we challenged them  to make the first letter of their names. "J for Jacob"-- Wow!

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We read many Eric Carle books over the past three days. The children listened with great interest.  They asked relevant questions, ("why do they turn red?" "how did the chameleon get bird legs?") They almost always asked for more books when the time was up!

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We painted on paper and paper towels using watercolors.

Mendel made an "M" and  Hilary wrote her name.

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We had a fun class with Elena, our drama/movement teacher. Elena is using The Mixed Up Chameleon as the basis for the class. I asked the children to share their favorite part of the class. A few children said, "the whole thing." Others said: "the dancing part" and "getting to be an animal." 

 

   Last but not least, we played, had lunch outdoors and enjoyed being with one another!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Back to routines and the excitement of exploring and learning....

It was truly a pleasure to return to school and get to be reunited with the children. They were so clearly happy to be back at school with their friends. 

Today, the atmosphere was calm and focused. 

Several children wrote on the white boards. It was fun to work as partners.  The children were focused on writing their names (or the initial letter).  They were also very busy making "gifts" at the writing center. (paper crowns, books, cards) to give one another. Mendel received a record of three crowns!

After experimenting for a long time with writing letters, they found that the markers could be stacked up. Several children used two markers at a time when coloring. Developing comfort and confidence in using writing materials is key to learning to write. Writing goes hand and hand with reading.

Peretz completed some 60 piece puzzles without any adult assistance. He described the process that he used which was "making the cars and buses first and then moving out to the edges. This is clearly a strategy wherein he is using picture -matching. Other children begin with finding straight edge pieces and working their way in. Learning part-to-whole relationships is also a significant tool in developing visual alertness and spatial relationships.

Dalya offered some help with a missing piece. After going through several puzzles, we found the three missing pieces to this puzzle!

Elet was delighted to find small legos in the building center. He spent time alone and with Jacob building.

We have begun building an awareness of caring for our books, puzzles and toys. Peretz started off this project by repairing a box that was flat and no longer held the pieces of the puzzle. 

We are very happy to be together again as a class!

Stayed tuned to learn about our new unit focused on the writings and art of Eric Carle. We have ten of his books and will give extra attention to The Mixed up Chameleon.

Drama Fun Through Our Authors Unit

Today we had Miss Elena came to do Drama with our class and the children had so much fun imagining, pretending and moving! The activities were based off a famous book by Eric Carle, "The Mixed Up Chameleon". The children will be analyzing the Author Eric Carle through out our Authors unit.

  The Yeladim on the train to the zoo.

The children are pretending to be the chameleon acting like the giraffe. (bending down to take a drink like a giraffe)

After visiting the Zoo the chameleon was happy to be himself again and catch the fly with his long tongue. The children are acting like the chameleon trying to catch the fly.

We also drew a self portraits today. The Yeladim looked at mirrors to notice more details on their faces before drawing. Remy made a silly face and the rest of the children tried it too. Hilary and Sara gave a big hug to each other.