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i week

our alphabet box had white inch blocks and not pictured are the tongs we tried using to make an ice cube tower eleven inches tall!

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i is for injury…i’m grateful a teacher reminded me about this journal activity:

body shapes, red crayon marks for blood and band aids to go on top. imagine the conversations and the fine motor work!

 

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this book was a bigger hit than in years past. we seem to be more tuned in to feelings and conflict. this book’s illustrations offer a lot.

a few bits of significance:

the dog was mean because someone told him to be mean

when the dog was chasing the turkey family, the baby turkey was protected because his hat was over his eyes so he didn’t know there was a problem

the grandma was mad at the dog because his meanness made a lot of things happen and her pie was ruined

your face can show you are sorry

you can be together right after hard things happen if you want to be

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we had our annual “i like to eat…” thanksgiving feasts where people bring favorite foods! this is the information families are given:

In honor of Thanksgiving and the power of knowing ourselves, we will share favorite foods.

How it works:

1. this is optional! no pressure to bring food!
2. if you do bring a favorite food, bring enough so we can all have a taste: imagine a small serving for 20 people.
3. have food prepared, but since we will serve it on plates, you don’t need to have it portioned out ahead of time.
4. drop food off with your preschooler, we can reheat/keep cold as needed.
5. children will not be required to taste things they don’t want to…but don’t be surprised if they tell you they licked or smelled something!
6. please include an ingredient list or packaging so we can help keep our food sensitive friends safe.

 

the abundance was great.

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true to history, when preschoolers (and teachers and dogs) show up in costume sometimes we have to guess who it is…then the masks come off and all is revealed. g week coincided with halloween so along with guessing there was giggling and games and goofiness.

the five the little pumpkins showed up outside in our little playground:

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we had a birthday mama helper and pastor derrick visit. his costume was “a preschooler.”

families helped bring things for our parties: candy and carrots and dip and goldfish crackers and cheese sticks. and one mama works for a dentist who donated toothbrushes for all!

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there was a mystery question on Facebook earlier in the week…and here’s the answer:

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one warm afternoon we walked to the big street to spread some child cheer. admittedly, our goal was to see how many honks we could get (i think fifteen was the final number). across the street is the public school administration offices and when they looked out the window to figure out what all the honking was for, they saw us. so then they came across the street and we practiced trick or treating with them! thank you, usd 373 workers!

(imagine the surprise for all the passersby…heeheeheeheehee)

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thank you, parents for sharing some photos and video. the joy brings me continued hope.

UPDATED WITH POST ELECTION PHOTOS AND RESULTS……

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November 8: Election Day

As is our practice, teachers will not advocate for a particular candidate. We will discuss the facts of the election process, allowing children to voice opinions and questions in our traditional “what we know” style. These ideas will be recorded on paper and shared with families so you can continue the conversation at home. Here is a sampling from 2012 (click here for full post):

In our classroom, we will vote on several things throughout the day, experiencing voting privately, counting ballots and determining the outcome of issues such as: 

•which book will be read for Story Time 

•elevator or stairs

•glass cups or paper cups for snack

•Show and Tell before snack or after snack. 

Results will be posted as they are determined. 

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UPDATED:

f week was fantastic, fabulous, fun and fast. here’s some work time action to show it:

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some random images that speak for themselves:

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show and tell continues to be fluid; sometimes children getting their own items from the basket, sometimes me setting up a stage for a show and tell performance. it is truly guided by what seems like the best way to get full engagement in the moment.

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when our pumpkin patch moved to the tub table to make room for our “crawl low under smoke” corner, the big pumpkins still found their way back to the purple rug.

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a “low drama” approach to fire safety was the theme of the week and oh, the joy!

we had a dalmation fire dog join us one day:

the F tray had blue stones for water, a couple firefighter figures and beads/pipe cleaners to thread.

another impromptu activity: cutting red felt and yellow duct tape to make fire for the classroom.

we used our paper from E week for a variety of “fire” projects:

all week we added to the “what we know about” fire chart.

one of my favorite opportunities is to talk about the hot things that can be found at home, including cigarettes and lighters. and full disclosure: i will not tell children that those are bad or wrong. and it happened again, the look of relief on a young child’s face when i said, people who smoke are not bad.

yeah, they said, because my mom isn’t bad.

and the little guy who barely talks yet saying, yeah my dad good. my dad good. my dad ‘moke. my dad good.

it’s our job to let them know their truth. ❤️

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