On our second day of the school year, we continued to explore what it means to “Honor our impulses” (see the segment below) and make connections between apples, eating, drinking, digestion, going to the bathroom, etc. Today we talked about our apple preferences, found our afternoon Golden Letter friends and played hard inside and outside (including finding a lot of Golden Rain Tree bugs)! We painted more apples-some to take home and some on the easel for a school project.
Here are 3 questions to learn more about our day:
Did you circle or cross anything out in your journal?
In our journals there were 4 pictures of apple products that we could circle if we liked them or cross out if we didn’t. This was another opportunity to honor our preferences. It’s okay if you don’t like applesauce! Cross it out! It’s okay if you like apple slices! Circle it! It’s okay if you like apple peel but only if it’s red. Circle it and a teacher can make a note about it.
Bonus journal content (children can write in their journals and have teachers write something in their journals anytime):
P.S. This journal activity fit right in with our book, Apple Farmer Annie. It doesn’t appear to be at our local library, but you’re welcome to borrow it from preschool if you’re interested.
What did you eat for snack today?
In the morning we had food from Millie: Apple Jacks cereal (to which one friend said, “My family is NOT going to believe this…”), dried pineapple, dried apricots and real apple juice-just like Apple Farmer Annie made!
In the afternoon we had Avery’s summer birthday celebration snack of sandwiches, juice pouches and a taste test with Zander’s fruit snacks.
The ingredient list on the fruit snacks says that there is apple juice in them and some of us thought yes, we can taste the apples and one of us thought, no, we can’t taste the apples and one friend was a maybe.
Thank you, snack friends!
Did you go on a swing today?
One of the favorite spots in our classroom is our indoor swing. While sometimes the swings are for solitary time, today they were for more than one at a time (in the morning class all but 3 friends wanted to get on at once!). It’s a great opportunity to notice what our bodies want and need (faster? slower? too crowded? enjoying being squished?).
Coping Skill of the Week
This week we are exploring what it means to “Honor our impulses” (and make the connection between apples/ eating/drinking/bathroom/etc). In the first week of school what I want most is for children to feel safe in getting their basic needs met. For instance, they are allowed to get a drink of water, go to the bathroom, take shoes on and off and change positions whenever they like. In this first week of school we will be introducing all the ways that these needs can be met with or without teacher assistance. It is vitally important that children learn to identify their body’s needs and I have complete confidence that by honoring their body’s impulses now, they will be better suited to respond to social norms/expectations as they age (in other words: they do not need to be forced to sit still now so that one day in 2nd grade they will be able to).
This week’s Coping Skill questions you can ask your child:
What do you do if you’re thirsty at preschool? Children can find their cup in the kitchen (they are glass jars labeled with their names and color coded for their class schedule) and either get help filling it or fill it themselves at the fridge water dispenser. If children bring their own water bottle from home they are allowed to use it anytime (and carry it around with them).
What do your do if you’re hungry at preschool? There will always be food available for hungry children. Sometimes children bring their own food which they are allowed to eat anytime and teachers will help them find a space to eat. We also have saltine crackers and today we had apples available for a pre or post snack nibble.
What do you do if you’re hot at preschool? Children can remove outerwear, long sleeves, socks, shoes, etc. In warm weather months they can stand under our HVAC vents or use a paper fan. Some children like to have a cold wet paper towel pressed gently on the back of the neck, chest or forehead (and if you blow on the wet skin it is even more of a cool down effect!).
What do you do if you’re cold at preschool? Children can put outerwear on or use one of our many blankets (there are a variety of textures and sizes). In cold weather months they can stand under an HVAC vent to feel the warm air. Cuddling with another person or rubbing their own arms/legs can also meet the need.
What do you do if you have to pee or poop? They go! With the bathroom connected to our classroom there is never a need for children to wait (unless someone else is using it). Children are allowed to go to the bathroom anytime and do not need to ask permission. At the same time, I will always assist children who need or request help with any part of the bathroom experience.
What do you do if you don’t want to sit at Circle Time? They can lay down, stand, get a pillow, etc. What is most important in this skill set is noticing what their body wants to do and honoring it. If a child is uncomfortable for any reason sitting “criss cross applesauce,” I want them to move and adjust.
newcreationpreschool.com 