Happy October!

It has been a busy 2 weeks in the Peapod Room! Our butterfly emerged from its chrysalis and we happily waved goodbye as we released it to head south to find warmer weather.

We finished up our apple lessons with some delicious homemade applesauce. The children used an apple slicer to peel, core, and cut the apples before putting them in the crock pot. By the end of the day the whole school was smelling amazing! We sampled our apple sauce family-style around the big rug and I heard "yums" all around. I know I will be making this again this season, so I thought I would share the simple recipe:

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Crockpot Applesauce

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 5 hours

Ingredients:

3 pounds Honeycrisp apples, peeled, cored and cut into thick slices (about 12 medium apples)

1/3 cup lightly packed light brown sugar

1 1/4 teaspoon apple pie spice

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in the Crock Pot and cook on high for 5 hours.
2. If you prefer a slightly chunky applesauce as pictured - simply stir and mash the apples with a large spoon. If you prefer smooth applesauce, transfer the cooled applesauce to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Store applesauce in an airtight container within the refrigerator or freeze for up to 6 months.

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Thank you to our wonderful Room Parents for their help making this fun activity possible.

The children were sent home with a new Small World canvas bag today. This bag will mainly be used to send home the works from the children's cubbies once every other week. Please look through the things that are sent home with your child and return the bag on Monday. Emphasize the process of the work by using phrases like, "Can you tell me about this" ," Wow, I can see how hard you worked on that", "You must be so proud of yourself". If your child continues to seek your approval,"Do you like it Mom?", redirect it back to your child, "Do you like it? Tell me what you like best." This is the language we use in the classroom - the goal in mind is for each child to become a lifetime learner. We can achieve this by helping them to develop intrinsic motivation for their work.

We have been equally as busy with birthdays! The birthday celebrations at Small World are truly special. We begin with making a necklace, followed by learning about each year of the birthday child's life, then singing Happy Birthday, and enjoying a birthday treat. 

Someone certainly enjoyed the birthday treat!

Today was also our first Sing-Along Friday with Miss Rachelle. All the classrooms join together in song accompanied by Rachelle's guitar. Next week Tuesday we will also be starting Spanish lessons with Miss Rita. Rita will be leading group time and including Spanish vocabulary into the activities the children are already familiar with. 

Next Friday, October 10th, is the All School Field Trip to Swan's Pumpkin Farm. We will be taking the bus to the farm in the morning and returning after lunch. Please make sure to return your permission slip! Also note there will be no Extended Day this afternoon, but childcare is available.

And a few photos...

Teeth cleaning

Matching the sound cylinders

Working with the knobbed cylinders - this work concentrates on understanding dimensions.

Organizing colors from dark to light.

"Neighbor Workers" building with the Brown Stair and Pink Tower.

Introduction to sewing - learning to handle a needle through carefully transferring push pins.

Farm Stamping

Plant care - leaf washing

Sequencing

Color Mixing

Until next time!

Apples Galore!

It has been another busy week in the Peapod Room. With fall right around the corner we have began our study of apples. This week the children learned how an apple grows, parts of an apple, and a few apple related words in sign language. Each day during group time we tasted a different kind of apple. So far we have tried Red Delicious, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Green Delicious, and Gala.

"Say 'Apples'!"

We have also added our first food prep work to the classroom - apple slicing.

We are continuing to learn about caterpillars and their metamorphosis into butterflies as we anxiously await for our own butterfly to emerge from its chrysalis. 

We know we are close to our butterfly hatching because the chrysalis has turned dark and developed more gold spots. If you look closely you can even see the wings!

Life cycle of a butterfly

Next week we will continue to study apples & will be making homemade applesauce. We would greatly appreciate a few parent volunteers to join us on Thursday, September 25th from 9:00-10:30 to help the children peel, cut, and mash apples. If you are interested in helping please let me know!

Every day is so busy in the classroom that it's hard for the few photos I have the opportunity to catch to do justice to all the hard work being done. Please remember you can contact me with questions anytime!

Reading books in the Peace Corner.

Snack is available in the classroom throughout the entire morning session. Children serve themselves and practice using manners and making polite conversation at the snack table.

Working with the North America cultural box - this work teaches about the animals and currency from parts of our continent.

Matching sound cylinders.

Transferring with an eye dropper.

Practicing yoga.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Welcome to the Peapod Room!

The school year is officially underway! All of the students have arrived and are comfortably settling in to routine. 

In the beginning of the year introduce a few new students each day for the first week to ensure that they receive as much one-on-one time as possible with their teachers. This gives them the opportunity to become comfortable in their new surrounding and build knowledge of works in the classroom to promote future independence. 

The lessons last week & this week will be focused on classroom rules and etiquette. Overall the rules of the classrooms are simple, but very important:
  

1. Respect each other.

2. Respect all living things.

3. Respect the materials and the environment.
 

We have also been learning about caterpillars and their metamorphosis into butterflies.  We were lucky enough to see the caterpillar form the chrysalis. Now we wait 14 days until it is ready to emerge as a butterfly.
 

 I generally end each post with a few photos I had the opportunity to catch during work time. My hope is that this blog will serve as insight to your child's busy day and provide another resource for communication. If you are uncomfortable with me posting your child's photo or name please let me know.