October is here, and wild animals are about to be exchanged for pumpkins, bats, hats, cats, spiders, the color orange and the number 2. Every year when October comes around, and I see what's in the box, I get excited. The work is perfect for fall, and it sets a nice stage for things that are related … [Read more...]
About Johanna Porter
Toddler room full of wild animals
Even though Hurricane Dorian caused a hiccup in our schedule, the toddlers quickly adjusted to being at school anyway! We've been seeing lots of smiles now throughout the day. We're witnessing sweet interactions with peers, friendly eye contact, offerings for help, peek-a-boo at the tunnel, and … [Read more...]
Transformations abound in toddler room
May is a perfect month to study insects and the butterfly life cycle. This time of year, insects can be observed in our outdoor space. For example, the children can find a roly-poly in the mulch or caterpillars on the milkweed and chrysalides (and butterflies) around Ms. Kate’s class on the … [Read more...]
Spring animal activities arriving soon
April started with a theme of snakes, turtles, frogs, and lizards. A frog finger puppet accommodates a song. It's fun to match small snakes, turtles, lizards and frogs. It's cute to put little lily pads on pegs and then place the frogs on top. Frogs, lizards, turtles and snakes slowly make way for … [Read more...]
Grandparents invited to school
This Thursday is Grandparents’ Night from 6-7 p.m. Your children can show them what they like to do in school and who their friends are. Feel free to tag along. Perhaps you missed Parents’ Night, or perhaps you'd like to see the current themes. We welcome you! Even though we let the ladybugs go, … [Read more...]
Hearts, ladybugs for February
February began with a theme of love and valentines. I love the heart activities that we have created for the toddlers over the years! Felt heart color matching, heart-shaped posting with golf tees, heart-shaped pegs (to put into small holes), a small wooden tree to hang wooden hearts that say … [Read more...]
Toddlers return to find winter activities
Happy New Year! We were amazed to see all of the children get right back into the groove of the school day on Monday! They were excited to see each other! We witnessed lots of hugs, and the children calling out their friends’ names. In the classroom, everyone went straight to explore the work. … [Read more...]
Toddlers welcome the holidays
December began with a classroom full of new seasonal activities. Following the seasons of our general cultures, we have Christmas objects to name, sort, match and explore, and Hanukkah is represented by a menorah, a dreidel, and the cookie cutters to match and name. If you have anything related … [Read more...]
Rotating activities adds to excitement
Each month when I open the box for renewing the themes in the classroom, I get super excited! The objects that I’ve collected over the years and the activities created to draw upon the interest of the child has energetic momentum for me. November in our class is about food, turkeys, Native … [Read more...]
Toddlers + October = A Fun Month
October has begun! This is a perfect time of the year for orange to be a main feature in our class. Why? Because pumpkins are orange! You know the deal. October is a super fun month in the Americas. Cornfields and pumpkin patches are arranged all over town, and your toddlers respond. These … [Read more...]
