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. Some went to new (to them) works, and some of them went to all-time favorites (such as the train with the track). Even though a few children fussed for a moment once they arrived, that soon melted away as the sun rose toward 9 a.m., and they jumped in to play.
January features “Children of the World” (activities explained below), weather, snow and things that go with snow, such as mittens, polar animals, snowflakes, snowmen, and fake snow in the sensory bin. We have books about polar bears, and one that gives the Spanish verbs for what polar bears like to do, such as sleeping, sliding, running, walking, swimming and such.
For weather, we have snowflake, rain, and sun stamps for painting. We also have felt weather representatives, such as raindrops, white clouds, gray rain clouds, a lightning bolt, and a blowing face that represents wind.
“Children of the World” are represented with little language cards that have a picture of people in traditional dress and the word for “hello” in their corresponding languages. During group time, or when a child chooses such a language activity, the adult says the word, and gives space and time for the child to repeat each word. (For example: In France, they say “bonjour.”)
We have a magnetic boy that can be dressed in firefighter clothes, carpenter clothes or police officer clothes. We also have little cards to place in slots that have a picture of an isolated body part, such as hand, foot, mouth, nose, eye, ear and belly button.
In the drop box is the number five, and five pegs to place in the holes (symbol, quantity and the combination of the two).
Our school has a lot going on in January. As you probably already saw in the school newsletter, I’m going to offer a three-week Positive Discipline series. I’m excited to facilitate Positive Discipline workshops to help us gain insight into the inner life of the child, glean new tools that will empower you as a parent, while inviting cooperation, self-discipline, responsibility and problem-solving skills in the child.
Other Important Dates
Jan. 17: Positive Discipline workshop, session 2
Jan. 21: MLK holiday/No school
Jan. 22: Tides Takeover: Adventure Landing
Jan. 24: Parent Education Night
Jan. 30-Feb. 1: Upper Elementary overnight field trip
Feb. 1: Lower Elementary field trip to Cummer Museum
Feb. 9: Annual Wine Down & Silent Auction, 6-9:30 p.m.
Songs We’re Singing
We sing songs like:
Tune: “Row, row, row your boat…”
Snowflakes, snowflakes,
Falling to the ground,
Great big snowflakes that do not make a sound.
Tune: “I’m a little teapot…”
Build a little snowman, short and fat,
Give him a carrot nose and a tall hat.
Now my little snowman, won’t you stay?
Out comes the sun, and you melt away.
A chubby little snowman had a carrot nose,
Along came a bunny, and what do you suppose.
That hungry little bunny, ready for his lunch,
Ate the snowman’s carrot nose… nibble, nibble, crunch.
Thumbs in the thumb place,
Fingers all together, this is the song we sing in mitten weather.
Thumbs in the thumb place,
Fingers all together, this is the song we sing in mitten weather.
My lady wind, my lady wind,
in and out she blows about trying to get in.
Whooohooohooohooo, Whoohoohoohoo,
Whooohooohooohooo, Whoohoohoohoo.
Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, please shine down on me.
Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, hiding behind the tree.
These little children are asking you, to please come out so they can play with you.
So, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, please shine down on me!
It’s raining, it’s pouring,
the old man is snoring,
he went to bed,
and bumped his head,
and didn’t wake up till morning.
(Tune: Frere Jaques)
Where is thunder, where is thunder,
Hear it boom! Hear it boom!
Pitter, patter, raindrops.
Pitter patter, raindrops.
I’m all wet. I’m all wet.
(Tune: Twinkle, twinkle little star)
Pitter, patter, drip, drip, drop. How I wish the rain would stop.
Will the sun come out today? So we can go out to play?
Pitter, patter, drip, drip, drop. How I wish the rain would stop.
North America, South America, Africa, Europe Asia. Don't forget
Australia. Don’t forget Antarctica.
I have two little eyes right above my nose,
The cutest little eyes, they can open and close.
First I open, then I close,
That’s the way my little eyes go.
I have one little mouth, right below my nose.
The cutest little mouth, it can open and close.
First I open, then I close,
That’s the way my little mouth goes.
I have eyes and a mouth and in between is my nose,
The cutest eyes and mouth, they can open and close.
First I open, then I close,
That’s the way my eyes and mouth go.
