Hello Room 2 families!
We want to extend a heartfelt “Thank You!” for all of the bottles and boxes that have been donated to the classroom. Our cardboard boxes continue to inspire the children each day.They are using them in a variety of ways. The boxes havebecome the holders of special toys, cribs for baby dolls,houses, and cars. The have become vehicles for carting or pushing blocks around the room, used as drums, and provided coveted “just me” space for all the children in the classroom.Our books about boxes have also inspired the children to play with boxes as they are in the book and the children have enjoyed painting the cardboard on the easel and floor.In addition to using boxes, children have also begun to find small spaces in the room to play. The area of the rug with a shelf containing three cubby spaces has seen a surge in popularity of late! We have draped fabric over the openings ofthe cubbies to create private spaces. We have varied the types of fabric so there is a different experience in each. One is dark, one light, and one transparent. The children have responded by playing peek-a-boo with each other and takingturns sitting in each cubby. Many children have developed apreference for which cubby they like to sit in depending on the fabric covering it. The cubbies also provide children with the opportunity to bring toys and sit for some quiet time despite the busy morning play surrounding them.Starting in January all of the teachers have begun a rotation of who is “opening” the classroom. This means they are in charge of how the morning schedule runs, the outing plans, leading circle time, and what materials are to be setout each day. It is a great experience and opportunity for the leading teacher to think about the particular children whowill be in the classroom on their day and what will be interesting to them. We have also seen more of a variety of songs and activities during circle time and the children a reresponding with great interest and joy at this time of the day.It is often asked “What kinds of sensory play do you do in Room 2?” We are working on a list of some sensory experiences that you can provide at home using household items. They are great for rainy days, weekends, and those times when you are all out of ideas for play! Look for it on the bulletin board soon.
An additional note: It was brought to our attention that in the Music Newsletter attached to January’s newsletter, Losmeiya offered a CD. That newsletter was part of a project for her graduate course and the CD has not been made. We, as a team, are thinking of ways to put together popular circle time songs and will get back to you as soon as we put something together.Sorry for the confusion.
Your Teachers,
Dawn, Yaz, Stephanie, Losmeiya, and Tamar
More photos below.
Losmeiya Huang, Dawn Marsala, Yasmin Henning, Stephanie Roer, Tamar Garbow.