Well, we are off to a great start this year. These first few weeks really went fast. I spend this first month or so observing and interacting with the students so I get a feel of where they are at and also to build the relationship which is so important for learning. This years classes are great. So far everyone is getting along, for the most part. That doesn’t mean there are not disagreements or hurt feelings. These things are a normal part of preschool and is some ways, the most important part. It is also the hardest part of being a teacher, letting the students work out their own difficulties. My natural instinct is to step in and solve the problem for them. But that is not helping them learn. And I think these social skills are some of the most important things I can help them learn. So last week, when I had the ponies and the castle out, the issue of sharing came up. The one girl was feeling so sad because she didn’t get all the ponies she wanted. It was hard, but I stayed out of it, just watching to see if my interference was needed. And it was not. Within a few minutes, the group of girls had worked it out and were happily playing again.
I am actually really liking being outside, and I think the students are too. It has opened up some new experiences and activities. Normally the first weeks of school we have a VIP unit and I have them draw a picture of themselves. With being outside this year, we were able to do a nature self portrait and they turned out darling.
Another thing that we are doing differently this year is writing. I don’t have a specific time for writing or specific thing to write, but I try to have a writing center with a variety of supplies for writing. I still wanted to provide it, so I got my clipboards, attached a pen, added paper and set them outside. The students were free to grab them and do what every they wanted with them. Some used them for their ice cream stand, some for making dinner lists and others just for writing. This next pictures are all of writing, whether the are recognizable letters or not. The pre-writing scribbles are just as important.
We also did some free painting an a handprint fall tree to hang up at preschool.
We started out October talking about fire safety, but then discovered a squirrel in the tree gathering nuts for winter. So we talked about that too. And even incorporated it into the play. A couple of “Squirrels” gathered their “nuts” into their houses. I didn’t get a great picture of the squirrel, but I did get a video that I posted on Facebook if you follow me on there.
Can’t wait to see what else October brings.
Miss Lori's Preschool 