Planting

Today was rainy and I don't mean a gentle sprinkle. I mean rain that sounds like a monsoon, where the lights flicker and the wind howls as the rain pelts the windows and you are grateful for shelter. Days like these are challenges to teachers of little ones. When you are in the same small room, with the same people and the same toys, you get a bit antsy. So we decided to plant flowers!

 We filled a dishpan with potting soil, a small bucket with seeds and a cup with water. We practiced using our scooping and counting skills. 1 scoop of dirt, a pinch of seeds and three tablespoons of water in our plastic cups. Slow and steady we got all 14 cups ready for spring. Now we get to wait and see what happens. Patience is not easy when you are 4, though. Next week we will work on the raised flower beds outside our classroom door and plant some vegetables.

Little Things

I have no daughters so when the little girls at preschool want to play with my hair I typically let them. This is the usual result. I have Frozen to thank for bringing back the braid! And yes, those are monkeys on my shirt. :)

Zombies, Blood, Skulls and Cemetaries

There are lots of conversations that you never would think would be necessary or that you would ever have. And then you teach preschool! Some are funny, some are sweet , some are confusing and repetitive, others are heartbreaking. I have had too many conversations this year concerning death, zombies, skeletons , how various people die and blood. When pretend play includes conversations like “pretend the bad guy got me”, ” and you ran from the zombies, ” “and you asked “why are the skeletons there? what happened?”. When block and lego play leads to ” I’m building a cemetery” and “this is a grave.” When casual lunch and snack conversation have dialogue like “do you know how (fill in the blank with any historical person) died? He was shot in the head.” I am concerned, annoyed and shocked. Concerned that this acceptable and what the long-term effects may be. Annoyed that as a society we have become so desensitized that we forget that our children are still impressionable and sensitive to the environment. And shocked that more people are not outraged or at least upset. Maybe I am old school, but I do not believe that young children should be watching anything creepy, bloody, scary, inappropriate or nightmare inducing. No matter what! How does watching horror movies and ‘The Walking Dead” at the age of 4 benefit you in any way? I am also not a big fan of little ones walking, toddling or crawling around with skulls on their clothing, blankets and toys. Really? Can’t we find something slightly more uplifting and pleasant to adorn our babies? Innocence is so short lived and imaginations should not involve cemetery play.

Bridges

Earlier this month my class got excited about bridges. We read the Three Billy Goats Gruff, re-enacted clomping over a bridge, looked at pictures of bridges from around the world.

They then began to build bridges with any and everything that they could find all around the class. Some of their ideas were pretty incredible. The process of thinking things through was fascinating to watch. I enjoyed documenting their words, thinking processes and their finished products.

They used string, lots and lots of tape, paper, and the blue cardboard blocks under the string bridge are to represent water. They then played with it for several days, driving cars on it, walking animals and people across it, making up stories, etc. When children are given the opportunity they can lead their own learning experiences.

Differences explained by 4 year olds

For all of us out there who worry and stress about teaching diversity and acceptance in our classrooms, I have to share this over heard conversation. My kiddos had just returned from the playground and were at the sink washing hands… Child 1 : looks at waiting peer as she washes her hands ” I’m dark. What color are you?” Child 2: glances at her skin, then at peers skin, moves to begin hand washing and says “I’m the true color” Child 1: “ok” hops away to go play. And there you have it, as long as you are my friend does it even matter?

Cheese Money

New student today. Not shy at all, she was full of questions and very talkative after her parents left. “know why mommy and daddy have to work?” (Student) No why? I replied. “for cheese money” ( student) cheese money? (me) “yeah, are you afraid of mouse?”( student ) something clicked in my early Monday morning brain. Cheese, mouse, kids,…….Chuck E. Cheese “oh no, I like the mouse” I said. “Do you mean Chuck E. Cheese money?” “Yes!”, she said “cheec cheese. I went there.” So Yes, don’t we all kinda work for ‘cheese’ money?