Here we go!

And away we go! What a pleasure it is to start forming relationships with your wonderful children. During the first days and weeks of pre-k we spend so much time getting to know one another, along with our classroom rules and routines. Exploration is a central theme as we slowly introduce more and more materials. Here are a few things we've learned about so far:

Where to put backpacks and jackets, where the toilet is, and how to wash hands
How to clean up from snack and lunch (sorting waste is an ongoing task!)
Circle time routines
How to paint on the easel, use watercolors and scissors
How to be safe when using shovels and rakes (ask your child about the safety circle)
How to be gentle when holding live animals - lots of practice with worms
How to gather when called (we howl like a coyote and the children come running!)
Boundaries for the woods and playground
How to take care of blocks and plastic animals at our outdoor block area

As you can see, your kids have been hard at work! But don't worry, there's plenty of play mixed into everything. This group is very imaginative, and has a lot of fun playing family, hot lava, and worm hunt among other themes.

This blog will get updated most weeks, and hopefully can give you a glimpse into the world of pre-k. We're lucky to be able to invite volunteers into our classroom this year, and soon I'll create a sign up sheet to have you families come help us tend fires in the colder months. If you have any other skills or ideas to share with the class please let us know - we would love to invite you in for a visit.

Enjoy these pictures from the past week and a half, and remember that FULL DAYS begin on Monday!