One Tree-mendous Ado over Trees: Decorating our Preschool's Christmas Tree

A yearly event at our preschool is decorating a petite, little evergreen with ornaments made by the students. This year,  due to multiple weather-related Christmas ornament malfunctions, we decided to decorate sturdy plastic lids and old CDs with multi-colored glitter as a step to avoid ornament meltdown and disintegration due to old man winter. 

I pondered as we walked down to decorate our tree yesterday as I asked the children to find specific Christmas decorations such as snowman:  the amazing wonder that Christmas has on children's spirits. 

 I was struck by how their faces glowed with such bubbly happiness over the sights of brightly-colored ornaments hanging from porches, evergreen wreaths haphazardly draped over doors and even a holiday Darth Vader thrown in the mix. 

Somehow, we lose sight of the simplicity of the effect that the season has on the children, and tend to reciprocate this feeling with overpriced toys, outings to gaudily-decorated zoos, and endless trips to the mall to visit Santa. 

Remember, as you traipse through the malls and wait in line with a grumpy heart at the commercialization of this treasured holiday the true meaning of the season: That sacred look of serendipity and pleasure over the holiday's most minute details in the eyes of young children. 

Photos of our tree coming soon! 

Hey Everybody!: Preschool/Daycare Open House

Today my daycare had an open house where prospective students and their parents browsed the facility and classrooms while socializing with teachers and directors.

The overall feeling of the day was very positive, as families shuffled down the hallways carrying brochures and pushing strollers filled with eager young children whose minds were ready to absorb the knowledge presented to them.

I answered many a question and felt the parents understood my genuine love for early childhood education and those in my care. I discussed important educational-based topics such as curriculum to crucial childcare topics ranging from nap time to lunchtime.

Now we'll wait and see how many bright, new shining stars will be roaming the school after coming to this special event!

“Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by reason of their innocence and of the greater possibilities of their future.” - Maria Montessori 

I Dig It!: "Dig Into Reading Daycare Storytimes" are Solid as a Rock!

Wiggly worms squirmed into our recent daycare library visit! Librarian Laura gave a soil-d performance for my little bookworms, who got wiggly with it during a worm-de-ful 5 Little Wiggles rhyme.

The brainy Miss Laura gave the children metallic-hued pipe cleaners (worms) as props in order to act out the rhyme. Some skills that were sharpened during this rhyme included listening, fine motor and pre-subtraction skills.  

And of course, my kids really "dug" all the stories to boot! 

Let's Lunch: A Beautiful Candlelit Teacher's Appreciation Day Luncheon

On this ravishing spring day in the middle of May, I celebrated my first Teacher's Appreciation Day luncheon with my fellow daycare colleagues.

I was set to enjoy the everyday sandwich and soup affair of a traditional teacher's thank you lunch, but to my udder surprise was met with a scrumptious spread of lemon chicken, grilled vegetables, delectable dinner rolls, sparkling lemonade and light, buttery and creamy cookies for dessert.

After we settled down to dine at our tea candle-lit table, we sipped our bubbly lemonade from crystal cut glassware, sliced our food with silver-plated silverware and ate off of delicate and sophisticated dishware of a quiet elegance.

As if the day could be any more perfect, we were met with heartfelt and moving gifts from members of our PEG group: a lovingly hand-stiched apron monogrammed with our initials and a sprialbound school cookbook which compiled recipes from our students and their families!

My Initial Apron