Sing, Sing a Song: Our Holiday Sing

Holy Jingle Bells! Has it really been a year since we had our last Holiday Sing? After a few min-meltdowns, wiggly moments and deer caught in headlights stares, the children belted out holiday favorites such as "Let It Snow" and a kiddie-friendly version of "Baby It's Cold Outside".

Rudolph's nose would have glowed a little brighter and Santa's jolly old Ho, Ho, Ho would have been breaking the sound barrier if they heard how awesome the children sounded and looked. They even performed the hand movements (which is a feat unto itself) for our little peppermint sticks!

My co-teacher and I wanted to give the children a standing ovation for their incredible efforts. I feel we may even have a few musicians in the making and numerous little hams on our hands.

Our music teacher joined in on the seasonal mania by donning a rather dapper and jaunty green and red jiggle bell elf hat that made our Sing shimmer.

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! 

Blazin' Boards: December Skating Into the Holidays (Skating-themed Bulletin Board)

Does it feel a little chilly in here? A blast of winter's wrath has found its way into our classroom through this delightful December skating-themed bulletin board. Skate on down the page to view this icy sight!

You Can Never Be Too Prepared: Designing a December Holiday-themed Bulletin Board for the Blustry Days Ahead!

As the end of November approaches, the thought on every preschool teacher's mind is: how will I design my December/holiday-themed bulletin board?  Well, at least this preschool teachers!

For the classroom board, the children decorated some pretty sharp-looking skates that would definitely earn perfect marks during any professional figure skating event!

I will describe it to you since I didn't have my camera with me. The background features black bulletin board paper and cheerful, sparkly snowflakes that are flanked by purple and silver lettering stating "Skating Into the Holidays".

Below the snowflakes and lettering is a "slick" blue cellophane skating pond featuring two talented and cutesy ice skaters. I artfully arranged the children's hand-stamped and sticker happy ice skates below my skating duo.

Check back soon to see this icy, cool holiday-themed design fit for the snowy and chilly winter-white days ahead!

This Little Pilgrim is Really Taking Shape: Pilgrim Boy Shape Identification Flannelboard

Get your little pilgrims interested in identifying (naming) their shapes with this Pilgrim Boy Shape Identification Puzzle that is totally Mayflower-worthy!

Subject: Math- Identifying shapes that make up the Pilgrim boy and piecing together a "flannelboard puzzle".

To Do: Create the flannelboard by cutting out the following shapes:

• 1 diamond (shirt) 
• 2 white triangles (collar)
• 2 small circles (ears)
•  1 medium saucer-shaped circle (face) (Hint: Use a saucer to create the template)
• 1 star for (mouth)
• 2 ovals (eyes)
• 1 heart (nose)
• hair
• 1 long rectangle (brim of hat)
• 1 medium square (hat)
• 1 thin rectangle (ribbon on hat)
• 1 small square (buckle of hat)

Laminate the flannelboard pieces. Place hook and loop on the flannelboard pieces. 

To Do: Take a photo of the flannelboard and print out to show the children before they complete this learning activity. For easier completion of flannelboard, leave on the more difficult sections to place on board, such as the diamond shirt and triangles collar, but remember to still have the children identify (name) these shapes. Example: What shape is the pilgrim's shirt? After they have correctly answered this, pass out the rest of shapes to the students in your circletime. Have the children name the shapes and look at the picture you had previously taken of the flannelboard (in order to piece together the pilgrim flannelboard "puzzle".)  Continue until all students have named their shapes and placed them on the flannelboard. 

Who ever said pilgrims were plain? Plain cute is more like it! 

Burning Up: Firefighter Chuck Speaks About Burn Safety

Firefighter Chuck gave a blazing lesson on the physical differences between hot and cold items during a Hot or Not Item Identification and Recognition Game. This game introduced students to the hot-ly debated topic of burn safety and prevention.

 During his smokin' talk he spoke of ways to help prevent burns; such as staying away from and not touching items like ovens and stoves. If a burn has occurred, he stated that you should  "cool" it by placing the area under cold, running water and waiting a little while before you place a band-aid and ointment on it.

Thanks for the "Hot" tips firefighter Chuck!

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