CRUST!!!

We finally made pie crust for the pumpkin filling! I was surprised that they remembered that we needed to complete the pie.  Ms. Katie met us in the kitchen and showed us how to make crust.  Our little Chefs were hard at work. 

The first thing we do when we get into the kitchen, is grab our stools and then wash our hands, get aprons or hats if you want one, and then gather our materials. Now, mind you, everyone has already been to the restroom, so that should not be a problem..... we get everything ready, and someone wets themselves!!!!  You wonder why it takes so long to get something completed in the Acorn room? Now you know.... we called in reinforcements to help out our wet friend ,and then got down to business. 

I know, I know we have no rolling pin...... we are the masters of improvising.

 It isn't ready yet.... back to the oven

 "I am the little acorn that becomes the oak."-John Winger

Sunny day in January

Walking Wednesday lead us to the sculpture park!  We love to explore the mosaic bird, and the walking wall.  You will not believe what we did,  WE HAD SNACK!!!

 ~ I know, I know, we eat a LOT~

 We then ran to the mosaic.

  Some of us headed to the walking wall.  We all took risk!  Some of us are more daring than others, but for everyone who attempted to walk on the wall felt pride in their accomplishment. 

As parents, educators, and society how can we support our preschoolers in taking risks?  We can stop saying “be careful”.  “Be careful” is not a useful saying as it gives no information. Giving specific feedback is more useful.  We can provide kids with opportunities in a safe space to explore risks by looking for hazards and staying close by.  By remaining calm, we can show the kids that we trust their ability to problem solve and risk assess.  If children succeed, they gain the confidence in mastery of their task. If they make a mistake, they gain information about what didn’t work and they gain the ability to try it again a different way.  
Now is the time to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.  It will lead us to growth: personal, societal, and family.

For full article click ling

https://www.syccolumbus.org/2017/02/21/risk-taking-for-preschoolers/

"I am the little acorn that becomes the oak."- John Winger

Small Groups

Small Groups give the children an opportunity to leave our space and try new and different things.  With only four children in a group, it gives the children VOICE on what is going on in the area. So, the children that stayed inside the Acorn room, explored movement of water..... They problem solved how to raise the bucket with the string... some were successful, some were not. 

 

The pulley system that is set up needs to be adjusted or changed..... Carrie and I are capable of "fixing" it so that the water does not go all over the floor....but it would be a great opportunity for a parent or group of parents to volunteer and come in and work with the children.  You know they would LOVE it!  Unfortunately, you may not be able to leave with out them.....because they may not be able to handle seeing you here and then you leaving them behind.  Give it some thought and let us know. 

Carrie took children outside and started cleaning out the garden to prepare for SPRING!

We had our third person Lacey today, and on our PD day, we worked in our shared spaces and changed things up!  Lacey took a group to check out the new stuff in the collaboratory.

"I am the little acorn that becomes the oak."-John Winger

Happy New Year! 2020

It was so wonderful to reconnect with the children today.  We sang our hello song, went over our agreements, and then learned how to take a balloon breath.  We took three deep ballon breaths and then we were ready to focus, listen and learn. The balloon breaths came from our PD day discussing Conscious Discipline. Being able to calm oneself with breath will be a lifelong skill for the children.  There are many different names for deep breaths, which we will be learning, it will just take us awhile to get there.....

We then took a walk to our favorite place.... the train. 

We enjoyed snack while watching the train.  We usually make a bowl with our coats, one of us lined up our snack on our legs....

"I am the little acorn that becomes the oak."-John Winger