tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2163633049339517412024-03-14T04:12:42.291-07:00Early Childhood Education and Common SenseMullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.comBlogger71125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-11803954199280054602014-03-16T09:17:00.003-07:002014-03-16T15:29:15.752-07:00It was very cold, but we had warm hearts<a href="http://mullenavenueworkshop.blogspot.com/2014/03/warm-hearts-creative-two-year-olds.html." target="_blank">http://mullenavenueworkshop.blogspot.com/2014/03/warm-hearts-creative-two-year-olds.html</a><br />
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Sorry, this link won't work exactly as it is meant to, however, it will allow you to click on Home, and the post can be read this way. <br />
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Here is the link for a post I have written about an art project my children worked on in January, and we submitted to our Public Library. <br />
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The library liked our work, and displayed it for the month of March in a glass case at the entrance to the library.<br />
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This was a fun, project, and how nice for the children and their families to go to see their art on display.<br />
Many thanks to the curator of the art show!<br />
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<br />Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-19116555425872623852014-02-23T09:31:00.000-08:002014-02-23T09:31:14.460-08:00Ballet with Toddlers or how I seized the moment and had a wonderful time<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It was towards the end of the day and the end of the week.</span> We had been unable to be outside for days due to the weather.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sarah, was in the housekeeping area, and putting on a pair of boys ballet shoes, size small. She handed me a pair of pink ballet shoes, well worn, mine from my teen age years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Put these on teacher."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Well, I guess I could try. I'm not sure if they will fit." I pulled them on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"These are boys", Sarah says as she stand up. She twirls.</span><br />
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"Um, yes they were my son's when he was a little boy," I say.</div>
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I stood and felt the floor through the bottoms of my feet.</div>
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"Let's put on our ballet music and dance."</div>
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I called the small group of toddlers to the music carpet, found that my YoYo Ma cd was in the machine and turned it on.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As I stood
with feet pointed out, back straight, and arms in front, slightly bent
at the elbow, I bent my knees, showing the girls how to slowly lower
their body while keeping back straight, and then slowly come back up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Two
of the girls immediately follow along with me, and we begin to raise,
and lower to the music, and as I begin to remember the very most basic
positions of the ballet, we bend our bodies together with arms held
poised out, we turn, and then because I have forgotten almost all I once
knew, I improvise, while keeping arms poised, toes out, back straight,
and move slowly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am aware of
Jess, watching from behind the bookshelf, and Nina, eyes sparkling at
the edge of the carpet. Nina is special in many ways, she and I have a
close bond, and </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am aware
of Jess, watching from behind the bookshelf, and Nina, eyes sparkling at
the edge of the carpet. Nina is special in many ways, she and I have a
close bond, and she looks bemused and appreciative as I move with the
music, in my old ballet shoes.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I call the two
watchers to join us, and so we hold hands in a ring, bending slowly to
the ground, with our backs straight, we stand first on one leg, and
point the other leg out; and then do the reverse. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We release hands, and I twirl, as my toddlers watch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"This is ballet", I say. </span><br />
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Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-90809444114013199142012-02-04T11:31:00.000-08:002012-02-04T11:38:42.314-08:00What's new for me Here is today's post from over at Mullin Avenue Workshop. I've decided to discontinue posting here, and at my other blog -it feels like 1 year has been a good run for me.<br />
I've really had so much fun blogging, and the best part of it was meeting nice people from all around the world. My first "follower", was the wonderful Jenny from "Let the Children Play". She followed me after I'd left her a comment, and she was welcoming, and supportive. Jenny loves the "bloggy world" of early childhood education and her enthusiasm is catching!<br />
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I know I'm not alone in feeling appreciation for her AND "Let the children play".<br />
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I will certainly continue to read blogs, and use them mostly as my tool for personal reflection and growth in my work. I'm sure I will comment now and then, as well! :)<br />
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Thank you friends for your wonderful support, and for reading along with me here!<br />
Cheers!<br />
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In the following post I've written abit more about what I hope to do with my "precious" time. :) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">Bessie and her dog Spot</td></tr>
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I've been enjoying blogging now for just about 1 year, and I've had a whale of a time - learning the ins and outs of Blogger, making friends, reading so many interesting blog posts...which truly has made my world so much bigger.<br />
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Presently I will not be writing posts here or at my early childhood blog, I've decided that one year was enough for me.<br />
I'm not very computer literate, and do find some of the ins and outs of writing blog posts abit difficult and time consuming.I work 8 to 4 and sometimes found myself struggling away up until 1 at night - well I know you get the picture.<br />
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This past 2 weeks I spent less time on the computer and felt noticeably fresher and energetic for my day.<br />
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As well, although I'd hoped to use this medium to write creatively, I'm not.<br />
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I AM writing when I post, however and this is definitely a good exercise.<br />
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I think I just need to do much of nothing for some time - working, walking, reading, certainly but also just nothing, daydreaming and wool gathering. I may choose not to write, or I might start writing at any time.<br />
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I have some projects in mind...<br />
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I might like to continue making illustrations to accompany stories by my friend Bessie. Bessie was a short story writer, and the Registrar for the Saskatchewan branch of the Canadian Institute for the Blind (CNIB) most of her life. I met her when she was 90, back in 1991, and she shared with me wonderfully animated tales of the life on the farm where she grew up.<br />
We taped these, I transcribed them, and have done some drawings, and fabric art to illustrate them.I think her stories are wonderful, and would make an interesting childrens' book. I know my drawings aren't the best, but I just enjoy the process.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">Bessie told a charming story of her dog Spot, and how he thought he could get into the house if he brought in wood, just as she and her brother did.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">I loved her tale of the time the northern lakes froze all at once, causing a mass migration of Canada Geese all at once. There was a news report that the geese landed in one American town in mass, and there was not room on the streets for motor cars, or on the sidewalks to walk. This story does remind me abit of a tale from the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes", about the ducks that froze in a lake and flew away together taking the lake with them.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">I'm interested in the possibilities of this project.</td></tr>
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As well, I'm enjoying several crochet projects, I have 2 baby blankets in the works, and I'd like to try some soft crochet animals and a sweet girl's sweater for my youngest niece.<br />
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I tried the Lumosity program recently and loved it, and hope to enroll in this and use it on a regular basis.<br />
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The days are getting longer and the weather is so mild that I've been able to start walking home from work, and within a month I might begin walking to work - I'm really looking forward to this. The walking path I take is so beautiful, and the exercise is so beneficial to me.<br />
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I am loving reading on the Kindle, I'm just finishing "<b>True Colours"</b> by Kristen Hannah, which is the second book I've now read of hers. I first read "<b>Magic Hour</b>", after reading Teri's review of it at Goodreads. Kristen tells a very good story, and "<b>True Colours"</b> has lots of twists and surprises.<br />
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I now have 122 books on my Wish List, so I know I won't run out of reading material. The next book I plan to download is "<b>Irma Voth</b>", by Mirian Toews, who is a writer from Manitoba, Canada. She is an excellent writer, who won the Governor General's Award in Canada for her work (one of two major literary awards in Canada).<br />
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There is such a wide variety of books to select through the Kindle store, and I've downloaded some crochet books, as well as books on teaching. I'm presently rereading "<b>Between Parent and Child</b>" by Dr. Haim Ginott, and love it.<br />
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I've found books I'd forgotten about until I set my mind to remembering favourite books from the past, and have added "<b>A Tree Grows in Brooklyn</b>", and "<b>Black Like Me</b>" onto my wish list.<br />
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And I will continue to read over at various blogs at least once per week, and I'm sure I will find lots to say in my comments to you. LOL<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">Soon we will be thinking of flowers and gardening, and I'm looking forward to seeing these large pots of marigolds once again, at our neighbour's driveway. I am planning to ask to dig up a little spot in our largely neglected backyard (just grass), and plant sunflowers, poppies and bachelor buttons. I'd love to plant day lilies at the front of our building too. I'm pretty sure this will be approved, as we are a very easy going condo association.</td></tr>
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Sharing the antics of my two feline friends has been one of the more enjoyable parts about writing posts...we do all love our pets, and animals really give us so much in return. I plan to spend more time just chilling out, reading in the company of my two wise cats.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAesRxhXlIR5sov_rAhsCTmTyymXG06P4eq74yczXhJ2EPVa2INazppcAiPwbUb9ZbQ2Z3heHFQ0KPMZfkt8Uc0gEJn1cmk_37dJoH0D7RLOzbJGw5dF_ChLaz4WnhPM3gNYfpxrKg_B0/s1600/P1010606.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAesRxhXlIR5sov_rAhsCTmTyymXG06P4eq74yczXhJ2EPVa2INazppcAiPwbUb9ZbQ2Z3heHFQ0KPMZfkt8Uc0gEJn1cmk_37dJoH0D7RLOzbJGw5dF_ChLaz4WnhPM3gNYfpxrKg_B0/s320/P1010606.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;">Arthur is an amazing cat I must say. He was a little stray, who made himself welcome on a neighbour's step by jumping up into their arms. Then he followed me home, and made himself right at home there. My son tends to prefer dogs, but Arthur has won him over, he follows Paul around, and waits for him outside his bedroom door. When both Arthur and Herbert hear Paul's car pull into the parking lot, they seem to know if it's him, and stand at the door waiting for him. (They only will do this for Paul, they will perk their ears when someone pulls in, but don't get excited if it's not Paul.) I guess their senses are so much better than us humans, when it comes to hearing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">Herbert is "The Boss" - he's been a good friend now to two dogs, and Arthur - he doesn't seem to have a jealous bone in his body. He was at the Humane Society when I adopted him, and he'd been in for many, many weeks, so I knew he was the one for me. Herbert is a treasure - really I believe my son Paul loves him abit more than Arthur - and Paul claimed to prefer dogs. :)</td></tr>
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This year I learned that I have close family connections to a Metis leader from Manitoba back in the 19th century - this was definitely an eye opener to me, and did explain some things for me about my mother's French Canadian family. I've made some lovely connections with some people through this, and hope to one day visit Winnipeg to see a museum called The Old Mill. My great great great great grandfather, Cuthbert Grant made the first water mill for flour, in Manitoba, and as well was a respected and trusted "medicine man" - in this I mean he had studied medicine when in Scotland, and brought his knowledge to the people of southern Manitoba. His box of medicine and supplies is at the museum, I believe. A great great great grandfather was a Member of the Legislative Assembly in these days in Manitoba, Pascal Breland. I might take time to explore some of these connections more.<br />
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I do plan to read a book called "<b>A Good Man"</b> by Guy Vanderhaeghe. This is the last of a trilogy of books he's written about settling the west in the 19th century, and it's filled with interesting, eccentric, heroic people, and he describes all the political, social, and human dilemmas in how the west came to be settled. A friend let me know that an individual, Pierre Leveille is a character in the book. Pierre Leveille was a a Metis scout who was well known and respected as a skillful mediator between the Cree and the French/Metis settlers. He was also know for his size - apparently over 6 feet, and about 350 lbs. I'm looking forward to reading about this great great great uncle.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyt1C_JwOhOEi60ndPV43A_B5w6HNS8kHQOYicaoCHgrfaC9KcWI8MQzBY_2SETpxlZh-gD-YNeqgSVPSvEYuKxGuImI3tXAmdN_7dMrbmbvooBd8R0UJZYLuOIPhAsVo79KyOfrcTaRg/s1600/P1010591.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyt1C_JwOhOEi60ndPV43A_B5w6HNS8kHQOYicaoCHgrfaC9KcWI8MQzBY_2SETpxlZh-gD-YNeqgSVPSvEYuKxGuImI3tXAmdN_7dMrbmbvooBd8R0UJZYLuOIPhAsVo79KyOfrcTaRg/s320/P1010591.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;">I took this picture of a lovely sunset back in the fall, when I was walking home from work. The building's windows reflect the sky so nicely at all times. Can you see the tipi - the top poles show through at the top. The foyer has a large tipi constructed of glass - it must look grand, some day I plan to go inside and take a look. This is the First Nations University - the first of it's kind in Canada - although I think there may be more now. I like that it is placed right on the prairie, and it's natural, curved lines. There are interesting things to see - a garden with traditional plants used for medicines, a prayer wheel, and near by is an area which is being restored back to the indigenous prairie grasses and plants.</td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Seeing, this every day on my way to work, and back is always a pleasure to me. It's also a little reminder that one day I hope to return to take a few interesting classes in history, or social work, or whatever strikes my fancy.<br />
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The absolutely best part of blogging has been meeting wonderful friends - I will not forget you, and as I said, will be visiting you frequently. :)<br />
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One wise blogging friend suggested that I post what I like, and not worry about pleasing everyone - and really this is such good advice for blogging and living.<br />
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I am going to leave you with a song video, by Willie Nelson. Not liked by many that read here, I think - but I've come to enjoy his music in the last while. However I believe the song is so pretty, and the video accompanying it is very nice.I hope you might enjoy it.<br />
Have a wonderful weekend!<br />
Hugs!<br />
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Oops, Herbert told me I forgot the Headbonks times two!!! :)<br />
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<img alt="" height="1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4153284283330600337-2370908212135993191?l=mullenavenueworkshop.blogspot.com" width="1" /></div>Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-17565750735502843662012-01-28T21:57:00.000-08:002012-01-28T21:57:14.672-08:00Bubble wrap printmaking - with rolling pins!I've been enjoying introducing various art activities to my new group of children this week - we've done collage, and easel painting, and as well enjoyed painting on bubble wrap, and printmaking.<br />
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I've done painting on bubble wrap with children in the past, and had the children apply the paint with their hands, to make it a fingerpainting activity. However, I felt I might have the children use paintbrushs this time, as I sensed some of the children in this group, might have a problem with the paint on their hands. As well, my time was abit limited so I also thought using paintbrushes might help make cleanup abit faster. :) <br />
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I found the wonderful idea of using rolling pins to smooth paper over the bubble wrap, at Learning for Life. As Kierna said, the popping of the bubbles is a great sensory experience, AND the whole process is therapeutic. I tried it and loved it! My children loved using the rolling pins, and I know I will use this again<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I brought these rolling pins from home, and the bottom one was my mother's so it is at least 56 years old, I think. I know she would be happy to have it provide enjoyment for children. I don't make pie too often at home, and will just need to buy a new one for home, because these are staying where we can make good use of them!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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My children were delighted with their finished print! I am sure that they will continue to enjoy printmaking, and we'll think up new ways to make prints in the coming weeks. <br />
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The next day, I had a visit with some of the older "veterans" of my group and room, children who had spent approximately a year with me...and I always enjoy seeing them revisit the old toys, and items which they recall from their time. It always feels to me like they are visiting a beloved time in their lives, which makes me feel so happy, and rewarded.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two boys put their heads together to fashion a bed for the two black cats. The two black cats have been in the room for 3 years, and are often a favourite of certain children. Both of these children like playing with the cats when they visit me.I commented on the interesting "headboard", and was told "No it's a thing so the cats won't fall out of bed."</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And isn't this interesting?!</td></tr>
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I'm curious to see what the following week will bring us - hopefully lots of painting; sensory exploration; stories; songs; dancing; outdoors; and laughter.<br />
<br />Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-27930862538251058012012-01-25T19:37:00.000-08:002012-01-25T20:18:54.151-08:00Abit of what I've been up to, and a good videoOne of the wonderful consequences I've found through blogging this past year, is the knowledge I've gained from reading other blogs.I've learned about places, people, and ideas I may never had the opportunity to encounter - and I am grateful for all the great things there are to learn in our world.<br />
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My work has become better, I know because of what I read and ponder, and sometimes use in my own way - and even more so for the connectedness with others who care about the education of young children. I love meeting so many people with "like minds" when it comes to this work - because it provides encouragement to continue on. There is such great inspiration to be had through blogging!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herbert, who likes to co-author with me</td></tr>
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I was surprised to see that I've been writing on this blog for just about 1 year now. I started posting in February 2011. My son, Paul helped set me up, which was kind and generous of him. One of my feline companion, Herbert assists me by lying on my right wrist while I type (all 15 lbs, of him). :) Arthur, the younger cat chooses to sleep elsewhere, or keep busy with his various toys.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arthur who would rather play</td></tr>
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January, this year has been a good month, at the daycare center where I work, and a challenging one. We changed over our groupings from groups by age to "family" multi-aged groupings. I didn't realize I would miss my little 2 year olds quite so much, but slowly I feel that the group of children I do have are coming together. I now have a toddler aged child, two 2 1/2 year olds, and several 4 year olds.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture was taken in late November. We now have abit more snow, but not much!</td></tr>
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My group of nine children includes 4 children who have varying special needs.Although I can call the director in for assistance when needed, I am working alone with this group until various assessments are done, and then if the center receives grants for their care, we may be able to hire help for me.<br />
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Some days are abit hard at times, as there are some aggressive behaviors, and my heart hurts when children are hit or scratched, and begin not wanting to be in the room.<br />
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However, in the past three weeks I think some progress is being made, and hopefully all will work out. I am using learning stories as a tool for teaching about behavior. A wonderful consultant came out and showed me how to use this tool. As well I found an old book called "If you're angry and you know it..." put out by Scholastic Books (I'm sorry I don't remember the author's name). This book uses the well know song, to provide some suggestions of what you can do with angry feelings, and EVERYONE is interested in this - I think could read it several times a day, and have an audience. As well the children are choosing it to look at it on their own throughout the day.<br />
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I have noticed that alot of art activities aren't happening, as I find my new special needs children love to "just" play. There is more work to routines, which takes up a good portion of our time - but this is valuable and essential work as well.<br />
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We started easel painting this week, and every day that we do one art activity or story time, is a learning that we will build on, and I'll just continue gradually doing new things.<br />
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In time I and my children will be over the initial adjustment to one another - and I think I'll feel new energy, especially as spring certainly isn't far away.<br />
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I haven't written here often, this month, but am still reading and enjoying blogs - and thinking, learning and pondering....<br />
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I learned about the following speaker over at Tess Michaels' blog, <i>"Tessa Rose Natural Playspaces"</i>, and I enjoyed what he said, on a video Tess shared, so much that I looked him up on Google to learn more.<br />
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Sir Ken Robinson is an educator and writer. I have chosen another video from a Ted talk, and thought I would share it here. It is quite long, about 16 minutes, but I think he provides some good points.<br />
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Have a very good week!! Thanks for reading! <br />
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<br />Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-58065186516004272602012-01-20T21:35:00.000-08:002012-01-20T21:35:26.110-08:00Two Hands, One Handed<a href="http://mullenavenueworkshop.blogspot.com/2012/01/two-hands-one-handed.html">Two Hands, One Handed</a>:<br />I think you will find yourself smiling, after listening to this song posted by Matthew Vaughan, today on his video log, Rise Up Singing.<br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hqw4pDGSn94?fs=1" width="459" frameborder="0" height="344"></iframe><br /><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4153284283330600337-1769178703148617034?l=mullenavenueworkshop.blogspot.com" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></div>Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-47940376684464961602012-01-11T21:23:00.000-08:002012-01-11T21:23:45.457-08:00I Got to see a real Star!I think Lisa Murphy, also known as The Ooey Gooey lady is a bright shining star, and I have thought so ever since reading her book, "Play". And so I was so thrilled to be able to attend a full day of workshops this past Saturday, presented by The Ooey Gooey Lady.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Lisa graciously signed copies of her book throughout the day.</td></tr>
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Four workshops were presented, and although the knowledge and ideas imparted were wonderful, I also loved the gems of wisdom sprinkled liberally throughout the day.<br />
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Lisa uses humour effortlessly. I believe that the reason her humour works so well is because she has "walked the walk" - she has worked in full day daycare, for 20 years, and so when she tells a story it rings true. My co-worker who was sitting beside me, said "She says what I might think, but wouldn't say".<br />
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However, her message IS serious - how we can best enhance and facilitate the learning of young children in our care.<br />
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In the workshop titled, <span style="color: blue;">"Many Kinds of Smart"</span>, Lisa presented on the theory of Multiple Intelligences (Dr. Howard Gardner). A recurring motif throughout the workshop was the advice to move out from our own comfort zones as early childhood educators, in order to meet the learning needs of each individual child. I loved this recommendation, and know that for me as an individual this means working on providing more science and sensory activities; and as well math related learning. I am personally most comfortable with the linguistic/verbal, and secondarily with music and so if I was to stay within my comfort zone, I would tell stories and dance to music all day with my children.(I do like providing sensory activities, and always have - I find that children seem to be become more focused and sometime will socialize more when playing in water, or goop of some kind. I think it's just the "idea" of science that scares me.)<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">"Fizzle Bubble Pop & WOW!!!"</span> may be one of the more well known of The Ooey Gooey Lady's workshops. I missed seeing this workshop, when she was in my city last year, but my co-workers just loved her science. I like the idea "that we are sciencing all the time", (Bev Bos as quoted by Lisa); and this makes it seem less esoteric to me.<br />
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I work in a complex which houses two daycare centers of 45 children each, and on Monday and Tuesday following the workshop, everybody was trying out Lisa's "new and improved flubber recipe". :) One young woman I work with has been coaching us through flubber making for the past year, and we now seem to have got it down pat. We use plastic bowls and utensils, and she had found that reducing the amount of Borax would help make a smoother flubber. The last few batches of flubber I made were abit too hard, and this young woman brought some new Borax from home, and all our flubber has turned out lovely. (We have started calling our co-worker the "flubber master".) We have also all been blowing bubbles with the flubber, and I'm sure our children will be continuing to enjoy this on an ongoing basis.<br />
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There were just so many wonderful and awesome ideas, in the science workshop, and I can't wait to do them with my children - I want to do the Film canister Pop; coffee filter science, and t-shirt science; and Cork Lift -off, and ....well you get the idea, I think.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">"Oh, Those Little Ones!"</span> offered lots of valuable ideas for work with infants and toddlers. I really liked that many of her suggested activities were simple, and used everyday objects, rather than expensive toys or equipment.<br />
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Lisa's main teaching about the work with babies and infants was to be present and responsive, and that babies CAN form attachments to several people. Above all else babies need genuine, loving relationships with their caregivers. <br />
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Lisa shows several ways to use masking tape, and recommends allowing children to use all kinds of tape. I liked the idea of a tape bracelet to attach found objects, and a line of tape (could use painters tape) along the wall, to "drive"cars on. <br />
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<br />Some of the advice Lisa repeated throughout her workshops were "Keep it simple"; "Don't overthink it"; and as well "Calm down". One might almost say this could be a form of mantra - reminders, not to get caught up in over analyzing what we do; and as well to relax.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">"Ten Little Hotdogs Fryin' in the WHAT?</span> offered the reasons why we sing and use fingerplays, and we were able to sing along to several favourites.Fingerplays and singing can help reduce stress in young children AND adults, as well as help make transitions interesting and more fun.<br />
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In early childhood education we work to keep transitions to a minimum and a more natural part of the day, however singing about the next thing coming up is always a good practise. I personally love singing throughout my day, because I have always found it put my children at ease.I learned about this from my childhood dentist. I was fortunate to have a dentist who used gentle humour and sang as he worked on my teeth, and I never forgot the comfort I felt in his loving presence.<br />
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Lisa told the story of being a student, and having the assignment of teaching 100 songs to her classmates. She strongly recommends memorizing songs to have them to use readily as needed. :) <br />
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In her daycare Lisa has a circle every morning, and she most often starts with a Good Morning Song - we sang one using our body parts - and here we were singing with our knee.<br />
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I just wish that I could do more justice here, to the experience of attending this workshop. Lisa puts so much energy and heart into her workshops because she believes and cares about her message. I heartily would recommend attending a workshop by The Ooey Gooey Lady, if you have the opportunity. She can also be seen on YouTube, and as well she has several excellent books available.<br />
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Our daycare center purchased all of her books last year after several of us, had been to her workshop. My personal favourite was "Play", for the philosophy, and Lisa's persuasive, impassioned argument for quality, developmentally approriate early childhood education. The fact that we decided to buy her books and follow many of her ideas is indictative of Lisa's tremendous influence for positive change.<br />
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Our world is always made bigger and better when individuals stand up and speak up for the weak, and vulnerable. Thank you Lisa Murphy, aka The Ooey Gooey Lady, for your work which enhances the lives of people who work with young children, as well as the children.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My main sense about The Ooey Gooey Lady was that she is a person who is joyful about her work, and wants to share this joy. I found this quote which seemed to fit for her. "Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow." Helen Keller</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-37104093093091186572012-01-05T21:50:00.000-08:002012-01-05T21:53:59.559-08:00We are having spectacular weather in Saskatchewan<a href="http://mullenavenueworkshop.blogspot.com/2012/01/we-are-having-spectacular-weather-in.html">We are having spectacular weather in Saskatchewan</a>: <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">This snowman was made by some of the children at the daycare center where I work. We didn't have enough snow before Christmas for snowmen. :) Generally the temperature is too cold for snowmen in January.</td></tr>
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In Saskatchewan, people tend to be serious when it comes to winter weather. We need to be, because our cold weather can be extreme and dangerous.Anyone who needs to drive long distances in the winter will carry blankets, matches, and other safety provisions, because if caught in a winter storm, it's necessary to stay in the car, and wait for help. Freezing to death in Saskatchewan winters, is a sad and not uncommon tragedy.<br />
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We tend to face the winter temperatures with gritty forbearance, and we all have our tales of severe weather experiences.<br />
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I can recall for you one personal winter experience which might allow you a sense of Saskatchen winter.<br />
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I left work one evening in February, 2006, for home. I hadn't been aware of the weather from inside the school library where I was working, and I left quite late. I waited for my bus home, for more than one and a half hours, in a temperature that I later learned was -76 degrees with the wind. It was a blizzard, and the winds were often up to 70 km. As well it was very dark, and difficult to see due to the blowing snow.<br />
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(Oops! I need to make a correction here. I've been thinking about the temperature I'd given as -76, which would not be possible. I believe that the coldest recorded temp. in Saskatchewan was Jan. 1, 2005 at -50 Celsius or -58 F. I think that, on the evening I was stuck waiting for my bus, the wind was 76 km., and think the temperature may well have been around -40. Not sure what that would have come to with the wind chill factor. I looked up some of the world's coldest temperatures, and I believe that the coldest recorded temperature was approximately -89, definitely not in Saskatchewan.) :) </div>
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While waiting I was undecided on the best action to take - should I wait, or try to walk abit? This day I had worn a skirt, so I was not dressed for the weather, and I became very cold, but a sort of grim determination seemed to set in for me, as well as a feeling of fascination and awe. <br />
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The buses had difficulty getting around, and two buses simply made a short cut in the route, so didn't come to get me.One bus did finally come for me, at around 7p.m., and I got home within an hour, after being picked up. Our city bus drivers usually tend to be a hardy lot, determined to drive through most weather conditions. I'm not alone in having stories like this to tell, and I've certainly had similar experiences in other years as well.<br />
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. The average temperature for January in Saskatchewan is -10 to -22 Celsius. More often it is much colder than that. In 2004, the average temperature for January was -34 C., and in 2005 the temperature was between -38 C and -28 C. (2005 was a memorably cold winter here).<br />
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Today our temperature was 3 degrees above. The forecast is for warm weather through the next week too.Weather forecasters seem to be agreeing that this winter is setting records for warm temperatures, and it looks like there is no cold weather to see ahead.<br />
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I took a few pictures on my way home from work today.The snow is melting, and water is laying in the streets which is so unusual for here, in January. It feels remarkable.The people I know are enjoying this warm weather, with abit of disbelief. I think we can be forgiven for our delight in the warmth.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">Here is a sight we don't often see in the middle of winter - we have had very little snowfall thus far.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">We had brisk winds today, up to 50 km. But the temperature at 3 above was warm.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">Water lying in the street like this is unusual for the middle of winter in Saskatchewan. It does occur but it is rare.This was taken a little after 5 p.m. just at the sunset, and the light seemed very gentle, and almost springlike.</td></tr>
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As you can see, I can't quite get over the phenomenon of all the water in the streets.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">There seems to be a spring like quality to the light. I wonder if it is caused by the warmer temperature.</td></tr>
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I have lived in Saskatchewan for most of my 56 years, and I am abit awestruck by our January. We have had warm spells in our winters but this is very unusual.<br />
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<img alt="" height="1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4153284283330600337-1711035207433349627?l=mullenavenueworkshop.blogspot.com" width="1" /></div>Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-39809475923342552722012-01-03T21:50:00.000-08:002012-01-03T21:59:19.961-08:00The "Boss"Here's just a "fun" post from my other blog, to follow the last one with Herbert and Arthur. I plan to get back to some writing about my work at the daycare, soon... <br />
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<a href="http://mullenavenueworkshop.blogspot.com/2012/01/boss.html">The "Boss"</a>: <br />
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Herbert is a gentle soul. He came into my life in 2004, when I was overwhelmed with a mouse problem. I'd tried to trap the mice, but still could hear them scrambling in the walls of my very old house. This house had cracks in it's foundation, and we lived near a school field, so naturally the field mice seemed to see the house as an ideal place to inhabit.<br />
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Here is a funny little drawing I did for a story, but it shows abit of what this old farmhouse looked like. It was moved to it's lot in the city in the late 1940's, and we bought it in 1997, and it wasn't in the greatest of shape, but somehow we fell in love with it. By 2004, it needed quite abit of TLC, but at the time I wasn't able to do much, although we did patch some of the foundation.<br />
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I had been without a cat companion for 2 years, so decided it was time to find a cat who might also be a good mouser.<br />
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I found Herbert through the Humane Society. I had thought I might look for a smallish black female cat, but when I saw Herbert he was the one for me. He was a large ginger coloured male cat, who had been waiting for a long while for a home, and seemed patient and somewhat dignified.<br />
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I transported him home in a large closed box, and he was very unhappy about this, crying loudly on the ride back. When we got home, and I opened the box, he leaped out, and sat quietly taking in his surroundings. He seemed unconcerned about the presence of Rocky, my largish Sheltie, and just seemed to take us in his stride.As well, he proved to be very friendly, and jumped right up and perched on my shoulder, which surprised me as he was already quite a big cat at 13 pounds.<br />
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That night he killed one mouse, and actually led me to it in the basement, almost as though he was saying, " I know what my job here is." Through that winter he managed to kill around 9 mice. We never really had a mouse problem after that winter - and I give credit to Herbert for that.<br />
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I lost my dear Rocky, a few years later, and since then we had a few changes in our family of pets. We had a wonderful sweet dog, for one year, and a stray cat as well joined our home. Herbert has always been accepting and calm with the new animals. Our family now is made up of Herbert and Arthur (the little stray, now a 13 pound beauty of a cat).<br />
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I have thought of Herbert as "The Boss", among the family of pets in my household, for some years now, due to his calm, accepting nature.I think he's kind of "cool" too, like Bruce Springsteen who is known as "The Boss" .<br />
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Herbert and Arthur spent one day, this week, playing with a large paper bag, but the next day the bag was definitely owned by Herbert, who has been sleeping on it on and off now for two days.There has appeared to be no contest over it - no fighting between the two cats. As usual Arthur, the younger cat by 8 years, seems to just defer to Herb.<br />
I think he shows excellent judgement, and the fact that he defers gracefully to his elder, so often makes him a good and sensible cat in my estimation.<br />
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<img alt="" height="1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4153284283330600337-4157092688074064281?l=mullenavenueworkshop.blogspot.com" width="1" /></div>Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-20456919044754012712011-12-30T18:12:00.000-08:002011-12-30T18:13:38.632-08:00Herbert and Arthur have been up to a few hijinx - and we want to wish you a very happy new year too!<br />
I want to wish you a very Happy New Year, and thought I might just share this post from my other blog.<br />
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<a href="http://mullenavenueworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/12/herbert-and-arthur-have-been-up-to-few.html">Herbert and Arthur have been up to a few hijinx - and we want to wish you a very happy new year too!</a>: It's the second last day of 2011, and I always tend to feel a need to clean house, and even cupboards, to get ready for the new year. This year I am off work, and so have been moving at a more relaxed pace, sleeping in abit, and taking more time as well to play with my two cats Herbert and Arthur.<br />
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This morning, H and A were telling me it was time for their breakfast at 5:00. A little grumpily and sleepily, I got their breakfast and headed back to bed for a few more hours of sleep. Later in the morning after coffee, and some time spent reading I went to make my bed, to find my two companions just waking up from some shut eye.<br />
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Paul and I went out for some errands, and a coffee at a favourite coffee shop. It was nice to have a chance to touch base with Paul, as his schedule has been quit full, teaching high school science. He was surprised by the amount of grading teachers have - basically Paul worked every evening, and most of the weekends grading student assignments this past semester! But he loves it!<br />
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We returned to the apartment with groceries. Today I also had a large paper shopping bag....<br />
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I find Herbert's body language is always pretty clear. After consolidating his temporary ownership of the bag, he chose to turn his back on me.<br />
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I took these two pictures of Arthur, while he was trying to play with the strap on the end of my camera. I took alot of unsuccessful shots of my knee, and the floor, before finally capturing abit of him. :)<br />
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Here they are taking a rest - sometimes they remind me of majestic lions out on the savannahs of Africa. Paul has mentioned this at times, too - as though our thoroughly domesticated cats might share some of the body language, and habits of their much larger, wilder cousins. Hmmm...would you agree?<br />
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I believe it may be a Scottish tradition to clean one's home and closets out before the start of the new year. It seems to me like a good custom, sweeping out the old year so to speak. So, tomorrow morning I will continue to do abit of this (within reason) :), and also plan to make an apple pie. This isn't a new year's tradition, I just have wanted to do this for awhile, and so will make time for this then. I also plan a long walk, with some time for reflection and relaxation. What special ways do you find to say goodbye to the old year?<br />
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I would like to offer you sincere wishes for health, and joy in 2012 my friends. My life has become so much bigger, and richer through getting to know you.<br />
Hugs, Brenda<br />
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Headbonks to our feline friends from H and A!!<br />
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<img alt="" height="1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4153284283330600337-4478646900639540298?l=mullenavenueworkshop.blogspot.com" width="1" /></div>Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-39873570879396079002011-12-29T11:56:00.000-08:002011-12-29T11:59:02.603-08:00A little bit of this, and that<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have several of these sweet little heart orname nts, bought from Value Village, one year, and I use them along with other child friendly (unbreakable) decorations on the tree in the room where I work. My children are free to take them off and put them back on as many times as they wish.</td></tr>
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I've been enjoying reading the posts of several of my favourite bloggers, in the past few days. (In truth, I find every blog I have encountered to be a "favourite", but there are too many for me to read on a daily basis. : )<br />
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I was so impressed to find that there were energetic individuals posting over this post-holiday time.I tend to be abit tired over the holidays - catching up on rest after the buildup. I love the preparations for Christmas, and the music, stories, art, lights, and general fun and merriment; but in my family we have a quiet day on Christmas Day. This year, my son, Paul and I went to the new "Mission Impossible" movie, on the afternoon of Christmas Day; and then we came home and made a small, but delicious Christmas meal .I haven't quite developed an acceptable way to spend Christmas - after a few losses in my family, and not being a great socializer in my personal life.<br />
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I never thought I would go to a movie on Christmas Day, but we did last year, and then now, again. Interestingly, there was quite a large turnout, and I didn't feel too bad about doing this.<br />
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I tend to take a few days to somewhat get back to myself after this holiday, as I tend to feel losses more so at this time than others. Please do not think I am looking for you to feel badly for me; but this is my honest experience. I know that I am not alone, in trying to find a way to get through Christmas Day. And really, I love my life, and my work.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I bought 2 of these plastic balls this fall, and filled them with "gems", and they create a nice effect. One of my children calls them "bubbles".</td></tr>
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But, back to the interesting blog posts I've enjoyed reading - I so appreciated reading, and thinking again about the work of teaching young children, and feeling re-inspired.<br />
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Teacher Tom, has an interesting post today, about some directions education has been going in the States, which is not really child appropriate. He wrote about how he resists these forces by continuing to teach in the right and good ways he does.<br />
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I found myself reflecting on how all the bloggers I read do the same, in sharing and talking about the wonderful teaching each person does. There is surely great hope and power in all this<br />
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I feel that in my small way, I too contribute to the positive forces for good in early childhood education. One of my favourite ways to teach my young children is through play. Sometimes when I sense a gap, I will actively begin play, and see where the children take it.<br />
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The past few weeks, we have had little snow, and our play yard has actually seemed abit barren, with the frozen ground, some ice, and just not much else.The children don't want to wear their mitts, but still do need them, and there tends to be abit of standing around, feeling miserable over mitts, and hats, and not much to look at or play with.<br />
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I know this sounds quite dispririting and dreadful, and I know I should have come up with many different creative things we could do outside. But the lack of snow seems to have thrown me and my co-workers for abit of a loop. I really was about the only person who did venture out to this "no man's land" with my children.because it just looked so dreary, and there was so much to do inside where it was bright and cheery.<br />
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However, we did go out, and after standing around my children soon began to discover sticks, leaves, sleeping ladybugs, and as all children will, began to just move and explore.This is always the moment when I know we were so right to get out, and when I feel all the stresses and tensions leave our bodies.<br />
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One enjoyable and fun play I initiated in the past few weeks, was "Let's tow you out of the mud". We have several wonderful riding toys, and large plastic cars, and when I noticed a child just sitting in one (which the children will often do, and that is okay too), I asked them "Are you stuck in the mud?', and then suggested I might tow them out. So I "became" a tow truck, driving along a circuitious way to get to the child, and then "backed up" all the way saying "beep,beep,beep", (I think you get the picture), and pulled the child out.<br />
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I just love the slightly bemused look children get when I play like this with them, and then the look of engagement as they "get it", and start to play. I am abit of a ham, when it comes to playing with my children, and it's one of my favourite parts of my work. <br />
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I come by my calling to work with young children "honestly", I think. My best memories of my own childhood, are of the fun I got up to with my two younger brothers, who tended to look up to me, for direction. We just had so much fun outdoors in those days.<br />
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We were also blessed with a mother who made sure we got outside everyday, no matter the weather.<br />
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So, to get back to the present, I have most of this week between Christmas and the new year off. Our center is open at this period, but we had the option to take time off because our enrollment tends to be quite low over the holidays.I did work, yesterday, and now back at home. I'm taking the time to rest, and reflect, and recharge<br />
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.In the New Year, my entire group will change, as our daycare center has decided to go to "mixed age groupings", or "family groupings". This will be interesting; and as with all change it will also be exciting, and a little stressful for the children. I'll be glad I think, that I had some down time before going into all this.<br />
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<br />Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-20139741923106507012011-12-22T18:52:00.000-08:002011-12-22T19:21:00.802-08:00Happy Hanukkah!<a href="http://mullenavenueworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/12/happy-hanukkah.html">Happy Hanukkah!</a>: I enjoy celebrating Hanukkah, with my young children at the daycare center where I work.<br />
I often introduce the holiday by reading a childrens book, <i>I Have a Little Dreidal.</i><br />
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My children were very attentive to this story, and were excited to play with the small wooden dreidal which came with the book.<br />
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I set up a small center with the dreidal and used the timer for awhile to make sure all the children who wanted a turn would be able to get one.</div>
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Here is a lovely version of the Hebrew song, <i>Hineh Ma Tov</i>. This song is not a traditional Hanukkah song; it is sung as part of Shabbat. However I think that it so beautiful, I thought it would be good to use. <i>Hineh Ma Tov</i> can be translated as, "How good it is for brothers and sisters to live together in unity." This video is part of Matthew Vaughan's, You Tube project <b>Rise Up Singing. </b>I think you will enjoy listening to this!<br />
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Oh, by the way here is an update on my scarf project. I wanted to crochet a scarf for each of the children in my small group of children - seven scarves.This would be my Christmas present to them. I'm still working - I'm not a fast crocheter, and although I used a very simple plan, I started over a few times before getting something I liked.</div>
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But, I do like making handmade gifts, and working right up to the very day, has often been abit of a tradition for me.<br />
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I have 1 and 1/2 scarves to go, and won't be done by tomorrow. However if I get them into the child's locker next week, it should be ok. Some children have started their holidays and won't be at the center tomorrow.<br />
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I found that the kind of yarn makes a difference in how the crocheting goes, and some I enjoyed using more than others. I also thought of a few other projects I might like to work on.<br />
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<img alt="" height="1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4153284283330600337-689273120667337596?l=mullenavenueworkshop.blogspot.com" width="1" /></div>Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-13384497119335655982011-12-20T18:33:00.000-08:002013-08-25T12:23:35.176-07:00Tissue paper tree ornaments and a favourite Christmas fingerplay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I borrowed this wonderful craft from Melissa, at <b>The Chocolate Muffin Tree.</b> <br />
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The process is really enjoyable for young children. We created many balls from newspaper and masking tape, and used paper clips for the hooks.<br />
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The next step, was abit challenging for my 2 year olds. It involves painting a layer of Modge Podge , onto the newspaper, adding squares of tissue paper, and then adding another layer of Modge Podge. Melissa also used glitter, to complete the ornament.<br />
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My 2 year old children found it abit difficult to hold onto the balls when they were sticky, and as well ended up with tissue paper stuck to their fingers, and some also had Modge Podge in their hair. : )<br />
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Nevertheless we persevered, and although the finished product wasn't "perfect", they are still beautiful.<br />
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We still have alot of newspaper balls, so tomorrow, I plan to present this idea to the 4 year olds I work with in the early afternoon, while my 2 year olds are napping. I'm sure they will also enjoy this craft.<br />
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Many thanks to Melissa for this wonderful idea. I know I'll use this idea in other ways at other times. Melissa and her daughter have been so busy this month, with many inspiring ideas.<br />
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There are just so many wonderful ideas, stories, and songs to do with our children, over the holiday season; and it isn't possible to do everything.<br />
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But there is always the next year!<br />
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Here is a favourite flannel board fingerplay, I bring out every year.I adapted it from the book, <b>Resources for Creative Teaching in Early Childhood Education</b>, by Bonnie Mack Fleming, et al (1969)(p. 304).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the childrens' Christmas tree, standing straight and tall, with a pot to keep it in so it will not fall.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add two silver bells,</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A candycane,</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three gingerbread men,</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a star for the top you see!</td></tr>
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My young children never tire of hearing the same simple fingerplays and stories, over and over again. This is often out for them to use in their own way as well.<br />
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Wishing you very Happy Holidays, and a time of peace and joy for you and your family. <br />
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<br />Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-37616227178439823932011-12-18T06:18:00.000-08:002011-12-18T06:40:14.220-08:00Rise Up Singing: Morningtown RideI am sharing this version of a favourite childrens' song, for a few reasons.<br />
I enjoy the videos made by this young Montrealer. His determination to record all the songs in a song book called Rise Up and Sing is inspriring, I think. I also enjoy his down to earth approach to recording.<br />
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Matthew is of my son's generation, and I feel a connection to his songs somehow. I like that several Raffi songs have been chosen by Matthew, because I think he is a wonderful children's songwriter and performer, and has had a tremendous influence on the lives of children in Canada.<br />
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This song is a lullaby but also seems fitting for the Christmas season. I believe it is featured on Raffi's Christmas cd for children, although not written by Raffi.<br />
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I think you will enjoy this. I do plan on sharing one or two Hanukkah songs, this week, from this young man's recordings.<br />
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Cheers!<br />
To view this You Tube video, just click on the words "Read More". <br />
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<a name='more'></a><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5BZgXdqxxQo?fs=1" width="459"></iframe>Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-38172690527780453402011-12-15T21:11:00.000-08:002011-12-15T21:11:41.448-08:00Santa Lives Here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Christmas spirit is alive and well, in my small group of young children at the Daycare center where I work.<br />
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This is where Santa hangs up his working clothes every day, when's he's finished with them.<br />
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These clothes also get put into service, when one young boy in my group chooses to be "Mr. Grinch"..<br />
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This well loved book has been read every day, by request, and as well is often taken off the bookshelf by the children throughout the day. As you can see this book is quite worn. I've been reading it to my young children in day care, every Christmas season for about 21 years now.<br /><br />
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This "Thanksgiving" story has returned to our bookshelf by special request. It had been taken home by me, after our Thanksgiving, back in October, but my children suddenly began asking for "Gobble gobble, wibble wobble - Do the Noodle Dance" (the first lines of each page).<br />
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I'm pleased my children are enjoying stories. Storytime is one of my favourite times. I've learned over the years, that it is counter productive to be too formal with story time, or to expect all the children to come and sit together as a group. My children are just 2 years old, and I find that I need to read stories when the best opportunity arises, and to accept that some of the children will prefer to be moving around, or playing nearby. However, I've learned that the children are listening, and enjoying in their own way...and within a few months even those who were least interested in coming to sit for story, start to come sit for longer and longer periods.<br />
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This book is the most requested and looked at book right now in our small room. We usually start the day at 8:00, just sitting quietly, with our new Beta fish, named Danny. We then have been reading this book - and this happens EVERY morning, like a small needed routine - for over a month now. Although I borrowed three Rainbow Fish books from the library, this is the one my children are fascinated with. I have a mixed age group in the early morning, and everyone enjoys the story.<br />
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We made some paper plate fish back in early November, when our fish Danny came to live in our room.<br />
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We also made some paper plate Santa's in early December - they look very jolly I think.<br />
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We made this handprint wreath together, and had lots of fun using our thumb prints to make the berries.<br />
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<br />Next week on Wednesday Hanukkah begins and we'll be enjoying some beautiful Hanukkah stories. We'll learn "The Dreidal Song", and play with a dreidal. And we may get to making some candle art.<br />
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I'm glad we have these wonderful celebrations in December - to provide us merriment and light.Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-13906599738905792672011-12-12T18:50:00.000-08:002011-12-12T18:55:52.545-08:00Just hanging out together<a href="http://mullenavenueworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/12/just-hanging-out-together.html">Just hanging out together</a>: I had a great day with the children, in my small group, at the daycare center where I work. We went outside to play in the morning, and so spent the afternoon just hanging out together. I always sense a time in the year, when I know my children are truly feeling comfortable with me, and one another. It's like a small turning point.<br />
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Suddenly the emotional climate becomes more relaxed, and the children start really playing together in small groups, sometimes barely noticing that I'm in the room with them. Now and then one or two, or a group will join me, and we'll work on a puzzle together, or read together.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">This is a floor puzzle we've been enjoying this past week. </td></tr>
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This is what I've been working towards all fall, the moment when I can almost hear a gentle "humming" in the air, of young minds working, and growing, and becoming themselves.It is my reward, for all the planning, and room arranging, and coaching of my kids.<br />
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So, today in the afternoon, my children and I spread out throughout the room - three playing a game involving the "Grinch" (a small boy in a small Santa suit, considers himself to be the grinch when dressed this way); two children and I working on puzzles; one child playing farm animals; one building blocks; and one playing cars. And we really played in a focused way like this for about 40 minutes!<br />
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Now and then a child might go to the table to draw, and another might go to open a book, and "read" it. It just does my "teacher's" heart so good, to see my children playing in a relatively "civilized" way with one another, and making choices for themselves, to go and read or draw, and then return to the more active play. I think they are "self-regulating" - an important skill every person needs.(I don't mean to be derogatory about my children when I say that they were playing in a "civilized" way, but in a way the play of very young 2 year olds sometimes feels abit "uncivilized". They tend to be self centered, and it is hard for them to learn to see others as people with rights like themselves - so there can be hitting, and other aggression. but as the children mature, it does seem more "civilized".)<br />
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Sometimes it seems that my groups of children tend to come together, and feel like a "family", after some kind of event, or challenge. Sometimes this might be an outing to the museum; or to the water spray park, in the summer. We had a small Christmas party on Friday - nothing big, but just special enough. I feel that may account for the group feeling more cohesive today.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwwUabY6Q0EZLJs5Iz_4MaWOv8dO-TNvV6G39fBeRjJM8uqufTWOD3slYx4rH19rRKwe1422aHSiVVP2wWRHoCuiT_FeA9LEoaG-2vXXRbNMqlxqefvIoFq354OgoJnEysdTL_tRQ2GY/s1600/P1010883.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwwUabY6Q0EZLJs5Iz_4MaWOv8dO-TNvV6G39fBeRjJM8uqufTWOD3slYx4rH19rRKwe1422aHSiVVP2wWRHoCuiT_FeA9LEoaG-2vXXRbNMqlxqefvIoFq354OgoJnEysdTL_tRQ2GY/s320/P1010883.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;">My children enjoyed putting their own marshmallows in their hot chocolate :)</td></tr>
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<br />Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-45012063317156618732011-12-09T04:21:00.000-08:002011-12-09T04:26:15.114-08:00Mullin Avenue Workshop: Gifts and Play<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Over at my other blog, I have shared pictures of the gifts my children have been making this season. To read please feel free to just click on the link. <br />
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<a href="http://mullenavenueworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/12/gifts-and-play.html?spref=bl">Mullin Avenue Workshop: Gifts and Play</a>: At the daycare center where I work, my children have been busy creating gifts for their family. We used acrylic paint, and sparkle pai...Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-31253629885275034252011-12-08T04:32:00.000-08:002011-12-08T04:39:32.885-08:00Mullin Avenue Workshop: Getting into the Christmas spirit - slowly but sur...<br />
I wrote a small post about how my children and I have begun to celebrate Christmas, at my other blog, and decided to just share it here. Just click on the link if you would like to read.<br />
I plan to share more of our activities and art work here in the next few days as well.<br />
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<a href="http://mullenavenueworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/12/getting-into-christmas-spirit-slowly.html?spref=bl">Mullin Avenue Workshop: Getting into the Christmas spirit - slowly but sur...</a>: At the daycare center where I work, we have started to celebrate the season of Christmas. We decorated a small tree with small (unbrea...Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-71922299291575037672011-11-28T17:07:00.001-08:002011-11-28T18:17:10.442-08:00Nature art, and a Favourite Song<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday, I went into work on my room, at the daycare center where I work. It was a beautiful day, with the temperature at about plus 4, so I walked from my home to the daycare, about a 50 minute walk.<br />
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I noticed some interesting pieces of nature art, on the university campus, where the daycare is situated, and took these photos.<br />
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I think these may have been created by fine art students, or education students. I think art made from natural materials and displayed on trees, outdoors, helps it's viewers to take another look at what is around us. It certainly caught my eye .I would like to do some art like this with my children.<br />
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Last Monday, I posted a song by Kenny Loggins, from his cd<span style="color: red;"> Return to Pooh Corners</span>, and this week I'd like to share another one of the songs from this collection that I enjoy with my children. The song, <b>The Rainbow Connection</b>, was written by Paul Williams, and Kenneth Ascher, in 1979, for the whimsical little frog, Kermit, in The <b>Muppet Movie. </b>It was nominated for Best song, at the Oscars, and The Golden Globe, and was named the 74th Best Song of all time, by the American Film Industry.<br />
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Although I love Loggins' version of this song, I thought it would be interesting to share this video of Willie Nelson. I haven't been very familiar with his music, but after listening to him here, I found that he is a performer I'd enjoy to listen to in the future.<br />
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<br />Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-10041654283924517182011-11-22T17:51:00.001-08:002011-11-22T18:05:30.507-08:00A Song of Thanks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I want to wish my American friends a very Happy Thanksgiving this week. I am very thankful to have met you.<br />
This is childrens' songwriter, and performer Raffi,and his song <i>Thanks Alot.</i> <br />
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<br />Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-74876690209904703712011-11-20T16:18:00.001-08:002011-11-20T17:32:08.807-08:00Music MondayI enjoy music with my small group of children.We listen to an eclectic mix of music.<br />
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We listen to several good children's singers such as <b>Raffi</b>, <b>Fred Penner</b>, and <b>Hap Palmer.</b><br />
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As well, we listen to <b>The Beatles</b>; <b>Feist</b>; <b>Yo Yo Ma;</b> <b>Anne Murray</b>; <b>Celine Dion</b> and a cd my cousin made for me of old songs from the 1960's. This selection has songs such as "My Boyfriend's Back"; "It's My Party"; "Stand by Me"; "A Ticket to Ride", and my children absolutely love dancing to the simple beat of these songs, almost as much as me.<br />
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Each year I find that the children in my group define themselves as a unique group with a definite personality with interests, and tastes in books, art, and music that is different from the group from the year before. <br />
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Last year I had a group of children with a strong interest in a <b>Baby Einstein </b>cd of classical music which I'd purchased. We would get on the dresses from the dress up corner, (everyone even the boys), get the bells and shakers and dance rather delicately to this cd. Just this past week I had the pleasure to have most of this group of children visiting me temporarily while their teacher was away, and they immediately had me put on the <b>Baby Einstein</b> cd, and enjoyed some great dance time. I love seeing my "old" children return and really enjoy their time doing the "old" things.<br />
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Several years ago one of my children brought a <b>Feist</b> cd from home, and that became the favourite music for much of the year. We would dance to "1234", and for some reason what seemed to go with this was scarves, and throwing the scarves in the air .The children liked most of the songs on this cd, and even though some of the lyrics may have been adult; I felt that with their age, what they wanted was the rhythm, and sound of Feist's voice, and that the words might go over their heads. So we danced with abandon and joy almost every day to "Sea Lion Woman".<br />
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This month we have started listening to some seasonal cd's (a little earlier than usual), and <b>Raffi's</b> "Jingle Bells" is very popular. My favourite seasonal cd for sometime now is by<b> Kenny Loggins</b>. It just touches my soul somehow, and I like to play it at certain quieter times of day. It is not a children's cd but I like my children to enjoy some relaxing music now and then as they might if at home.<br />
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Another<b> Kenny Loggins</b> cd which I love and have used off and on for years at nap time, is Return to Pooh Corners.I have found that my children enjoy the soothing music and as well the lyrics, while slowly being lulled to sleep.<br />
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I thought I would like to share some of the music on this cd here,.One of the songs I like is "The Horses". <br />
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This cd was I believe made for Loggins' young son in 1994, and won a Grammy Award. There is a very nice selection of songs on this cd such as "BlackBird"; "All the Pretty Horses"; and "The Rainbow Connection".<br />
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I love music of all kinds, and so have decided to make Mondays here on this early childhood blog, "Music Monday", just so that I can write about the songs I love, and as well share some of them. I plan to share more songs from this cd, as well as, others; and to try to learn about the origins of some famous children's songs.<br />
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I hope you might enjoy, and come Mondays to read along, and share with me some of your favourite songs.<br />
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Cheers!<br />
<br />Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-34439651270557598822011-11-18T22:10:00.000-08:002011-11-18T22:27:31.343-08:00Shivering and Bone Tired<a href="http://mullenavenueworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/11/shivering-and-bone-tired.html">Shivering and Bone Tired</a>: <br />
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This evening, after work, I had one small errand to do on my way home; well, really it was an important one - picking up food for my felines. I needed to - I would have heard no end of complaint if I'd not brought home the kibble.<br />
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In my city, the buses tend to follow quite circuitous routes, and getting to a destination often involves backtracking, and transferring a few times. I was tired, so I phoned my son, to see if he was just possibly in the area, and would be interested in picking his Mom up. I tend to sound casual when calling "just to see", because I both value my own independence, and by the same token don't want to take him for granted.<br />
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Paul, was already home, so I said, no worries, I'd see him later, probably Saturday, as he works late Fridays.<br />
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The ride to the local pet store, was short and not eventful . And darn, I still can't find "Taste of the Wild" cat food! This is the second store I've looked at! Oh, well the cat's like their "Go" food, which is grain free and healthy for them. So, I purchased kibble, and a few cans of their favourite flavours by "Go", and walked a short distance to the grocery store.<br />
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Made a couple of purchases at the grocery store, and walked through the indoor mall to the outdoor bus stop. By this time, the sun had set and the temperature had dropped noticeably, and there was a wind. Our buses are quite infrequent, as well as circuitous, and traffic often crawls once the roads are icy, so waiting for a bus is often an uncertain activity. My spirits were starting to drop abit, when I noticed a woman around my age, walking along at a chipper rate, using a cane as a walking aid. And what a lovely cane, it was decorated prettily with flowers, in tones of blue. I mentioned to her, what a nice cane, and she said, "Yes, I wanted to be sure always to see it, and not forget it." We shared a few more, words, and when she saw my bus, she pointed it out to me and hurried me along. This is common practice, in cold winter Saskatchewan, other's are usually happy for you when your bus arrives, even if their's is not here. They smile, and wave, and they stand and wait. They never begrudge another's good fortune.<br />
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So, I stayed on this bus for some time, heading "downtown", to wait at the next transfer point<br />
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Darn, I missed my connecting bus by just a second or so!<br />
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At this point as I noticed others get on several buses which pulled in, and out of the spot, I found myself feeling noticeably cold, and tired - bone tired. I found myself beginning to entertain negative thoughts...now why didn't Paul, my son, "offer" to pick me up, he should have known I'd be tired. And what about these bus drivers, my bus was probably early...the buses are never on schedule...and here I am stuck on this cold "godawful" night...well this weekend is sure getting off to a perfect start...<br />
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Hmmm...time to slow down, another, wiser voice said...Remember you are wearing warm clothing, boots, and mitts; you have a well paying job, that allows you to buy food for yourself and the two cats; you have a warm, enjoyable home to go to, and books to read; you have a son who likes you...Take some deep breaths. All is well, you are more fortunate than you know.<br />
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And so I chose to stop the negative rant for abit, and notice my surroundings; really quite beautiful in a cold, austere way. The stop is right at the side of an old Anglican Cathedral, and a columbarium - a place where the cremated remains of the dead are kept. A few times this year it has reminded me that there will be a time for all of us with no troubles, but really for now life is preferrable.<br />
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The old brick chuch has some very ornate stained glass windows, that are quite interesting to look at.<br />
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And I noticed one tree, with seeds still attached to it's branches - possibly an ash tree. And the seeds seemed to really be shivering, which was also interesting. I've seen leaves, and seeds shake, and tremble in wind, but these seemed to be shivering with the cold and wind combined. And the wood was extremely interesting with some knots, and twists...and before I knew it I was imagining how someone who knows how to write poetry could make a lovely poem just from the wood on the tree.<br />
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At this point I thought that blogging has really changed the way I think, because I'm here in the godawful cold, waiting for a bus, that I don't know when it will ever get here - and I'm noticing how pretty and intricate the wood in this barren tree is.<br />
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So, I cheered up immensely, and went to talk to a young man, who seemed to be shut off in his own world with his I-pod, to just ask him what bus he was waiting for.And he politely smiled, removed his earphone, and told me, and asked me mine. And when I went to look at the schedule just to move around and stay warm; he came and pointed out to me when mine would arrive. So I waited a while longer and several people arrived, buses came and left. And just as I noticed mine had pulled up, I happened to glance over to the young man, with I-pod, and he was smiling at me, and waving, and pointing to indicate to me, "You're bus"!!<br />
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And at this point I felt that I will make it through this winter, with the help and goodwill of other cold and bone tired people just like me. Hopefully I will extend some goodwill as well!<br />
And the weekend looks to be turning out just fine!<br />
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<img alt="" height="1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4153284283330600337-168039536723209030?l=mullenavenueworkshop.blogspot.com" width="1" /></div>Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-73289802196284994142011-11-11T18:12:00.001-08:002011-11-11T19:49:26.694-08:00We've Had our first Snow!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last weekend we had our first snow, and it was several centimeters - a good one. It seems that the first snow never fails to excite both the children and adults at our center. We are blessed with lots of good windows, and the snow outside seems to change the light inside, making things brighter. For several days this week many of us have been playing Christmas music in our rooms - and me and my children found ourselves spontaneously singing "Jingle Bells".<br />
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My children love dancing with our small selection of musical instruments, and like attaching these bells to their wrists or ankles. The CD in this picture has a wonderful selection of Christmas tunes by <b>Raffi</b>.There are some quiet tunes such as "Snow is Falling on Douglas Mountain", which is lovely - and lots of old favourite winter tunes such as "Frosty the Snowman", and of course "Jingle Bells".<br />
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The second youngest child in my group, a toddler aged boy, decided the bells could be hung up here. :)<br />
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I enjoy these three CD's as well, during the holiday season. The Sharon, Lois, and Bram selection has some lively, happy, dancing tunes, as well as several songs for the Hanukkah season. My children tend to really like The Dreidel Song. I have a nice collection of childrens' picture books for Hanukkah, and one with the Dreidal Song which came with a small dreidal. <br />
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The music on the CD's by <b>YoYoMa</b>, and <b>Kenny Loggins</b> are very good for quieter times such as early morning, and sitting down to eat.<br />
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My personal favourite song is the first one on the Kenny Loggins', with a haunting, calming tune "<i>We're walking on the Wind</i>". I also have enjoyed Loggins' CD, "Return to Pooh Corners", for use in my room, at any time of the day.<br />
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I will probably put the festive music away for a few more weeks, so that they don't become tiring toward the end of the holiday season, but it was fun to play them for a few days. <br />
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We unfortunately didn't get outside the first day of our snow, as some of my children didn't have their all their winter clothes at daycare, so we made handprint snowflakes.<br />
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We continued our interest in reading about ladybugs. </div>
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This is a small counting or sorting work job, and I wasn't sure where the felt black spots for the ladybugs had disappeared. Later in the week, I found them in the sand table. With this age of children I find that things will go missing - put into a basket, or purse, or glued to paper, and I am learning to be fine with this. I can always make more black spots. In a preschool with older children this might be a concern, but I feel that I want my children to manipulate items in their own way. This is where they spend almost 10 hours a day, and I like that they create something from the material I provide to make it their own.<br />
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We made this small collage of ladybugs under the leaves last week. As well we did some painting with a ladybug stamp, and of course then found we needed to use our hands, and there were personal requests for other colours - such as this nice bright yellow! <br />
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Next week, we'll be sure and get outside every day. We found our collection of "daycare" snow pants, mitts, and boots...so there will be no stopping us! <br />
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We are expecting warmer temperatures next week, so there is a possibility the snow will disappear. There are those among the adults who won't complain, if the snow holds off for a few more weeks, and we have some more lovely warm fall weather.<br />
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<br />Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-68430676711606513952011-10-30T20:31:00.000-07:002011-10-30T20:34:21.392-07:00A Cheerful Halloween Poem for You<a href="http://mullenavenueworkshop.blogspot.com/2011/10/cheerful-halloween-poem-for-you.html?spref=bl">Mullin Avenue Workshop: A Cheerful Halloween Poem for You</a>: I Theme in Yellow by Carl Sandburg : The Poetry Foundation<br />
<br />Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-216363304933951741.post-56240120902180566872011-10-29T21:37:00.000-07:002011-10-29T23:02:30.309-07:00Me Getting a GripIn the past few posts, on this early childhood blog, I have found myself writing about my challenges, and difficulties this fall in my small group of 2 1/2 year old children.<br />
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This weekend I finally spent a good amount of time alone in my room, cleaning, and preparing for November. And I came to realize that although I felt I wasn't coping well for the last two months, we still managed to do some art, and some learning. We have come a long way, and so I thought it would be fun to show some of our activities. <br />
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We talked and read about scarecrows, and we created construction paper versions of scare crows with "pumpkin" heads. The children used glue spreaders, and white glue, and glued paper shapes I had precut to white paper, and then I cut around them later. The children were getting a feel for using glue spreaders, and at the same time making something they could identify. We made these for the monthly bulletin board. Each group in the daycare contributes art based on a theme, for a bulletin board at the front entry to the center.<br />
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The children enjoyed playing in this sensory tub of flour mixed with spices (cinnamon, and ginger). And we also made an apple pie from scratch. The children used butter knives to slice the apples, and we also made our own pie dough. Everyone seemed to think the pie tasted very good as well!<br />
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These small brooms came in handy to brush flour dust off clothes, and as well now my kids love sweeping the floor around the sandbox. One of my children takes great pleasure from sweeping with the adult sized broom, and having me hold the dustpan to catch the sand.<br />
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We made footprint "ghosts", and the children somewhat gingerly allowed me to paint their feet with white paint.I love painting their feet, because I know they will find it relaxing, and it somewhat reminds me of the pleasure I remember in having my Mom paint my toenails as a child.One child didn't want to take off his socks and have his feet painted, but did allow me to paint his hands. I think each small activity we engaged in this past month was a building of trust, and this one even more so.Well, I can't wait to do more barefeet fun, such as walking in the squishy marbles I've read about in several blogs this while.<br />
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We learned an old traditional Halloween fingerplay, "Five Little Pumpkins", and also just played with the felt pieces. This group loves stories, fingerplays and action songs, and I also love them.<br />
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We pounded golf tees into pumpkins. I love this idea which I found at the wonderful blog, Learning for Life. The children love this too.This has been out since the past Monday, and I will keep it going until we need to dispose of the pumpkins. It is relaxing, and children from all the age groups have enjoyed it.<br />
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I was surprised at how quiet the activity is. Quiet and soothing is always a good thing to have in my room.<br />
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We painted egg cartons to make these "ornamental corns". And the children then painted many egg cartons in many other colours - purple, green, and reds. <br />
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We gathered autumn leaves, and sang about autumn leaves and made leaf collages.<br />
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I try to have collage materials set out for the children to use at any time with glue sticks, or with white glue and glue spreaders.<br />
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Here are our treat bags ready for Monday. On Monday there will be a Halloween party and the children can wear costumes, and bring treats for the people in their group. Often there is great dancing music and everyone has a wonderful time dancing.<br />
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We'll carve a small pumpkin and read a favourite book. <br />
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And we'll be sure to get to play outside. As with any party, there will be some stress, and the best way I've found, with my small group, to counter stress is to enjoy the outdoors.These children just love being outside.<br />
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Tuesday will be the start of a new month, and we will begin to learn about ladybugs,and other insects. My children have been preoccupied with the finding of ladybugs all October, and so I know this will be a topic of interest. I was able to find some informative books at the public library with good pictures and explanations of the life cycle of bugs.<br />
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I think having the opportunity to have a good block of time to get myself and my environment in abit of order has helped me to<b> "get a grip".</b><br />
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Out of curiousity I looked the saying <b>"to get a grip", </b>up on the internet, and found 2 good definitions:<br />
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- "to make an effort to control your emotions and behave more calmly" (Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary and Thesaurus); and<br />
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- "To start to deal with a problem, situation, or job that you have to do" (MacMillan Dictionary and Thesaurus ).<br />
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I feel most calm when I can work in an organized fashion, and I think by taking this time over the weekend will result for me in more sense of calm in my work. I am so fortunate to work where I do, in a wonderful building with light and space, and a supportive, cooperative administration. As well, I know that I am priviliged to live where I do; that I have so much that others don't have access to, and as well employment in a field I do love. I know that there are always ways that things could be better, but just for today I am choosing to feel grateful, and that what I have is enough. <br />
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I think my children, also are feeling more confident in me and the environment, as we've glued, painted, sung, danced and played together. They have learned that there is some reliable order to the day - a time to eat, and to play, a time to rest, and to dance, and also that when they are upset or in tears, there will be a time for soothing words and hugs. As well, these young children have learned that they can have faith that their trusted adult - be it parent, or grandparent, an aunt or uncle, will come back at the end of the day.<br />
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I think together, me and my small children are<b> "getting a grip".</b><br />
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Many thanks to anyone who has had the patience to read through this post.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">Wishing you and yours a safe and Happy Halloween! </span></div>
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<br />Mullin Avenue Workshophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.com6