A little bit of this, and that

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.

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. : )

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.

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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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

 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
 .

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.

We were also blessed with a mother who made sure we got outside everyday, no matter the weather.

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

.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.

Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Hanukkah!: I enjoy celebrating Hanukkah, with my young children at the daycare center where I work.
I often introduce the holiday by reading a childrens book, I Have a Little Dreidal.

My children were very attentive to this story, and were excited to play with the small wooden dreidal which came with the book.

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.

Here is a lovely version of the Hebrew song, Hineh Ma Tov. 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. Hineh Ma Tov 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 Rise Up Singing. I think you will enjoy listening to this!

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.

But, I do like making handmade gifts, and working right up to the very day, has often been abit of a tradition for me.

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.

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.

Rise Up Singing: Morningtown Ride

I am sharing this version of a favourite childrens' song, for a few reasons.
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.

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.

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.

I think you will enjoy this. I do plan on sharing one or two Hanukkah songs, this week, from this young man's recordings.

Cheers!
To view this You Tube video, just click on the words "Read More".

Santa Lives Here

 The Christmas spirit is alive and well, in my small group of young children at the Daycare center where I work.

This is where Santa hangs up his working clothes every day, when's he's finished with them.

These clothes also get put into service, when one young boy in my group chooses to be "Mr. Grinch"..

 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.

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).

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.

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.

We made some paper plate fish back in early November, when our fish Danny came to live in our room.

    We also made some paper plate Santa's in early December - they look very jolly I think.

We made this handprint wreath together, and had lots of fun using our thumb prints to make the berries.


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.

I'm glad we have these wonderful celebrations in December - to provide us merriment and light.

Just hanging out together

Just hanging out together: 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.

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.

This is a floor puzzle we've been enjoying this past week.

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.

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!



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".)



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.

My children enjoyed putting their own marshmallows in their hot chocolate :)

Mullin Avenue Workshop: Gifts and Play

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.

Mullin Avenue Workshop: Gifts and Play: 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 Workshop: Getting into the Christmas spirit - slowly but sur...

 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.
I plan to share more of our activities and art work here in the next few days as well.

Mullin Avenue Workshop: Getting into the Christmas spirit - slowly but sur...: At the daycare center where I work, we have started to celebrate the season of Christmas. We decorated a small tree with small (unbrea...

Nature art, and a Favourite Song

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.

I noticed some interesting pieces of nature art, on the university campus, where the daycare is situated,  and took these photos.

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.












Last Monday, I posted a song by Kenny Loggins,  from his cd Return to Pooh Corners, and this week I'd like to share another one of the songs from this collection that I enjoy with my children. The song, The Rainbow Connection, was written by Paul Williams, and Kenneth Ascher, in 1979, for the whimsical little frog, Kermit, in The Muppet Movie. 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.

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.

A Song of Thanks

I want to wish my American friends a very Happy Thanksgiving this week. I am very thankful to have met you.
This is childrens' songwriter, and performer Raffi,and his song Thanks Alot.

Music Monday

I enjoy music with my small group of children.We listen to an eclectic mix of music.

We listen to several good children's singers such as Raffi, Fred Penner, and Hap Palmer.

As well, we listen to The Beatles; Feist; Yo Yo Ma; Anne Murray; Celine Dion 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.

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.

Last year I had a group of children with a strong interest in a Baby Einstein 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 Baby Einstein cd, and enjoyed some great dance time. I love seeing my "old" children return and really enjoy their time doing the "old" things.

Several years ago one of my children brought a Feist 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".

This month we have started listening to some seasonal cd's (a little earlier than usual), and Raffi's "Jingle Bells" is very popular. My favourite seasonal cd for sometime now is by Kenny Loggins. 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.

Another Kenny Loggins 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.

I thought I would like to share some of the music on this cd here,.One of the songs I like is "The  Horses". 

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".

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.

I hope you might enjoy, and come Mondays to read along, and share with me some of your favourite songs.

Cheers!

Shivering and Bone Tired

Shivering and Bone Tired:

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.

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.

Paul, was already home, so I said, no worries, I'd see him later, probably Saturday, as he works late Fridays.

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.

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.

So, I stayed on this bus for some time, heading "downtown", to wait at the next transfer point

Darn, I missed my connecting bus by just a second or so!

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...

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.

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.

The old brick chuch has some very ornate stained glass windows, that are quite interesting to look at.

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.

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.

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"!!

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!
And the weekend looks to be turning out just fine!

We've Had our first Snow!

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".

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 Raffi.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".

The second youngest child in my group, a toddler aged boy, decided the bells could be hung up here. :)

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.

The music on the CD's by YoYoMa, and Kenny Loggins are very good for quieter times such as early morning, and sitting down to eat.

My personal favourite song is the first one on the Kenny Loggins', with a haunting, calming tune "We're walking on the Wind". I also have enjoyed Loggins'  CD, "Return to Pooh Corners", for use in my room, at any time of the day.

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.

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.

We continued our interest in reading about ladybugs.      

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.

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!

 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! 

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.