Today I visited the local "Week of the Young Child - Play Day" at the local community college where I used to work. I caught up with 3 old co-workers and checked out all of the business' booths. Each both had activities for young children to do and information about their school or other child-centered business to share with families. There was lots of running and squeals and play. It was a beautiful warm day, perfect for some outside time.
But, the best part by far was that as I was walking in from the parking lot, I caught the scent of my childhood, before I could even see the little flowers. Yes, Honeysuckle! I stopped to enjoy some of the sweet, sweet drops of liquid. Heaven.
After rounding the corner, the next thing I saw was a Gnome Garden! The sign is hard to read...the the surprising joy, unmistakable!
Both of these treats had me wishing I still taught pre-K there, as I am sure I know where our next on campus field trip would have been!
A small walk at the bridge. Nothing much to write home about. A stroll on a lovely day, where there were several women joggers, for some reason. My foot is still sore and I'm frustrated. That's it.
Teacher turns first graders’ drawings into real hats — their reaction says it all
I came across this video after posting the old classroom "Hats!" book. What a wonderful collaboration, filled with math patterning, color recognition and generous and creative adults. A teacher to remember!
One successful Pooh Stick game, 2 young boys playing in the river...a mom with two toddlers sits on a bench scrolling her phone while they climb around her. Another day. Pretty quiet, mostly peaceful in my heart.
What would you do if you could? What would you give the children?
May you appreciate those that can and do run, run, run
May you appreciate the littles who play in the river
May you appreciate others who show strength in their teaching
Another read aloud version can be found at this LINK. (9:10 minutes)
Way back when...when I worked in school-age childcare...I worked with all age groups, but I still had Kindergarten groups of my own. They would stay with me in the morning and then go to Kindergarten in the afternoon. I loved working with this age group. Really. They were that magic age where they still adore their teachers and are sweet, innocent...engaged, fun...open for anything.
Those were the days when I read them "Stuart Little" chapter by chapter, each day before walking them over to the Kindergarten lines. I intentional read them the whole book before the movie came out and colored their experience with this classic. I remember seeing clips of the cat saying "Talk to the hand" and feeling so frustrated that they had cheapened the book that way.
Those were the days when we listened to the CD of Pete Seeger's "Abiyoyo", while the children acted out the parts. On the school sanctioned 'pajama day' - we'd play Pete's "Where Are My Pajamas?" - all while making questioning motions with our arms and scattering around the building pretending to look for our lost PJ's! It was such silly fun and they loved it. We would sing rousing versions of "There's A Hole In My Bucket", with the children splitting up into the male/female roles and singing those parts. They sang at each other with gusto! haha I have to say that the girls really got into their perceived disdain for their male counterparts. Their young faces showing every bit of "Why can't you just figure this out and do it?!!". Those were the days of early morning dance parties...YMCA, Macarena and more....the days of art and playground fun. After mastering the monkey bars with some of her peers, the young Jenny (author/artist in the book below) changed the lyrics to Sister Sledge's "We Are Family" to "We are family, I've got all my blisters with me" 😂 They would stand in a little circle and thrust those 5 year old blistered hands into the middle at the appropriate time! They sure earned those blisters and that camaraderie!! 😂Those were the days of lunch time conversations! Those were the days...
Such great memories of long ago. My Kindergarten 'babies' are about 32 years old now!
I had read my original version of 'Some Things Go Together' to the children. I much prefer the illustrations of that version, far more charming in my opinion. They bring the message of the words across in am more meaningful way to me. It is sadly out of print now, but you can find used copies. Here are just a couple of pics, so you can see what I mean. I've always love Karen Gundersheimer's work. It conveys so much love.
What happened next was magical. As you will read below, this group really got into the idea of "things going together" and began to offer their own ideas. This led to the process and the finished product below. It took days and days.
Once they'd written the whole text, with my guidance, we began the illustration process. The children would come to a small table to sit with me...one at a time during their free play time. They began by illustrating a page that they'd written or offered the main idea for. As the project went on, I discovered some of the children really wanted to illustrate and some did not. This is where you see two names on a page, a collaboration of sorts, one writer & one illustrator. The children were instructed to sign their artwork neatly at the bottom, writing as small as they could, "like an artist" would. They worked so hard on these drawings, infusing them with so much thought and intention and pride. They seemed to really appreciate this one-on-one time with me and looked forward to their turns.
Once all of the illustrations were complete, I typed up the cover page, dedication page and closing pages and assembled the book by laminating and binding it. I later made myself this copy by copying it and placing the pages into the small binder with clear plastic sleeves.
You would think that would be the end of the project, but it was not. It was not, because I wondered what to do with the "product' next? How could we share the fabulous work the children had created? It belonged to all of them...to this group, but it could not live with all of them. I knew the childcare well enough to know if I had just put it on a bookshelf to be used by the entire center, and to be accessed by all, it would get destroyed in no time.
Anyway, after reading the book together at our group time for several days, I got the idea that the children could 'read' it to our director. They had memorized every word and read it in unison with rhythm and feeling. The director was so pleased! Next the children read it to the school principal! They were gaining so much confidence in what they could accomplish.
After that, the children were allowed to take turns taking it home to read and share with their families. It traveled in a special envelope with a letter to their parents (see below). Then they took turns sharing it with their Kindergarten classes (again, in a special envelope with a letter to their teachers). Once their book had been read and read to everyone I could think of, I spoke to the school librarians. I asked if they would accept a donation to the school library? They were thrilled to accept it. So, the last step was to take it to to the school library and the children read it to the two librarians there, before we donated it to be enjoyed by others. They "red tagged" it, which meant only teachers could check it out. They added a dollar amount, in case it should be damaged or?? A $50.00 replacement fee! I was shocked. Their last step was to place it on a small book holder on top of one of the bookshelves. Magic and pride.
"Drum with band"
"Peppers with mild"
"Dog with walk"
"Teeth with lip"
"Money with paid"
"Ghosts with BOO!" "And me with you"
"Ladders with height"
"Hat with man"
"Flowers with bee" "And you with me!"
"Turkey with wing"
"Eyebrows with faces"
"Berries with pick"
"Fox with tail"
"Cow with Moo!" "And me with you!"
These two books, along with a few others will be going off in the mail to my two young grandchildren. I look forward to passing on traditions and values important to me.
What special memories do you like to revisit?
May you smile at the thought of where you've been
May you smile at the memories of things shared
May you infuse the world with your loves and values
Today while out, we checked out the local park, which was recently completely redone.
There is some fun structures and a sculpture installation. There are a few different pieces of equipment for ADA compliance, which is way cool. There was a ping pong table, basketball hoops, a corn hole set...picnic tables, benches and BBQs.
There have been tons of children there every time we've passed by. It was rarely used in the past, so what an improvement for the community.
I could have sat on a bench and watched the littles for a long time. Someone else is not as entertained by this as I am. haha We both agreed that the grandchildren would love it if they were here.
I disappeared all of the people out of the pics. We were not alone! J. walked backwards up the turff hill, working out his calves...but we are both too old for the faux rock climbing hill! That big circle was quite merry-go-round like. A little toddler and his grandma were using it. He was saying "Do it some more" as she held on to him and made it spin. 🙂
It seems like there is a 'bridge' everywhere I go!
I tried out the bench...with the large acorn hanging right over my head! A little precarious for earthquake country! ha
This tree held 100's of small songbirds ~ singing their little hearts out! It was not our usual outing, but I was curious after watching the construction over the past months. It was nice to be out among the happy children. Sometimes it is nice to switch things up and it was another beautiful day to do so.
Where have you gone recently that is out of your norm?
