A Buzz of a Good Time!

Insects are all around  our classroom - but in a good sense.  While some are real, most are not.  Take a look at our marble-print Bumblebees from today.  The kids cut everything out on their own - and did a fantastic job!

And our finished projects...Ta-Da!

During our Free Play times, everyone is encouraged to make their own creations with marbles, different paint colors, and our "Magic Painting Boxes"!  Perhaps I'll post a few of those creations tomorrow!

Attack of the Giant Ladybugs

We really enjoyed our Ladybug Project.  We've been searching high and low for them - especially on the playground.

What a surprise to find GIANT ladybugs in our School Garden!  Yikes!  Thankfully ladybugs don't bite or sting!

We wondered what our parents would think if they were to see these giant creatures!  We'll take them home in a few days and see what they say...

Did you know ladybugs hibernate, too?  They snuggle together during the winter months and take a long nap.  Here it looks like a few have yet to realize it's spring!

Making these special insects was a great treat!  Smiles were plentiful!

It's A Miracle

We've waited...and waited...and waited.  It must have finally happened over the weekend.  Our flowers have bloomed!  Our purple irises have opened and shared their wonderful scent and color!  The kids were so excited!

And, of course...when flowers are present, they must be smelled...

I was so proud of my kids.  We've learned about planting seeds, and how some flowers grow from bulbs.  However, irises grow from a rhizome - which some of the kids remembered.  Yeah!

While we were in the garden, we had to pick out a few weeks.  We don't like weeds.

It was a bit dry in the garden, too, we noticed.  A good watering was needed - for the kids, too!  They loved getting sprayed!

Chalkboards - Hate The Sound - Love The Concept

Okay, so you just read the title of this blog.  Are the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end?  I've always hated the sounds of a chalkboard, the squeeky sounds of when the angle of the chalk goes astray, or the sounds of many nasty fingernails going up and down the cat-tongue-like texture of the board.

Well, now that I'm a teacher I love chalkboards.  I don't hold favorable thoughts on dry-erase boards.  They smell, you have to purchase expensive pens/markers, and they are too smooth.  There is no challenge when using them.

Chalkboards (especially the old-fashioned kind) give children the resistance needed to strengthen their upper arms.  Dry-erase boards just let a simple, easy gliding movement do the work.  With a chalkboard, there is a workout!

We spent time outside today - a lot of time.  We blew bubbles, weeded the garden, planted a few more seeds, replanted some flower bulbs, played T-Ball, and used sidewalk chalk.

I was so happy when I noticed some of the kids had used the chalk on the fence.  I can just imagine the muscle strength they used to go across the grain of the wood.

Way to go, little ones!  You never cease to amaze me!

See and Do

I love to play Simon Says with my class.  The children love imitating me and attempting to follow exactly what I do.  I also love to play Follow the Leader.  Growing up in Minnesota, some of my elementary grade teachers would lead us through deep snow banks, and we would follow along as little frozen ducks.  It was great!

I have the assumption that young children still like to follow what an adult does.  As early childhood educators it is our responsibility to provide and model positive experiences for our students.

If you have not already guessed, I am a rare-breed in the early childhood education field.  I am a preschool teacher.  I also taught kindergarten for 10 years.  You may not think that is unusual, but I must also add that I am a MALE PRESCHOOL TEACHER.  I love it!

As a leader - a kid leader - I love helping my students think outside the box - just as I did when I entered a female-dominated career.

Do you ever notice that girls typically steer away from tools and a workshop area?  Or do you fine boys lacking the interest in coloring neatly and making an artful masterpiece?  Honestly, I don't see that very much.  I let my little ones know that each job or play area is for everyone.  Everyone sees me building with blocks, just as they all see me wash dishes and feed the babies, too.  Girls need to learn how to fix things just as much as a boy does.  Boys need to learn how to cook and feed a baby just as much as a girl does.  Boys and girls both need to learn about color and creativity.

So...when I see a girl painting and using a saw in the Dramatic Play Workshop, I smile.

When I see boys coloring (neatly) and using their creativity to produce something wonderful for their mama, I smile.

When I see my students doing something that generates a sense of awe and wonder, I smile.

When I model something and later see my students doing the same, I smile even more!

Remember...be the best model...the best teacher...and provide the best experiences for your students.

Not Your Average Kid

Very true.  Today we experienced what was "not your average kid."  Our Garden Project has been coming along quite nicely.  We love making open-ended art projects and discovering science in our world.

A while back we had read about "The Three Billy Goats Gruff".  The kids loved the story, especially the troll.

One of our kids drinks goat milk, and she has goats at home.  We were talking with her about the things that goats eat - everything!  As we recently discussed our garden and looked for a visit from Peter Rabbit, we came to the conclusion that a visit from a goat would not be good- they would likely eat everything!

I know of a local farmer who has goats, and he brought in a few for us to enjoy.  It was totally awesome!  Take a look...

It was hard to tell who was more excited (and friendly) - the kids...or the kids (haha):

We were careful not to step in any "pebbles".

A few more pictures...they speak for themselves...so much fun!

Until next time...bye!

Our Class Flower Garden

Just a short post today...

Twitter has become my new favorite source for classroom ideas and professional development.  The project below is based somewhat on a blog I viewed via Twitter a while back. It may be a it hard to see, but there are 24 different flowers "growing" in this "garden"!

First, I saved a small box that would serve as the "garden" and wrapped it with green paper.  I used an exacto knife to cut small holes in where the flowers would be placed.

Items needed for flowers:
1.  popsicle sticks - we painted them green
2.  some type of paper for the flower - we used old Sale Price labels from the grocery store (the starburst design)
3.  a variety of items to decorate the flowers with - we used scraps of neon naper
4.  green paper for the leaves - we use scrap green, neon paper (to fit the bright theme)

It was a messy project, but I think messy ones are the best.  The kids loved the different steps that needed to be followed.  I can tell they enjoy a routine and sequence.  Here are a few more pictures of the kids completing the project.

Another cool aspect of this project is that it's actually interactive!  The children can manipulate and move around the flowers in the "garden" to make any type of landscape design they wish.

I'll take a few more pictures tomorrow of them creating their own garden design landscape!