First day at Gan for the 2014-15 school year!
Our class was all smiles :)
It was so special having some of the parents with us during orientation on the first day.
Starting our year with a Mitzvah!
It was nice to see a bunch of smiles of familiarity when we started singing the mitzvah note song by snack time. This is a great way for each child to feel individually special for the unique mitzvah they did. It is also a wonderful tool for us to bridge the "home-school" connection, when the child recalls the mitzvah his/her parent noticed that they did at home!
The children beam with pride when all their friends clap and sing for their own mitzvah!
Sensory smelling clay
Homemade clay with an added sense of smell- cinnamon! The smell gave the experience an extra sensory dimension! Many of the children decided they were baking :) and it really did smell like an apple pie.
Devorah Leah deep in thought...
Group centers is a great opportunity to practice communicating to each other. Being aware of what others are making and getting into conversation about their creation.
The 'new' student: Sara the puppet!
Puppets are a wonderful tool to relate to a child's emotions. They provide a sense of security that makes it easier for children to express their thoughts and feelings.
This week we wanted the children to
a) Feel comfortable in their new classroom environment
b) Get to know the routine and expectations.
Sara the puppet acted out feeling a little out of place in the new classroom. The children got giggles when she tried saying hi to some of the friends and mixing up their names. The message to Sara and to the children in our classroom: its okay, this is the beginning, we are all new and we are learning together!
Sometimes we are shy and that's okay.
Here, Sara the puppet said hi to Elizabeth after she got her name right.
Sara the puppet is officially part of our class now :)
Then it was time to learn some of the rules:
For example, Sara started blowing her nose and then dropped the tissue on the floor. The class quickly all corrected her and all found the garbage in the classroom. this was a great way to teach the children about keeping our classroom neat and finding the garbage if they needed it.
Then we headed to the bathroom....
We expressed some of our new friends fears of going to a new bathroom. Here they all cheered for Sara once she was so brave and was done!
Learning where books go and how we take care of them.
More fun at circle time!
This year our sign in board is part of our circle time routine, when they are focused and can all be aware who is here today and who we miss.
Dancing is great way to end our davening circle with movement and smiles.
Art
Painting bubble wrap yellow was a new way for the children to experience painting.
Painting and popping.
We then encouraged them turn it over onto cardstock to create a bee hive look that will be used for our Rosh Hashana unit.
Creating new friendships!
A long cardboard tube and lots of cars helped the children practice patience, waiting their turn and group play.
Shua and Aron and Elizabeth making a concert using the blocks as microphones.
Evi bonded with his new friend Shua
showing him his new book he brought from home.
Conversation about worms ;)
Look how BIG I am!
Another concept we wanted the children to learn this week, was HOW BIG THEY ARE! We wanted all the children to feel so big, being in our class and going to school!
To help understand in a hands on way. The children brought in clothes that were too small on them. Their faces brightened when they realized how REAL it is that they have grown! The familiar clothing doesn't quite fit anymore!
Chanie brought in a baby bonnet. Here she was just being comforted by it. :)
I AM BIG!!
Elizabeth felt very big (and capable) outside and climbed up our curvy play structure.
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