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Happy Valentine's Day!

Closed for Presidents Day
Please remember that we're closed on Monday February 16th for Presidents Day. We will reopen on Tuesday the 17th.

Part I...Pre-K at PLAY: Helen Day Art Center's New Exhibit, is all of our Favorite Things!
On Thursday the Pre-K class bundled up and braved the weather for a special visit to the Helen Day Art Center here in Stowe. The purpose of their trip was to see and explore the center's new exhibit called, "Play." The focus of the show is to "feature artists who embody aspects of play in their work. It also examines play as an action or as an inherent part of being human." (helenday.com) The video below is a time lapse of the exhibit set up:


The students really became part of the displays and installations as they infused their own sense of play into the space. Check out some of the amazing photos for a glimpse into their experience.











We've previously looked at the importance of play here in the newsletter, and the visual arts are another interconnected dimension of play for young children which is of special significance. This begins another miniseries on art in both the early childhood classroom and in the world of education.

Part II...Art in Early Childhood

Why does art matter to children? Similarly to play, while creating can be very fun, it isn't just about fun. Laurel Bongiorno, PhD, and Dean of the Division of Education and Human Studies at Champlain College, writes about this very topic in the article, "How Process Art Supports Preschoolers."  

Here's a breakdown of a few of the ideas from Bongiorno's article:
1. Art in the early childhood classroom, promotes the development of a number of complex skills such as:
Creative Thinking, Planning and Problem Solving
Children imagine what they wish to create, plan how they will make it, and adjust their creations for challenges or the unexpected.

Language and Communication
Young artists communicate about their work through explanations with peers, teachers and parents. They can elaborate on the details of what they have made and the reasoning behind it. Ever heard something like this before? 

     "What did you draw?"
     "This is a tiger who is buying oranges from the market."
     "Why is he buying the oranges?"
     "Because they are the same color as he is!"
Art is just another way for children to create their own meaningful narratives, which in turn can lead to...
Social and Emotional
...processing their own experiences, thoughts and feelings. Making art means experiencing success in what they have made.

Fine Motor
Different mediums (paint, markers, pencil, clay, etc.) present diverse practice for developing fine motor proficiency.


2. When fostering an interest in art, emphasize process over product.
Art holds a valuable place in the lives of children. As adults, it's important for us to not impose our adult ideas on what art should be. Providing creative and open-ended experiences allows children the choice and freedom to do as they please without correction, thus constructing art that is truly their own. For more specific ways to put this into practice, do give Bongiorno's article a full read; lots of great tips.

Early exposure to the arts is another way in which we support the holistic development of children. We work hard to make the arts a key aspect of our curriculum at MVS. Next week, we will take a deeper look at arts in education, and highlight some of the art on display at school. 


Classroom Happenings
Infant I: Although the week tended toward the quiet side, the benefit was that the children were all able to have some really nice quality time with both teachers and each other. The warmer weather at the start of the week allowed the children to get outside a bit, and for some of the children, it was their first time outdoors at school. Many of the children are becoming quite vocal; they are making a variety of sounds to communicate their feelings and interact with each other.

Infant II: We're continuing on work on social skills in the classroom, mainly communication and capability. First, in regards to communication, we are looking at language. Often times, when the request of "No hitting" is repeated and repeated, a child in this stage of life, may just hear, "hitting." So, the teachers have been using positive redirection to communicate. For instance, "Please use your hugging hands/waving hands." A second skill of focus is that of capability. A goal is for the children to be able to enter the classroom themselves in the morning time. Another goal is independent hand washing before mealtimes. On Friday, the class made fresh squeezed orange juice from oranges directly from Florida! There was a lot of to do about every part of the process, from peeling, to smelling, to squeezing the oranges in the juicer.

Toddler I: This week we celebrated a birthday in the classroom, and on Sunday, we will see another child turning 2! You'll notice an array of party hats below to mark these occasions. Soapy water was present in the sensory table this week, and was a real hit. Time spent outdoors was filled with shoveling, icicles, and singing.

Toddler II: More outdoor time this week was very appreciated by the children in Toddler II. They are still very interested in looking for animal tracks in the snow. Again, the kids are working on name and letter recognition. One way they are doing this is by having each child pick out their own place mat at mealtimes. Another activity the class did to integrate letters was by painting with letter cookie cutters. The class read books about Valentine's Day, and talked about how it is a day to tell people how much you care about them.

Pre-K: A lot of outings for the Pre-K class this week, including a trip to the library on Wednesday, and then the Helen Day Art Center on Thursday. The students have been having conversations about kindness, they are brainstorming what kindness looks like, sounds like, etc., and they will be starting some kindness curriculum next week. 

As Seen at MVS










Thanks for Reading
Enjoy the time with your Valentines! -Sam 



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