Container Collection
We really do love containers; the creative potential is somewhat endless! In the coming week we ask that you drop off your containers in the collection basket here at school (main entrance downstairs). We're looking for any/all types of containers, with a special request for glass jars and laundry detergent jugs, both with lids. Please be sure your container donations are clean and dry. Thanks so much.
Welcome Kirby
Next week we will welcome Kirby Williams to MVS. Kirby will serve as an assistant teacher and will be spending time in all classrooms here at school. Many of you may already be familiar with Kirby; she has worked at Stowe's Ski and Ride School for many years. Please say hello and introduce yourself!
Play Workshop: Thoughts and Reactions?
Parents and families, if you attended the The Brain Science of Play workshop on Wednesday and would like to share your reactions/comments, please email Sam at mountainvillageschoolvt@gmail.com. We will share your ideas in next week's newsletter for those who may have missed it. Thanks!
Conference Connections
Last week's newsletter included a play by play of the activities and new learning from the two conferences the staff recently attended. This week we wanted to highlight just a few of the ways we have put those big ideas into practice.
In the Toddler I classroom, Hannah and Melissa have been doing an increased amount of yoga after attending the Come and Play Yoga workshop. Yoga practice plays a big role in our mornings, and pops up throughout the day. You can take a look at this short article from PBS that points to the numerous benefits of yoga for kids.
Holli and Beth in Toddler II tried their hand at "mystery bags." This is a unique sensory activity where an item is placed inside of a bag, and the child reaches in to feel the object inside. Think about just how much we rely on our sight to make sense of the world...when we isolate one of our senses, it creates a new way of perceiving and interpreting information. This activity really captivated the children's attention, and the class has started to add in the component of making a guess as to what is actually inside the bag.
On the back playground, Sam constructed some heavy items to carry, push and roll. The children worked hard to lift and carry a variety of jugs filled with water which ranged from 5-10 pounds. As one parent said, "It's like toddler Crossfit!" Carrying the heavy objects exercised our bodies and fulfilled our need for gross motor time, plus, it was a lesson in perseverance. The children had a number of story lines to go along with this activity, from delivering milk, to setting sail on a pirate ship, complete with shark infested water. Some of the motivation for this activity came from attending the workshop, "The Play Instinct, Have you Lost Yours?"
On the front playground, Sarah's simple addition of a wooden board provided possibilities for problem solving, risk-taking, balancing and more (check out the pictures below). This was one of many takeaways from the UVM conference. By staying close by and letting the kids direct the activity, Sarah and Carly could observe the many ways in which the board was used, how the children were able to tune into to their own limits, and the ways in which they worked collaboratively.
Again, these are just some of the ways we have already implemented new ideas into our curriculum. As we mentioned last week, our hope is that with increased conference and professional development opportunities, we are able to develop even stronger curriculum that is rooted in the very best educational practices.
Classroom Happenings
Infant I: A little room rearrangement has provided for more open space, with almost all of the children now being able to roll, the hope is to allow for more unfettered exploration of the environment. The week's fascination has been scarves. The babies are very intrigued by the colors, motion and texture, and the teachers have noted that they seem to have a bit of a calming effect. As more children are able to now spend time on their bellies, they seem to be interacting more and more with their peers, generally making eye contact or giggling.
Infant II: As verbal skills increase, frustration decreases. The peaceful vibe of the room continues, and it's no coincidence that the children are experiencing a surge of language use. With more words comes a better understanding of the social expectations and boundaries. Time outdoors has been the focus, and bubbles continue to excite. As mentioned above, the addition of the board to the playground was very interesting way to explore balance, limits and teamwork.
Toddler I: Binoculars! What excitement! The children really enjoyed taking turns with the new binoculars this week both indoors and out. An ocean-scape was found in the sensory table with colored water, and some outdoor bubble painting was attempted...although unsuccessfully. The class will try this again next week with a few alterations. Also next week, the class will start planting sunflowers indoors.
Toddler II: The mystery bags held the class's attention during circle time. Another interesting addition to circle was when the children brought instruments along and did some singing. The class painted on Friday, and all were very interested in the variety of brushes and colors used. This week, one of the students began spending time in the Pre-K classroom in preparation to move to that room full time.
Pre-K: Our friend from Toddler II has been a wonderful addition in the classroom, and we look forward to welcoming him back again. This week has shown some real efforts in collaboration. The children have started to put their napping cots away together, which has led to some nice teamwork and huge amounts of spacial awareness, turn taking and problem solving. Also, we've had some small group and individual projects take shape as a few students have been creating a variety of animal representations.
As Seen at MVS
We really do love containers; the creative potential is somewhat endless! In the coming week we ask that you drop off your containers in the collection basket here at school (main entrance downstairs). We're looking for any/all types of containers, with a special request for glass jars and laundry detergent jugs, both with lids. Please be sure your container donations are clean and dry. Thanks so much.
Welcome Kirby
Next week we will welcome Kirby Williams to MVS. Kirby will serve as an assistant teacher and will be spending time in all classrooms here at school. Many of you may already be familiar with Kirby; she has worked at Stowe's Ski and Ride School for many years. Please say hello and introduce yourself!
Play Workshop: Thoughts and Reactions?
Parents and families, if you attended the The Brain Science of Play workshop on Wednesday and would like to share your reactions/comments, please email Sam at mountainvillageschoolvt@gmail.com. We will share your ideas in next week's newsletter for those who may have missed it. Thanks!
Conference Connections
Last week's newsletter included a play by play of the activities and new learning from the two conferences the staff recently attended. This week we wanted to highlight just a few of the ways we have put those big ideas into practice.
In the Toddler I classroom, Hannah and Melissa have been doing an increased amount of yoga after attending the Come and Play Yoga workshop. Yoga practice plays a big role in our mornings, and pops up throughout the day. You can take a look at this short article from PBS that points to the numerous benefits of yoga for kids.
Holli and Beth in Toddler II tried their hand at "mystery bags." This is a unique sensory activity where an item is placed inside of a bag, and the child reaches in to feel the object inside. Think about just how much we rely on our sight to make sense of the world...when we isolate one of our senses, it creates a new way of perceiving and interpreting information. This activity really captivated the children's attention, and the class has started to add in the component of making a guess as to what is actually inside the bag.
On the back playground, Sam constructed some heavy items to carry, push and roll. The children worked hard to lift and carry a variety of jugs filled with water which ranged from 5-10 pounds. As one parent said, "It's like toddler Crossfit!" Carrying the heavy objects exercised our bodies and fulfilled our need for gross motor time, plus, it was a lesson in perseverance. The children had a number of story lines to go along with this activity, from delivering milk, to setting sail on a pirate ship, complete with shark infested water. Some of the motivation for this activity came from attending the workshop, "The Play Instinct, Have you Lost Yours?"
On the front playground, Sarah's simple addition of a wooden board provided possibilities for problem solving, risk-taking, balancing and more (check out the pictures below). This was one of many takeaways from the UVM conference. By staying close by and letting the kids direct the activity, Sarah and Carly could observe the many ways in which the board was used, how the children were able to tune into to their own limits, and the ways in which they worked collaboratively.
Again, these are just some of the ways we have already implemented new ideas into our curriculum. As we mentioned last week, our hope is that with increased conference and professional development opportunities, we are able to develop even stronger curriculum that is rooted in the very best educational practices.
Classroom Happenings
Infant I: A little room rearrangement has provided for more open space, with almost all of the children now being able to roll, the hope is to allow for more unfettered exploration of the environment. The week's fascination has been scarves. The babies are very intrigued by the colors, motion and texture, and the teachers have noted that they seem to have a bit of a calming effect. As more children are able to now spend time on their bellies, they seem to be interacting more and more with their peers, generally making eye contact or giggling.
Infant II: As verbal skills increase, frustration decreases. The peaceful vibe of the room continues, and it's no coincidence that the children are experiencing a surge of language use. With more words comes a better understanding of the social expectations and boundaries. Time outdoors has been the focus, and bubbles continue to excite. As mentioned above, the addition of the board to the playground was very interesting way to explore balance, limits and teamwork.
Toddler I: Binoculars! What excitement! The children really enjoyed taking turns with the new binoculars this week both indoors and out. An ocean-scape was found in the sensory table with colored water, and some outdoor bubble painting was attempted...although unsuccessfully. The class will try this again next week with a few alterations. Also next week, the class will start planting sunflowers indoors.
Toddler II: The mystery bags held the class's attention during circle time. Another interesting addition to circle was when the children brought instruments along and did some singing. The class painted on Friday, and all were very interested in the variety of brushes and colors used. This week, one of the students began spending time in the Pre-K classroom in preparation to move to that room full time.
Pre-K: Our friend from Toddler II has been a wonderful addition in the classroom, and we look forward to welcoming him back again. This week has shown some real efforts in collaboration. The children have started to put their napping cots away together, which has led to some nice teamwork and huge amounts of spacial awareness, turn taking and problem solving. Also, we've had some small group and individual projects take shape as a few students have been creating a variety of animal representations.
As Seen at MVS
Thanks for Reading
Enjoy the weekend, looks to be a beautiful one! -Sam