HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!! I LOVE the first day of school. I will fully admit to this year being little bit sad because this is the largest amount of children I have ever had leave my program. But that is the life of a military family child care provider. I am so happy for my littles going off to Kindergarten and I trust every that I and their parents did to prepare them for Kindergarten was the...Perfect Start. I had to do it ya'll. So, I think the thing I hear the most around this time of year is what is a good way to help your new children get use to the new routine in the classroom. This is something I have been doing for years. Some years it is easier than others, some years it takes longer than others. This year, I realized that I have a common denominator in how I have helped the littles get use to the classroom and the new routines and rules. Mother Goose Time activities. So weird to finally realize that I have been able to ease new children into the first couple of weeks of school because I have been able to keep them engaged with fun learning experiences. My hook to keep the children having fun when they miss their parents is the discussions and projects with Mother Goose Time! It's why I keep doing the program. It is why I picked it! If the children are having a real hard time having something interesting to focus on can at least for short bursts can help. ![]() The big hit this year, was the find it poster. This poster is GREAT! I was able to help my preschool class learn to sit in a circle time for 5 minutes and take turns while waiting patiently for their turn. IT WAS THE FIRST DAY!! I was so EXCITED! They enjoyed themselves with the activity, made it interactive by hopping like frogs and we furthered the discussion by asking about apple trees and bugs that lived near water. ![]() Our next activity was making telephones! They got a kick out of me speaking to them through the other cup. They decorated the cups before I put the string through the bottoms. They also used them during their free play in the dramatic play area to play "family". This project, had too much adult involvement usually for my taste but it ended up working out because the children need to get to know me and the way I will help them learn how to do things themselves. So this project let them know how Ms. Tessie works without the project being too boring. My first week of school has been insane. I will be uploading a special video about the epic day I had with my new preschoolers and to further explore how to help new preschoolers/prek children enjoy their first days of a new school and teacher. For now.... Live Long and Keep Teaching! |