Monkeys, Potties, Cookies

It was a wonderful week in the Toddler classroom! Each day during our circle time, we discuss the day of the week, the date, and the weather. We’ve been featuring books that have to do with potties as part of the theme we worked with throughout the week.

Every one has enjoyed their time working in the mornings. Tula gravitates toward quiet reading time, scooping beans, and fitting pipe cleaners into holes in a container. Hunter has been interested in sorting bears by color and counting, as well as using magnets to dress a magnetic doll. Jackson has been interested in observing our hermit crab friends, using magnets, as well as using the car and house puzzle which requires you to sort by size. Olive has been interested in sorting the bears by color, using the pipe cleaners, and identifying magnetic numbers and letters. Kai has been interested in using foam puzzles, and sort by size puzzles, as well as putting batteries in flashlights and observing the crabs. Sophie has been interested in stacking blocks, sorting bears by color, and using knobbed puzzles. Ancel has been interested in stacking blocks, putting batteries in flashlights, and using sort by size and foam puzzles. Noah is really interested in stacking blocks, using magnets, and putting batteries in flashlights. Genevieve has been very interested in pipe cleaners, scooping beans, quiet reading, and dressing the magnetic dolls. Every one gets super busy during work time, and it’s great to see every one learning how to be respectful of their friends (we practice not disturbing others as they “work”), and responsible for their materials (we practice using works carefully, and putting them in their home when we’re done using them).  It’s great to hear the Montessori lingo in use. I’ve heard lines like “I’m working; I need space” and “I clean up my work.”

Every one has also been taking full advantage of our dramatic play and art areas. Friends can independently find paper and markers to use, which they do often. The monkey, knight, and butterfly costumes are in constant rotation. There have been many houses built, many car races, and many babies fed and patted to sleep.  We’ve also been doing lots of awesome outdoor exploration, working our large motor skills by pushing cars, wagons, and wheel barrows around, and bouncing on balls.

Monday and Tuesday afternoon, we did yoga with Miss Amelia, where we had a chance to practice deep breaths, create our own yoga moves, and practice active relaxation. On Wednesday, we explored boxes and building Ikea furniture (it’s fun to turn necessary activities into lessons!). We also explored toilet paper, discussing what it’s typically used for, and practiced how we can tear it apart. We were able to count the squares of toilet paper, and observe and discuss what a square is. On Thursday we designed our own underwear using paint, and on Friday we made cookie dough using a recipe for vegan cookies. It was a fun-filled week full of love and learning.