MTC Daily Journal 8-2-12

Happy Thursday Middle Toddler Families!

Lauren, Kyler, Nathan, Ben, Theo, MacKenzie and Rose all made it to school in time for a delicious breakfast of Cheerios and bananas this morning.  We all ate a big breakfast which gave us a great start to the day.  After cleaning our faces and hands, we grabbed our jackets to head outside to the playground.

It was a little chilly this morning but we were happy to be outside.  Nathan, Ben and MacKenzie all climbed onto the ship structure right away.  MacKenzie and Ben leaned out the windows to smile and wave at the friends running by while Nathan turned the steering wheel and looked through the telescope.  Kyler and Theo sat down under the tree.  Kyler grinned and said “Melissa, I’m just sitting here” and Theo said “I’m hanging out with Kyler”.  Lauren raced Claire down small slide.  Rose found a shovel and made big piles of bark chips all around her on the ground. 

After coming in for a quick milk break, we made our way back outside for curriculum time.  Today we talked about our sense of smell.  We made scent cups with different smells for the kids to sniff.  We combined all 4 of the toddler classes together so that we could experience many different smells.  We had a great variety; cinnamon, allspice, vanilla, vinegar, lemon, lime, onion, and several different perfumes!  We talked about how we smell with our noses and practiced sniffing.  Then we passed around the cups and bowls and everyone had a chance to smell them. 

After curriculum time we decided to head out on a buggy ride to explore the neighborhood.  We love to get out and see new and different things.  We smiled and waved at people as they worked in their yards.  We are quite charming as we make our way around the neighborhood!  We saw two dogs, a cat, a boat and Mr. Tim’s class. 

Soon it was time to head in for a little free play time and lunch.  We played with the wooden puzzles and the hats before heading into the lunchroom.  Pictures will be posted tonight of our fun with hats this week!  After a wonderful lunch of burritos and oranges, we made our way back to the classroom for rest time.

This afternoon we will be rediscovering our mystery sensory boxes from yesterday.  We will feel scratchy sand paper, soft cotton balls and light and soft feathers.  Then we head outside for even more sensory fun with the water table and the sandbox!

Have a wonderful afternoon and evening!

Melissa and Rebecca

Pre-Preschool's Thursday DailyJournal

Hello All!

Ms. Kelsey isn’t feeling well today, and is at home getting some rest.  We already have every kiddo asking where she is :)  Mr. Tim tells them that she isn’t feeling good, and has to stay home until she feels better.  A lot of love coming from the Pre-preschool classroom! :)  And we had fantastic help today!  Although our friend is only 13 years old, she is a wonderful girl, which the kids absolutely adore.  Ms. Alex wanted to join us for our walk, and story time earlier today.  The kiddos couldn’t have been happier :)

In our class, this is what went on (beginning to end as accurate and in order as possible:).   It helps if you view the pictures first :) :

    Jane and Grace high fiving in the morning, getting the day started right :)

    All five of our kiddos (Jane, Grace, Mason, Hailey and Evie) playing soccer with the big blue bouncy ball in the grass

    The entire school getting excited for all the teachers combined smelling containers

o   Cinnamon, all spice, vinegar, rosemary, vanilla,  lemon, lime, onion, and a few others

    The kiddos sitting on the blue blanket and the OSU blanket, waiting so patiently to take turns smelling the containers!

    Heading to the side yard for our first real walk with the yellow strap with handles

o   Jane wanted to see the tractor, but made sure we didn’t get to close

o   Evie was unofficially in charge of everyone’s safety, by making sure EVERYONE (including teachers) was holding a yellow strap handle

o   Grace found Ms. Alex (the mermaid) in the clay mosaics at the elementary school, and Mr. Craig (the young-looking guitarist)! :)

o   Mason found that his shirt resembled the large crane we saw at the school!  All the girls were very interested in Mr. Mason’s shirt.

o   Hailey did not want to leave the pool we visited and watched as it was being filled with fresh water.  But, the idea of lunch won us all over!

    Ms. Alex reading two big stories to us (The little mouse, the big hungry bear, and the red ripe strawberry & Brown Bear, Brown Bear)

    Eating some delicious tacos!!!

    Having a peaceful nap

    Mr. Tim coming to a close in his email

Have great day :)

Tim and Alex

Pre-Preschool Wednesday Daily Journal

Hello Parents!

 We had just one main curriculum goal today, which was to have fun in the soap and water sensory table bin!  But the unexpected curriculum and learning we had been just as fun! You’ll see what we mean if you keep reading!

This morning was full of help from our classroom!  After manipulating some playdoh, we had our breakfast, then made our way out to the playground for early morning gross motor activity.  But, a couple of our kiddos insisted that Jane’s brothers are to be helped out the door onto the playground!  So, Jane took one of her brothers, while Mr. Tim took the other, both by the hand.  She and Eli and continued to help her brothers battle through the tough times of being a toddler, and having to work so hard to reach their objective! :)  Next, Clara came through the door with her patchwork elephant Elmer!  It was a big hit in the class! :) Evie and Gabe came next, wanting to go potty after Gabe gobbled down the rest of his breakfast!  So, we went potty and got an unexpected visit from a very unexpected guess- a slug!!!  Mr. Eli, came up to his teachers, telling them he has something on his foot.  The teachers couldn’t make out what he stepped in, until they saw the big yellow slug on the ground!  It was great for a curriculum topic regarding slug defensive ooze, but a pain to clean up! :)  Teachers grabbed the slug, and showed the kiddos what the slug looked like before putting it back in the side yard (grassy side yard). 

Mason came into action, immediately trying to inform teachers of what other children were doing, even if they were walking! :)  Mason told Ms. Kelsey that Eli was under her legs, so Ms. Kelsey asked Mason what she should do.  Mason said “move you body”.  And as she moved her body, Eli followed under her legs, until Mason met Eli halfway, having a laughing fest right beneath Ms. Kelsey’s nose!  After awhile, it was time to head inside for curriculum!

Today was soap and water day!!!  Grace helped Mr. Tim fill up the water tubs (with dashes of real soap and bubble liquid) and put them in the bin!  Hailey then came over to help figure out what should go in the bin.  We all decided that fish, turtles and other animals don’t live in soap water, but ours are pretend and wouldn’t mind the soap today :)

We got ready for nap, by putting out beds and pulling out story time books (we are trying to implement (slowly) more story time sessions, as the children are becoming much more attune to the length and meaning of stories, keeping their interest that much longer:).  We had a fun and long story time before we headed for potty!  Mr. Tim and Ms. Kelsey were discussing how fun it is to think of how much younger they really were, and how fast they are all growing!

Have a great mid-week, we will see you soon,

Kelsey and Tim

P.S Sorry for the blurry photos.  We take a lot, and its hard to get a great picture when they are moving so much!  

P.S.S Be sure to check out our blog page (CHA Connection) to check out the schools classess, updates and other news too.  Its also a place to blog about something that may have happened on the weekend, or even a simple photo!  We love to see it!  

Pre-Preschool Daily (Short & Sweet) Journal

Hi Everyone,

It was a girls’ day out today!  All of our boys are either on vacation or not here on Tuesdays.  So it was girl time for our kiddos :)  And to add to the girl party was Ms. Jocelyn!!!  It has been quite awhile since we have seen Jocelyn in our class, aside from the very quick visit the other day :)  We had a great time outside, reminiscing with old friends on familiar toys before going on our buggy ride!

Since we had such a low number today (6), we decided to go on a fun and relaxed buggy ride!  It was no ordinary buggy ride however, as Ms. Kelsey and Mr. Tim packed fruits and vegetables (plastic) to go on our trip :)  While searching for squirrels and owls, teacher prepared the curriculum.  While in the buggy, Mr. Tim asks certain questions about certain fruits and vegetables (and a chicken leg), before pulling each one out to show!  After naming the fruits and vegetables, after Mr. Tim and Ms. Kelsey’s clever hints, each child was asked which two they would like to hold.  We discussed what fruits and vegetables were, and which ones we enjoy eating. 

We hope you enjoy the short Tuesday email, please view the pictures along with the email,

Kelsey and Tim

Daily Memories,

Jocelyn- Was a hug machine today as we rarely get to see her anymore. Ms. Kelsey and Mr. Tim loved getting to catch up with her and having her back. She told us that she was coming back tomorrow; we wish!

Evie- Missed her doggy stuffed animal that was left at home today and was feeling sad at nap time while laying down. Ms. Kelsey asked her if she would like to pick out a school stuffed animal, but she declined and said she would rather "think about doggy". Now she's sleeping peacefully, presumably dreaming about doggy :)

Jane- Like many mornings, Jane began her day by reading Owl Moon with Ms. Kelsey. Later on the buggy ride we went into the 'forest' and Jane held up her hand, then called out to owls just like in the book!

Grace- Was riding on the metal fire truck when she turned and bonked her head. She felt alright but we did an ice pack to be safe; while first holding the ice pack, Grace said, "I can't feel cold- too much hair." Then she talked about how it was cold on her hands, so reached up and wrapped Ms. Kelsey's hair around her fingers to keep it warm like her head! 

Hailey- Hailey was Ms. Kelsey's hand holder all day today- one time when Kelsey said she needed her hands for a moment, Hailey replied, "No, that's Hailey's hand" haha

Clara- At nap today Clara had her eyes wide open. She has been up late the last few naps, so Ms. Kelsey asked her if she was going to rest her body this time. Clara replied, "No way", then almost immediately feel asleep. Sometimes sleep comes no matter how much you would rather play! :)

ETC Daily Journal July 31, 2012

Tuesday July 31, 2012

Hello and happy Tuesday toddler families!  

What better way to start off your day then having a delicious breakfast of cereal and bananas with all your friends. Claire, Mason, Brooklyn and Carter were filled with smiles as they sat in the lunch room with their friends from all the other classes, waiting for the rest of their class to join. Soon, Kate, Niall and Marshall arrived ready for some fun as they all headed outside for some fresh air. We are sad to say that today is Kate’s last day here at CHA, as her family and she are moving to Raleigh HillsL. We are so sad to see her go but know she will stop by for visits here and there. Make sure to give a nice “goodbye” when you pick up your little ones.

With the cooler air blowing in their faces, all the little ones beamed with smiles as they enjoyed playing and working together outside. Niall, Claire and Brooklyn spent most of their time outside looking at the big trees in the far left corner of the play yard. Mason from the preschool class told them all about the “beetles” he found crawling up the tree, and the three of them had to investigate. The “beetles” ended up being little ants, and all three of them were wide eyed as they watched the MILLIONS of them crawled all over. The babbles, points and laughs, they let their teachers know how much fun they were having and how interested they were. Kate was our social butterfly today and just loved going around smiling and waving to everyone. When she saw Ms. Kelly from the older toddler class, Kate ran up and gave her a BIG hug around the legs. We are happy to see all the wonderful friendships Kate has made here with not only classmates, but teachers too.

 Marshall, like always, was our class explorer and walked ALL over the playground, investigating EVERY inch of it. When Marshall came across the fire truck push car, he noticed all the bark chips someone had put on the seat and gently brushed them all off before sitting down and letting his imagination go wild as he turned the wheel and babbled. Mason was very happy to be outside with his sister, Jane and was all smiles as he watched her and her friend Grace play on the tricycles. When it was time for Jane to head inside for a potty break, Mason walked over to the door, sat down and waited for her to come back. Once Jane returned, Mason beamed with a smile as he stood up and showed her he was ready to play. It is so adorable to see such great bonds between siblings! Carter was not in the mood to play with his siblings as he explored other toys on the other side of the play yard. He appeared to be feeling a little risky as he walked over to the big fish jungle gym and started climbing. Once up on just the lowest level, Carter must have decided it was a little scarier then he thought, and slowly lowered his body down. I am sure he will be able to climb up to the top in no time!

Before we knew it, it was time to head inside for curriculum, followed by diapers and milk. Today we looked at mystery boxes and the little ones got to explore the GREEN box today. Niall was very anxious to take the top off the box and made a very excited face as he did. Claire was next to Niall and grabbed the top Niall dropped onto the floor and decided that was what she wanted to observe. Kate’s attention went straight to the pictures on the side of the box and pointed to all the many green things. At the picture of the turtle, Kate pointed and said something that sounded like “frog.” Although the wrong animal, great job relating the green to a frog! Carter let out a loud “AHHH” as he grabbed the box from Karen’s hand and dumped everything onto the floor. He must have been one hungry boy, for Carter grabbed the plastic pear and green grapes off the floor and stuck them right into his mouth!

After talking about green, and all the fun green toys that were inside the box, we were ready for our daily art project. Today we focused on the sense of TASTING and we made a food collage. Mason and Marshall were very excited to use markers to color their pictures and could not help but color on their friends tooJ. The two boys laughed and giggled together as the circled the table, putting little marks on each of the papers. Brooklyn did a very good job with the gluing and even helped her teachers with rubbing the glue stick on the back of the food pictures. Her favorite part appeared to be flipping the pictures over and gluing them to the paper as she HIT her hand hard on the top, making sure they stuck!

We wrapped up the morning with a yummy lunch of Hamburgers, French fries, and apple slices. With droopy eyes, the little ones headed down for a nice, relaxing nap! We are looking forward to a great afternoon, spending time outside and playing with all our friends.

** Please bring any shoe or Kleenex boxes you may have lying around your house! We need them for a fun project we will be doing on FridayJ.

With Love,

Jaimie and Karen