We had a great second day of school!  

After signing in the children worked together during free choice time.  Free choice time is a great opportunity to engage in emergent learning.  (Learning that "emerges" from something that the children are doing.)  For example, we had a discussion about volume in the sensory table today.  Because emergent learning stems from something the children are already interested in, it engages more parts of their brains.  Therefore, this learning is very impactful. 

We are learning important life skills including cooperation, collaboration, and problem solving during free choice time.  We learn phrases to help us resolve our conflicts with each other including "Can I have a turn when your done?" and "How many minutes until my turn?"

During morning meeting we read the book Dinosaur Goes to School.   We discussed the title of the book, and we learned that the title of a book gives us a clue to what the book is about.  (This is an important concept of print.  Concepts of print are valuable pre-reading skills.) 

Wow!  Look how we have mastered the line already! 

Today we had a picnic snack outside.  This is how we will eat snack unless there is rain, snow, etc. 

We had a lot of fun running and playing together outside! Large motor development is essential to cognitive awareness and development.

During small group time we practiced the routines of small group time.  One group stayed together and created in the blocks.  (Everyone went to each group although I only took a picture of the first rotation.)

The second group worked with Mrs. Zweittler.  They played a game "Friend, friend, who do you see?"  to help the children learn each other's names.  It is important for us to create a safe community here at school, and this game can help do that.

The last group worked with me to find their name and add it to our alphabet.  Were you wondering why our alphabet was blank?  Well wonder no more!  :)  The alphabet was left blank so that the children could fill it up with words that are meaningful to them.  We started with names because that is the most meaningful word to children.  The friends noticed that we have some letters blank.  We began brainstorming words we could add to our alphabet to fill the blank spaces.  

After small group time, we reviewed our alphabet together.

We then danced to some silly songs.  Many parts of the song say to "freeze!"  The children have to freeze and stay frozen;  this promotes self regulation.

We then calmed down together with some stretching.

(Look at our beautiful view from our classroom window!  We sure are blessed here at Our Shepherd!)

During Jesus time we played a whisper game where the children had to whisper a phrase I told them ("Jesus loves you") to each other- kind of like the telephone game.   It was, of course, all jumbled up by the end.   We learned that we don't need to whisper or be quiet about Jesus' love because people might not hear us correctly!  We learned that we can share Jesus love with anyone!  (We did discuss not shouting it in the hallway though.  :) )

After our half day friends said goodbye, we took turns going to the bathroom and washing our hands for lunch.  While we waited we read books on the purple carpet.  Although the children are not reading conventionally, they are learning important pre-reading skills including concepts of print and the love of learning!

Some of the friends wanted to review the alphabet too!  It is engaging for them because they are a part of it and they helped create it.

After lunch and rest, we went outside for second outside time.

During second free choice time the friends explored the scale.  They are learning important math and science skills such as weight and the ability to describe it.  (Heavier, lighter, etc.)

We are learning to take responsibility for any messes that we make.  Some friends accidentally spilled some sand, and then they worked to clean it up.

During second small group time we look for classroom items to add to our alphabet. Below are some of the items we found! 

We played the Friend, Friend Who Do You See game with Mrs. Lipsey too!

We also read books.  The friends loved the big books!  :)