Dear Families,
As signs of fall are now more than plentiful, many of our activities in the Owl Room this week have reflected the signs of the changing seasons. This week at the art table, the children engaged in observational drawings of pumpkins. When we engage in observational drawings in the classroom, we first sit at Morning Meeting and talk about the objects we are observing. In the case of the pumpkins, we noticed the color, texture (smooth with ridges and bumpy on the stem), and shape. The children were then encouraged to draw what they saw. We make the distinction for the children that while we sometimes draw what we imagine, there are other times when we practice drawing what is real and what we can see.
Observational drawings are frequently used in the Reggio Emilio approach to early childhood education. They are valued because they support children in learning to slow down and carefully observe the world around them. They also encourage children to learn to use writing and drawing to communicate their experiences. Observational drawings also encourage children to notice new details. In this case, the texture of the pumpkins was very interesting to the children. This detail might have gone unnoticed if we had not stopped to carefully observe and draw the pumpkins.
We then took our growing observational skills out to the playground, where the children used crayons and paper on clipboards to record what the playground looks like in the fall. They noticed leaves and acorns on the ground, and a few flowers still growing across the street. They discovered the blue sky above them, and the dark color of the bark on the trees. It will be interesting to compare our outdoor observational drawings for fall, winter, spring, and summer. We brought some of our fall discoveries indoors by collecting leaves and acorns. It is fun to cut the dried leaves (and additionally, a great new way to practice with scissors). Later this week and next, the children will work on sorting some of our fall discoveries.
A big highlight of the week for the children was using the listening center to listen to books read aloud while following along with printed copies. This is a fun way to support children’s engagement with books, and supports their listening comprehension as they learn to turn the pages so that the words and pictures correspond. We have also been using our Morning Meeting time this week to go on “Picture Walks.” When we go on a picture walk, we first look at the cover of a book that we have yet to read, and make predictions as to what it might be about. We then study each page of the book, and the children take turns making predictions about what is happening based on what they see. Picture Walks are frequently used in pre-kindergarten and early elementary classrooms as they support the children in developing reading comprehension skills. The children learn to use the pictures to understand the plot. By making predictions, they build critical thinking skills. Picture Walks can be fun to do at home too – please see Morah Larissa if you’d like some help trying this out with your child!
We have also been going on some “number hunts” this week, corresponding with the numbers that the children see on the classroom calendar. (For example, on
November 3, we went on a “number three” hunt.) The children go off into the classroom and are asked to come back with a collection of that quantity of toys. In particular, we are practicing pointing to each object as we count them in order to reinforce counting with one-to-one correspondence.
We so enjoyed meeting the donors visiting for the Trust Center Gala on Thursday. The children sang with smiles on their faces. It was, of course, very exciting to sing to Jerry Stiller right in our own classroom!
We are sad to say good-bye to Eytan. His last day will be Monday, November 8th. The children know that that is Eytan’s “Good-bye Day” – our day to say good-bye to him. They have been hard at work making pictures to put into an album for him (and have miraculously kept their work a surprise). We have talked about how much we will miss Eytan, but that we will find ways to keep in touch, such as by sending letters and pictures through the mail. We wish his family a bon voyage,
shalom v' kol tov שלום ו כל טוב and a safe journey home.
Morah Larissa had a lovely meeting with a kindergarten teacher in the Brookline Public Schools this week. Although it is still early in the year, we are already working hard to ensure that the children make a smooth transition and are prepared for the kindergarten curriculum. We will continue to communicate with you about this preparation throughout the year.
Shabbat Shalom, and best wishes for the weekend!
-Morah Larissa and Morah Kate
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