A Busy Week at Sunnybrook

Thanks Lyn and Brigette for the small objects for our alphabet container.

Tammy’s experiment for stalagmites and stalactites is going well; check it out when you drop off your children. The children are amazed at the daily changes.

Lots of language work is going on in the class along with the sensorial and math areas.

We have lovely new labeled control maps for our geography area.

Gregory’s mom, Zeanny, came on Thursday morning and started giving Spanish lessons – Thanks Zeanny.

Brigette brought in a box of toothbrushes for the children with a CD telling the children about oral hygiene.

Books we have read this week – “Little Red Hen”, which we acted out. “Caps for Sale”, also acted out. “Eve and Smithy” by Michelle Edwards, “The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch” by Ronda and David Armitage and “The Granddaughter Who Was Eaten by a Big Fish” a Cree Candian story.

Songs this week are “Sarasponda”, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”, “Kookaburra”, “Zum Gali Gali” and “I Love The Moutains”.

Brigette is re-doing much of our language materials and organizing draws and closets. Thank you Brigette.

Thanks Tammy for all your great ideas.

It was a good week; very busy and productive. You have great children.

Thank you,

Gerry

Dancing to an Irish Jig

Our thanks to Lyn Schmucker for repairing the easel…Thank you Lyn.

It has been a very busy week working on lots of materials. We have been working a lot on language skills. Some of the children have been drawing and making books about their favorite stories.

Tammy has been conducting some great science experiments. By using baking soda, water and string we are watching for the growth of stalagmites and stalactites. We are recording the development of the experiment on a daily basis. Another experiment was freezing water and freezing water with sugar added. The experiment was in connection with sap in the maple tree.

Some of the books that we have been reading this week are “Toestomper and the Caterpillars” by Shaileen Collecott, “Sugarbush Spring” by Marsha Wilson Chall, “There’s an Alligator Under My Bed” by Mercer Mayer, “Coyote Walks on Two Legs” about Navajo myths and legends by Gerald Hausman and Floyd Cooper and “Daniel O’Rourke” by Gerald McDermott.

Songs we have sung are Looby Loo, She’ll be Comin Round the Mountain, Eye Winker, Little Arabella Miller and the daily request for The Allee – Allee – O …great favorite.

To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this week we have had fiddle music of jigs and reels with the children dancing to the music. We listened to James Calway, the Irish flautist playing the most amazing music. The children made a “Shamrock Person” and Brigette brought in a green treat to share with everyone. Thanks Brigette

.

Last, but not least, please continue to dress the children in snow pants, boots, etc. Mud season is upon us and it looks like it will continue for many, many weeks.

I am so enjoying working with your children. They are full of energy and enthusiasm for learning. What a joy it is to work with them.

Gerry Tobin

Another Busy Week

Did you see the great photos of the children sledding? Thank you Heather and Matt.

We have had a very busy week. Tammy helped celebrate Mardi Gras by having the children make feather masks and reading a book about the festival.

We have been really exploring many of the materials in school.

We have been making many letter books and alphabet books.

We have been singing many songs some of which are “Medicine Wheel Chant” accompanied by heavy duty percussion, “The Allee Allee O”, “Santa Maloney”, “Sally Go Round the Moon”, “Down by the Station”, “Eye Winker”, “On Top of Spaghetti”, etc. The drumming circle was great; oh how they love the African Drums.

Tammy read a book about the Iditarod and discussed the event which takes place in Alaska every March. We have read many books this week. “Ollie’s Ski Trip” by Elsa Beskow, was a favorite. Ask your children about “Mrs. Thaw”. Other favorites were “The Tomten” by Astrid Lindgren, “The Dot” by Peter H. Reynolds and we re-read “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?” by Carol McCloud…a great reminder about being kind to each other.

Two of our children left for Nova Scotia, Robert will be returning from Poland next week. Charlie is leaving for Florida. Tala is heading off to Hawaii. I can’t wait to see their journals of their trips.

My thanks to Tammy and Brigette for all their help.

Great Week

Gerry

P.S. We welcome two new children this week; Gregory and Mariyah.