I don't know about you, but 2011 simply FLEW by! Each month at school we put up a new linear calender and remarked..."I can't believe it's (fill in the month) already!"
And now, I simply can't believe it's the last day of 2011!
So, with a VERY quick look back, here are the two things I am most happy about adding to our preschool experience this past year.
NUMBER 2...Bob the hamster! I must say, we adopted a very smart and social little hamster. He is patient and willing to allow multiple little hands to hold him and pet him. And, I swear, he follows people around as he's rolling around in his ball!
Number 1....We expanded our outdoor area...ahhhh...more room to move and explore! I'm not sure I have to say much about this. More space and items to explore leads to more language, social interaction, dramatic play opportunities, cooperation....you name it!
Even though these two changes came at the very end of the year, it's easy to see how many of us were doing many things to lay the groundwork for each of these things throughout the year!
We continually work on being gentle, kind and caring with each other and the children have begun to internalize this. This set the stage for interactions with a small pet like Bob.
We met several times with our preschool director and collaborated on the outdoor area. We brainstormed ways we could utilize the area we had...and dreamed up ways we could use a larger area! We made it a mission to open up every area each day, no matter how inconvenient it was to open multiple locks on storage areas! We were then ready to utilize a larger area and the children were ready to expand on their current ideas!
Hopefully, you too have some things that you are happy to have added, changed or expanded on at your school as well! It's amazing how small things can add up to large changes very quickly! So, here's to even more small, but significant changes in 2012! Happy New Year!
And now, I simply can't believe it's the last day of 2011!
So, with a VERY quick look back, here are the two things I am most happy about adding to our preschool experience this past year.
NUMBER 2...Bob the hamster! I must say, we adopted a very smart and social little hamster. He is patient and willing to allow multiple little hands to hold him and pet him. And, I swear, he follows people around as he's rolling around in his ball!
Number 1....We expanded our outdoor area...ahhhh...more room to move and explore! I'm not sure I have to say much about this. More space and items to explore leads to more language, social interaction, dramatic play opportunities, cooperation....you name it!
Even though these two changes came at the very end of the year, it's easy to see how many of us were doing many things to lay the groundwork for each of these things throughout the year!
We continually work on being gentle, kind and caring with each other and the children have begun to internalize this. This set the stage for interactions with a small pet like Bob.
We met several times with our preschool director and collaborated on the outdoor area. We brainstormed ways we could utilize the area we had...and dreamed up ways we could use a larger area! We made it a mission to open up every area each day, no matter how inconvenient it was to open multiple locks on storage areas! We were then ready to utilize a larger area and the children were ready to expand on their current ideas!
Hopefully, you too have some things that you are happy to have added, changed or expanded on at your school as well! It's amazing how small things can add up to large changes very quickly! So, here's to even more small, but significant changes in 2012! Happy New Year!
Happy 2012, Pam! I can't wait to see what this year holds for us.
ReplyDeleteGreat changes Pam & here's to more adventures in 2012
ReplyDeletePam, Wishing you continued delight and success in your work.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these two successful changes you've made - they are awesome!
Cheers!
Brenda
One of the great thing about a blog is you can really see the progression of things! I love seeing everything you guys are up to! I need all the inspiration I can get sometimes! :)
ReplyDelete