Love Is In The Air!

 

Last week on February 14th, many Toddlers shared Valentines. We talked a bit about how some people celebrate this day to show each other love. The Toddlers were especially inspired by the heart shaped Valentines that Luba brought, so we pulled out some supplies and made more! Since then, we have noticed that the Toddlers have become super snugly and in love with each other!

 

Le Roi asked for me to write his name. I asked, "Can you do it?"

He quickly got to work making careful marks on the paper.

"I see an L, E, and O!" I told him.

"Yeah!" Le Roi exclaimed.

 

 

 

Jack and Scarlet shared a tight hug in the Art Studio. Soon Le Roi and Malia joined them!

These 4 kids have become so close since we began meeting together every Wednesday in the Art Studio to work with yarn.

 

 

Le Roi and Gideon snuggled close on the carpet. They did some careful negotiating over the pillows, and both agreed not to have their pillows touching, just close together.

 

The picture above is a snugly Gather Time! We didn't plan for it to be this way, but the Toddlers all began bringing pillows to the carpet to lay on. Melody followed their lead, and lead some sleepy-time, slow songs. We even turned the fast paced song, Old Lady Leary (which usually ends with everyone screaming "FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!") into a slow and gently lullaby.

 

Malia and Luba fell asleep for nap snuggled together on the carpet.

 

One afternoon, Aiden and Malia asked to make a "pillow pile" by the climber. We sometimes make pillow piles by the climber to jump onto, but on this day, Malia and Aiden just wanted to lay down and relax.

 

 

Henry gracefully rolled down the climber while clutching a pillow to join Aiden and Malia!

 

Sam and Aiden played "Peek-A-Boo! Surprise!" under the blankets.

 

 

Malia, Luba and Henry designed this pillow-pile with blankets and pillows.

 

 

 

We have thoroughly enjoyed this week filled with love and snuggles! During these quiet times, we hear such kind words exchanged between friends.

"I love you." Quinn.

"We are ALL together!" Malia.

"Do you need a blanket?" Scarlet.

"When I wake mommy up she tells me, "Hi sweetie!" Aiden.

"Surprise!" Sam.

"Lay down with me." Le Roi.

"Gentle touch." Gideon.

"Hello!" Henry.

 

With LOTS of LOVE,

Jill, Melody & Michelle

 

 

 

 

 

Get Back Jo!

When Jana first began sharing music in our classroom, Gideon fell in love with the banjo-uke. He anticipated music day with exciting thoughts of Jana sharing her banjo-uke with the class. Gideon and his dad got their very own to play and practice at home. Gideon has continued to share his love for music in the classroom, encouraging his friends and teachers to join in!

 Gideon uses dinosaurs, pillows, blocks, and anything else that strikes his fancy, to play music in the classroom. On this specific occasion, Gideon brought over a long wooden blog and began to sing, “Get Back” by the Beatles. Gideon then went to the block shelf and brought back a “banjo” for each of his friends. We all played our banjo’s and sang “Get Back,” “Baa Baa Black sheep,” and “Frere Jacques.”

 

“This is my banjo.” –Gideon

“This is the rock show.” –Scarlet

“I want to play too.” –LeRoi

“Like Jana! This is my big banjo!” -Gideon

 

Music has become a central component to our classroom.

 

 

 

Here are some of the lyrics to our favorite classroom song, so you can sing along at home!

"A sailor went to sea sea sea, to see what she could see see see, but all that she could see see see, was the bottom of the deep blue sea sea sea."

 

 

 

"Buffalo kids wont you come out tonight, come out tonight, come out tonight. Buffalo kids wont you come out tonight, and dance by the light of the moon. Buffalo kids got a hole in their stocking, hole in their stocking, hole in their stocking. Buffalo kids got a hole in their stocking, but they'll dance by the light of the moon." *We often change the pronouns in this song from kids to gals, guys, friends, boys, girls, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"We're going to the market, we're going to the fair. We're gonna wear some ribbon, and flowers in our hair. Shake it baby, shake it. Shake it if you can. Shake it like a milk-shake, and do the best you can. We rumba to the bottom, rumba to the top. And spin and spin and spin and spin, until you make it...stop!"

 

 

"Late last night, when we were all in bed. Old Lady Leary left her lantern in the shed, and when the cow kicked it over, we raised our arms and said, "It's gonna be a hot time, in the old town, tonight. Fire! Fire! Fire!"

These are just a few!! We would love if you shared some of your special family songs with us!

Love,

Michelle and the Trillium Toddlers

Henry's Grandad came to visit, and he brought his guitar!

Hello!  We had such a treat last Friday!  Henry's Grandad, who is a folk musician came to school and brought his guitar to play for us.  We were all very excited and we talked about it for a few days before his actual visit.  At the lunch tables, we talked about how he would bring his guitar and sing for us.  We wondered if he knew the same songs as we do.  Or if he and Jana knew the same songs... we were really excited by the time Friday rolled around!  Here are some pictures of his visit.  Henry was SO proud! 

 

 

Henry and Grandad showed us how they play songs together.  Henry strums and Grandad plays the chords.  He let as many kids play the strings as wanted to!

 

Le Roi took a few turns strumming.

 

Scarlet, too!

 

 

 

With the performance at an end, he had many willing helpers to put the guitar back in it's case.  Henry and Le Roi were allowed to zip it closed.  Bel lent a helping hand, too.

 

 

Then it was time to go.  Henry's mom and Grandad gave Henry big hugs and kisses, and then said goodbye.

 

 

 

At gather time, Henry sat right in Grandad's spot, happily sharing with Luba. 

We had such a great time!  We love it when families come in and share beautiful moments like these.  I know toddlers really respond to music.  What is your families favorite tunes to listen to or sing together?  Some families have brought in CDs that are popular at their house, and they are popular in the classroom, too!  Is your family musical?  You have an open invitation to come and play with us!

P.s.  Leslie, can you tell us the names of the cool songs your dad played?  We'd like to try and sing them some more!  Thanks for coming!

OK! 

Melody

 

 

 

Welcome Back!

Greetings Toddler Families!

It has been a few weeks since our last blog due to technical difficulties. We sincerely apologize, and we are happy to share that the problem is solved! Here are a few pictures to give you an idea about what we have been up to during the month of January.

Pancake Friday has become part of our weekly routine!

The toddlers participate in every step of the pancake making process!

Twirling in aprons is special part of pancake making.

We made a few batches of home made play-dough, and we use it almost everyday.

Let us know if you would like the recipe!

We are discovering new ways to use the light table.

Magna-tile building in the dark is popular.

Also, using the sensory table on top of the light table is fun!

We are exploring scooping, dumping, filling up, and transporting with puff balls.

Organizing the cars happens frequently. The children (especially Gideon and Jack) are also giving them names! We have a garbage truck, banana car and Vancouver car so far!

Dinosaurs! The toddlers have been very interested in learning the names of the dinosaurs.

Jack, Luba, Scarlet, Le Roi and Malia have been visiting the Art Studio with Jill to work with yarn.

Last week it snowed at school for about 15 minutes! We watched the beautiful flakes drip down from the covered porch, then went out on a neighborhood walk.

Gideon and Aiden were hoping to find snowmen and Christmas.

The children have been playing with the people and enjoy finding characters that look like themselves their moms and dads, and our music teacher Jana.

Scarlet, Malia, Avery and Aiden made a collage in the art studio with Michelle.

Look for it in our classroom!

Thanks again for your love and support!

Love,

Jill, Michelle and Melody

Pancakes for snack!

A few weeks ago you might remember, Le Roi's Mom and Noni came to make us pancakes!  Since then, the kids have been stirring up and serving imaginary pancakes to us and their friends.  Many kids were coming in and telling us that they had pancakes for breakfast, and in general there was a lot of pancake chatter!  On Thursday at gather time, they came up again.  Aiden told us that he had pancakes with chocolate chips in them, and that his Daddy makes good pancakes!  We asked the group if we should try making them at school for morning snack.  Everyone agreed heartily that this was an excellent idea!  So, Friday morning we had a quick gather time.  I pulled out my old cook book, and we read the ingredients and how to mix them all together to make our special treat.  Here are pictures of the results! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was a really fun thing to do together!  Everyone pitched in to make our delicious snack and it tasted all the better for it!  I love it so much when a simple activity unites the entire group! Thanks to Kristin and her Mom coming to share thier pancakes with us, the conversations and play has blossomed into a wonderful regular 'date' for us as a class! 

What do you think is happening for the children with an activity like this?   What is your favorite thing to put on top of your pancakes? We would love for you to join us!

OK!

Melody