product looks like.  When talking with them about their art work it’s best to ask not “what is it?” but “how did you make it?” and to recognize that there is much more to their art work than meets the eye. 

At the second easel the children began with “dot makers”, bingo-type markers in various colors.  We then changed to egg-shaped chalk and large pieces of dark construction paper.  The shape of this chalk promotes the development of the “pincer” grip used for writing.  As Autumn arrived, we offered “leaf rubbings”.  A real leaf mounted on poster board was placed on the easel and the children clipped paper over the leaf.  They used flat multi-color layered crayons to rub over the leaf and were amazed to see the leaf take shape on their paper.  This week the children will work with oil pastels.

Once the children have arrived at school and hung up their jackets and school bags, they join together as a large group for song time.  While we learn a lot of new songs during this time, we also take this opportunity to engage in creative movement activities.  Singing and creative movement promote the development of listening skills, social skills, following directions, gross and fine motor development, perception, thinking skills, and it’s also lots of fun!  Some of the songs, finger-plays and dances we did in September and early October include:  The ABC Song, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, The Wheels on the Bus, Old MacDonald Had a Farm, The Bakery Shop, Five Little Fishes, Way Up High in the Apple Tree, Tony Chestnut, Wake Up You Sleepyheads, When Cows Get Up in the Morning, Razzama Tazzama, The Little White Duck, Hallelujah, Shake Your Sillies Out, Farmer Brown, Autumn Leaves Are Falling Down, Ten Red Apples, This is the Way We Rake the Leaves, Scarecrow, If You’re Happy, The Apple Pie Song, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, The Sports Dance, and Jesus’ Love is Bubbling Over.  Words to some of these songs are included at the end of the newsletter.  If you would like words for any of the other songs, we would be happy to provide them.

This is one of our favorite sections of the newsletter.  While we hear all the children say adorable things as we converse with them and listen in on their conversations with each other, it is simply not possible to include all of them in the newsletter.  We’ll try to include as many quotes from as many children as possible over the school year.  Here are a few from September and early October.

 At playdough—

Child:  I’m cutting onions.
Miss Brenda:  When I cut onions it makes my eyes cry.
Child:  Daddy cuts onions and he doesn’t cry.  But he’s bigger than you.

The “tree” in the snack room is decorated with “leaves”; each leaf displays a photo of one of the children—

Child:  Is that a family tree?

Child:  Can you see-talk?
Miss Cathy:  What do you mean?
Child:  You know.  Talk with your hands? 

Child 1:  I can’t hear what (Child 2) is saying.
Miss Cathy:  I think that’s because she talks with a soft voice.
Child 2:  I have to because my brothers make a lot of noise. 

Child:  My dad goes really really fast but he didn’t get pulled over. 

Child:  Is it okay to play Bob the Builder?
Miss Cathy:  Sure!
Tommy:  Want to play it with me?  

Waiting for a turn on a bike—

Miss Nancy:  Do you have a bike at home?
Child:  Yes.  Oh—but I forgot to bring it!