Tortilla Snowflakes

Even though it was pouring outside today we had a bit of snow
indoors at the snack table. 
We made edible snowflakes from tortillas.

Start with a flour tortilla (you could try corn but I wanted it white)
and cut it. 
I thought it would be easier to use a cookie cutter than scissors to create
the snowflake design but it took a lot of pressure to cut the pieces out. 
Also as the tortilla sat out in the air between children cutting it, it would
dry out and became even more difficult to cut.

Next place on baking sheet and spray with a cooking spray.

Put in the oven for about 10 minutes till crunchy and slightly brown.

While it’s still warm sprinkle on snow (icing sugar).

We broke them into smaller pieces because we used 10 inch tortillas.

Very easy, very inexpensive, very yummy!

Stick Snowflakes

It was wonderful to see so many families back for the first day of
StrongStart. 
Two weeks is a long time of no programs to attend.


The art table was busy with children and grown ups designing
snowflakes
using popsicle sticks.

First step was to decide what shape your snowflake would be. 
Most went with a simple laying the sticks across each other in
an 'X' style.

But as the morning progressed I started to see other designs come to life
as the families noticed that there were little popsicle sticks too.
 



Second step was to decorate the snowflake.
 

Adding buttons was a last minute decision on my part. 
Watching the children search through them reminded me how much the simple
things that you find around the house are just as attractive as glittery
purchased items.

 

A Message from the Fairies

     
This morning as I was entering Fairy Lane I was surprised and thrilled to see
this sign. “Love” made with paint and glitter. 
It must be the fairies way of saying thank you.

Over the past two weeks I’ve been able to walk through Fairy Lane
almost everyday and I’ve been tickled each time to find a new little treasure
left by the doors.
 
Ornaments hanging above the doors.

Precious toys placed in front of the doors too.

And there’s been visitors calling.
                                 
Frogs, ducks, nut crackers and robots.

I've seen coins, real and not left as gifts.
  
Plus lawn furniture
 
and a mailbox and flower pots
 
shows that they are settling in for good.

Time to consider creating a different trail for other creatures of the woods, like gnomes, trolls, nymphs and more.  But should it be in the forest or a different one?

My Centre, My Schedule

I’ve received emails asking about my room and the flow of the schedule.
Today I went in to finish prepping for next week so I'll show you what the
families will find on Monday after returning from our two week holiday.

Welcome.
     
This is what you see when you first enter.
I have very high ceilings and even though there is a curtain rod that runs
around the whole room I can’t hang anything from it because the room
has a movement sensor alarm.

 
My StrongStart runs every morning beginning at 8:30.
Families sign in together.
Parents sign the attendance form and the children find their picture on the
cabinet and taking it to the white board (in the left hand picture)
answer the day's question.

Then they are free to explore and play at all the areas in the room.
      
The first table they see holds provocations about our main focus.
For the next couple of weeks it will be winter, snow, snowflakes.
They can match the shaped lights on the left side of the table or use the
magnifying glass to find two snowflakes that look alike on the light table.

     
The art corner offers easels, collage material and a focus craft.

Free discovery play time runs from 8:30 – 10:10.

Here are the rest of the areas (play areas may not be side by side in the room).
 
              Play tray table and blocks with cars corner.
 
                      Sensory table and the sand table.
 
                Explore, create and narrate your play and our climber.
  
            Sensory table that can be used for puzzles and the house area.
 
                  Dramatic play area which is a vet clinic at the moment.

At 10:10 we clean up and have story time.
The grown ups read with their child then I lead them in songs and stories together.
 
              
                  10:30 we head to the gym until 11.
 
Then back in the classroom it is open play till 11:40, when we clean up,
stack the chairs and finish by 12 with a second circle time.

You may be wondering what about snack??
    
                   It is available all morning.

We used to have a set time for snack but changed it for several reasons.

1.  With 30 or more children at a time it is difficult to find the space to sit everyone.
2. By removing a set snack time we removed two transitions in our morning, allowing more time for play.
3.  By allowing the children to choose when they are hungry we are letting them listen to their body’s needs.

Also because this is a drop in program families can arrive at any time in the morning.  Some may sleep in and have just finished eating when they arrive or the opposite they awoke early and it has been several hours since they had breakfast.  So it meets the needs of the family that attend.

Other early childhood educators have argued that by not having the group snack it takes away from the social time that happens during eating.  My answer to that is – there are rarely a time when a child is eating alone.  There is always an adult with them or a friend will join them.  Casual conversations, focusing on manners and passing food, etc is still happening.

I hope you enjoyed my tour.  See you soon.