Hello Infant Families,
We are excited to start a new semester with you and have added some new faces to our classroom. We have five new practicum students this semester, Audrey, Jessica, and Katelyn (AM), and Janitza and Maritza (PM). As the semester progresses, they will be lead teachers in our classroom and we are excited to see what activities they plan for the children. In addition to our new practicum students, we have two new children that have joined our classroom, Mubarak and Kai. All of the children have been adjusting well to the new faces and engaging in play with one another.
Morning Practicum Students, left to right: Audrey, Jessica (Jess), and Katelyn (Katie)
Afternoon Practicum Students, left to right: Janitza and Maritza
We are also very fortunate to have our Graduate Assistant, Giana, working in our classroom. She finished her practicum this past fall in Toddler 1. Please help us in welcoming her to our team!
Large Motor in the Classroom
Tori brought a large bridge that converts into a boat into our classroom when we weren’t able to go outside due to cold weather. The children have been using their gross motor skills to climb and crawl on the bridge, while also learning how to move their bodies to safely get off the bridge.
In the past, children have sat on the rocking chair and a teacher will rock the chair back and forth and sing, ‘Row, Row, Row, Your Boat’ to the children. Now that we have a boat in the classroom, this has been been utilized more than the rocking chair. Some of the children have learned the motion and how to rock the boat back and forth. While in the boat, they are moving their body forwards and backwards making a slight rocking of the boat.
Outside Play
In the mornings we walk over to Gabel’s infant/toddler playground, while in the afternoon, we use the main CDFC infant/toddler playground. The children have been taken on sled rides, they’ve explored the snow and ice through their sense of touch and taste, and have been working on climbing up and down the climber to use the slide, with teacher guidance.
In the Classroom
Singing songs, doing finger plays, making animal sounds, and playing with bubbles have been a favorite throughout our first month back at school. We’ve been singing about farm animals, roaring like tigers and lions, watching bubbles float to the ground and then pop them with our fingers. The infants have also been doing some art with paint and a lot of sensory activities.
Reminders
- Please sign your child in and out on the clipboard every day. Our clipboard is hanging at the end of the cubbies by the observation booth door.
- When the temperature is above 10 degrees with wind chill, we do go outside with the children. If you haven’t already, please bring appropriate outdoor clothing for your child. This can include: hat, gloves, snowsuit (or coat and snow pants), and boots.
- An ASQ was placed in your child’s cubby this past week. Please fill this out and return it as soon as possible.
If you have any questions or anything that we can help you with, please feel free to ask. We’re excited to continue this semester and can’t wait to see how much your children grow and learn!
Sincerely,
Ecila, Krysten, Tori, and Giana
