Establishing a classroom culture
Hello 2s/3s families. We spent the first few weeks of summer getting the children and staff used to our classroom culture. Things such as: our room arrangement, our classroom materials, our classroom schedule, being consistent (yet flexible) with all our routines to where we strategically place the cots for nap time daily all plays a part in how effective our classroom runs daily. We can already observe our classroom culture “at work” as the children know lights off means its clean-up time, sunscreen means the playground time is near and we go straight to the sink after bathroom times. Having these consistent routines makes managing a classroom easier AND it helps the children feel safe and secure in the classroom environment. I mean, don’t we all feel at ease and more productive when we have that basic sense of security, and we know what it expected of us in our daily lives?
Process Art
All the children in our center engage in “process art” experiences. Process art is the opposite of the art we may be accustomed to. Process art considers the “experience” rather than the finished product. Process art may start with an idea or a “planned activity”, but it can end in something totally different. It may end in fingerpainting, and if it does that’s ok- it’s now an art AND sensory experience! What is the “purpose” of process art? Process art gives the children the opportunity to experience genuine creative expression. It exposes children to various materials- both traditional art supplies and other materials that may not have been used for art otherwise. Process art also builds fine motor and language skills. The conversations we have about children’s art are open-ended and unpredictable!
I have shared a link from NAEYC about ways you can support creativity at home.
https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/supporting-development-creativity
Family Partnerships
Thank you, families, for sending in family pictures and movement pictures. We have displayed all the “movement” pictures along with “action words” at the children’s eye level. The children have already spotted the pictures and we have had lots of conversations regarding all the ways we move our bodies! Having a piece of “home” displayed in the classroom is another piece of that “classroom culture” we mentioned earlier. Having the children’s family pictures displayed on the bulletin board and available for the children in our basket demonstrates that “home/school partnership” we strive to achieve in our center. The children now go to the picture basket not just to find their family, but they find their friends’ pictures and give it to them. The opportunities for social/emotional learning are endless in the 2s/3s classroom! Feel free to come into the classroom and peek at our movement display.
Reminders:
- Make sure to touch base with a teacher if you pick-up your child on the playground.
- Please return intake forms and ASQs
- In the 2s/3s classroom, the center no longer provides diapers or wipes for your child (if they still use them). If your child is still in diapers, please print extra diapers and wipes for your child. On average, your child will go through 4 diapers a day and we use a minimum of 3 wipes per diaper change. If your child runs out of these items, we must use the center provided diapers or wipes and you will be charged accordingly.
- Please return your child’s ‘All About Me’ form and either bring in or email a new family picture to Nadine or Krysten.
Until next month,
Nadine and the 2s/3s staff
