Nadirchat

Our Sk classes have begun a study of the hundred most influential people of the last century. One of the teachers sent me this experience today. Picasso is the first person they are studying and although the art work is beautiful it was not the only thing that caught the teacher's attention. Note how the younger child watches her older peer, carefully studying her technique before she attempts her own Picasso rendition. This was a wonderful way to document how children learn from each other.

If weather permitted and we could move our classrooms outdoors, imagine the possibilities. This group of toddlers took a morning walk into our neighborhood "forest" and made and interesting discovery. "Sounds are Everywhere" In the bark of the tree trunk. On the ground as she taps her sticks. The sound is louder when friends join in. Up high as they shake the tree trunk and rustle the leaves. Could they in turn offer their own sounds to the forest?

Much of children's story telling finds its roots in fantasy. All we have to do its take those stories and bring them to life. These types of experiences can enrich a classroom for months. This was a child's sketch of a Casa Loma, the dragons and the knights.

Teaching is a leap of faith, especially when we work with the youngest of children, who rarely even remember us. So what is our gain because isn't it a truth that we all like to see results, both long term and short? Is it enough to for us to know that if we give the children the best of ourselves as teachers and people we will leave a small imprint? I think that elementary school teachers, and more so private school teachers, who sometimes have the children from kindergarten to grade twelve are so fortunate. Imagine the wonderful journey they share as they watch the children grow not only as students but also as citizens of the world. So I offer this. Never let a day go where you don't appreciate your students. Respect them. Cherish the memories you create together for even if you are not remembered by the mind, you will be remembered by the soul. Laugh often, give freely, find the child inside yourself. Be kind. Never come empty handed instead fill your arms with incredible ...

We know that children move through many stages of drawing from scribbling to representational drawings that demonstrate theories, thoughts, fears, dream, ideas, concepts. In fact children are extremely proficient drawers.  The question is, can we assist them to move through the various stages? Or do they have to stay in that stage until they are READY? What exactly does ready mean? Drawing Number 1 Child draws a representation of herself. Drawing Number 2 The teacher prompts her to take a closer look at herself in the mirror. Look in the mirror. What shape are your eyes. What about your nose and mouth, your hair, what shape are they? Are they close together? Let's think about your body. Are your arms  that thin are are they thicker? The child then considers the discussion and makes changes to her drawing (2). The next day the teacher wonders if the child will revert to her first form of drawing or will she continue to draw using the newe...

Scary, to cause fright or alarm, has many interpretations depending on the person who is scared. For children the source of "Scary" can be come from anywhere; a fire alarm, a imagined monster, a character in a movie or book, a neighborhood dog. The list is endless. So how do we help them to deal with "scary" Drawing and discussions are a good place to start. For Sophia, aged four, scary was the witch in Snow White. Of particular "scariness" were her long fingernails, the wart on her nose and her scary nose. Sophia chose the color green to accent the features that scared her the most. She also added a bubbling cauldron filled with poison apples. Here is her story A witch isn't real it's just in your mind. If you think about it in your mind it could be scary but it's not real. It's just imagination because there is no such thing as witches because they're just in movies and stories. They're scary because they could kill people and bec...

Meet Marlow (the youngest of my nieces), a capricious two and half year old that would astound the most seasoned educator. This preschooler has the vocabulary of a child 3 times her age, she recognizes letters and is able to give examples of words that begin with the letter sound. She sat through the Broadway production of the Wizard of Oz and was able to answer questions about the story line, knowing that in order for Dorothy to get home she had to bring the Wizard the witch's broom. She recalls details of family vacations and events. She converses in full sentences, using part of the question in her answer. She holds her pencil using a firm pincer grasp and draws a face; two eyes, a nose, mouth and a tear drop for good measure. So what makes Marlow so exceptional? Was she born with amazing aptitude or is it environment? Marlow has two older siblings 12 and 10 years old and she attends daycare.  She has one cousin who is ...