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Martin Luther King Jr. ~ Happy Birthday!

On Monday we had a very small group for the holiday.  I spent the morning circle time talking to them about Martin Luther King and his dream/wish for everybody to get along and be friendly.  I explained to them that when he was alive there were a lot of mean things happening in our world. People were being mean to other people, they wouldn't let some people eat in their restaurants or sit in certain seats on the bus.  We read two books.  One book is a silly book about how everybody is different and thats OKAY! The other book that we read is a little heavier. Its about a town that is divided by a fence. Both groups of children have been told by their parents not to play on the other side of the fence.  Two little girls (on the right side of picture below) decide that nobody said they couldn't sit ON the fence. They spend the whole summer up there becoming friends. The kids I discussed both books and how we would feel if it was us.

Its Okay  To Be Different

The interesting part of this whole lesson, which I come across time and time again, is the lack of attention to skin color.  I don't address it, unless the children address it first. They never do.  They don't notice that MLK is brown or that the two kids in the story are different because their skin is different colors. In fact during those rare times that we have been fortunate enough to have racial diversity in our classroom, they haven't noticed it then either.  I choose to leave this piece of the lesson out, because frankly it doesn't even occur to them.  Someday it will and someday they can learn all the sad details of MLK and the era that he represents, but for now we can just celebrate our differences.

Now let me tell you another interesting little fact about the book "The Other Side" with the fence. I was very fortunate to meet the author Jacqueline Woodson and hear her speak about her different books.  As an African American woman she wrote this story, NOT with the intention of it taking place anywhere but the present.  However, the illustrator (E.B. Lewis) chose to illustrate the book with the style of the 1950's/60's. Ms. Woodson expressed strongly how this is not an issue of the past and could easily  have been illustrated in the present.  She was a very powerful speaker and inspiring woman and I was so happy to share this book with the children!

 "Someday somebody's going to come along and knock this old fence down," Annie said. 
 And I nodded. "Yeah," I said. "Someday."

The Building Area

My love for open ended materials goes beyond words can express.  I am always in awe of the designs and constructions that the kids create with these loose parts. If you think you might have anything to contribute please let me know. If you have smooth board scraps or pvc/elbows or large boxes lying around we always like those!

Very Puzzling

Puzzles are an important part of preschool development. This group of kids has been puzzle-crazy over the last few weeks. I feel like the last few groups of kids I have had, have not been as interested in puzzles.  The amazing part is seeing the huge range of abilities, which often seem to have no connection to their ages. It often seems that puzzle solving is more natural to some than others, while others need more guidance and practice.  We are lucky to have a wide selection of puzzles with different difficulty levels and styles.  They have mastered all our small puzzles and I think it is time to start moving them towards the harder and more complex floor puzzles.

All Shapes and Sizes

Teamwork

With some puzzles there are many ways to put it together

Hooray! I did it.

Exploration

This puzzle always seems to be a work in progress. :)

How do you get all those kids to go to sleep?

People are always amazed and asking the question, "How do you get all those kids to go to sleep?"

It takes a lot of routine, a lot of practice and a lot of training. And no matter what you do children are either nappers or not!  And we just hold our breath if they all fall asleep for fear of waking them!

 After lunch all the kids take turns using the bathroom as they clear.  Their next job is to collect a book and go to their mat.  After their blankets are all arranged on their mat, they are supposed to sit and read books until the lights go out!

Some of them are too tired to finish their books!

After the lights go out we listen to "story tapes" before rest.
 It has never occured to me until right now
 that it is odd that we still call them story "tapes."

Many of our friends fall asleep while concentrating on the story cd (it just doesn't have the same ring).  Next comes the naptime music, selection is based mainly on the teachers moods, but also the children's energy levels. Sometimes we get a request for particular songs by the non-sleepers who have most of the cds memorized (if your child is singing James Taylor's "Gone to Carolina" at home, we are probably responsible).

Everyone has their own sleeping arrangements. Some have their own blankets and animals. Some like to be tucked right in and others want no blankets at all.

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