Every Wednesday, at second circle, our class participates in a weekly music circle. The children gather to sing songs and practice playing a variety of percussion instruments. Using shakers, triangles, and rhythm sticks, the class makes quite a ruckus as they practice playing to the beat! Recently, small groups have been “performing” in front of their class, playing along as the teacher gently strums her guitar. Favorite songs include “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and “The

As children practice counting, they begin to recognize that one object represents the quantity of one. Rote counting is very different, where the child counts as high as she or he can, but does not necessarily associate a numeral with an amount. For children to count objects accurately, they must slow down and count each object once. This requires organization and focus. Counting with a one to one correspondence is an imperative skill that takes time to master. The Spindle

Over the past four months our seedlings have been hard at work developing their concentration and hand-eye coordination. We have noticed an interest in tools, whether it was working with the tool box, object-picture tool matching works, or reading books about tools. Now we are practicing using various tool works like the drill and screw board, which are found on the practical life shelf. Initially, the children are given a lesson one on one and are then free to choose the wor

Every morning, the preschool children begin their day with a bit of mindfulness, a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment. As a group, we join together at circle, sitting crisscross applesauce and hands in our laps. We begin by taking two deep breaths. Sometimes, on chilly days, we pretend we’re holding hot cups of cocoa and we need to use our deep breaths to cool them off. Next, we practice silence. The children were taught at the beginning o