Authentic Childhood at GHA

Colors Everywhere!!!

2012-01-20T10:22:00.000-08:00

Recently, we have started talking about our colors and working with the kids on color recognition. One place it is easy to bring it up is in play. This morning the kids were playing with colorful connecting beads and so I decided to intervene!! We talked about the colors and then sorted the pieces out."Look, I am doing yellow!" "Look at all the red ones!" "I made a long blue one!"They showed

Beyond Balls and Snakes.

2012-01-20T06:04:00.000-08:00

Morah Yael and I have noticed that the children love working with Play-Doh. We've also noticed that they usually gravitate towards constructing two items: balls and snakes. Occasionally, we've brought out various tools (strainers, mashers, mallets, etc.) to encourage more intricate creations. Still, the children formed more and more balls and snakes. We remembered a workshop that

Engineers Must Plan

2012-01-18T11:10:00.000-08:00

Our space inquiries are expanding. We have seen pictures of the solar system, reread Frank Asch's book "Mooncake", in which Little Bear builds a rocket to go to the moon, and seen videos in computer class about the NASA astronauts and rocket launches. We learned about the foods astronauts eat in space and will have an "astronaut snack" in class. When we bring a big carton into class we will

Beyond the Moon

2012-01-10T08:48:00.000-08:00

As you probably know, we decided to emphasize Rosh Chodesh, the new Jewish month, which is lunar, this year, and that led us to embark on a study of the moon. One of the class parents graciously ordered posters for us- one of the moon and another of the solar system.I thought the solar system poster would be above our level and I put it in its box on the top shelf of a closet. Yesterday I was

How do you get to be a...? Part Three

2012-01-05T10:24:00.000-08:00

Gan Alef and Bet were visited by Brent Wolkin, a GHA parent. He and his father manufacture the mattresses used for cribs, changing tables, and resting mats, just to name a few items. Their company, Colgate, is the oldest crib mattress manufacturer in the United States.To show and explain to the students about his job, Mr. Wolkin brought in a few samples of mattresses and the materials inside

Fun with Scissors

2012-01-03T09:33:00.000-08:00

מִסְפָּרַיִם While working on a new skill using scissors, we need to concentrate. מִסְפָּרַיִם, scissors, begins with the letter, מ.Every few minutes, we stop to see the results, admire our artwork, and then continue with the cutting.Menashe explained the process: first, you fold. Now, you cut. Menashe wrote his name, in Hebrew as the last step. "I'll just write 'Menashe'--it's easier than

Everyone Needs a Vacation

2012-01-03T08:39:00.000-08:00

All of us enjoyed our time off. When it was time to go back to school, teachers were concerned about how they would get back into a working routine after two weeks of vacation and some parents were concerned about their children adapting again to school. I don't know if anyone asked the children in our class what they thought, or if they would have, could the children have answered.Anyway, what

Pack Warmth!!

2012-01-02T08:43:00.000-08:00

Found in the teachers lounge today

2012-01-02T06:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Chanuka!!

2011-12-15T11:26:00.001-08:00

We have had so much fun learning and getting ready for Chanuka. We have been so busy with arts and crafts, baking, and playing Chanuka games!But most importantly, everyone got a chance to play with different Chanukiahs and candles. Ask them for help setting up your Chanukiah at home!!! Happy Chanuka to all of you!!

Sufganiot--and we're giving away our recipe!!

2011-12-13T11:56:00.000-08:00

Oh, the joys of preparing and eating Sufganiot. Perhaps you are a serious latke fan. I used to be. Then, once upon a time after eating Chanukah latkes for four or five days straight, I decided to make Sufganiot. Truthfully, I was afraid--I had been warned that yeast-based recipes can be unpredictable. This recipe uses self-rising flour, which contains baking powder, so it's relatively

Crazy Imperfect Mom Alert!!!!!

2011-12-08T05:22:00.000-08:00

A conversation this morning between me and some friends:Me: So I finally had my kids make a chart of what they need to do in the morning. You know, get dressed, brush teeth... It worked so well for Josiah! But Juniper...Yael: Yeah, Juniper walked in barefoot today in 34 degree weather!Me: Yeah, it didn't go so well with her. But it was perfect with Josiah (read: I can be a perfect parent!)!

Cool Gadgets!!!

2011-12-07T10:56:00.000-08:00

We looked at 2 different gadgets in the passed few weeks. The first was a tornado machine that Judah's mom let us borrow. It showed what would happen if a tornado were to come. The kids were just excited to see the little objects get thrown around inside and to see the water turn around itself.Siena enjoyed looking at it the most!!The second gadget we looked at was a nightlight spinning

"IT'S BECAUSE OF THEM WE GET TO DO THIS"

2011-12-06T15:55:00.002-08:00

Chanukah is almost upon us and we have been busy learning many things. Rituals and customs, songs and brachot are naturally all part of the lesson plans. A teacher feels satisfied when her students understand the concepts, remember the story, and can sing a few songs. How more gratifying when four and five year olds, while playing in free exploration discover new ways to create a chanukiyah

Play and Language: The Roots of Literacy

2011-12-06T07:30:00.000-08:00

The above title is the name of a workshop that Morah Sharona and I attended last Friday. One of the main things I learned there is that we are doing so much that is appropriate here at GHA.An important factor for assuring future reading comprehension is understanding different types of memory. One type of memory is episodic memory. It is "memory for subjective experiences throughout time." You

How do you get to be a...? Continued

2011-12-02T08:27:00.001-08:00

Gan A and B have been visited by three parent experts since the last post about this project.Hugh Mainzer, a veterinarian and U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Chief Veterinary Officer, explained to both classes how he had to go to a special school to learn to be an animal doctor. He also told some funny and interesting stories about learning to become a vet.The week following his

Our New Writing Project

2011-12-02T08:12:00.001-08:00

What all can writing be used for?We posed this question to students at the Writing Center to start our new writing project. Each group came up with (or will come up with) a list of everything they could think of that involved writing. Here is a sample of some of the responses the students came up with so far:StoriesBirthday cardsMitzvah leavesThe Morning MessageHomeworkE-mailDirectionsGrocery

Yoga Class

2011-12-01T11:05:00.000-08:00

Boy, do we love Yoga!! We love stretching with Morah Jacqueline. She makes us do all these fun positions and makes us move our arms and legs in so many different ways. If we don't know how to do a position, she takes time and shows us what to do! She is the greatest!!!Most of all, we love being kitties and doggies. Then we get to put one leg out and pretend we are wagging out tails.It's

"Words can make you cry . . ."

2011-11-29T15:53:00.000-08:00

Sylvia Miller, our school counselor, came to chat with us about using appropriate language. As kindergartener Mollie told us, "There are words we shouldn't use at school." Mrs. Miller reviewed this concept with us, reminding us that negative "bathroom" language can leave us and our friends feeling sad and embarrassed. Menashe added, "Words can make you cry!" So what did we do at the end

The Reason Construction Projects Don't Finish on Time

2011-11-29T10:48:00.000-08:00

One day last week, some children in Ktantanim got a very ambitious idea. They were going to take large pieces of material that had been on the floor when we made a "desert" in the room and build a house by taping them to a wall. There was much cutting of tape and trying to attach the fabrics to the wall. The children who were doing this were focused and serious and worked with great intent.About

Twins--But Opposites

2011-11-22T13:00:00.001-08:00

Last week, for Parshat Chayei Sarah, we "attended" the wedding of Yitzchak and Rivka at our ECD Oneg. (Those three-year-olds really know how to put on a simcha!) This week, we introduced Parshat Toldot by learning about the twins Yaakov and Eisav. Yaakov learned Torah whereas Eisav "ran away from it." We sang a chant about opposites, reinforcing this concept. We included

A Thanksgiving Story

2011-11-22T12:10:00.000-08:00

Gan A and B had the opportunity to act out the original Thanksgiving story in class (one in the morning, the other in the afternoon). The room transformed into a stage, complete with England, the Atlantic Ocean, Plymouth Rock, and a table fit for a feast.The classes each split into two groups: one to be the audience, the other to act in the play. The audience watched the first performance, then

I am thankful for...

2011-11-18T11:42:00.000-08:00

At the Writing Center for the past two weeks, we have been discussing what it means to be thankful and brainstorming a list of things and people we are thankful for. Then each student chose two or three things (or even more) that they are thankful for and wrote them down. Our students were very thoughtful while doing this activity, and they are thankful for a wide variety of things, including

2011-11-17T11:14:00.000-08:00

It just so happens we are learning the letter TET in Ivrit and we were chugging along making Tabaot (rings) and practicing our Tet's when we got called into our safe spots for the Tornado. It also just so happens that Morah Yael owns a Tornado Lab machine and a thunder maker. Don't you all? Here is a picture of their curious faces. Enjoy!

"Baby Ryann"

2011-11-17T11:00:00.001-08:00

Everyday we have play time in the piazza. The kids love to explore and play with all the different materials. One day this week, we noticed Baby Ryann looking at herself in the Triangle Mirror. She was noticing her reflection. We helped her sit inside it to see her reaction. She must have been thinking " I look so good in all angles! All 100 of me!". She loved looking at her cute self but

Our Hebrew Names . . .

2011-11-15T08:01:00.000-08:00

We shared a story about Sarah and Avraham and we learned the background of Itzhak's name. (P.S. We had also learned about Avraham's and Sarah's names a week earlier.)Stick puppets dramatized the story just a bit . . .More drama: we acted out a scene where Avraham and Sarah welcome guests.We thought for a while about the Parsha and our Hebrew names . . .Finally, we were ready to "write" our

2011-11-09T13:37:00.000-08:00

I always say that when a child transfers learning to his or her free playtime, the child has internalized that which is important to him or her. I observed one of our children randomly practicing his letters at the art table. He indicated to a friend that the "K" did not look the way he wanted it to. He then went over to our "Handwriting without Tears" equipment and found the three lines

A Change of Season Brings a Change in Playground Adventures

2011-11-09T12:53:00.000-08:00

A perfect autumn day--and it's time for adventures on the playground. The children have found a hidey-hole in the bushes (actually two hidey-holes!) Yes, their clothes get a bit dusty, but it's great fun. One mystery child, just about ready to enter the hidey-hole. More adventures--finding fall leaves, acorns and pine cones everywhere.

Library!!

2011-11-08T17:03:00.001-08:00

We love library time. When we see Ms. Butcher coming, we run inside and sit on our pillows. We can't wait to see the puppets and fun pop-up books she has for us. She makes cool sounds and lets us practice with her. We always ask for more and more and she brings us more and more each time! Thanks Ms. Butcher.

בּרוּכים הבּאים

2011-11-08T11:14:00.000-08:00

Today, we practiced the Mitzvah of welcoming guests. We took turns reenacting the roles of Avraham and Sarah from Parshat Vayera. Here is "Sarah," next to "Avraham". They are busy setting up their tent, getting ready to welcome tired and thirsty guests in the desert. We're in luck. The Gan Gimmel boys come by and we offer then something to eat and drink. We remind them of the

My Bubble

2011-11-01T07:54:00.000-07:00

Three and four year olds have generally gotten the concept of keeping one's hands to oneself appropriately, but sometimes reminders are good.In that spirit, Sylvia Miller, our school's guidance counselor, came to our room this morning to speak to the children about the invisible bubble we each have around ourselves. She threw an egg to the teachers and thankfully we caught it. The children could

Weaving-A quick view of our new favorite quiet-time activity . . .

2011-10-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

First, we placed the loops over the prongs on the loom; then we began the weaving process.We have to be patient. We learned that it takes at least two sittings, maybe more, to complete a project.Under, over, under, over--weaving can be tedious. Once we started to see the results, however, we felt the incentive to persevere.Some of us attempted this tricky part--taking our project off the loom

How do you get to be a...?

2011-10-28T06:03:00.000-07:00

Gan A and B have begun a series of discussions about a few topics: careers, life paths, journeys, skills.It started when one student asked Ms. Rechtman and I during a Morning Meeting:"How do you know to do all of this?"At first we were not sure what he meant, but after a few probing questions, we learned he was asking his teachers, "How do you know what to teach? How did you learn what to decide

A Tower of Learning

2011-10-27T15:03:00.000-07:00

For one of our morning meetings this week, I challenged the students to work together to build the tallest tower they could in five minutes. The first efforts were stacked quickly without a plan and soon toppled. Then the students discovered that the tower needed a more solid base and found they could make it taller. Collaboration and cooperation at work! I shared some ideas with the boys for

It's All about Being Content

2011-10-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

During free exploration today I noticed just how "at home" and comfortable the children are in Ganon. Each child was engaged in something purposeful and it was a special moment indeed. Whether it was with imaginary play, beading, or using some of the manipulatives or games available, each child was doing what they had chosen and each one was content.

Who built the ark? Noah Noah!!

2011-10-27T10:44:00.001-07:00

This week we spoke about Noah and the Ark. We talked about the big boat that Noah built because it was going to rain. Also, we learned that Noah took animals onto his big boat with him. Ms. Donna also sang with us about Noah and his Ark in music class.We had so much fun putting our animals into our Ark.

Celebrating Sukkot

2011-10-17T13:48:00.000-07:00

The boys of Gan Gimmel celebrated Sukkot by snacking in the big school sukkah, building a sukkah with blocks, building and eating an edible sukkah, and enjoying a snack in the sukkah at the Oakhurst Community Garden in Decatur. My graham cracker sukkah kept falling down and the boys tried to make me feel better by telling me, "Mrs. Oertle, you are very good at handwriting but you are not so good

You Say Tomato, I Say Tomahto--We Can Work the Whole Thing Out

2011-10-17T13:17:00.000-07:00

The Gan classes visited Oakhurst Community Garden today to celebrate the YomTov and get a feel for harvesting activities. We stopped at the Oakhurst Sukkah and had our snack, saying the brachot for eating and living in the Sukkah. Many of us noticed the Yiddish newspapers lining the outer walls of the Sukkah. We pointed out various Hebrew letters and then went looking for the letters in our

People of the Book

2011-10-17T07:16:00.000-07:00

We have a reading corner set up in our room with an area rug, pillows, two rocking chairs and two baskets of books. When the children come into class in the morning, they have a variety of areas they can go to, such as blocks, dress up, puzzles, etc.The reading area has become more and more popular. Today was the first day that we planned to take out our Torah scrolls at tfila time and begin

Chag Sameach!!!

2011-10-11T11:15:00.000-07:00

We had a chance to go into our Sukkah on the ECD playground before the rain. We sat inside, prayed inside, and looked up at the sky through the schach. The kids told us about how they helped their Abbas or Daddys build their Sukkahs at home over the passed weekend. They are excited to bring home the beautiful decorations they made to hang in the Sukkah!! We wish all of you a happy and healthy

סַבְתָּא בִּשְׁלָה דַיְסָה

2011-10-05T07:45:00.000-07:00

סַבְתָּא בִּשְׁלָה דַיְסָהSafta Bishlah Dice-ahGrandmother Cooked Oatmeal After learning the children's rhyme about a grandmother than prepares oatmeal for everyone in the family except for one poor little child who runs to go find some (think This Little Piggy Went to Market), the children were brought into the kitchen to make their own Dice-ah. Here is our recipe and it turned out GREAT and

Practical Geometry and More

2011-10-04T10:42:00.000-07:00

Our children never cease to surprise us with their ability to learn so many important things on their own if we only provide them with time and materials and an atmosphere that is conducive to exploration.According to the definition in Wikipedia, geometry is a branch of mathematics concerned with questions of shape, size, relative position of figures, and the properties of space. This morning,

Rosh Hashanah and the Calendar

2011-09-27T13:33:00.000-07:00

The students in Gan A and B have made their second installments to their kindergarten calendars. Here is a sample of some of their conversation:"I see Sophia's birthday is on Rosh Hashanah!""If today is September 26, does that mean Rosh Hashanah is in two days?""Look, I found Rosh Hashanah on the calendar!""I am putting a Shofar on my calendar."We have the students place stars on the special

Shana Tova!!

2011-09-27T11:15:00.001-07:00

May your new year be filled with things glitter and gold!!!With love,Elisheva, Sharona, and Gila

"How good are your tents, Jacob"

2011-09-27T08:12:00.000-07:00

The children love their "fort" in the loft. This morning, the cloth kept falling off and too many children wanted to be in it at the same time. I remembered that there were three teepees in the kindergarten room. I brought them into our room, to the delight of the children.Looking at the room, with the tents set up in it and children inside, the thought that popped into my head was ," מַה טוֹבוּ

Why Jami LOVES the new Gan Math Calendar!

2011-09-26T15:33:00.001-07:00

A conversation. Exposing the intentionality behind the new calendar.

Busy Bees

2011-09-25T13:24:00.000-07:00

With Rosh Hashanah coming up, it seemed relevant to talk a little about bees and how honey is made. A few days later I introduced some new toys and games to the children, one of them being pattern blocks. Right away they were drawn to the pattern blocks, and lo and behold what did they create....... HONEYCOMB! It still amazes me as a teacher after all these years, how children integrate their

But Who Gets to Keep the Bee?

2011-09-23T11:43:00.000-07:00

This week, we focused our learning on the upcoming Yom Tov of Rosh Hashanah. Of course, we shared some books, sang some songs and discussed the concepts of the holiday. And, because we are hands-on ECD students, we also made several items appropriate to the New Year. Did we bake? Of course! We made apple cake and round raisin challah. Did we work with clay to produce honey pots? Yes

"Don't put me upside down!"

2011-09-19T10:12:00.000-07:00

Utilizing an idea from a Reggio-inspired preschool in Greenville, Jami and I created a new material for our students to work with in the block area."Are they in the castle or on the castle?""Don't put me upside down!""She's sleeping." - referring to a person's block the child decided to lay down"Look! The King and Queen!" - pointing to two elevated block "people"What once were benign wooden

A Rainbow of Colors

2011-09-16T12:41:00.000-07:00

For many years I have used a color chart purchased at a teacher store so my students could refer to it to learn color names. This year, with some inspiration from Mrs. Freedman and Miss Rechtman,I decided to have my class create their own color chart. As we learned how to use school tools, I let the kids decide what color to illustrate and the shape or object we would make the selected color. We

Corn, bottles and Light

2011-09-16T11:11:00.000-07:00

The invitation: glass jars filled with colored popcorn, several more empty glass containers in different shapes and sizes plus teaspoons. Placed on a light table adds amazing depth and just a whole lot more exciting!The objective: scoop corn from one container into another. A great activity using fine motor control and concentration.A few K'farnikim began making patterns using the different

Yoga, Fall Planting, and the Environment

2011-09-16T10:32:00.000-07:00

This year our gardening class has been expanded to include yoga and environmental studies. Jacqueline Rose has been an amazing asset to our department, leading the learning for the children in these latter two areas.A taste of what we have been up to this week:Making yoga poses with our bodies to symbolize aspects of nature.Direct sowing carrot seeds.Planting lettuce seedlings in peat pots. (

Relating to Israeli culture and Israelis

2011-09-16T10:28:00.001-07:00

Something so beautiful happened today.I walked into the Gan Hebrew Room and saw Morah Dana, an Israeli teacher subbing for Yael, reading a classic children's Hebrew book to the children. I could see how comfortable and proud she felt reading this familiar book. I could see that when she spoke in a naturally-paced Hebrew, asking comprehension questions, the children were at ease. Their Hebrew

Simon builds, Mollie labels

2011-09-15T06:53:00.001-07:00

Cream Cheese 101

2011-09-13T10:53:00.000-07:00

We try to teach children various skills and give them opportunities to develop skills. However, when we have been giving morning snack, we have just automatically been putting cheese or chumus or whatever on their crackers or bagels. This morning I realized that we are missing a great opportunity to work on coordination. Each child had a toasted whole wheat mini bagel and whoever wanted cream

It's All About Blowing the Shofar

2011-09-12T13:53:00.000-07:00

After examining a shofar in our classroom, we noticed that it was hollow. Many children did not know what that meant. After some discussion they were able to mention other hollow items, one of them being a straw. This inspired me to come up with the idea of doing "blow art" onto a shofar shape. The children said that we had to blow really hard with all our breath to get the right sounds from

"That's me!!"

2011-09-12T10:59:00.000-07:00

We love to play in the Piazza area outside our classroom. It is full of fun things to play with like the wooden cars, a light table, a big loft, and a triangular mirror. One day as we were playing, we noticed Shai had climbed in, was looking at his reflection, and making funny faces. I asked "Shai what do you see?" and he said "It's Shai Shai!"Then Jude and Eliya wanted to try. They each took

The Shofar

2011-09-08T17:50:00.000-07:00

Every morning, since the start of Elul, someone has blown the Shofar for us. Initially we all clasped our ears scared of the loud noise but remained curious none the less. In this picture you will notice Sari making her escape and Bess (in the far background) safe with Gila.Siena and Sari painting their Shofars. We touched a 'real' Shofar, tried blowing it and then made our own. We could choose

Apple Cake!

2011-09-08T11:48:00.000-07:00

Cooking in the Kitchen with the GanA lot of stirring going on . . .A lot of chopping, too.Lessons in breaking eggs . . .Finally, delicious cake!Apple Cake--Yum! Apples all around! We are learning about apples. Why apples? We know that we want a sweet, New Year--and our Rosh HaShanah menu, with the apples and honey, remind us of this. We baked apple cake this week. We took turns chopping

Enough is Enough

2011-09-07T14:26:00.000-07:00

The children had created an amazing "Zoo" filled with animals. They were very excited that we don't expect them to clean up any block construction at the end of the day, and that it can be saved and altered each day if desired. As teachers we were very happy that finally the blocks were being used! After a week we noticed that the children did not return to their zoo. It sat there abandoned

"We Are Family"*

2011-09-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

Do members of a family look out for each other? Have they developed a special bond because of the time they spend with one another? How can we compare this to a classroom of children who spend each day together? This is what happened in our classroom today:Landon came in in the morning and was spending some time by himself watching the children play but not feeling ready to join any group or go

Creating Class Rules

2011-09-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

The children and parents have written and drawn hopes and dreams for this school year. How can we help our hopes and dreams become reality? We need some rules. The boys brainstormed ideas and I wrote them on the board. One of my favorite ideas was "If you are tired, wait until it's time to go home." Later we combined the ideas and came up with five class rules. The kids agreed to follow the rules

Fun with Foam

2011-09-02T13:12:00.000-07:00

The boys practiced their letter and number formations using shaving cream. It was a multi-sensory and fun experience. One child commented, "I didn't even know what a five was last year and now I can write one!" The children also use sand trays, white boards, the Smart Board, chalkboards using chalk or water, magic slates and also pencil and paper to practice handwriting. I do not ask my

Respect: it's Number One

2011-09-02T11:36:00.000-07:00

A big part of growing up is learning to use materials respectfully. In the Gan, we are learning to use our supplies appropriately, in addition to using them creatively. This afternoon, Gan Aleph made necklaces and bracelets--just for fun during Quiet Time--using the beads responsibly. Did we share with our classmates? Yes, we did. Did we ask for help politely when needed? Of course!

Check the Schedule

2011-09-01T13:37:00.001-07:00

The posted schedule is a popular gathering place to check out what is happening each day. It gives my students some sense of control to be able to look at the pictures and know what to expect. In the early weeks of school when the days feel long, the students count how many more things we do before it is time to go home. They do not yet understand minutes and hours, but I often hear "two more

"When you want to start a letter you start at the top..."

2011-09-01T13:37:00.000-07:00

..."When you want to start a letter, you start at the top. When you want to start a letter, you better better better, remember, to start it at the top!" In the Gan General Studies room, we have been working on our letter formation. Most of our students began their year with a grasp on uppercase letter formation. As the year progresses, students will learn about lowercase letter formation and

Really?

2011-08-30T10:52:00.000-07:00

This morning we began to talk about the moon in class. Today and tomorrow are Rosh Chodesh Elul, the beginning of the month of Elul, which is the month leading up to Rosh Hashana. The Jewish calendar is a lunar one and the beginnings, middle and ends of months follow the phases of the moon. We thought a study of the moon could be something that would interest the children. There is so much

One thing Leads to Another

2011-08-29T17:13:00.000-07:00

A bowl of ordinary looking linking toys was put out onto the center table by accident. I had been contemplating putting these away in a closet somewhere as they looked old and outdated. Before I knew it, a group of children flocked around and began making necklaces and bracelets, as well as triangular and square shapes. I watched them curiously to see what would happen next. One child

Observational Drawing in Gan Aleph and Bet

2011-08-26T11:38:00.000-07:00