Our First Circle Day
We had a wonderful first day of "school" on Friday, September 15. All the children arrived with eager faces and immediately began spending quality time together. It was great to see everyone so comfortable with each other in a new group and new environment. I think the small size of our group helps (only five students our first day).
Here's a brief overview of the day:
For about the first half hour, the kids checked out the place a bit and then all went outside to play on the back yard swingset. A glorious, sunny, breezy & cool Fall day set the perfect tone for "back to school."
I then sang our new song to call the children in for circle time. I composed a special song just for this occasion. It worked like magic as all the children dropped what they were doing, followed me inside, and joined hands in a circle without me "telling" them to do any of this. We played a fun introduction chant game (also created for the occasion) in which the kids first learned the chant, and then the kids interviewed a partner to find out two things the other likes/likes to do. The kids did a great job of inserting new information into the chant-- demonstrating great promise for musical improvisation already!
I told a story, "Apple Dumplings," and invited the kids' participation by using props related to the story line which allowed them to play out sections of the dialog & plot. At the end of the story, three of the kids decided to re-tell and act out the whole story on their own! Wonderful, spontaneous dramatization! We ended circle time with a special snack of warm apple dumplings.
I gathered the kids together again to give them an overview of our "rhythm of the day" and explained the purpose of their "exploratory" times, during which they'll choose an activity from a center or work on a project individually or collaboratively. The three girls chose to work on pattern block puzzles together. They were very diligent about solving the geometric puzzles even when the task proved to be challenging. The two boys decided to draw together and get an early start on decorating their "treasure trove" boxes. The girls joined in on this activity, and soon they were all busy creatively personalizing their boxes with unique designs. (I had planned for this activity to take place at the end of the day, but my goal is to allow plenty of space for the kids to direct their own learning activities, and I was thrilled to see this happening so quickly.)
The kids enjoyed lunch together on the patio and then some more time playing together outside. They tested my guideline of not creating games centered on "boys vs. girls" by establishing separate forts and visiting each others' frequently. I have a great story that I'll read to them next week to address the boy vs. girl issue again.
We decided to stay outside for "quiet time." I spread a tapestry on the grass and we sat and explored a book/box set called "Treasure Trove of an Ancient Egyptian Child." The children took turns holding & guessing about each object, and then I read to them a description of each object which revealed much about the fictional Egyptian girl's culture, interests, and lifestyle. I explained to the kids that their project for the week is to collect items in their "treasure trove" boxes that will tell us something about themselves & their life, and to bring these back next week to share during circle time.
For the last bit of our day together, some kids returned to work on their treasure troves, while a few went upstairs to play together in the loft. One child read to herself in the windowseat while another did a puppet show and another set up "house" behind the puppet show and created a story for the others to play, gracefully incorporating the reader and the puppeteer into her own story.
All in all, we had a very happy, productive, and harmonious day together. I had several activities planned that we never got to. I had thought I might need to keep the group extra busy on our first day together to set a tone of productive & creative collaboration. However, the kids did this so well already that I felt comfortable letting them lead the way more than I would have thought possible on a first day together. We are blessed with a vibrant, intelligent, enthusiastic, and perceptive group. I know this will be a fabulous learning adventure!
Here's a brief overview of the day:
For about the first half hour, the kids checked out the place a bit and then all went outside to play on the back yard swingset. A glorious, sunny, breezy & cool Fall day set the perfect tone for "back to school."
I then sang our new song to call the children in for circle time. I composed a special song just for this occasion. It worked like magic as all the children dropped what they were doing, followed me inside, and joined hands in a circle without me "telling" them to do any of this. We played a fun introduction chant game (also created for the occasion) in which the kids first learned the chant, and then the kids interviewed a partner to find out two things the other likes/likes to do. The kids did a great job of inserting new information into the chant-- demonstrating great promise for musical improvisation already!
I told a story, "Apple Dumplings," and invited the kids' participation by using props related to the story line which allowed them to play out sections of the dialog & plot. At the end of the story, three of the kids decided to re-tell and act out the whole story on their own! Wonderful, spontaneous dramatization! We ended circle time with a special snack of warm apple dumplings.
I gathered the kids together again to give them an overview of our "rhythm of the day" and explained the purpose of their "exploratory" times, during which they'll choose an activity from a center or work on a project individually or collaboratively. The three girls chose to work on pattern block puzzles together. They were very diligent about solving the geometric puzzles even when the task proved to be challenging. The two boys decided to draw together and get an early start on decorating their "treasure trove" boxes. The girls joined in on this activity, and soon they were all busy creatively personalizing their boxes with unique designs. (I had planned for this activity to take place at the end of the day, but my goal is to allow plenty of space for the kids to direct their own learning activities, and I was thrilled to see this happening so quickly.)
The kids enjoyed lunch together on the patio and then some more time playing together outside. They tested my guideline of not creating games centered on "boys vs. girls" by establishing separate forts and visiting each others' frequently. I have a great story that I'll read to them next week to address the boy vs. girl issue again.
We decided to stay outside for "quiet time." I spread a tapestry on the grass and we sat and explored a book/box set called "Treasure Trove of an Ancient Egyptian Child." The children took turns holding & guessing about each object, and then I read to them a description of each object which revealed much about the fictional Egyptian girl's culture, interests, and lifestyle. I explained to the kids that their project for the week is to collect items in their "treasure trove" boxes that will tell us something about themselves & their life, and to bring these back next week to share during circle time.
For the last bit of our day together, some kids returned to work on their treasure troves, while a few went upstairs to play together in the loft. One child read to herself in the windowseat while another did a puppet show and another set up "house" behind the puppet show and created a story for the others to play, gracefully incorporating the reader and the puppeteer into her own story.
All in all, we had a very happy, productive, and harmonious day together. I had several activities planned that we never got to. I had thought I might need to keep the group extra busy on our first day together to set a tone of productive & creative collaboration. However, the kids did this so well already that I felt comfortable letting them lead the way more than I would have thought possible on a first day together. We are blessed with a vibrant, intelligent, enthusiastic, and perceptive group. I know this will be a fabulous learning adventure!
posted by Enicia Fisher at 8:29 PM
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