Category: Uncategorized

Circle time as usual – fidgets, stories and songs. I am really liking this part of our school day – it’s simple, and more or less the same each time we do it.  I believe that that small bit of consistency is helpful to both me and the kids.  Then, Sam told the kids excitedly … Continue reading “Spacefaring Sam: To the Moon”

Space unit day 4:  What Sam Needs is a Spacesuit  We tried using playdough instead of fidgets today to keep their hands busy during story time.  This worked very well.  They stayed focused on the stories, and we ended up reading twice as many books as usual.  After circle time, I pulled out the vacuum … Continue reading “Spacefaring Sam: Overcoming the Vacuum”

Space Unit day 3:  Space is a Vacuum  AKA:  Whoops, I accidentally traumatized the children  I usually set out fidgets on the table for the kids to play with while we sing songs and read them stories.  Today though I figured I’d change it up.  Instead of fidgets, I pulled out trays and a box … Continue reading “Spacefaring Sam: The Unforgiving Vacuum of Space”

Space Unit day 2:  What Sam Needs is a Rocket Ship During circle time, the kids were engaged and excited about the books and songs.  Normally, Leslie plays guitar while we sing but this time Maya asked if we could get out the instrument box so everyone could play an instrument.  We pulled out the … Continue reading “Spacefaring Sam: Rocket ships”

Space Unit day 1:  Trapped by Gravity After our usual start to ‘circle time’  – singing songs and reading stories, I pulled out a sheep puppet and introduced him as Sam, a new member of our class.  The kids were enthralled.  They jumped up and ran over, giving Sam hugs and welcoming him.  We always … Continue reading “Spacefaring Sam: Trapped by Gravity”

My sister and I are ‘unschooling’ our kids, which means that under normal circumstances we don’t bother with things like lesson plans or curriculum.   Play is the best way for our kids to learn, so we allow, promote and encourage free play, and a lot of it.  Ideally, this play would happen in a … Continue reading “Time for School”

The universe.  It is large.   As far as my conception of it goes, it is infinite.   It is infinite in size, in complexity, and in depth. Fractals. Repeating patterns in every direction, each line stretching to infinity.  And ideas. Those are infinite too.  There are an infinite number of ideas we can explore, and … Continue reading “More to do than can ever be done”

“A little dab’ll do ya!” Most of the preschool teachers I’ve worked and volunteered with used this catchphrase, or something similar, in their efforts to guide young children in their use of glue.  A little dot of glue is adequate to secure a square of construction paper, or a googly eye.  Using more is wasteful, … Continue reading “Exploring Excess”

All behavior is motivated by needs.  All of my studies in child behavior and discipline have been based on this premise.  When I need to address Cat’s behavior, I look past the behavior and try to find the need that is motivating her, and suggest an alternate, acceptable way that she might go about meeting … Continue reading “Needs and Covid-19”

I want you to imagine something.   Imagine that the Cheesecake Factory decided to have a very special promotion.  For one weekend only, diners are invited to enjoy unlimited cheesecake.  Any variety.   All for just 3.99.  Imagine the insanity that would ensue.  There wouldn’t be crowds, there would be mobs.  Let’s say the restaurant miraculously figured … Continue reading “Cheesecake and Screen Time”