Today we were the only class at the playground, which gives us precious time and space to be solely with each other. The children morphed into smaller or larger groups as they moved from one game to another.
A few children found a piece of chalk under the steps which guided their play.
Many of the four-year-olds are testing their strength against each other, using their bodies to (safely) push boundaries. They are learning to watch their friends' faces to see if everyone is enjoying this game.
Another place where the children are showing strength is by working together to spin the carousel as fast as possible. Falling feels different now they're wearing shorts or skirts.
After snack, we have time for independent reading. Most children seek out a friend to sit with and share a book. They practice asking, "Would you like to read a book with me?" Today I heard two boys use sophisticated social skills of sharing, taking turns and negotiation, "We can read your book first. Then we'll read my book and I can sit in the rocking chair."
At message writing, we notice children making more effort to include a drawing that the receiver will appreciate. We are using namesticks to write our friend's name on the message we send.
Which friends does your child mention? Whom do they appear with in photos on the blog or in the journal? A good conversation prompt is, "Who was your partner today?" Now that the weather is improving, a picnic and park playdate after school is a wonderful idea.
