A simple bag.

 The act of putting thing away in their assigned spots, you know so others can find them later. I was in a workshop this weekend and the facilitator said that we would retain 10% of what we learned. The idea of having a place for the large loose parts not just the small ones outside stuck, that everything needs a place. I have been meaning to make a better bag for my drumsticks. This weekend I did and here is the result. 

Zipper so they will stay in.

A patch from old work
jeans to personalize.

Assembling of the light table.

I believe that the school is a place for the children to express themselves, to be themselves, and see themselves. I believe that they have a role in the care and management of the space and equipment. When opportunities to put together a piece of equipment with the children arise I embrace them. I unboxed the light table with the children, showed them the assembly instructions. Assigned each child with a screw got to work. There were eight children and eight screws to hold the shelf together. As screws go in easier when wax is applied to the treads I asked the children to rub a crayon on the thread. Four wooden pegs also assisted in holding the table securely together. We used a wooden block to tap them in. The blocks were conveniently nearby on a shelf. In my bookbag I always carry a few tools, I had my multi head screwdriver. We were set. Here is some of the play that happened after setting up the light table. 

a cat

similar shape built with different combinations 

realizing that colours change

big ideas and small ones

adding more elements

Drumming inside.

They use the drumsticks from my book bag. I have modified them again, adding fabric to the ends. The sound is harsh for my ears, wood on wood, so I dampen the sound. I have changed the materials so the children can still be as energetic as they need to be with their colliding of object to object. At first they are tapping on objects. Then they use the sticks to transport and shift objects as well as create sound. The objects become part of the percussion instrument they are creating and exploring. Then three of the boards become a sign to warn of danger, it is a construction site.

Working out how to hold the sticks.
One hand or two?

Trying a different block.

Working together to create a song.

The sign. Danger. Watch out!

A Parent asked me if I had been singing with the children because his son has been singing at home. I am beginning to realize how much informal singing we have been doing.  

Drumming outside.

A drum set evolves using scrap wood that is placed on a mat atop of a table.

It is a computer drum.

 

Chalk is used to transform the wood and the mat.

Another section is set up mimicking the "computer drum"

More children join and the set expands and evolves.

There is some singing. Mostly there is joy in making noise. A joyful noise.

What started out as tapping on objects with scrap wood put me on a path of exploration.

I am exploring how the children are exploring sound. 

I am thinking about many questions. Some of them are these.

• 

  The requested sticks.

  What are the reactions to the the sound that the children are generating?
• by the educators
• by the other children
• by themselves
• What are the elements that are catching the children's curiosity to want to further explore sound?
• Is the exploitation of sound about rhythm, music, disruption, connection?

I know they are driven to explore because I am bombarded with the question from this cohort of children, "Did you bring your drumsticks? I finally brought the drum sticks. I added elastics to the ends to alter the sound. I got to do a little bit of a test run, to see if I am on the right path. I feel I am good to go.  I am going to see what happens during the month of November. 

How connections with others work. A theory in action.

Mama and Dad. 

The ice cream arrived.

They headed over to have some.

Enjoying the ice cream.

Mama is having more ice cream, Dad is having a Coke.

I was intrigued every time this Toddler set down the people, always facing each other or facing the object that the figure was interacting with. They seemed to always be in conversation. This concept of how we orient our bodies when we, as humans, place ourselves in conversation with others. How we show up to listen. This is but one example that happened during the outdoor play time. The two figures were carried all over the yard and always set down in this position of connection. Big theory, very young minds.

 

Letting the child lead the conversation

I found this cartoon on the net. I think it sums up the joy in conversation. Sharing ideas. Pondering the what ifs. Not correcting the child for their theory, just seeing where it takes you both. Because it is not about flies and barf it is about being heard. It is about connection.

Life skill.

Today I was in a Toddler room for part of the day. One of the humans (about 2 years old) was borrowing a pair of daycare pants. As often is the case the pants ware a little big. Even with rolling the waist band over to snug them up they still were slipping down over the diaper. I was amazed how they never once fell all the way to their ankles. When every time the pants slipped to that point where they would have fallen right off this little human yanked them up not missing a beat in their play and never complaining. I was fascinated. I just watched in awe. This is a true life skill and this very little human has it down. This is the kind of thing that needs to be celebrated in the early years. How to cope gracefully with life's little difficulties. 

Why Hey Daycare!

 So I used to work at a centre for 6 years. I got to know extended families. Cousins, Uncles, Aunties, Kookums, Lolas, Grandmas, older siblings, really good friends, you know all those people who become family. I got to know all these people because this centre had family dinner once a week, every week. Well one time when I went to go and collect the kindergarten children form their school, across the street, and one of the cousins saw me, forgot my name, and yelled out, "Hey Daycare!" and giggled. I said, "I like that. But you can call me Quincey as well." He called me Hey Daycare quite often after, even when he could remember my name, it made us both smile. That is why Hey Daycare! is the name of my blog. To honor that relationship I have with families. Families are why I have this amazing job. 

Last day in the Infant Room.

 I had a 6 week practicum in an Infant room. Those little humans showed me just how capable they are. When they know they can trust you to be there for them, listen to them, and stand up for them they will share their knowledge with you. It did not take long for them to pick up my mannerisms. Walking with a stopping march, you know so they would follow me. When it would be time for someone to come with me they would look at their feet and start the march. It was a kind of signal to say we are in this together. Sometimes they wanted me to go somewhere and they would do the march, to show me that it was important for me to come. But the thing that made me smile the hardest was when we would be looking for something and I would say, "Hummmm," and point my finger to my chin. There is nothing so joyous than some year to year and halves pointing their fingers to their chins, humming, and stomping off to find the thing we were looking for. 

I am quite sure they will
remember me like this.
And I am OK with that. 

Mix Shredded Paper and Water and you get...

 

Some paper on the floor.

Mixing paper in water to create pulp.

Tossing handfuls of pulp into try.

Moved tray to up top to toss pulp in.

Mould to create blocks.

 

Blocks took days to dry.

Balancing blocks on educators head.

Children trying out balancing on their own heads.

...a lot of fun exploring the properties of paper when you add water and then let it dry out again. This is what science looks like in an Infant Room.

Just another Ordinary Moment

 

This was a quiet time activity.

There are eight bags of figures and blocks.

The children explore a bag on their own on their nap mat.

Change the bag when they feel they have explored enough.

After a while they have explored all the bags.

They begin to revisit and have new ideas.

So many ways to use the objects in each bag.

They amaze me every time with their creativity.

The evolution of their projects is awe inspiring.

 

Experimenting with the elements of design.

 

Working diligently on an idea, getting it just right.

 

Using materials in unique ways

 

 

Sometimes it is interesting and fun to wedge things in, lean things against, and then try something else.