This summer our class has grown in so many ways. In addition to the obvious physical growth, self help skills have increased, writing/drawing skills are strongly developing and everyone has been challenging themselves more by exploring new things. Our friends have been more open to trying new activities, engaging with a wider variety of friends and eating/cooking with different foods.
Snacks are continuing to be fun, new and delicious. One morning we made our own pizza dough from scratch. Once the dough was ready each child was given a ball of dough that they rolled out themselves. The personal cheese and pineapple pizzas were enjoyed by everyone. Believe it or not, many of our friends liked the butternut squash and apple soup we had one foggy afternoon. It was hilarious listening to two children discuss the flavors of the soup like future food critics. The yummy smells coming from our room has also been attracting curious looks and smiles from others walking by.
Kites have been all the rage in class. The creation of the kites has been just as much fun as flying them. Beginning from the hole punching, which can be quite tricky and often needing the use of two hands to threading the string through the hole and tying the knot requires a tremendous amount of skill. Once the kite has been completed children have been practicing writing their names and decorating their kites. We had a lot of fun flying the kites in the short grass in front of our school.
Reading and the love of books continues to flourish in our class. During a recent discussion about books, one friend mentioned some books come from the library. So, we decided to take a trip to the library annex right next door. We were given a tour of both “tents” by Lusia and Tommy’s moms who work at the library. Our tour started at the staff tent that houses all of the librarian’s offices. In the staff tent Mira and Bernadette invited us to their offices. The children enjoyed sitting at their desks and pretending to use their computers and headsets. In the staff tent we were shown the blueprints for the main library that is under construction on campus. Next we went to the public library where we had the opportunity to sit at the tables and read the children’s magazine, Cricket. For a short while it looked as if our class was having a serious study group. Before we left, Mira showed us how to check out a book using one of the Cricket magazines that had a recipe that we wanted to try in it.
Luke is in the black, front center of the picture, happily jumping, running and kite flying.
Luke is wearing his classic "school" face: one of slight skepticism.
