The Ah-ha! Moment
Back in graduate school one of my favorite professors was always celebrating the "Ah-ha! moment." Anyone who spends a little time around children has experienced this. It's that moment when you see their eyes open wider, a grin jumps to their faces, and they are proclaiming their new understanding. I like to help orchestrate these moments, setting up the materials and experiences that allow children to discover their world. I also really revel in the chance to watch other people do this with our class. Each time we have a guest reader or Nancy working her magic, I get to step back and see the children in a new light.
Our Theme: Space
We spent more time talking about the moon phases this week. Using our moon phases board, the children could poke their heads into the middle hole, pretend they were earth, and see how the sun's light illuminates part of the moon depending on where it is in its rotation. We drew the phases of the moon and worked to remember the difference between waxing and waning. Theresa gave me some much appreciated planning time this week when she took the class for an afternoon lesson on the distances between the planets and the sun. It was a great combination of science and math concepts.
Watching the Moment
My friend Linda came this week to share a few of her experiences as a blind person and to let us meet her guide dog Ada. The children were impressed with Linda's talking computer, talking thermometer, Braille measuring cup, color reader, and Cooking Light magazine (also in Braille). They asked questions, listened to the answers, and asked new questions. Linda had Ada find the stairs onto the deck and find the door to the house. Linda told us some of the many other things Ada can do from finding poles with crosswalk buttons to finding bus shelters. The children clearly wanted to learn more, but as we were well into our lunch time, Linda offered to come back another time to talk with us more. Lucky us!
Nancy also came this week and delivered on a promise to help the children with their storytelling. She told them the story of The Fox and The Mouse. Then she had the class identify the characters, the setting, and the main parts of the plot. We went outside and used puppets to make the story come further to life. Then the children took turns helping to tell the story. Ask your child to help tell the story of The Fox and The Mouse to you.
May you enjoy all the wonderful moments of learning with your child, and have a wonderful weekend!
