Circle Time in Pre-Kitah Alef

Welcome to circle time in Pre-Kitah Alef! Circle time is an important part of our daily routine. It is a time in the day when we gather together and unite as a group. Our goals for circle time in its initial stages are to familiarize the children with the transition from cleaning up the classroom to coming together in a circle on the rug. It is a special time for us to interact with our class family as a whole and to introduce new concepts.

 After the toys are put away, the morahs sing: 

(Tune of "London Bridge")

"Circle time is starting now, 

starting now, starting now, 

Circle time is starting now, 

on the rug"

 and motion the children to join them on the circular rug. 

Our routine begins with a simple but engaging greeting song. We sing "Hello, Everyone" and then greet each child by name.

(Tune of "Skip to My Lou")

"Hello, everyone, how are you?

Hello, everyone, how are you?

Hello, everyone, how are you?

How are you today?!"

We continue with well-loved songs such as "The Wheels on the Bus," "ABCs," "Alef Bet," and "Torah, Torah." For children this age it is important to keep to age-appropriate time frames for the most success. We keep our circle time short, about 5-7 minutes, and sing the same songs in the same order for consistency. Children feel safe and empowered with consistent routines. Soon we will expand our repertoire to include morning tefilah (prayer) with Modeh Ani, washing our hands, and Shema. 

Sometimes we introduce props at circle time like puppets,  instruments and soft Torahs.

For the upcoming holiday of Rosh Hashana, we brought out different types of shofars (ram's horns) to feel and blow.

We like to end our list of songs with a very special one. Conscious Discipline emphasizes the positive impact that an individual feels when part of a group. We unite by holding hands and singing our Kitah Alef class family song.

(Tune of "Mary Had a Little Lamb")

"We are a school family, family, family, 

We are a school family, here at IJP.

We are Kitah Alef, Alef, Alef,

We are Kitah Alef, say hi to a friend! (Hello! Hi!)

Morah's here to keep you safe, 

keep you safe, keep you safe,

Morah's here to keep you safe,

and your job is to help."

Just as we began our routine with a clear starting point, we end with clarity as well.

(Tune of "London Bridge")

"Circle time is over now, 

over now, over now,

Circle time is over now,

Let's wash our hands for lunch!" (or insert next activity)

Circle time is a wonderful way to promote routine, social connection, sensory experiences, music and rhythm, attention and focus, and Jewish values. We will continue to document our class's growth and change in this area as the year continues. 

Music Love in KB-5

We have had such a great first week together in Kitah Bet!

From the first few days alone, we have learned something special about Kitah Bet- Kitah Bet loves music!

The first thing many of the children in Kitah Bet did when we went outside for outdoor play is run over to the music wall, and start drumming, banging, and singing.

The children explored the different sound that was made from drumming each different object that was on the wall, or the other music area.

Menny and Levi started off using the sticks that were connected to the wall to make their music, but they soon after made a discovery. They realized that other items can also be used to create music from the objects on the wall, so they went and collected sticks from the yard and used those to bang and make music! 

Additionally, the children get so excited when we sit down on our rug for morning circle, Tefillah circle, and goodbye circle. They already know their designated spots on the rug, and excitedly sit down and sing along to all the songs. Some songs we've been singing are "Where is Thumbkin"- just in Hebrew! The "Friends 

Song", and of course Modeh Ani, Little Torah, and Shema. 

We can't wait to explore more with music, and see which other methods we can explore it with. 

(We also can't wait until Music with Morah Adina starts again on Fridays as well, which is always a treat!)

Shabbat Shalom!

Morah Estee and Morah Leah 

Noisemakers, Noisemakers I can hear you

In keeping with Kitah Pre-Aleph love for music, musical instruments. We have continued creating our own instruments to use on Purim.
We have a sensory bin filled with rice and beans and plastic eggs. The children scoop us some rice using a spoon and carefully pour it into the eggs. Then they hand it to the Morah to close it for them and then they shake shake shake. Their smile tells me they are proud of their own DIY egg shaker. We open it pour out the rice and start again.
Before purim we will seal them and the children will bring them home.
We also painted cardboard and we will use it to make our own clappers.

Shabbat Shalom

Morah Leah

The Pre KA band

It has been hard not to notice the love of music that the children in Pre- Kitah Aleph have.

Most days when we go outside to play, the children run straight over to the second level area where there is a 'drum wall' and different musical instruments to play, and excitedly play in that area.

Music with Morah Adina on Fridays is a big highlight of our week, as we know. We love to dance and sing all different songs with her, play the special instrument she brings in each week, and play with all the fun shakers, bells, sticks and scarves.

Circle time each afternoon is also a highlight of our day, and the children love to help clean up and excitedly sit themselves down for circle time. They are starting to know the songs more and more, and some of them even know which motions to do when.

Because of all the above mentioned, and their love for music, we decided to have the kids make their own instruments from materials found around school, and to make our own Pre Kitah Aleph 'band'!

First, we made drums!

The children each had a chance to paint a clear container that would be used as the drums. Popsicle sticks were used as our drumsticks.

 Then, we made our own maracas! 

Each child diligently placed stickers on two clear plastic cups.

 They then filled the cups with beans. They enjoyed moving the beans from one cup the the next, back and forth. We later taped the two cups together to make the maracas.

 Then we made our own guitars! We took shoe box covers and the children got to paint the inside of them. When they were dry, we placed rubber bands across it to create a homemade guitar!.

Finally, we got to play our instruments! We brought them all out during circle time, and the children happily banged, strummed, and shook along to the songs! It was so fun to see our art work come to life with music. 

Leora even decided to take her drum to her naptime mat with her ;)

We hope you hire us to play at your next event. They definitely are very talented musicians ;)

Have a Shabbat Shalom!