Red, Red, Red in Pre-KA

The upcoming holiday of Rosh Hashana affords numerous opportunities for explorations within its related themes. Because apples dipped in honey are a central idea for this chag, we made our first themed sensory bin red, red, red! Focusing on one color emphasizes the other properties of the materials and also shows us the many different shades of this one hue that exist in our daily lives. Inside our bin we put balls, construction paper, bean bags, sensory bottles and other items gathered from the classroom.

 As individual as each child is, so too their explorations. Some children chose to put items in and out of the red tray. Others used balls, rolling them, tapping them, and throwing them.

We incorporated the sense of smell by including containers of cinnamon sticks. The children could smell the cinnamon through holes in the top or shake them in the bottle for a satisfying sound and feeling. 

Later in the week we added another component - a hide-and-seek box! Toddlers love to place things in and out of containers and are growing cognitive bridges while doing so. They are strengthening their memory, learning properties of materials and solidifying object permanence.

Snack Tree Cafe

Tall bamboo stalks and sprightly leafy greens stand elegantly in tall clear bottles to adorn the snack tables in Kitah Bet. 

After taking turns washing their hands, children select a pale turquoise bowl and find their seats for snack time in what we call the “Snack Tree Café.” One at a time, children serve themselves for snack, scooping cereal and fruit with a serving spoon into their bowls. 

 

Learning the brachas for our food enables children to learn some Hebrew vocabulary and learn about where the food grows. Apples, they learn, grown on the tree—the eitz.

We thought together and created agreements to keep our Snack Tree Café a pleasant place for everyone. The first agreement was to keep our voices at a nice indoor sound, saving our yelling voices for outside play. Secondly, we agreed to stay in our seats until a morah tells us it is time to clean up. Having a shared goal of creating a pleasant and safe environment enables all the children and morahs to work together cooperatively, and empowers the children to work toward a common purpose.

The Snack Tree Café is an enjoyable place for children in this environment. Children smile and laugh with their classmates as they eat. Then they eagerly listen as a morah reads a story regarding the theme we’re currently experiencing in our class.

After eating, children dispose of any waste, then place their bowls in the bucket to wash. This becomes a fun outdoor activity next, as children work together with sponges and lots of soapy water to clean our class bowls for the day. We’re learning to take care of our classroom and the earth!

Snack Time in Kitah Alef

We've officially finished our first full week in Kitah Alef! So far, our new school year has been marked with excitement, a few growing pains, and an emphasis on learning new routines- many of them centering around responsibility, to ease the transition. It's important to us (Morah Chaya and Morah Lindsey) that the students feel engaged and invested in their new classroom, and one of our daily rituals is the perfect example of the many ways we've set out to encourage them in finding that ownership: snack time! 

Snack time is a Kitah Alef favorite! First, we wash our hands with soap, warm water, and a little scrub. 

Then, we ask each student to find their water bottle (already placed at their tables), and get seated. Then we feast; we're very lucky to have parents who bring fresh vegetables and fruits weekly (class favorites include blueberries, bananas, and tiny oranges), plus cheerios. While the students eat, each Morah has a ritual we like to do, which include songs and reading books. We sing "who is here today, who is here today, whos in school? Good morning to...", which is a song that names each child in the class, and also asks them to name their friends who aren't at school that day. "Whos not here today, whose not here today, whose at home, or on a trip?" A recent favorite book is Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? We make animal sounds together, and talk about the animals we've seen. 

Once students are finishing up, we sing another song that's especially helpful: "When you are finished with your snack, shake your plate in the garbage over there, come back and push in your chair". Then we ask the students to put their water bottles back in the class basket and stack their plates in the closet. Then it's time to play! 

After we shake our plates in the trash, we stack them in the closet, push in our chairs, place our water bottles in the class basket, and then it's time to play!

So far, Kitah Alef loves snack time, their friends and classmates, and it's shaping up to be a year of growth, play, and joy. 

Shabat Shalom to all!

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.