Exploration, Imagination and Creativity...
Dear Parents,
It was a pleasure meeting so many of you at last week’s Parent-Teacher Conferences. Connecting after this initial stretch of the school year is truly valuable for both me and you as parents. I found it enlightening to hear about what the children have been discussing (or not discussing!) at home regarding school. Their days are packed with activities, and we can be thankful that they are so engaged and happy that they sometimes forget to share everything!
During the PTCs, I was getting asked questions such as "When is your math day?", "When do you teach the children to read?", "All my child says is that they played" "Who is my child's best friend," I thought it would be useful to send links to some recent webinars as reminders of what our philosophy at Hillside is, what it looks like and, most importantly, why.
Thank you for all the boxes you have been sending in - please keep them coming; we can never have enough! The Creation Station is a dedicated area stocked with a diverse range of craft materials that children can freely explore and use. This engaging activity promotes creativity, imagination, and independent thinking, making it a fantastic enhancement to our classroom. It nurtures not only creativity but also critical thinking and collaboration.
By encouraging children to reflect on and appreciate their own art, we help them gain a deeper understanding of their creative process and cultivate a lasting love for artistic expression. During circle time, I will facilitate discussions about what they’ve created, the materials they used, and their methods, fostering reflection and deeper engagement. All the skills we have been practising and building on in the first couple of months and brought us to the point where the children can access and use all these materials independently. I have made a display board in the classroom of the creations they have made as a tool for reflection and inspiration to others.
Introducing children to scissors is a crucial step in developing their fine motor skills, but safety must come first. We've been engaging in role-play and discussions about safe scissor use for themselves and others. Next week, we'll set up a specially designed practice area where the children can refine their skills.
To realise the numerous benefits of having a creation station please see the image I created below.
If your child brings something home from our creation station, please appreciate what they have made..even if it doesn't look like a rocket, a racing car, a robot, or an aeroplane (please don't say so)....from their perspective, they made it, and they love it!
You could ask questions such as...
"What made you want to create this?"
"Can you tell me about the colours/materials you chose to make it?"
"Did your friends make anything different/interesting?"
"Will you go back to the creation station tomorrow? What might you make?"
Always keep in mind that there are no right or wrong ways to create. Celebrate different styles and interpretations, enhancing appreciation for diversity and creative thinking. Create a gallery space at home to display their work. This not only validates their efforts but also allows them to take pride in their creations. They may want to add to it or change it and this could also be encouraged.
To support their ideas and creativity we have been sharing these books in class.
We have been continuing to delve into the fascinating world of seeds, planting, and growing. Our recent success with chia seeds has demonstrated just how simple it is to experiment at home. In the classroom, we are nurturing a variety of plants, including red pepper, strawberry, mung bean, and tomato seeds. The avocado seeds are not changing at all yet......this journey of discovery is both exciting, educational and a game of patience!
We're also asking important questions: What is thriving, and what isn't? Why might some seeds be slower to grow? Do we need to wait a bit longer? Is a larger container necessary? How much water is too much? Are our plants receiving adequate sunlight, or are they getting too much? Each question leads us further along our path of exploration!
In the background of these activities, we have been talking about habitats and animals, and this has been building up in language, conversation and questions, so we will further build on this next week. We are also doing shape exploration and construction, measuring and introducing some simple mathematical language.
A little note on friendships......
At this age, some children have a clear sense of who their friends are and can easily name them. They might look for their friends when they arrive in the Frog Class or when getting on the school bus. However, it's important to remember that not all children have specific friends they can identify yet. Some are eager to make connections, while others may prefer to play independently, and that’s perfectly okay for now.
Children develop social skills at different paces, and these skills don’t always come naturally. While some thrive in larger groups and gain energy from being around others, others may find this overwhelming and need time to observe before joining in. As they interact, they learn important skills like sharing, taking turns, cooperating, listening, managing disagreements, and understanding different perspectives.
I’ve been observing a variety of social interactions, and it's clear that it takes time for children to navigate these new relationships. This is why it’s best not to focus on who their "best friend" is at this stage, as it can limit their social experience and create unnecessary pressure to choose just one friend. Encouraging a broader perspective will help them build connections in a more relaxed way. Not using the term "best friend" is also more inclusive of others.
Here are the class albums:
Thank you for your cooperation on the dress-up day yesterday. The children had a fun time.
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