The Garden School Tattler

So little time, so many things to do...

It's been a very busy week even for ordinary time...

MJ has been promoted to first grade. That got us thinking about what we are doing in our classrooms to encourage children to read. As I push the handwriting and the word recognition and the games, I have to remember to push the critical thinking. We spent a whole morning trying to build some engineering nightmares. Critical thinking opens the mind - a lot like art - and critical thinking allows children to find new ways to explore ordinary things.

Yesterday we played Ibus. It's a new game that uses motion, art, music, thought, fine motor skills and hearing to achieve a kind of perfection. What the children achieved is a breakthrough in letter and number formation. We can't wait to see if it worked. Each child gathered on the carpet and Mrs. St. Louis taught them the artistic way of making plain letters. Then the children went to tables and practiced while music was played. When the music suddenly stopped, they had five seconds to return to the carpet to learn about another letter and Miss Kelly and I checked for proper letter formation and dropped candy on the papers. We were stunned by how hard they worked and how quiet they were.

As you know, Beve Pietrowski came and photographed the kids and February 7th is her next day. Miss Kelly is going to set up a display. This helps parents know what goes on at school. I know there is a push to put cameras in schools, but if you think about being on camera all day, how exhausting it would be and how much it would detract from the natural part of sharing a day, I can't see the point.

So many of our children are growing up quickly. Emma and Addie have become so "big" it's hard to remember them as toddlers. Ian has become a gentleman most of the time and plays very well with the older boys.

Kelly and I belong to the new Early Childhood Development Coalition for the city, and yesterday I went to a meeting and was asked to be a part of the nutrition subcommittee. I was very flattered because it's an interest I think people roll their eyes at. I'm very interested in body investment, and food will either kill you or make you live a long, long time in a very well state. So I pledge to be even more aware of what makes foods a plus or a minus. Did you know that La Petite Academy has it in their bylaws never to serve children fresh food? It all has to be processed and packaged. Interesting.

Kelly also belongs to the literacy group and I belong to the Program Committee that coordinates the other committees. It's time the GS teachers got out and played with the big teams. This is a volunteer action meant to re-create childcare for children in the Evansville Area. I'm a big fan of this action because that's what we at the Garden School have been doing for ten years.

Friday is pajama day at school. Children may wear their nightwear to school for the day. They should probably wear outside shoes so we can go out. One of the boys mentioned he sleeps in his skivvies, so I told him to wear slippers too. He laughed.

Miss Molly is recovering from having four wisdom teeth scraped out of her jaw on Tuesday. She's sore but talking, and mother is relieved.

We will be having a blood drive next Wednesday at 2:00 - 4:30. Please think about giving. It's quick and nearly painless. There is a platelet shortage in the state right now, so think about giving platelets as well. Platelets are a bit more complicated as you must go to the blood center. Nobody is crazy about needles, but it's become so painless over the years...

It's nearly 6:00...