Lots of fun things have been happening in ECFE this fall. We just completed American Education Week, during which our literacy focus was on More For Four Preschool. The children were thrilled to have their parents in school, and it was great fun for everyone, parents and kids alike. Parents began the day with a talk time where we tried to get to know the other children in class. We talked about what we hear about school, and many new insights were shared. One child has a new friend who started school, a very brave and fun friend. We found out that the “new girl” is imaginary. One child has been proudly telling his classmates about his skill on the unicycle. Every child is green with envy. Our unicycle-riding child, of course, only has an uncle who can ride the unicycle. Some children are figuring out how letters go together to make words by using their sounds. Others are just beginning to get interested in the letters in their names. We are seeing the great impact that video and TV viewing has upon children’s behavior and have asked parents to monitor their children’s viewing choices. That means cutting out “Spider Man” and “The Hulk.” These role models do not help children think of the best kind of play in the classroom. It is so wonderful to work with a group of cool kids, and listening parents who make a great learning space for children. The topic of the day for this week is “emergent” literacy. How do children get ready to cross that important gap between a total non-reading life to being a reader? We are going to have to get together to discuss that more, though. After talk time, parents joined kids in class for snack. Our fun event this day was a farm story as told by 30-year veteran of storytelling, Bob Gasch. Children cheered, laughed and clapped as the story played out in their imagination. Bob has a gift for understanding and using “four-year-old” humor. Those of you who live with a four-year-old totally know what that means. The rest of you will just have to use your imaginations. Bob is coming back to tell new stories (about winter fun) at the Watkins Elementary School on Monday, Feb. 9. It’s free, so come to school to join us for the (literacy) fun!
