Play Date

I sent around an email a couple days ago but I don't think everyone got it. Evann would like to invite everyone to a playdate tomorrow (Friday 12/28/12) 10:00 at the park on Bridgehampton Way near Spring Park Rd. Hope to see you there!

If you did not receive an email from me, please add naturennurture@ymail.com to your contacts so that you get emails in the future.

Lesson Plans 12/17/12 - 12/19/12

Songs       The Hokey Pokey
                Put Your Finger on Your Knee
Sensory    Instant Snow

Monday
Circle       Sink or Float
Book        Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert
Art           Pinecone Painting

Wednesday
Circle      Patterns
Book       Winter Is the Warmest Season By Lauren Stringer
Art          Roller Painting

Wednesday is our Winter Party! Come one, come all!

Put Your Finger On Your Knee

Tune:  “If You’re Happy And You Know It”

Put your finger on your knee, on your knee.
Put your finger on your knee, on your knee.
Then turn yourself around,
Stamp your feet upon the ground,
And put your little finger on your knee.

Continue singing and pointing to additional body parts.

The Hokey Pokey

You put your left foot in
You put your left foot out
You put your left foot in
And you shake it all about
You do the hokey pokey
And you turn yourself around

That’s what it’s all about!

Continue singing and pointing to additional body parts.

Developmental Preschool

What is my child actually learning in preschool? It looks like all you do is play.

            I get this a lot. A LOT. The short answer is, yes, we are playing. And yes, your child is learning. The long answer is, well, considerably longer. How much time have you got?

            Nature and Nurture is a developmental or play based preschool. We feel that children learn best through play, through actively exploring their environment and through actively manipulating materials. We carefully set up the environment (i.e. the classroom) to provide a variety of activities that children can engage in. A cozy corner with books, pillows, and stuffed animals encourages children to enjoy reading. A dramatic play area with a play kitchen, dishes and food, and dress ups encourages children to use their imagination and engage in pretend play. A block area (and train area as it happens) encourages children to think about spatial alignment and physics, such as gravity. Math and science toys encourage hands on exploration of concepts like weight, patterns, measurements, and quantity. Fine motor toys such as lacing beads and puzzles encourage children to improve their dexterity. A drawing table encourages creativity as well as fine motor skills. A sensory table allows children to experiment with different sensations. Children are very tactile and learn a lot about how materials behave by feeling them. A sensory table provides both sensory input and a chance to get messy. Playdough, shaving cream, dried beans, fabric scraps, etc are all engaging sensory materials. A one person table provides a safe, quiet place for a child who is feeling overwhelmed or just wants some space.

            The next component of a developmental preschool is how teachers interact with children. We get down on their level to talk to them. We avoid interrupting their play unless they are doing something potentially problematic. We encourage them to be active participants in their environment. We respect possession and ownership. We respect a child’s use of materials and we do not arbitrarily end their turn with an item. We encourage children to find their own solutions to problems and are there to provide options and oversight.

            The final component of a developmental preschool is the curriculum. It may appear that we are randomly moving through a series of art projects, books, and songs but that isn’t the case. A great deal of thought goes in to providing a variety of activities to meet children at their developmental level, to use children’s interests to drive learning, and to provide challenges and opportunities to grow. We don’t just offer finger-painting and gluing. We offer art projects that encompass a variety of materials and techniques. We don’t just sing songs at circle time. We sing songs that relate to the books we read, the activities we do, or the world around us. We sing songs that use a variety of rhythm schemes and some that incorporate sign language or body movement. We don’t just play a game at circle. We do a science experiment or a math project that we chart out. We learn about patterns, quantity, cause and effect, and problem solving. We don’t just eat snack. We eat a variety of all natural foods. We talk about nutrition and balance. We show the children how to wash produce or how to mix ingredients for salad dressing. We expose the children to new flavors to expand their palette.

            So what IS your child learning at preschool? Your child is learning that he is valued and respected. Your child is learning how to help her friends. Your child is learning how to share, how to navigate social cues, how to be an active participant in a community. And somewhere in there, your child is learning the academic skills necessary for kindergarten.

Lesson Plans 12/10/12 - 12/14/12

Songs      Little Penguin
               Teddy Bear Teddy Bear
Sensory   Shaving Cream

Monday 12/10/12
Circle      Cooking Project
Book      Clay Art by Gloria Elliott
Art         December Gift

Wednesday 12/12/12
Circle     Sorting and Weighing
Book      The Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson
Art         December Gift

Friday 12/14/12
Circle     Bug Bug Under the Rug
Book     Curious George in the Snow by Margaret and H.A. Rey
Art         Collage

Little Penguin

Wibble wobble wibble wobble
to and fro
I'm a little penguin
don't you know?

Wibble wibble wibble wobble
one two three
I'm as happy
as can be!

Winter Party

We are throwing a Winter Party

Wednesday December 19th from 10:30 - 12:00

This is a chance to get to know your child's teachers better

and to meet the other families that make up Nature and Nurture. Siblings and other family members welcome.

Please let us know if you would like to bring a snack to share.

I'm a Little Teapot

I'm a little teapot,
Short and stout,
Here is my handle,
Here is my spout,
When I get all steamed up,
Hear me shout,
Tip me over and pour me out!

If It's Windy

Tune: “If You’re Happy And You Know It”

If it’s windy and you know it swing and sway.
If it’s windy and you know it swing and sway.
If it’s windy and you know it,
Then your clothes will surely show it.
If it’s windy and you know it, swing and sway.

If it’s sunny and you know it, then go play.
If it’s sunny and you know it, then go play.
If it’s sunny and you know it,
Then your clothes will surely show it.
If it’s sunny and you know it, then go play.

If it’s rainy and you know it, splash about.
If it’s rainy and you know it, splash about.
If it’s rainy and you know it,
Then your clothes will surely show it.
If it’s rainy and you know it, splash about.

Lesson Plans 12/3/12 - 12/7/12

Songs        If It's Windy
                 I'm a Little Teapot
Sensory     Sand Activities

Monday
Book        DW Goes to Preschool
Circle        Comparing Sizes
Art            Sponge Painting

Wednesday
Book        Hide and Sheep
Circle       Ice Cube Science Experiment
Art           Cotton Ball Sheep

Friday
Book       From Head to Toe
Circle       Soda Bottle Cyclone
Art           Macaroni Art

Lesson Plans 11/26/12 - 11/30/12

I am posting these early since I will be away next week.
We have class on Monday 11/19/12 Michelle and Dara will be there. Kristin will be out.
Wednesday 11/21/12 and Friday 11/23/12 we will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving.

Songs      Illy Ally Oh
               Open Shut Them

Sensory   Packing Peanuts (biodegradable and all natural)

Monday 11/26/12
Circle      What's Missing
               Make Pasta Salad
Book      Giraffes Don't Dance
Art          November Gift

Wednesday 11/28/12
Circle     Dice Game
              Science Experiment
Book      The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Art         Ice Cube Painting

Friday 11/30/12
Circle     Guess the Object
Book      Honk Toot Beep
Art         Car Painting

Lesson Plans 11/14/12 - 11/19/12

Songs:      Animals in the Sea
                Itsy Bitsy Spider

Sensory:   Sidewalk Sponges

Wednesday 11/14
Book       So Happy!
Circle      Planting Seeds
Art          Finger Painting

Friday 11/16
Book      Little Miss Spider
Circle      Mural of Hands 
Art         Chalk Butterflies

Monday 11/19
Book       Mr Seahorse
Circle      What's Missing
Art          Seahorse Paintings

Notes: Kristin will be out on Monday 11/19. Michelle and Dara will be in the classroom.
We are closed Wednesday 11/21 and Friday 11/23.

Animals in the Sea

Tune: “The Farmer In The Dell”

The whales live in the sea.
The whales live in the sea.
Heigh-ho, oh we know,
The whales live in the sea.

The crabs live in the sea.
The crabs live in the sea.
Heigh-ho, oh we knonw,
The crabs live in the sea.

The octopus live in the sea.
The octopus live in the sea.
Heigh-ho, oh we know,
The octopus live in the sea.

The sharks live in the sea.
The sharks live in the sea.
Heigh-ho, oh we know,
The sharks live in the sea.

The oysters live in the sea.
The oysters live in the sea.
Heigh-ho, oh we know,
The oysters live in the sea.

Itsy Bitsy Spider

The itsy-bitsy spider
Climbed up the water spout
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain
And the itsy-bitsy spider
Climbed up the spout again.

Lesson Plans 11/5/12 - 11/9/12

Songs     The Wheels on the Bus
               Head Shoulders Knees and Toes
Sensory   Fabric Scraps

Monday
Book      The Dot by Peter H Reynolds
Circle      Patterns
Art          Dot Painting

Wednesday
Book      Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Circle     Bug Bug Under the Rug
Art         Purple Crayon Mural

Friday
Book      Andrew Drew and Drew by Barney Saltzberg
Circle     Line Puzzles
Art         Yarn Collage

Notes:

Wednesday 11/7 is our field trip to Bookworm.

If you are not driving on the field trip, please be sure to drop off your child's carseat. Your child will not be able to go on the field trip without an appropriate carseat.

If you are driving, please be here by 10:40 so we can install carseats in your car and get to Bookworm by 11:00. Thank you!

Head Shoulders Knees and Toes

Head shoulders knees and toes
knees and toes
head shoulders knees and toes
knees and toes
eyes and ears and mouth and nose
head shoulders knees and toes
knees and toes

Wheels on the Bus

The wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round
'round and 'round
'round and 'round
the wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round
all through the town.

Repeat with
The doors on the bus go open and shut
The people on the bus go up and down
The wipers on the bus go swish swish swish
The horn on the bus goes beep beep beep

Lesson Plans 10/29/12 - 11/2/12

Songs:            Falling Leaves

                        If you want to be an owl

Sensory: Play dough

Monday
Book: Mouse Paint

Circle: Mixing Colors   

Art: Marble Paint

Wednesday
Book: Franklin’s Pumpkin

Circle: Animal Dice Game

Art: Pumpkins

Friday
Book: Pumpkin Baby     

Circle: One of these things is not like the other     

Art: Leaf Print Painting

Songs 10/29 - 11/2

FALLING LEAVES
Tune: "London Bridges Falling Down"
 
Pretty leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down.
Pretty leaves are falling down, all over town.

Some are orange and some are brown, some are brown, some are brown.
Some are orange and some are brown, watch the leaves fall down.

Some are yellow and some are red, some are red, some are red.
Some are yellow and some are red, leaves fall on my head.

IF YOU WANT TO BE AN OWL
Tune:  “If You’re Happy And You Know It”
If you want to be an owl, shout – Who! Who!
If you want to be an owl, shout – Who! Who!
Then you get to sleep all day
And at night you get to play.
If you want to be an owl, shout – Who! Who!

Photos!!

These photos are in no particular order but they highlight some of the unique and engaging activities we do in our classroom. Enjoy! 

This is the tree that all the children worked together to create over several days.



This is ice melting using colored (plain) water and clear salt water. The children were able to experiment and see that the salt water melted the ice better but that the colored water was easier to see on top of and in the cracks and fissures in the ice.



Spontaneous story time.

Group play - the children decided on their own to play together on the seesaw and came up with their own way of letting everyone fit.

This project teaches both sorting and fine motor skills and uses simple household materials like a muffin tin and tongs. You can do this at home with beads, buttons, or even dry pasta dyed with food coloring.

More science fun! The children made a mountain in the sand box and I showed them how baking soda and vinegar combine to bubble and froth like a volcano.

Important Dates

Monday 10/29/12

Kristin will be out of town. Michelle will be here and Dara, a preschool teacher that Kristin used to work with, will be substituting.

Wednesday 11/7/12

We will be having our first field trip, to Bookworm, a small bookstore here in Camarillo. We will need parent volunteers to drive. Please let Kristin or Michelle know if you will be available that day. If you are not driving, you MUST leave a carseat for your child to use on the field trip. We will not have extra carseats available.

Monday 11/12/12

Veteran's Day - No Class

Lesson Plans 10/22/12 - 10/26/12

Songs:    Twinkle twinkle little star
              Ten little fairies

Sensory: Cornstarch and water

Monday
Book      Room on the Broom
Circle     Patterns
Art         Splatter Painting

Wednesday
Book      Alice the Fairy
Circle     Science Experiment
Art         Make a Magic Wand

Friday
Book      The Gruffalo
Circle     Dice Game
Art         Crayon Resist Painting

Ten Little Fairies

One little, two little, three little fairies
Four little, five little, six little fairies
Seven little, eight little, nine little fairies
Ten little fairies dancing!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are

Letters!

For the children who are interested in it, we will begin introducing how to write letters. We will be using the D'Nealian Alphabet because it lays the foundation for learning cursive later.

We will begin by having cards at the drawing table with each child's name handwritten using D'Nealian letters. As children wish to write more words, we will add cards with common words on them. Please note: your child may not be ready to learn handwriting yet and we will not push this activity on them. It will simply be available to them, should they wish to participate.

Here is an example of the D'Nealian alphabet:

Lesson Plans 10/15/12 - 10/19/12

Songs: All the leaves are falling down
           The pumpkin vine

Sensory: Gel

Monday 10/15/12
Circle:  Letters
            Making gel for Wednesday
Book:   When Autumn Falls by Kelli Nidey
Art:      Group Painting Project

Wednesday 10/17/12
Circle:  Guess the Object           
Book:   Leaves by David Ezra Stein
Art:      Leaf Painting

Friday 10/19/12
Circle:  Bug Bug Under the Rug
Book:   Rocket Writes a Story
Art:      October Gift

We will learn the signs for Mom and Dad.
We will make gel for Wednesday's sensory project instead of a cooking project on Monday.
The October Gift will be wrapped and sent home next week.

The pumpkin vine

I looked out my window and what did I find?
Green leaves growing on my pumpkin vine. 

I looked out my window and what did I find?
Green leaves growing on my pumpkin vine. 

Gree-een leaves, green leaves growing

Gree-een leaves, green leaves growing

Gree-een leaves, green leaves growing

Gree-een leaves growing on my pumkin vine.

Repeat with:

...yellow flowers growing
...pumpkins growing

All the leaves are falling down

To the tune of  “London Bridges Falling Down”

All the leaves are falling down, falling down, falling down   (Imitate leaves falling down)
All the leaves are falling down, it is fall.
Take the rake and rake them up, rake them up, rake them up  (Imitate raking leaves)
Take the rake and rake them up, it is fall.
Make a pile and jump right in, jump right in, jump right in,  (Children jump forward)
Make a pile and jump right in, it is fall.

Playdough

OK this is obviously not a snack item but it IS a recipe so I filed it here anyway.
Once you make your own, you will never go back to buying playdough. Homemade playdough is cheaper, less sticky/messy and doesn't typically stain. You can use a gluten-free flour if needed.

2 c flour (plus up to 2 c extra)
1 c salt
4 tsp cream of tartar (actually a powder available in the spice aisle of the grocery store)

1 3/4 c warm water
3 Tbsp vegetable oil
few drops of food coloring (optional)

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl
Heat water in microwave for about a minute
Add oil and food coloring to water
Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix well
You may need to add extra flour at this point
Turn out onto floured surface and knead
Form a ball and let it cool
Store in an airtight container for up to a month.

You can use pretty much anything you have around the house as a playdough tool. Plastic knives, small rolling pins or cylindrical blocks, cookie cutters, a garlic press, etc. Be creative!

Useful Songs

These are songs we sing often in the classroom. They may help you at home too.

Come on Over

Come on over and sit right down
come on over and sit right down
come on over and sit right down
it is circle time!
(can substitute other words for circle - dinner, bath, etc)

The Clean Up Song

Clean up, clean up
everybody everywhere
clean up, clean up
everybody do your share!

Heigh-Ho

Heigh-ho heigh-ho
it's clean up time you know
put the toys away
for another day
heigh-ho heigh-ho
heigh-ho heigh-ho

Lesson Plans 10/8/12 - 10/12/12

Songs: Teddy Bear Teddy Bear
           What Will You Do Now?
Sensory: Inside: Playdough with Rollers
           Outside: Dried Beans

Monday 10/8
Book  Brown Bear Brown Bear
           Polar Bear Polar Bear
           both by Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle
Circle I Spy
           Make a salad for snack time
Art     Tissue Paper and Starch in the style of Eric Carle

Wednesday 10/10
Book The Big Hungry Bear
Circle What's Missing?
Art     Painting with Bear Shaped Cookie Cutters

Friday 10/12
Book Corduroy
Circle Bug Bug Under the Rug
Art     Bear Painting

We will continue introducing ASL signs. This week we will learn the signs for "please" and "thank you."

Teddy Bear Teddy Bear

Teddy bear teddy bear
turn around
teddy bear teddy bear
touch the ground
teddy bear teddy bear
show your shoes
teddy bear teddy bear
that will do.

Teddy bear teddy bear
go upstairs
teddy bear teddy bear
comb your hair
teddy bear teddy bear
turn off the light
teddy bear teddy bear
say good night.

What Will You Do Now?

Hello _________, how are you?
How are you? How are you?
Hello _________, how are you?
What will you do now?

Let child show off a motion or skill.
Repeat with each child's name.

Oat Fruit "Cookies"

I call these cookies for lack of a better word. They are not muffins or bars but they are considerably more nutritious than your average cookie.

You could easily substitute vegan shortening and 1 Tbsp flaxseed mixed with 3 Tbsp water for the egg if you wanted to make these vegan. Some vegans do not consume honey but other liquid sugars such as agave nectar could be used in place of the honey.

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup honey

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 c flaxseed

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 1/2 cups oats

1 apple, cored and chopped

1/2 c raisins

In a large bowl, cream together the butter, honey, egg* and vanilla until smooth. Combine the whole wheat flour, 1/4 c flaxseed, baking soda and cinnamon; stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in oats, apple and raisins. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets.

Bake at 375 for 8 to 10 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

*If you are using flaxseed as an egg substitute, mix 1 Tbsp flaxseed with 3 Tbsp water in a small bowl and let sit for two minutes before adding it to the other ingredients. 

Baby Bumble Bee

I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee
won't my mommy be so proud of me
I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee
ouch, it stung me!

I'm squashing up my baby bumble bee
won't my mommy be so proud of me
I'm squashing up my baby bumble bee
yuck, all over me!

I'm wiping off my baby bumble bee
won't my mommy be so proud of me
I'm wiping off my baby bumble bee
look, all done!

Lesson Plans 10/1/12 - 10/5/12

Songs: Baby Bumble Bee
           ABCs
Sensory: Cotton Balls

Monday 10/1
Book  Curious George's First Day of School
Circle Graph Making: What colors are you wearing?
Art     Liquid Watercolor Butterflies

Wednesday 10/3
Book First Day Jitters
Circle Science Experiment: Germs
Art     Bag Painting

Friday 10/5
Book Someone Says
Circle Simon Says
Art     Tempera Paint with Brushes

We will begin introducing some ASL signs. Both songs this week will use sign language and we will learn the signs for "more" and "all done"

Lesson Plans 9/24/12 - 9/28/12

Songs: Old MacDonald Had a Farm
           Rocking Fishies
Sensory: Ice

Monday 9/24
Book  Curious George Plants a Tree
Circle Taste Testing Pasta Salad Ingredients
Art     Scratch Art
Other Planting Flowers in our Garden

Wednesday 9/26
Book The Little Pea
Circle Freeze Dancing
Art Painting on Plates
Other Science - Sink or Float

Friday 9/28
Book Food for Thought
Circle Patterns
Art Marble Painting

Old MacDonald Had a Farm

Old MacDonald had a farm
e i e i o
and on that farm he had a cow
e i e i o
with a moo moo here
and a moo moo there
here a moo, there a moo
everywhere a moo moo
Old MacDonald had a farm
e i e i o

(repeat with other farm animals and sounds)

Rocking Fishies

One little fishy swimming in the sea
splishing and a'splashing
rocking to the beat
in comes a friend
ooh say hello
two little fishies swimming in a row

(repeat until you get to five)

Five little fishies swimming in the sea
splishing and a'splashing
rocking to the beat
in comes a wave
whoops say buh-bye
no more fishies swimming in the tide.

Graham Crackers

1/2 cup shortening

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup milk 

In a medium bowl, cream together the shortening and brown sugar. Stir in the vanilla. Combine the whole wheat flour, all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, stir into the creamed mixture alternately with the milk. Cover and chill dough until firm.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into rectangles. Place 1/2 inch apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until crisp. Edges will be golden brown. Remove from baking sheet to cool on wire racks.

Granola Bars

These are easy and yummy and pretty healthy, depending on what mix-ins you use.

4 1/2 c granola (I usually use oats and honey granola by cascadian farms)
1/2 c flour - you can use whole wheat flour, oat flour, whatever
3/4 c apple butter*
1/4 c honey
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 c mix ins such as dried fruit, nuts, chocolate chips, etc

Mix everything except granola in large bowl. Gradually add granola and mix well.
Press into 13x9 pan that has been sprayed with olive oil
Bake at 350 for 20 minutes

*I usually use pureed sweet potato in place of apple butter. Scrub sweet potatoes and poke with a fork a few times. Wrap in foil or place in large pan and cover pan with foil. Bake at 450 for an hour. Let cool and puree (use a food processor or an immersion blender if you have one - a regular mixer may not be strong enough). Spoon into ice cube trays or small containers and freeze. Use as needed in baked goods, soups, stews, or to make sweet potato pancakes.

Carrot Muffins

Carrot (or Apple or Zucchini) Muffins

1/2 c water (use a little more for carrot or zucchini)
1 c brown sugar (I actually normally use a little less - say 3/4 c brown sugar)
1 c grated apples or carrots or zucchini (the food processor is your friend)
1 c raisins
1/2 c vegetable oil
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp baking soda
1 3/4 c flour (I'd do half whole wheat and half white - all whole wheat makes them a little dense and grainy)

Combine water, sugar, apples, raisins, oil and seasonings in saucepan over medium heat. Bring to boil.
Remove from heat and let cool completely.
Add flour and baking soda (you can also add 1/2 c nuts here if you want to) and stir til blended.
Fill greased muffin tins with batter to the top.
Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.
I used a silicone muffin tin and 25 minutes was perfect. You may need to adjust the time for different pans.

*For a little extra nutrition, you can always sneak in 1/2 c pureed butternut squash to the ingredients on the stove. Cut a butternut squash in half the long way and scoop out the seeds. Place cut side down in a pan with an inch of water in it and roast at 400-450 for about an hour. Scoop the roasted squash out into an ice cube tray or small containers and freeze. Defrost and use as needed in a variety of recipes such as baked goods, soups, stews, pasta sauces, etc.

Lesson Plans 9/17 - 9/21

Our theme this week is Families!
Songs: My Mommy Comes Back
           If You're Happy and You Know It
Sensory: Shaving Cream

Monday 9/17
Book  I Love My Daddy Because... by Laurel Porter Gaylord
          When Dads Don't Grow Up by Marjorie Blain Parker
Circle Who's In Your Family?
          Making Salsa
Art     September Gift*

Wednesday 9/19
Book Where's My Mum? by Julia Donaldson**
          My Mommy Hung the Moon by Jamie Lee Curtis**
Circle Dice Game
Art Cookie Cutter Painting

Friday 9/21
Book What Matters Most by Kristin Carter
Circle What's Missing?
Art Roller Painting

*The September gift will be wrapped before it is sent home. The child may choose who to give it to.

** Julia Donaldson and Jamie Lee Curtis are both favorite authors of mine. They both have several adorable children's books.

If You're Happy and You Know It

If you're happy and you know it
clap your hands
if you're happy and you know it
clap your hands
if you're happy and you know it
and you really want to show it
if you're happy and you know it
clap your hands.

Repeat with stomp your feet, shout hooray, do all 3, or any other motions you can think of.

My Mommy Comes Back

My Mommy comes back
she always comes back
my Mommy comes back
to get me

My Mommy comes back
she always comes back
she never would
forget me

(Sing again with Daddy and/or anyone else who picks up child from school)

Committment to the Environment

Nature and Nurture is committed to protecting the environment and encouraging children to do the same. Here are just a few of the "green" things we do:

• Serve all natural snacks that often use local and/or organic produce
• Use reusable snack dishes instead of paper products
• Use environmentally friendly cleaning products (such as vinegar and baking soda)
• Use cleaning cloths instead of paper towels to wipe down tables and surfaces
• Use repurposed materials for toys, learning materials, art projects, etc
• Use 100% recycled paper for paper work, flyers, brochures, business cards, etc

Lesson Plans 9/10 - 9/14

Our theme this week is Dragons!
Songs: 5 Green Dragons
           All Around the Castle
Sensory: Playdough with Cookie Cutters

Monday 9/10
Book Me and My Dragon
Circle Taste Testing with Salad Ingredients (Graph)
Art Group Collage

Wednesday 9/12
Book Good Night, Good Knight
Circle Group Puzzle/Flannel Board
Art Group Collage

Friday 9/14
Book Dragon Dancing*
Circle Dragon Parade
Art Dragon Painting with different textures

*Dragon Dancing by Carole Lexa Schafer is a favorite of mine

My Philosophy

I won’t give you the moon but I’ll help you build your spaceship.

            This is my child development philosophy in a nutshell. Being a perfectionist, I debated endlessly over the wording. Won’t or can’t? Will not or cannot? Can’t implies that if I could give my child the moon, I would do so. That just isn’t accurate. Won’t is a word, or contraction, that you don’t hear very often. It sounds abrasive, rude even. I won’t give you the moon, even if I could. While it almost sounds petty to say that, there is a deeper meaning. Even if I could give her the moon, I wouldn’t. What good would it be to her? Would she appreciate it? Probably not. But if she strives and struggles and reaches for the moon, and I support and encourage her along the way, what then? She’ll feel successful, confident, and proud. She will have truly accomplished something. That’s what I want for my child and the children I work with.

            So what does it mean? How does that apply to my school? People familiar with child development may recognize my attitude as similar to Vygotsky’s concept of scaffolding. Vygotsky felt that children could attain quite a bit, if we would just give them the help they needed and no more. Why no more? Too much help can backfire. Some children get the message that they are incompetent or that mommy or daddy can accomplish something better, faster, easier so why bother? When put that way, it almost sounds as though we would do best to sit back and do nothing. Let our children struggle for themselves. But that also sends the wrong message. It says, “I don’t care about your effort, only results.” It leaves children feeling alone and unsupported. It’s tough to find the right balance. To give children just enough help that they feel both challenged and successful, supported and yet independent.

            I want children to dream big and to feel loved. Whatever my child decides to do with her life, I will be right there with her, offering support, encouragement, and guidance. If that means I need to brush up on my astrophysics and start building a spaceship with her, I will.

            For my preschoolers, it means I will strive to provide an environment that is engaging and challenging. I will use their interests to drive the lesson plans and activities. I will ask for their input and their ideas. I will foster their love of learning.

Illness Policy

If your child is contagious or unable to participate in the classroom and yard activities, we ask that you keep your child home.

Signs of being contagious:
green or yellow nasal congestion
fever
vomitting
diarrhea

Your child needs to remain at home until symptom free without medicine(s) for 24+ hours.

If your child is on an antibiotic, he/she must be on it for 24+ hours before returning to class.

FAQs

What are your ratios?

1:6 with a max of 12 children enrolled. Please see our teacher bios on the right hand side of the page for more information about our teachers’ qualifications.

What should my child wear to school?

Anything that is weather appropriate, comfortable, and OK to get messy in will be fine. We recommend closed toed shoes that your child can take on and off.

What should my child bring to school?

Your child does not need to bring anything to school except a jacket on cold days and a water bottle for the yard on hot days. We will provide a healthy and nutritious snack. We even have extra clothes in case of accidents. If your child wants to bring a small lovey to school, this is fine. The lovey can remain with your child or we can place it in a safe spot if/when your child is done with it. We cannot guarantee that a lovey will remain clean at school. If this is a problem, please do not send one.

What about food allergies?

In the case of food allergies, we would like to post a small photo of your child with any allergies listed on the photo in our snack prep area. This is to ensure that no one mistakenly gives your child the wrong food. We can provide alternative snacks for most food allergies and will be happy to work with you on this matter. Our snacks contain no peanuts or peanut products.

What holidays does Nature and Nurture celebrate?

Because we are an inclusive and secular program, we do not specifically celebrate any holidays. We will celebrate the seasons, the environment, and each individual child. Children and families are welcome to share their traditions with the class. We invite you to bring items from home or tell stories that are meaningful to your family. Please speak to a teacher if you would like time on our class schedule to share family traditions with the class.

In the interests of diversity and inclusiveness, we will not celebrate any religious holiday, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. We will give the children an opportunity to make one gift item every month to be sent home and given to the friend or relative the child chooses.

What about birthdays?

If you would like the class to celebrate your child’s birthday or a special day in your child’s life (for example, if your family prefers to celebrate a milestone or an anniversary as opposed to a birthday) please let the teachers know. We supply the (all natural, made from scratch) cupcakes!

We invite you to make a small contribution to the class such as a book or puzzle. This is completely optional. Teachers will keep a running list of needed items if you would like suggestions. Your child will get to present the item to the class at circle time and will get to be first to use the item in the classroom.

How can I be involved in the classroom?

We welcome family involvement in the classroom. Family members are invited to share traditions, help with special projects, or chaperone field trips. We also need two or three family members who may be available to volunteer in the classroom as a substitute teacher on occasion. If you are interested in substitute teaching, please let the teachers know. You will need to fill out a PVRPD Volunteer Application and be fingerprinted.

We hold seasonal parties 4 times a year. Families are encouraged to attend.

Do you do parent teacher conferences?

Yes, we will hold parent teacher conferences in May to discuss your child’s development throughout the year. We will also hold parent teacher conferences as needed. Just ask!

Do you track how children are learning/progressing?

Yes, we do. We keep detailed developmental portfolios. Every month, we look at what each child is doing in several domains: cognitive, language and communication, social skills, self help, gross motor, fine motor and creative development. In addition, the portfolios often include photos and samples of art and writing.

Twice a year we fill out a developmental assessment called the Desired Results Developmental Portfolio. The DRDP looks at 43 skills that preschoolers are developing.

Our portfolios and assessments allow us to track your child’s development, look for patterns, guide our lesson plans, and give children extra support as needed.

What does your program cost?

The short answer is that we charge approximately $60/week. The longer, more accurate answer is that PVRPD charges class fees based on how many class days there are in a month. So a month with 8 class days will cost less than a month with 12 class days. PVRPD also adds a $3 administration fee to every class they operate. Tuition is paid to PVRPD by check or by credit card.

We charge a $25/month materials fee, paid by check or cash directly to the teachers, that covers our snacks, consumable art supplies, field trips, and special projects. PVRPD does not collect this money, nor do they take a cut of it, which is why this money is separate. If it was collected along with tuition, we would have to charge roughly $40 to get the equivalent $25. We regret this inconvenience but it is a cost cutting measure.

Including the materials fee, our program for the 2012/2013 school year cost a total of $2804. If you divide that by 12 months, it was an average cost of $234/month. This is one of the lowest cost programs in Camarillo yet we are adamant about providing the highest quality of care with low ratios, highly educated teachers, healthy snacks, etc.

Furthermore, we promise not to nickel and dime you. We do not charge a yearly registration fee or an activities fee. We do not charge extra for field trips or class gifts. We do not ask families to provide supplies or go to fundraisers. We do not ask you or your children to sell anything.

Collaborating with PVRPD allows us to share their site and keep our overhead costs low. We are very fortunate to be working with them.

What IS a "Preschool Age Class" ?

Preschool Age Class simply means that we are a class offered through PVRPD rather than a free-standing preschool. Free-standing preschools and child care facilities are licensed in California under the regulations of Title 22. These regulations ensure things like the qualifications of staff, the ratios of teachers to children, the safety of the site, etc. Programs offered by existing parks and recreation districts that meet for 12 hours a week or less are considered license-exempt. This does not mean that we relax our high standards though. For example, Title 22 licensing requires 1 teacher per 12 children, we have 2. Title 22 requires that teachers have at least 12 college units of education. Michelle has a bachelor's degree; Kristin has both a bachelor's and a master's degree. PVRPD maintains the safety of the site. Both Nature and Nurture and PVRPD are committed to offering an exceptional experience for young children.

I’m interested in enrolling my child in your program. What do I do now?

We recommend all families come in for a tour before their child starts attending. Please email Kristin at naturennurture@ymail.com to set up a tour. This gives your child a chance to see the classroom and meet the teachers. It gives you a chance to ask any questions you may have.

We will add you to our roster if there are openings or to our wait list if we do not have openings. Once you are on the roster, PVRPD will be informed and you may register by calling them at 482-1996 or going in to the park office at 1605 E Burnley St

Illy Ally Oh

There's a big ship sailing on the Illy Ally Oh
The Illy Ally Oh The Illy Ally Oh
There's a big ship sailing on the Illy Ally Oh
Hey-Oh Illy Ally Oh

Well you pull on the rope and you hoist up the sail
hoist up the sail, hoist up the sail
well you pull up the rope and you hoist up the sail
Hey-Oh Illy Ally Oh

Well you throw out the nets and you haul in the fish
haul in the fish, haul in the fish
well you throw out the nets and you haul in the fish
Hey-Oh Illy Ally Oh

There's a big storm raging and it's rocking on the sea
rocking on the sea, rocking on the sea
There's a big storm raging and it's rocking on the sea
Hey-Oh Illy Ally Oh

The sailors get tired and they lie down to sleep
lie down to sleep, lie down to sleep
the sailors get tired and they lie down to sleep
Hey-Oh Illy Ally Oh

All Around the Castle

(To the tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush)

All around the castle
The knight chased the dragon
The dragon thought it was all in good fun
ROAR went the dragon

5 Green Dragons

5 green dragons all let out a roar
1 flew away and then there were 4
4 green dragons dancing 'round the tree
1 flew away and then there were 3
3 green dragons dancing around YOU
1 flew away and then there were 2
2 green dragons dancing in the sun
1 flew away and then there was 1
1 green dragon having lots of fun
She flew away and then there were none