Finding our Groove

This is our second week fully open. The students are having lots of fun and trying new activities every day. Fun things that we have done over the past two weeks include:

Yoga
Indoor Hopscotch
Parachute Activities
Ball Tent
Thanksgiving Crafts
Learned about the letters A and B
Learned about Fall (Seasons)
Learned about Shapes
Had daily music/instrument time
Sang Songs
Read Books
Gone for our daily walk
Played in the backyard playground
Field Trip to Chappell Farms

and so much more! This adventure has been truly amazing. Mason and Lyla love having friends here everyday to laugh and learn with.

If you have any questions about our programming please feel free to email Chantal at missnelson08@gmail.com -- workshops for preparing educational programs for daycares, homeschools, etc are also available.

If you would like to include your child's name on our waitlist please contact me via email and I can answer any questions that you may have.

Hope that everyone is enjoying this beautiful Fall Season!

Grand Opening

Hey Everyone!
I am getting really excited as our grand opening will be October 1st, 2012. I am preparing students workbooks and last minute finishing touches to the preschool room/kitchen/living room. I can't wait for our new friends to join us and I know Mason and Lyla are so excited.

If you have any questions about the program please feel free to contact me via email at missnelson08@gmail.com. I will be posting more pictures and some of our curriculum online when I get a chance. Life has been crazy with our corn season finishing up, returning from Japan and getting over fall time sickness!

Countdown is on...

Let the fun begin! See all of our little friends soon!

A Look Inside

Hey Everyone!
I hope that you all enjoyed your Easter Weekend! Ours was busy but fantastic! Filled with 4 eventful Easter Egg Hunts and lots of family time, it sure tired the kids out!

Here is a look inside the classroom as I work away to complete it! We now have a house centre, our Montessori materials are here and mostly everything is organized. We also have a surprise for the backyard--a new playhouse for our time outside! We bought this new addition this weekend, so happy building in the next few weekends!

Enjoy A Look Inside Building Blocks classroom!

On the right hand side we have our house centre. There is a baby bed, high chair and change table plus a full kitchen. On the left hand side we have our Market. Both sides have access to bins that include animals, building blocks, musical toys, etc. On the top of the cubes are our Montessori Materials (sandpaper letters, numbers, numerals and counters, etc)

Montessori Materials:

Fun for Outside:





Catching up...

It has been awhile since I have posted on here! New updates in the preschool -- a house centre. Complete with a wooden fridge/stove and cupboards, doll bed, change table and highchair. I can't wait for the fun everyone will have playing at this centre.

Our family has just returned from a wonderful holiday in Florida. We were lucky enough to visit Magic Kingdom (Lyla stayed with grandparents), picked oranges at an Orange Grove, visited a WONDERFUL children's museum, went to Downtown Disney, played at a beautiful park and we also got to swim lots. Mason jumped in with his water wings all by himself, he went under the water came up and swam- so proud! Lyla said Mama and as of last night can roll from front to back. Things have been busy here but expect updates. Making the preschool beautiful, and will hopefully have pics coming soon!

Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine! I know we have been to the park lots and ventured out for long walks! Happy Tuesday!

 Mommy, Daddy and Mason at Magic Kingdom

 Mommy and Lyla at the park, enjoying the Becco!

 Mason meeting his new girlfriend Lily at the children's museum

 Mommy, Daddy, Mason and Lyla at Downtown Disney

 Daddy and Mason picking oranges at a local Orange Grove

 Mommy, Daddy, Mason and Lyla with Buzz Light Year at Downtown Disney

Lyla's first time swimming, she loved it!!!

Christmas on Friday!

I feel like Friday is going to be my Christmas. I can't leave the house because I have to wait for the courier to arrive! Yes, I have just ordered a large part of my wish list for Montessori!!! (well a large part in the short list I allowed myself to make--self control!) New to Building Blocks Preschool will be:
Sandpaper Lower Case Letters, Sandpaper Upper Case Letters, Sandpaper Numbers, Pink Tower, Numbers 1-1,000 and Numerals and Counters! What to play with first!
Toddler Pink Tower
Sandpaper Numbers

Sandpaper Lower Case Letters

Sandpaper Upper Case Letters

Numerals and Counters

Wooden Number Cards 1-1000 (Place Value)

A little bit of background...

Here is a bit of my history (education, volunteer, workshops, etc)

Education:
B.A. Honours in English Literature and Political Science (Laurentian University)
B.Ed Primary Junior Division (University of Ottawa)
Preschool/Kindergarten Montessori (NAMC)
Certified Signing Time Instructor (Signing Time Academy)

Workshops:
Introduction to Math Manipulatives Kindergarten to Grade 6
The Otesha Project- CHanging the World Through our Daily Choices
Inclusive Curricular Learning Activities- Community Based Project
UNICEF's Global Education Programme: Children's Rights in the Classroom
The JET Programme: Professional Growth and International Adventure
Social Justice in Classrooms: Creating Imaginative Spaces for Self-Exploration
Working with Students Who have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
101 Tips for Occasional Teachers
Toddler Shenanigans
Get Your Baby to Sleep Through the Night

Volunteer:
Barrie Youth Ambassador Program 2001-2010
Laurentian University Speaker Series (Gwynne Dyer) 2004 and 2010
Speaker at Model Parliament 2005
Preview Series (Laurentian University) 2005
Host of Political Science Movie Nights and Debates (Laurentian University)
Contributor to Lambda Newspaper 2006
Founder of Penpal Program (University of Ottawa) 2007
Section Representative on Student Council (University of Ottawa) 2007-2008
Member of Faculty Council (University of Ottawa) 2007-2008

Language

Language in the classroom will be strongly encouraged through circle time activities as well as daily routine. Letters, letter sounds, letter recognition, word families, sight words, vowels, beginning blends, digraphs and many other forms of introducing phonetic concepts will be repeated during circle time throughout the day. These concepts are essential in building the skills to recognize words, phonetically sound out words and the beginning stages towards reading.

 Beginning Blends and Digraphs

 Turn to find new words in the same word family!

 Phonetic words for Vowel Sounds

 These will be posted in the classroom-- what is posted will depend on what we are covering during that time.

 Words around our classroom!

Bulletin boards will reinforce what words and subjects we are covering.

Mathematics

Students will be introduced to counting, number recognition, addition, subtraction, counting in intervals, sorting, patterns, in addition to being able to successfully use manipulatives such as counters.

My collection of dice is my favourite circle time activity. They can be used for counting, adding and subtracting. Students love these and get so excited when they are brought out, especially when they get to pick which dice they want to use.

Another circle time favourite! These felt fish bowls are great for counting, adding and subtracting. Students love to pick which fish they want to add and enjoy the activity while learning essential math skills.

These counting bears can be used for so many different mathematical activities in the classroom. They are the perfect size and children seem to enjoy creating patterns, sorting, counting or even just playing with them.

Other manipulatives such as small toy cars can be used for counting activities, whatever will interest the student.

Counting the days during calendar time can assist students in learning place value. Counting the straws and grouping them in tens and eventually hundreds, this activity becomes an easy concept as it is part of the childs daily routine.

Pocket charts are always fun and allow for a hands on approach as part of a mathematics center. Students can interact with their teacher and peers while reviewing/learning basic math concepts.

Counting and number recognition

Counting: Base Tens

All activities are introduced by the teacher and can be used as a circle time activity or as a mathematics based center in the classroom. Students are assisted by the instructor and encouraged to use these tools in order to develop basic mathematical concepts.