Sniff Sniff

Today was our last day on the five senses. Is one of our benchmarks to know the 5 senses ? No. I just use the themes as vehicles to work on all the other skills we need like listening, social skills and counting. At the end of each of our books this week it had a real picture of what body part we use for that 'sense". Today was nose and below was the picture. Do you know what the kids wanted to know ? " Where are the boogers..." Of course! We do some DEEP thinking around here.

We played an awesome 5 senses bingo game. Playing games with your child at home teaches listening to directions and taking turns.

The girls wanted me to take this picture then they walked around for ten minutes saying " Ok, who wants to marry us ?" Funny stuff.

Mr Randy did a cooking / science activity with the kids .They made GAK. The kids loved it. If you want to make some at home . I will post the recipe on our Bright Beginnings group page on Facebook.

I loved it when Kimber said " Ms Debbie , remember last year you put it in that little Easter basket and let it flow through? " THAT is recollection.. So, we did it again. I couldnt find the little Easter basket so we used to steamer top.

Outside Mr Randy and the boys did sack races. He said they loved it.

And it looks like they did.

Here are a couple videos I took today. This one is Orrin during circle time talking about how he uses his senses at the monster truck race track. I asked the question " What do you like to smell ?" and his reply was " the dirt at the monster truck race." So, I grabbed my camera/ phone and off we went.

Then of course when we made GAK the boys figured out how to make a farting noise ....

Mrs. Wishy Washy

The kids love the story of Mrs. Wishy Washy. I told them yesterday to expect a special visitor. Little did they know it would be me, disguised as Mrs. Wishy Washy. Getting ready this morning was interesting. I mean, this is the cutest bib apron but why make the bib so small and make me feel like a cow in it . I am exploding all over it.... :) Oh well. I also took our several other scarves before I decided on the bandana cloth one. I tried a leopard print one and a bright orange one. Those are more my style but somehow did not suit Mrs Wishy Washy. I feel a little crazy but the kids loved it. I had one little girl tell me I looked like a princess today and another say "Mrs. Debbie, you are so beautiful!" So, it was all worth it.

There is one part in the book where the animals run into a restaurant and the cook yells at them and says " You will be come roast beef on toast!" The pictures showed the animals eyes very large - the boys reenacted this for me !

On of the games we played today was a clank can from the Learning is Fun Website. The tins have pictures of objects on them. We decided if they started with the W sound and if so they clanked the tile in the can. After we were finished we lined them up to see if we had more objects that started with the letter W or less. We had MORE!

We watched a 2 minute video of a little girl reading Mrs. Wishy Washy.

We made stick puppets of Mrs. Wishy Washy. Ask your child to retell the story to you at home.

We started making clean mud. It took a little longer than I thought and we didnt get finished.

G and Rosanna helped me color some of my teaching aids today. :)

Last but not least ! Kimber brought a caterpillar in a cocoon to school today. I was more excited than the kids. He found the caterpillar outside and brought it inside to his mom. last night they found this! YAY! Love it ! Kimber loved sharing his discovery !

Jelly Beans and Hair Cuts

Today we did some math activities with jelly beans. I had forgotten to get them last night so Williams mom rescued me. Thanks MARY! We estimated and graphed and of course... we are them.

We also took brought our grass inside. Remember the grass seeds the kids planted. Our grass heads were ready for a haircut. They are in your child's cubby to take home today to continue to grow and cut.

More jelly bean fun !

Some materials I have on the table this week.

Today we read " Five Little Bunnies Hopping on a Hill." When used props to tell the story and when we were finished we counted bunny tails. ( cotton balls )

I am sending the graph we did today home with you and a stash of jelly beans. Spend some time with your child doing this fun activity.

We also read " Peter Cotton Tail." The kids made a lot of predictions about what would happen to Peter since he didnt obey and how important it is to obey adults we trust.

I forgot to tell you that yesterday Jodie read " The Carrot Seed" with the kids and they made carrot salad.

Posting from my hotel room

I am in Little Rock . In the morning I have my last meeting with the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission. This commission is appointed by the governor or other legislative staff to over see things that go on on the state level for our young children. I was appointed four years ago by a state representative. I have enjoyed my time on the Commission. As a commissioner you get information about changes in regulations and laws before others do. You vote on those changes and you get lots of education about the hows and whys of state government. I was honored to serve. Tomorrow they are recognizing me for my service. I was the first family childcare home provider to be appointed. Again.. honored and humbled.

So, that was the top for the week ( in my preschool world ) now let's discuss the bottom.

Last Thursday we had an incident happen. As our practice when it is good weather, Randy takes the children outside to meet the parents and I clean the tables and floors and do the dishes from snack. When Randy gets the kids outside usually some have already gone home. It is a very hectic time. Thursday afternoon at 3 pm Randy looked around and the only child he had left was Daniel. He said " Come on Daniel, lets go in." He and Daniel walked through the house. Not even 30 seconds later another child's grand father came in and asked where his little one was. Randy jumped up ( faster than I have seen him move in a long time) and ran outside. This little boy was laying on the rug on the playhouse almost asleep. That is why Randy did not see him when he visually swept the play yard for any other children.

We are not perfect.

We will never be perfect.

But we try.

We followed protocol and tried to call the mother. I called licensing to self report. When Candace finally got back in touch with me I was told I needed to call the Child Abuse Hotline. SERIOUSLY? UGh... I have battled in my heart a few times about calling the hotline about a child's safety but now I have to CALL ON MYSELF because a child laid on the rug in the playhouse and Randy missed him. It is in a locked gate. But.. I did. I answered all their questions . Who is the victim ? Who is the perpetrator ? Double Ugh... I thought I would throw up. At the end of the call , I was put on hold and when they came back they said due to the age of the child and the time he was alone that it would not be taken under investigation but Randy would need to go to a supervision class. So, he is. It does go in our file. The picture below is a new system we have set up that should ensure that this doesnt happen again. As the kids come in the gate it is noted who goes in. As they leave it is noted.

I am sorry... really. That whole afternoon I felt like I could crawl in a hole.

But , I have to face that we are not perfect. I am thankful no one was hurt.

How many providers has this happened to ?

How many providers would call in on themselves ?

How many would tell everyone what happened?

That is who I am. That is how I do it.

I hope this doesnt affect how you feel about the care that we provide or the safety of your child. I feel as a " family" you deserve to know the ups AND downs.. this was a down.

For those of you that had somehow found out about this before me telling you today , thank you for coming in to tell us that you still trust us and understood that this was an honest mistake . Thank you for asking what happened and not feeding the gossip mill. Thank you for reminding me how hard we work and that it is times like this that make it all worth it when you stand beside us to say " you really do a great job. "

Shortcomings are hard for me to swallow but.. the bottom line is - I cant change it. Life.. is a series of mistakes that we learn from.

The kids enjoyed seeing how much their grass had grown today. When I get home , we will give the grass a haircut.

Dillion playing with the marker board.

The flubber is still popular !

Randy did another experiment today. This one was called " dancing raisins."

We did a visual today for a nursery rhyme. Can you guess which one ?

This is the old egg in vinegar trick. In a few days we will take the egg out and the shell will have disappeared.

We did find out the egg in the vinegar floats and the egg in the water does not.

Good night...