first day

Here's what was on the schedule for Madeline's first day at Little Learners:

• decorate nametags with stickers
• decorate folder (to hold art projects) with Crayola pseudo-oil pastels and more stickers
• story-and-song time
• art activity - painting the palm of the hand with a paintbrush, then making a print on a piece of cardstock
• free play - with animal figures or playdough
• more songs and goodbye ritual

Phew. It may not sound like much, but Madeline and I am both a little wiped out from this. The morning just flew by! She wasn't much into the songs and storytime, preferring to sit with a book of her own choosing, but she enjoyed the art project (the paintbrush tickled her hand) and loved exploring the other activities in the classrooms. I think she was impressed to see gigantic version of some of her favourite books. The Very Hungry Caterpillar isn't so little when the book is two feet high, no matter what he hasn't yet eaten!

I thought it was really cute to see a hook with "Madeline" spelled out below it in the teeny tiny coat room in the facilty. It was too warm for jackets today, but next week I hope that Madeline will get to try it out. I was also impressed to see the facility plastered in signs requesting that no peanuts, tree nuts, fish, or kiwis be brought onto the premises, which a little blurb underneath about common early childhood allergies.

Madeline is supposed to arrive next week with a photograph of herself for her teacher, and a completed survey about her favourite things. I'm also supposed to note the things that I hope she learns from being in this program for the year. I've jotted down co-operation, sharing, better listening skills, but I'm stuck for ideas beyond that. Am I supposed to say that want her to be able to spell her name and do single-digit addition? I'm more interested in age-appropriate social skills, I must admit.

Comments

[Jaime]

The first year Nikyla was in Nursery school they asked what my goal was and I said just for her to have fun and enjoy herself. I think it helped her find her likes and dislikes as well as the social aspect and independant in a large group. I think that there is nothing wrong with just putting social skills, it's just as important.