Hi, everyone.
Since telling kids that summer is coming soon, we have been counting down our last green dot days together. 9, 8, 7… and now, there are 4 remaining school days.
As we count down, and kids continue to process this information (possible new schools or classes, lots of summer days with family, summer camps, and no longer being together as this class soon), we’ve heard a few comments here and there: I’m going to miss you when I can’t see you. Oh! We can have play dates at the park! I won’t be at this school anymore. I’m going on a trip. We will continue to keep our comments short and honest as we talk through the changes and acknowledge what we are hearing. We are also highlighting the positives, and providing suggestions (calling a friend, sending mail, looking at our classroom face page and yearbook of photos each family will receive in order to evoke memories). We will again point out that there will be lots and lots of summertime days, and school starting again will be a long time away. Some kids have enjoyed making their own calendars with templates we’ve provided. Green, red and now other colored dot days that kids have thought up, Purple dot days are when there’s swimming.
We’ve continued to revisit some familiar things that we’ve become fond of at school. Teachers have made a new batch of playdough, and kids are reviewing some favorite books after snack. We have also been recalling songs we’ve learned so long ago, and kids have been requesting some group time favorites: It rained a mist, The seed song, Herman the worm, Icky sticky bubblegum, I’m gonna ride my bike, Itsy bitsy spider, Thunderstorm, When I was a little fish, I was going to Kentucky, The bed song, Mr. Golden Sun, Your shoes - my shoes, The nickel song, A tisket a tasket, 3 little fishies, 5 orange pumpkins, and 2 little blackbirds.
In order to demonstrate our year is coming to a close, kids have started to help us scrub our water table, and clean classroom items such as art stencils and various toys that will be put away.
Have you been hearing any of this news at home? Do you have a favorite Park West song stuck in your head now, too?
Below are photos from the last few weeks.
We are looking forward to spending our last 4 green dot days together next week.
Best,
Anita and Sarah
