Notes

While December is a short month here at school, it is certainly a busy one.

Much of our activities in December revolve around the upcoming holidays, and we are adding some fun exercises with holiday themes. This month will go quickly because Thanksgiving was so late. Yet we continue to enjoy, for the most part, fairly moderate temperatures and sunshine even as we move quickly toward winter.

In Practical Life clementine peeling continues, as expected, to be very popular. The children are really doing a fine job of peeling and sectioning the fruit, cleaning up their work, and then passing the sections to their friends. Pumpkin scrubbing also remains on our shelf. Other exercises that will further enhance fine motor skills are making holiday bracelets in red, green and white as well as blue and white for Hanukkah. We will also use red and white beads to make candy canes with pipe cleaners. Basting continues, but with a smaller baster which is in preparation for our use of small dropper bottles in January. There are also some new spooning, tweezing and straining activities using tiny holiday objects.

In Sensorial we will add more geometric solids to our baskets which now include( in addition to the cones, spheres, cubes and pyramids), cylinders and rectangular and triangular prisms. We have many new holiday puzzles and of course our art projects will reflect holiday themes. In Language and Math new holiday matching, sequencing and counting will be brought in. At this time of year our students are very excited, and so our aim is to continue to bring in new exercises and to have our shelves full of colorful and interesting materials so that they remain busy, productive and happy.

Our Peace Curriculum is ongoing, and, as mentioned last month, we have had lots of discussions about what peace means and how to express our feelings whether happy or sad. We used some great large pictures of children asking our students if the pictures showed children being peaceful (kind, productive, happy, etc.) or not so peaceful (feeling angry, not sharing, not being kind). We also showed and then created at the art table our classroom lotus candle which is a symbol of Peace. We are happy to report that the children really seem to be understanding the importance of kind acts, and many have told us that they have done something peaceful. It may be giving up a sought after seat on circle next to the teacher, changing a partner willingly, sharing a puzzle with another who may not be a close friend, comforting a classmate in need, etc. They then, with our encouragement, run back to the Peace Bowl and add a stone.

We have also begun to work on conflict resolution, an important skill to develop in any community. We have placed on the Peace Table next to the Peace Bowl a small vase with our Peace Flower. During the course of any day in nursery school, difficulties may arise between children. These conflicts are usually relatively minor and may be related to wanting a certain partner to walk outside, sitting next to someone on circle, teacher or student, working or playing with a particular child or group, or having to wait before starting a favorite activity that someone else has already begun. Sometimes a child will be very open about the reasons he or she is upset, and at other times we see the problem happening in real time. When we become aware of a situation that may be causing one or both children involved to become upset, we guide them to our Peace Corner where they have, with our help, the opportunity to express to each other what they are feeling by taking turns holding the Peace Flower. On circle we have read Alicia Olson’s wonderfully simple little book called “The Peace Rose”. After reading it we highlight with dramatic play acting, the kinds of problems that may develop. We then show how to solve them by taking turns holding the Peace Flower while expressing their sad or angry feelings. Sometimes these conversations, particularly in the younger class, have to be encouraged by the teacher. As important as it is for our students to feel like they are being heard as they air their grievances in a calm and quiet way, it is also important that they develop the art of listening. All of this takes lots of practice, but we have a start on it, and we will continue to practice conflict resolution through the year.

We wish all of our Parkside families a happy holiday season which will hopefully include some fun activities, as well as some rest, relaxation and peace. We look forward to continuing our work with your little ones in 2025 as their enthusiasm, affection, resiliency and joy keep us focused, engaged and hopeful.

“The holidays are a time to reconnect

with loved ones, strengthen bonds and

create lasting memories. Cherish every moment.”