A Typical Day In Kindergarten          In our Reggio Inspired program the children flow from one learning activity to another.    As educators we teach with intention and follow the BC Early Learning Framework which encourages us to offer both a place based nature program and play based experiences for your children. To nurture independent habits of mind the children begin their indoor morning with familiar routines such as undressing, completing a check in and transitioning to a table activity and is followed by a transition to literacy or math play.  During exploration one teacher is observing while the second is in the  Atelier , supporting learners.  Here are some examples of our Reggio Emilia program: Digging and pouring in a sensory table Spacious learning areas  to support experiences like block building Experimenting with art and drawing on an easel, paper, or other materials Discovering insects, leaves, and flowers, and sorting and collecting things they find in the playground...

The BC Early Learning Framework places an emphasis on process learning with materials that are open ended and encourage children to use their imagination and creativity. It is presented as some of the most important experiences to offer our young learners. I believe that block play is an excellent centre to provide your learners with both open ended play and provide opportunities to grow creativity, imaginative play alongside social emotional learning as children learn to play collaboratively. This is and has always been my favourite spot in my early learning classroom. I have made the biggest investment in time, money and program and I consistently see tremendous growth in children through this centre. While there are substantial barriers to Kindergarten classrooms having a really great block centre, it does have the potential to become the largest, most popular and valuable learning centre in an early learning environment. It will also be your most expensive centre. It takes planning...

Dear Families, I hope that you are enjoying this time together as our family has. We have been playing board games, doing puzzles, baking and lots of cooking, sleeping in and spending time in nature. With the increase in COVID numbers we have really hunkered down and stayed close to home over the past weeks as I am sure many of you have. We loved having Ms. Macdonald with us for three weeks and enjoyed many mornings offsite at the forest and seashore. Her kind, gentle approach enabled her to build strong relationships with your children.  She will return to classes in January and continue to visit a half day each week until her second practicum which begins the week of Feb 14th. As we transition into the cold and wet winter months, we will reduce our offsite mornings to 2 or 3 per week; Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays weather permitting . As much as possible we will begin our onsite mornings outdoors. Please dress your child for the colder weather including warm socks, mittens, hats an...

Good morning families, We have enjoyed our first week with Miss Macdonald and are loving having two teachers and a pre-service teacher in the classroom working  with   and supporting your children. Miss Macdonald's lessons will focus on providing the children with knowledge and strategies for mindfulness drawing upon our Social Emotional Curriculum. She will also be extending our pattern play to continue building this understanding with the Kinders. We are offering the children increased the opportunities for literacy play goals; concepts of print, letter names & sounds, producing a rhyme and beginning to recognize Kindergarten sight words.  Our teaching team has planned some special activities with your children for December which include: baking gingerbread cookies making a family gift christmas art for your home tree ornaments as a family gift family christmas card using water colours family story play using loose parts family traditions and celebrations   Pattern Tinker Box...