our daily rhythm..
Our Windsong mornings move gently through our activities, with transitions that are invited through song or verse to move the child into changes without abruptness.
We begin our mornings with creative play, and whatever doings are part of that day's snack or activity. For instance, on Monday, (known as 'Rice Day' at Windsong), the children bring an apple, and come in our door to the smell of our rice cooking, and the apple peeler awaiting their apple, and the painting jars set out on the table for the 'painting helper' of that week to fill. The children each peel their apple, paints are poured, our table set, ..all whilst a myriad of creative play ensues around us. When it grows close to time for putting away our toys, the children hear, quietly sung: "Its almost time to clean our room; not quite yet, but it will be soon...." The teacher begins to tidy a bit, then the children hear: "I know a dusty little gnome, He says we now may clean our home..." and it is time to begin our clean-up in earnest. We will tidy our room, and ride our ''train' around the corner to set up our dish washing station upon it. We'll then gather: "Let us make a Circle, we'll make a golden ring..." And the children hold hands to begin our Circle of games and verse. We're invited one-by-one to the snack table..and we are so hungry! The 'cloth helper' passes out our peppermint smelling cloths to clean hands, water and tea are poured, we light our candle and bless our meal, and we enjoy our little feast. As the children finish their snack, their dishes are rinsed, they use the bathroom, find the proper apron for the day, and we have finger games on our stairs as we wait for everyone to be ready. Then together we go into the big kitchen for our 'activity' for the day (painting, coloring, baking). Next, we slip into 'Storyland'. For one week the children simply listen quietly to our story, without books or pictures - just listening with their own imaginations to fill the pictures. The second week, the story is told through a puppet show. Sometimes, the story continues for a third week, and the children act out the story. After the story, we go outside for work and play. We bring Mopsy a treat, and the chickens, and the 'chicken helper' can check for an egg...?! Then, after a sail on our ship or a bakery of sand cakes or the harvesting of potatoes, or...we come in and wash up and eagerly unpack delicious lunches brought from home... Then the good parents arrive. Monday is 'Rice Day' or Painting Day Tuesday is 'Soup Day' or Coloring Day Wednesday is 'Millet Muffin Day' or Baking Day Thursday is 'Apple Crisp Day' or Painting Day Friday is 'Gnome Porridge Day' or Baking Day ..even the colors of the cloths and the teacher's aprons change with the days of the week, to build a consistency for the child. 
a puppet show: Fairy cradles..
"Give people a fact or an idea and you enlighten their minds; Tells them a story and you touch their souls." - - Hasidic proverb
|
building a pond..?
"Monday is my milking day,
Tuesday, skimming off the cream, Wednesday's when the butter's churned, And packed away each Thursday, Friday's when I bake all day, Saturday is market day, On Sunday, off to church I trod. Thanks be to thee, Almighty God." (from: 'Around the Year', by Elsa Beskow) 
a birthday story..
|
