Oak Room
Welcome to the Oak Room!
I'd like to welcome all the families to our new Toddler Program! We have seven very busy children in the Oak Room. Mrs. Spodek and I are looking forward to a wonderful year with you and your children. It has been a great journey for me to help start the Toddler Ministry (and what an exciting process it has been!) but I feel as though the journey has just begun. I watch the room come alive as the children enter - although there is never any sitting for me.
Our day begins in the arrival area where each child has a cubby. The children know the first thing they do is change into their inside shoes, and we work together to get those tough shoes on. There is evident joy when a child is able to reach a new step in putting on his/her shoes. A phrase that I hear daily is "Me do it."
With their shoes conquered, the children are free to explore the classroom. Shelves in a Toddler Community are simple, orderly and beautiful. It is typical for there to be only two works/activities on a shelf. The clear order in the room helps the child know where something is and where to put it back. There is a lot of information that a child of two is absorbing in his day, and having a clear order in his environment helps prevent him from being over stimulated. Some areas of focus in the classroom are language, practical life, and sensory-motor development (such as hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills). We also have activities that include art, movement and music.
Consistency and routine are an important aspect in our day. Mid-morning we sing songs together (the children already have their favorites). After songs, everyone participates in helping set up for snack and we eat together. Our meals together help establish a sense of community, and the children are developing grace and courtesy around the table. Following snack, we spend time outside and this concludes our morning.
I have truly enjoyed these first days with your children. I continue to be amazed at all they learn each day - a new word or a new understanding of a concept. It's almost as though I can see their brains working and this is manifested through their joy. They are patient with me as well - we've had a fish tank without fish for about a week now.
Thanks for all that you do to support CMS and the Toddler Program! This is a great year we have ahead of us!
Sincerely,
Miss Amy Rice