Wednesday, December 21, 2011

There are Magic Slides Carrying our Letters to Santa’s House!


After the trip to the post office, the teacher asked Henry: “How will our letters reach Santa?”

Henry sketched his theory:
“There’s a magic slide underneath the mailbox that can carry our letters all the way to the North Pole. So there are lots of magic slides because Santa gets mail from children all over the world. Sometimes when the slide is broken, the reindeer will carry the letters back to Santa. “

Monday, December 12, 2011

Oh Christmas Tree!

No need to cut down a tree! These children found some perfect items to make one!
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Friday, December 9, 2011

How Does He Do It?

There's not a single person fictional or real who has to do as much work as Santa. Travelling around the world in 24 hours, delivering millions of toys to children.
So how does he do it?
Here you go! Have a look at his projected route.
What a wonderful opportunity to do some mapping with the children.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

The Santa Claus Parade!


There is so much wonderful work that happens this time of the year. The magical stories of Santa, reindeer, elves, toys, and shopping flow freely through the classrooms. As teachers we are certain to find excellent  opportunities for the children to work on their story telling skills, mapping, math and so much more.
The spirit of generosity and humanity remains, as it should, in the heart of the work that we do, this time of the year and throughout the school term.
Happy Holidays to All!

Friday, December 2, 2011

Obituary for Childhood

Childhood was born at the beginning of time. He came into a world that promised him that he could run and play, discover and explore, think, investigate, and enjoy all the splendours that life had to offer. And for centuries the promise was kept. But all things change. And as time passed Childhood was plagued with Disease, Famine, Stife and Politics. Of all of these Politics did the worst damage to the soul of Childhood bringing him to the brink of extinction.
Politics, in all his glory and righteousness said, "I will send you to school and make you perfect. You will learn to sit in rows, be seen but not heard. You will stop your silly play and learn to read and write as soon as you can speak. You will walk with your eyes to the ground. You will not question the why and how of things simply accept the because. Zip your coats, see to your own needs, do not be concerned with napping, warm hugs, clean and dry clothes. Do not look to your teachers for comfort. Walk alone, eat in silence."

And Politics was cunning. He assured the Parents of Childhood that the classroom would be filled with riches.
It was never so. And as the years passed Childhood bore the burden of the seeds sown by Politics. His shoulders bent and his soul darkened and eventually he died.

Thank you Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario for the wonderful Full Time Kindergarten you have given the children of Ontario. What will your legacy be to them? I am relieved that my children are done with the school system. The full day kindergarten that has been forced upon them is a travesty.
Thank you to the teachers and administrators who have welcomed me into their schools so I could see for myself that, as expected, nothing of what Mr. McGuinty promised to implement is in place.
 For example, where are the large wooden blocks that we see on the Full Day learning commercial Not one of the 30 classrooms that I visited had blocks or toys for that matter.
So what do the children do all day?
Oh yes, they color photocopied apples.
No wonder Childhood withered and died!
You should have left him in the hands of Early Childhood Educators.
 Mr. McGuinty, why did you use Childhood to gain votes from unsuspecting Parents making them think that school is better for young children than preschool.
Parents still have a choice. Hopefully they will make the right one.
To those exceptional kindergarten teachers who are making a difference, this post is not for you!