Finley with mom (Molly) and dad (William)

Today, Finley jumped into his new classroom with enthusiasm, exploring every corner, making new friends, and enjoying playtime. To top it all off, his grandparents came to visit, adding an extra touch of joy to his day!
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In Room 3, the teachers—Maya, Sus, and Charlotte—welcomed him warmly, guiding him through the ins and outs of the class. Finley also delighted in getting to know the children playing outside, watching them through the window with curiosity and excitement. He moved through the day with a confidence that made it clear: school felt like home to him from the very start!

Look at this special moment when Rowan shows Finley how to play the recorder.
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Last week, Mia, Rosie, Rosa, and Isabella embarked on two delightful adventures outside, each brimming with discovery and joy.
On our first walk, the sun kissed our skin, and the air was alive with the sounds of nature. Rosa was captivated by the vibrant leaves, her curious fingers gently tracing their contours as if uncovering secrets hidden within. Isabella joined the fun, playfully shuffling her feet through the colorful foliage, sending a flurry of leaves dancing around her. Mia, with wide eyes sparkling with curiosity, took in every sight and sound, while Rosie basked in the warmth of the sun, savoring her milk like a refreshing treat on a summer day.
Our second outing brought us to a charming picnic spot! This was our first outdoor feast, and it turned out to be a delightful success. After enjoying a delicious lunch together, Rosie transformed into an intrepid explorer, her hands busy as she investigated the rough bark of a nearby tree and the delicate leaves that swayed gently in the breeze. Meanwhile, Rosa found a moment of tranquility, savoring her milk as she took in the beauty around her. Mia, full of wonder, danced her toes through the lush grass, relishing the tickle of nature beneath her feet. Each moment was a new adventure, filled with laughter and the magic of the great outdoors!

Every day that you drop off and pick up your child from Room 3, you stand across from a poem that is at the heart of the Reggio Emilia Inspired Approach. The 100 Languages, speaks to the many many languages that all  children use to interact, understand and communicate with the world and how, with age and interaction with said world, those languages are whittled down. One of our main jobs is to recognize, allow space for, and nurture as many of those languages so as to help them develop and maintain multiple fluencies throughout their life. 

With that idea in mind, "literacy", usually defined as the ability to read and write, blows open to beyond the written word and encompasses the ability to read the world and write back to it, in many languages. 

Above, Mia is exploring the language of clay, the language of tactile sensation and manipulation, the languages of safety, joy, curiosity and exploration. She squeals and splats her hands down - the watery clay splashes up and speaks of wet, and cause and effect, force and impact. The reality is that we do not know exactly what language(s) she is hearing and speaking.  We can observe, make informed guesses, offer more experiences that may expand those languages and guard her space to practice and expand her literacies. 
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We offered clay a couple of times in September.
There was a little poking and tasting, but they did not seem too interested.
Maya had the idea above, to offer it in a range of consistencies: water, a clay slip and a slab.

Interest UNLOCKED.

By starting with a more familiar (and loved) entry point of water, clay in liquid and solid form,
suddenly became accessible, intriguing, delicious? No, but worth a try. 

Although we do not know the exact conversation,
or even which exact languages
we acknowledge that proverbial hands were shaken,
the situation read in a significant way,
and then written out like this.

and this.

And then each individual leaves the table with their one more experience of learning and literacy.
​And we come back next week and do it again!

Last week, Rosa and Rowan had a chance to explore the theatre for the first time! Both were interested in their reflections. There were a lot of smiles, giggles, and dancing from Maya. 

Today, Isabella's grandmother (Gita) and Rosie's grandmother (Granna) came to play and eat lunch. At lunch time with Granna's food looking very interesting, Rosie wasn't interested in her lunch anymore. Granna was more than happy to share her lunch with Rosie.
Gita had a very fun time hanging with Isabella and got some one on one time with Isabella outside. 

Orange, orange, orange.
 Yellow, brown, blue.
A sunny pumpkin patch and 
A painting- day two.
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Isabella and Rowan
took to the canvas and pools of paint
Isabella was taken with the balls and walked the paper, 
Rowan was taken with the paint pump, and dabbled in the color.
At this stage the children are really just getting to know this substance, shaking its hand.
Seeing what it has to say, and if they are interested in having a conversation with it. 

A conversation was had.
The final documentation of that is up in Room 3.
Come on in and check it out!

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And then to another landscape dotted with orange,
The pumpkin patch was packed with BJS families. 
Corn and hay, sheep and chickens, wagons and tractors,
Little hands, running legs, sun-kissed cheeks,
 and pumpkins, so many pumpkins!
Here's a little glimpse...

Friends watched each other, mimicked movements and swished and swashed the paint through fingers and toes. They grabbed the familiar balls that felt somewhat... unfamiliar. They made familiar movements- slap, slap, slide and squeeze, that were also slightly different. They fiddled with brushes.

And they left their marks... on the paper, on the paint,

And the paint left its mark on them.