“All About Me”
Winter 2016 is a new learning season at Buddings and the teachers have new directions for Big Kids Club.
My class is staying on Tuesdays, from 1 to 4 pm, and with the new year, my new class will be called “All About Me”. Our friend Polly the fairy has decided to stay in Vancouver for the winter, and since we all love her so much, she will keep us sending letters.
In “All About Me,” children will be talking about themselves, and we’re focusing on social skills, especially especially, especially… confidence, which is super important.
Our twelve weeks will be divided into four different topics:
1. My 2016 Year
Last week was the first “All About Me” Tuesday topic and children learned about resolutions and they made a collage to explain their resolutions for 2016. Simon said he wanted a blue pet and mentioned he wanted to go on a field trip with his cousins.
During these first weeks children will learn the different ways people celebrate the new year around the world and we will be having some different craft activities depending on the country we are learning about. They will learn about diversity in a fun way – by making crafts.
2. All Families are Special
Families are the most important thing in everyone’s lives and at Buddings we know that! We know as well that every family is different and that’s what makes them special. We will be reading The Family Book by Todd Parr. This is one of my favourite books at Buddings and it is more even special because one of our buddies, Maksim, gave it to us as a gift so we can learn more about all the different types of families together.
We will be making lots of crafts as we learn to make a family tree, answer about why families are important, and the children will make (and listen to) presentations about their families.
3. This is Me
Children will be talking about themselves a lot. In March, we will be bringing a shoe box (which they can decorate, of course) and inside their super special box will be things that are special for them and they will explain why it is special in front of their friends. It could be a toy, a photo, a small rock, anything that fits inside the box and as many things they want to bring. Children will practice listening to others and will learn that we all like or dislike different things but that’s what makes us unique and special.
4. Feelings
At such a young age, it is hard for some children to express what they are feeling. Therefor, on our last weeks in “All About Me,” children will practice ways of expressing themselves by using words and even sign language.
Yeah, we will be learning some sign language to learn the different ways in which people can communicate what they are feeling or thinking.
They will be learning as well ways in which they could make themselves feel better when they are upset, angry, or sad about something.
Going for a walk, talking about it, telling a teacher or their parents, throwing soft balls, those are some of the things that can help.
Don’t miss out our next “All About Me” Big Kids Club next Tuesday from 1-4 for more learning adventures. Our weekly program has fieldtrips every week, and next week the Tuesday kids and I will be having our first fieldtrip to the Vancouver Public Library to grab some books about resolutions and families. See you there!
