This past week, we incorporated “Specials” into our classroom schedule. Each day, the teachers lead a specific special during the designated time.
We focus on Yoga & Mindfulness, Fitness Fun, Spanish and Author of the Month. We also have a day where we rotate special days, like Bike Day, Pajama Day, Cooking as well as Positive Education.
During Fitness Fun, our theme was “Following Directions” and played the game Simon Says. We also listened to “Move with Me” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoF_d5sgGgc) to follow directions while moving our bodies. Some other great videos to listen to and follow directions are: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkO8DaPIyXo and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkO8DaPIyXo.
During Yoga & Mindfulness, started with “Dance for the Sun” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DXMc0WaPws and allowed the children to dance however they want to dance while listening to the song. We then played “Every Little Cell” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGQGMk03waI. We then took a break to calm our minds and bodies and shared how we are feeling. We checked in with our bodies to see how their bodies feel and checked on our hearts. We then introduced the Tree Pose (practice holding the pose and counting how long can hold on each leg). We then ended with lying on our backs with our eyes closed and listened to “How to be a Cloud” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky7iePRLjMA.
We are focusing on Margaret Wise Brown during our Author of the Month. Some of her great books are The Big Red Barn, Goodnight Moon, The Runaway Bunny, Good Day/Good Night and When the Wind Blew.
Ms. Rose Clemmens, one of our teachers from our Crownsville location, is leading Spanish this year. For the first day, we focused on the words hello (hola) and goodbye (adios).
As I stated before, we shifted our preschool into a Positive Preschool last year where we have implemented Positive Psychology into our entire day, whether that’s reminding to take some breaths to calm our mind and body or shifting our mindset from a negative outlook to a positive one.
For anyone that is not familiar with Positive Psychology, the scientific definition is the study of strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive. It was founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves and to enhance their experiences of love, work, and play.
Each month, Mrs. Brianna Beverly (Director of Glen Burnie), Mrs. Whitney Carr (Director of Crownsville) and I (Executive Director) have a meeting where we focus on how to incorporate all that was learned from the Positive Education program and give the teachers the tools for in the classroom, with the children as well as activities, tips, techniques for families at home. Also, we have teambuilding opportunities, fun facts, and informative information for the staff as well.
Please keep an eye out from your child’s teacher or site director with detailed information every week!
Be sure to come back next week with more information on Positive Psychology!!!
