Music Class

Once a week, our music teacher Ms. Christine, visits the full day early childhood classrooms at Barnes, Trombly, Monteith and Ferry. The children love when she plays the ukulele! Children have opportunities to explore vocal pitch, rhythm, speed, and a variety of musical genres. Music can bring together children and adults of all developmental levels and ages. Music supports many areas of our curriculum including giving children confidence in moving through space, gaining control over their bodies, and the ability to keep a steady beat. It exposes them to aspects of language such as rhymes and alliterations, and gives them opportunities to express themselves and build a strong sense of self. Music and movement activities support Bilateral Coordination which helps children use both sides of their body together. This coordination supports skills needed for reading and writing. We are so fortunate to have this special weekly music time in addition to the music and movement our classroom teachers are providing each day! 

#woyc18

Today begins the National Week of the Young Child 2018! This annual celebration is hosted by the National Associate for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Our classes have different activities planned for each day. Teachers will also be sending home some activity ideas for home, and informational articles from NAEYC. Check back at the end of the week to see pictures!

Music Monday

Tasty Tuesday

Work Together Wednesday

Artsy Thursday

Family Friday

Sunshine

We have been enjoying the sunshine and warm weather by making the outdoors an extension of our learning space! In addition to free play time where students can run, climb, swing, and hang out with friends, we have been bringing our learning centers outside. Outdoor learning activities include things like a nature scavenger hunt, the sand and water table, drawing pictures at the picnic table, using the parachute and playing large group games. Throughout the rest of the school year and summer, we will be maximizing our time outside. Please be sure to send in sunscreen and a water bottle for your child!

Drumming

Our Zumba teacher, Ms. Michelle, is bringing drumming to the Barnes Early Childhood Center this summer. Drumming is a switch from our regular Zumba class but still incorporates music, movement and physical activity in a fun way! Using a bucket, a large exercise ball and drum sticks- children have the opportunity to follow a rhythmic routine, create a beat, and interact with music. We are excited to continue drumming throughout the summer.

Yoga Night

Thanks to all who supported our Family Yoga Night and Art Auction! Thank you to Trader Joe's for snack donations, and Ms. T.J for leading our yoga class. We had a great time and appreciate all of your support! More detailed information regarding fundraising totals and our next steps will be sent out this week.

Art Auction and Yoga Night Fundraiser

 

Our Art Auction is on display in the main hallway and open for bidding! Each classroom worked together to create their masterpiece. Along with the canvas, you will see documentation of the children in action, as well as the ideas and conversations they had. This Art Auction goes along with our Family Yoga Night on Friday April 22, 2016.

As previously mentioned, our school has been celebrating the National Month of the Young Child with an emphasis on physical activity and healthy eating. Family Yoga Night is a great addition to this celebration.

All donations from Yoga Night and the Art Auction will be going directly to our playground fundraiser. We are in the beginning phases of fundraising for an infant and toddler play structure. This structure meets safety requirements for children 6 months- 24 months of age, and is compliant with our licensing regulations.

We can't wait to join together with our school family tomorrow night for yoga, art and healthy living!

We owe a big thank you to our yoga teacher Ms. T.J for leading our yoga class, and also to Trader Joe's for donating healthy snacks!

Hope to see you there!!

Winter Play

Winter is here! Children at the Barnes Early Childhood Center will continue to play outside as long as the weather is 20 degrees or above, including the wind chill. Please send in boots, snow pants, hats and gloves labeled with your child's name. Outdoor play provides benefits for children year round! In the winter months, germs and bacteria can grow in the stale indoor air. Getting outside provides a refreshing break for our bodies and our immune systems. The winter also provides for outdoor play activities which are not available in the summer.

Physical activity and having fun is always in season!!

Music and Movement

Ella Fitzgerald once said, "The only thing better than singing is more singing". We are about to be doing a lot more singing over at the GPPSS Child Development and Preschool Program!

Back in May, our program was awarded a grant from the Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education for the creation of Music and Movement Resource Kits. We have completed the process of ordering materials and assembling the kits! Each of the four kits consists of a classroom set of instruments, various dancing scarves, a puppet, and a large group material- such as a canopy or octa-band. Two of the kits contain instruments that are safe for infants and toddlers. In addition, we were able to create a lending library with books related to music, instruments and music concepts. These books will be available for teachers to check out and use in their classrooms as well. 

This week, our staff went through a training session to test out the new materials, share ideas and review information about the importance of music in the earliest years. Our teachers are now ready and equipped to begin using the Resource Kits in their classrooms. 

We are grateful that the Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education made this vision a reality for us. We are excited that everyone in our program, birth through age five, will be able to participate in music experiences!

A group of teachers test out the XL Stretchy Band

Practicing with an octa-band for large group movement