Aimin enjoys his painting, choosing to remain on task even when his friends call to enter their truck play.  He continues until he is happy with the results and then shows it to the teacher who is standing close by.  “I like red,” Aimin explains.

William uses his skills of inclusiveness with Will as the boys share and investigates the doll’s house.  They work through planning of the furniture, turn-taking with the space and then they work on how to place the small dolls in the house.  William chooses his pieces of furniture to place in places that he is familiar with home.  He has certain ideas about this and he places together bathroom furniture.  He has a bath, sink and a toilet.  He understands that they go together.  Next floor the lounge.  He places chairs and a couch in this space along with a small doll and a table.  William continued to add his understanding of this learning bring his home life into his centre play.

Although most of William’s time is spent in the main room, he still enjoys and sorts out the company of his friends from the under 2 ½ room.  Today the children from the under 2 ½ room were outside in the main room enjoying the laager space and the physical equipment.  William came to join them and explore all the climbing he could.  Jo asked at one stage asked if he needed help, only to be met with a firm “No”.  William has confidence in this experience and will often take risks to see how far he can go unaided, but on the other hand if he feels unsure he will ask for help.

William has a great sense of humour and today he uses this in play.  Joining some friends in the tyre, he found this to be a great hiding place.  At the same time Aroha was calling clean up time.  What did William and some friends do.  They bobbed down and when they were ready the pooped out of the tyre yelling “Boo”.  This was then followed by a huge amount of laughing.

Working together on a common goal is much better done with a friend.  Brooke was working on taking the sand out of the blue container.  William found the tool he needed and moved in close to start digging.  William respected Brooke and said “I help”.  Brooke was excited at the thought of help and the two worked together to empty some of the sand until something else took their interest.

William has moved into the main room well.  As he transitions he will become more familiar with the routines and events that happen there and he will understand that this is a safe place for him.  He is able to make all his own choices in play and as he has a non intrusive nature he can and does move into play with ease respecting other children.  William does enjoy reconnecting with his friends from the under 2 ½ room but at the same time he is working hard on making new friends in the main room.  Great start to transitioning William.

William has been developing an interest in the happenings over the fence since last year and now he is two the realisation of being able to go through the gate has come to reality.

Recognize: What is happening:

William will be guided and encouraged to participate in centre routines, customs and regular events from a range of contexts that enrich his learning.

Respond: What next:

William will be supported in the main room to a point where he is comfortable and shows readiness and confidence as he explores areas and feels comfortable with his peers and teachers. William will be fostered in areas of routines and events such as hand washing and mat times.

Week ending 10th Feb 2012

William enjoys the company of others.  He has moved from one on one play to having a small group around him.  Now that he is able to move freely between the two rooms, William is able to make more defined choices in his play.  He is a listener and with this comes the element of offering.  He offers ideas and thoughts to the play along with respecting the other children’s point of view around him.  Joining Carter and Johnny at the trains there was a lot of working through connecting and disconnecting depending on where the tracks fit.  Great communication and trailing tracks and trains with your new friends William.

Because William moves well into group play he has no fear at moving into play that is already in action.  He takes with him the tools needed to join the play and he is non intrusive in this play.

William has a lot of trust in people and he is more than happy to go with them when the needs arise, especially when Aroha needed to put sunscreen on him to protect his skin.

I have seen a pattern in his play of turn taking and offering with respect of other children.  As William transitions I look forward to seeing how this area develops in his learning at Aroha.

On the days that Cooper comes to the centre he and his sister are often the first ones there.  What does this mean for Cooper, it means that he can and does experience the main room at his leisure thus I believe helping him to feel comfortable when his time comes that he can stay there unaided.  Cooper is often found in the art areas of the room.  Cooper has the confidence and curiosity to give almost everything a once over, then deciding if he will return to have another go.  I look forward to watching this area develop for him as he maintains interests in the main. room.

A budding artist

Hay Cooper what are you doing?  Cooper looks up and with that beautiful smile shows me he is drawing.  Cooper has developed a real love for the arts.  He can fetch his own tools and knows what goes where and how to take responsibility for the equipment. Like putting the lids on the pen and only drawing on the paper.  Cooper has started to talk about his art tell teachers what he has drawn.  Today he drew a truck, a red truck.

A cutting success

Later in the morning Cooper moved with Jo to another table.  He again gathered what he needed and after watching some of the older children he set with the scissors and paper.  Placing the paper on the table, he held the scissors with both hands.  Using the scissors in an up and down motion he cut several lines along his paper.  Cooper is exploring this new skill with commitment and perseverance with demonstration that he can and does use the tools safely.

A great painter

Cooper has a great understanding of the expectations when he paints.  He is able to fetch the paint shirt himself.  Asking for help he understands that his abilities and accepts what he can and cannot do alone.  However when ready he explores the paints to great length.  After some encouragement he will paint the paper only, no hands ah Cooper.

Science discoveries

Water play is another area of the arts he enjoys.  Pouring and splashing are all part of art.  The cause and effect of what happens when we add things to the water has Cooper interested.  As Cooper has a natural curiosity he will explore with many objects.  This is also a new area of learning for Cooper as science is a part for his learning but unknown to him.  Jo talked about this with Cooper asking questions like “I wonder what else can sink or float”.  I look forward to investigating this area further with Cooper.

Texas today we were back outside and having fun.  Texas you and your friend Kaylee were in the sandpit setting up your latest business venture.  Texas you asked me if I wanted a pie and I agreed.  Texas you helped your friend Kaylee who was the chef and then you were the bakery owner who ran the business side of the venture taking my order and my money.  Texas it is fantastic to see your social skills develop while playing with your friends and it is great to see your imagination develop to take the play of making sand pies in a different direction.  Texas I am really enjoying seeing your creative, thinking, and social skills develop and I look forward to seeing what adventures they take you on next.

February 2012

Texas it was a beautiful summer’s day and you were keen to demonstrate your imagination once again.  Texas your friend Kaylee asks you if you want to go to the movies, and you agree.  Texas out on the grass area a group of boys was practicing their rugby techniques.  Texas you and your friend Kaylee sit on the seats facing the boys and begin watching them.  Texas you allow me to join you then you announce that you are going to get the popcorn, so you go and find some buckets from the sandpit as well as empty plastic bottles.  Texas, sitting on the seat pretending to eat popcorn and drinking our drinks while we watch the boys falling over in their tackling attempts was fun to be part of.  Texas you have an amazing imagination and the characters and scenarios that you develop when you put on a piece of clothing to so much fun to participate in.  Texas I look forward to seeing what other ideas and characters you create as well as the props you design to make it so realistic.

February 2012

Peyton it was a lovely warm day today in Gore and we were all outside enjoying the sunshine.  Soon grey clouds began to gather and Peyton you and I along with some of your friends started talking about how it would be good if it did start to rain.  We talked about how we need rain for the plants, and animals to live and how we need rain to fill the rivers and lakes for wildlife and for people to play in and on.  Peyton this got you thinking about how you enjoy swimming and how you have been swimming with your family on many occasions.  Peyton you then decided to demonstrate how you swim by showing us how you move your arms and legs.  Peyton it was awesome to see your friends soon joining in as you ‘swam’ around the bird bath.  Peyton I am really enjoying watching your creativity, self-expression, observation and thinking skills continue to develop and I am looking forward to seeing where they will continue to take you.

February 2012

Peyton today you were back in the water play area with your paint shirt on, sleeves rolled up and a plethora of pots, spoons, containers and other items in the water trough.  Peyton today you decided to take on the role of chef at one of the local restaurants.  Peyton you used to water and objects along with your imagination to create a wonderful banquet of scrumptious food.  Peyton as you were cooking you were telling me and the other children about what you were cooking and the guests who were coming to dine at your restaurant.  Peyton it is fantastic to see you continue to create scenarios about events and places that you are involved in with your family and friends outside of Aroha Early Learning Centre.  Peyton this demonstrates that you are continuing to develop great learning skills such as creativity, self-expression, observation and thinking skills.  Peyton as you have more experiences I look forward to seeing them mirrored in your learning.

February 2012

Kaylee today  we were back outside and having fun.  Kaylee you come up to me and ask me to come to taste some of your pies that you were baking because you are the ‘best pie maker in the world’.  Kaylee I follow you to the sandpit and you sit me down on edge while you prepare the food with your friend Texas.  Kaylee you then use the sand and the sifters to make a range of ‘pies’  I ask you what flavours the pies are and you proudly rattle off the names of your selections including banana, apple, and meat.  Kaylee it was fantastic to see you continue to use your imagination in your role playing as you became a top baker.  Kaylee you had so much fun being a baker today and creating your beautiful pies that looked so delicious I could almost smell them.

February 2012

Kaylee it was a beautiful summers day and you were keen to explore the dress ups once again.  Kaylee you went into the dress ups and found an Hawaiian shirt that was bright, loud and violent.  Kaylee you then turn to your friend Texas and tell her that you could wear this shirt to the movies.  Kaylee out on the grass area a group of boys were practicing their rugby techniques.  Kaylee you and your friend Texas sit on the seats facing the boys and begin watching them.  “Tania we watching a movie” you proudly tell me.  I say that sounds like a great idea and ask if I could join you.  Kaylee you allow me to join you then you announce that you are going to get the popcorn.  Kaylee, sitting on the seat pretending to eat popcorn while we watch the boys falling over in their tackling attempts was fun to be part of.  Kaylee you have an amazing imagination and the characters and scenarios that you develop when you put on a piece of clothing to so much fun to participate in.  Kaylee I look forward to seeing what other ideas and characters you create.

February 2012