"Do not the most moving moments of our lives find us without words?"
Marcel Marceau
And in the silence I was recalling many times when I have seen the benefits of Music in children in my classes. I can see how they themselves delight in a familiar song or dance or when they are swung high or jiggled like jelly. I have noticed this too captured in the photographs taken by Cathy in recent classes. The lens never lies and they have really brought a smile to my face this week. And I thank YOU for that since without these small people how could we possibly do without being 'moved' every now and then!
VicXX
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Sunday, 23 November 2008
The Photographic Evidence and an Invitation
You will notice that Cathy has been in class snapping pictures again this week. She really does take some excellent shots many of which you can see on the website and this blog.
I love looking at the photos. For me it really shows how engaged the children are in the classes. Sometimes it's difficult to gauge the children's reactions when you are the teacher as you are so consumed by the job in hand. The photographs snap moments in time and allow reflection and give me great job satisfaction.
For parents who have not been present in a part of the class it will also give great insight. Sometimes I marvel at the chaos that ensues when parents and siblings return into the Young Child class. It's certainly a challenge for me to keep it all together. One parent who stayed to watch a session recently commented on how engaged the children were right up until the parents came in.
So for those of you who wish. I really would like to invite you to sit in and watch a session (though you will have to take it in turns). You may well be amazed at what your child is getting out of the session.
For the rest of you, have a look at Cathy's website and look at the evidence for yourselves.
I love looking at the photos. For me it really shows how engaged the children are in the classes. Sometimes it's difficult to gauge the children's reactions when you are the teacher as you are so consumed by the job in hand. The photographs snap moments in time and allow reflection and give me great job satisfaction.
For parents who have not been present in a part of the class it will also give great insight. Sometimes I marvel at the chaos that ensues when parents and siblings return into the Young Child class. It's certainly a challenge for me to keep it all together. One parent who stayed to watch a session recently commented on how engaged the children were right up until the parents came in.
So for those of you who wish. I really would like to invite you to sit in and watch a session (though you will have to take it in turns). You may well be amazed at what your child is getting out of the session.
For the rest of you, have a look at Cathy's website and look at the evidence for yourselves.
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Christmas Party
Come and join us for our annual Christmas Party at the Hythe Community Centre, Wed 17th Dec, 11am - 1pm. A buffet lunch will be provided. Cost £5 per adult, £2 per child.
Suitable for 0 - 5 year olds.
Young Child Week 8
We had great fun in class today with the homemade percussion instruments. Some very unique creations which the children all delighted in telling us about. We used the instruments in our stormy weather composition.
Did you parents notice how well the children sang goodbye today? You may not have realised it, but everyone sang so beautifully in tune. This really excited me as not all of us were singing in tune 8 weeks ago. It proves that we can all learn pitch.
This week at home have fun with your green rhythm cards. Clap and say the patterns on each one. You could also try playing the patterns with your rhythm sticks. Can you remember how many beats on each card? I wonder if you could teach someone else in your family to play the cards.
If you missed the class this week or fancy some additional patterns to play have a look at these.
http://www.kodaly.org.au/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=19&Itemid=74
Scroll down the page to rhythm set 1 and download. You will notice that these patterns have note heads on - other than that they are the same as the ones we have been using in class. Each line has 4 beats. Remember it's 'ta' and 'ti-ti'.
Also in class this week we listened to some bird song. See what birds you can hear this week and draw your favourite to bring back to class.
Did you parents notice how well the children sang goodbye today? You may not have realised it, but everyone sang so beautifully in tune. This really excited me as not all of us were singing in tune 8 weeks ago. It proves that we can all learn pitch.
This week at home have fun with your green rhythm cards. Clap and say the patterns on each one. You could also try playing the patterns with your rhythm sticks. Can you remember how many beats on each card? I wonder if you could teach someone else in your family to play the cards.
If you missed the class this week or fancy some additional patterns to play have a look at these.
http://www.kodaly.org.au/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=19&Itemid=74
Scroll down the page to rhythm set 1 and download. You will notice that these patterns have note heads on - other than that they are the same as the ones we have been using in class. Each line has 4 beats. Remember it's 'ta' and 'ti-ti'.
Also in class this week we listened to some bird song. See what birds you can hear this week and draw your favourite to bring back to class.
Making a Where Box
This week in Imagine That we asked you to create a Where Box at home. Your Home Book has lots of ideas on how to construct this and what actvities you can do together with your box. Have fun
COOKIES
In our last few sessions before christmas, we are encouraging all Our Time families to bake some cookies at home together. If you are brave enough you might also want to bring in your creations to share with us in class.
I am sure many of you will already have a favourite cookie recipie, but if not you might want to try one of those in the Home book. These recipies use cups which are great for young children. Just in case you are wondering what 'sweet butter' is, that's the unsalted variety.
If anyone want a larger selction of recipies to choose from try this website: http://www.popularcookierecipes.com/
and my favourite chef Hugh: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/chocolatechipcookies_82401.shtml
happy baking
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Village Class
This week you could explore the different sounds of water with your babes. At bathtime or any other time with a small plastic bowl and half a cup of warm water in it (and plenty of towels on standby). With your babe, listen to drops of water running off your fingers. How about pouring water or squeezing it out of a small sponge... let them explore the sounds and sensations too.
Splishy Splashy Splishy Splashy! Have safe fun!
VicXX
Splishy Splashy Splishy Splashy! Have safe fun!
VicXX
Thank you for your VOICES
Our Time and Village classes on Saturday have to be acknowledged here... You were GREAT at singing last week! My voice is almost back to full fettle. I know the Dad's appreciated the lower keys but I'm afraid to say I should be back to normal and hitting those highs again!
No... please... come back ;-)
VicXX
No... please... come back ;-)
VicXX
Quote by Antoine de Saint-Exupery - French Writer
'Grown-ups never understand anything for themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.'
I laughed quite heartily at this one though having given it some thought there is an element of honesty in this. It isn't just them who ask 'Why?' all the time. It seems we are all striving to understand each other and it is, at times, intensely frustrating for both parent and/or grown-up and child.
We need not only to listen to our children but also hear what they are trying to tell us even though their behaviour may not be appropriate at the time. Skills in communication are learned through our example... we are obviously very good at it then!
I could be babbling there but it's gone midnight and I'm getting all philosophical and it's far too late to be getting into all of that so I leave you to just simply enjoy the quote.
VicXX
I laughed quite heartily at this one though having given it some thought there is an element of honesty in this. It isn't just them who ask 'Why?' all the time. It seems we are all striving to understand each other and it is, at times, intensely frustrating for both parent and/or grown-up and child.
We need not only to listen to our children but also hear what they are trying to tell us even though their behaviour may not be appropriate at the time. Skills in communication are learned through our example... we are obviously very good at it then!
I could be babbling there but it's gone midnight and I'm getting all philosophical and it's far too late to be getting into all of that so I leave you to just simply enjoy the quote.
VicXX
Village Class - Sense of Self
An individual's identity is based upon his sense of self. "Self-hood first comes about as babies learn that they have a personal physical identity. They obtain this knowledge by exploring their own bodies, and then experiencing their bodies in interaction with objects and other people... Opportunities (for exploration and play) help the baby develop his skills and thereby increase his independence... expanding his understanding of himself."
Claire Kopp Ph.D., in Baby Steps
Claire Kopp Ph.D., in Baby Steps
Monday, 10 November 2008
Young Child - Week 7
We had enormous fun composing our own musical storm today. We spent some time sorting percusion instruments into groups; those that make long sounds and those that make short sounds. After this we were able to select the instruments we felt created the rigth sounds for our composition.
Our fun game 'Farmer, Farmer', which the children play with much enthusiasum is a very subtle ploy to encourge the children into solo singing. I have been amazed at how eagerly the children have taken to singing and have seen a marked improvement since the beginning of the semester in their pitching of the notes.
This week at home we are making percussion instruments. We have learned that a percussion instrument must be struck or shaken. The following may be of some help:
http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/specialfeature/musical_instruments/
Our fun game 'Farmer, Farmer', which the children play with much enthusiasum is a very subtle ploy to encourge the children into solo singing. I have been amazed at how eagerly the children have taken to singing and have seen a marked improvement since the beginning of the semester in their pitching of the notes.
This week at home we are making percussion instruments. We have learned that a percussion instrument must be struck or shaken. The following may be of some help:
http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/specialfeature/musical_instruments/
Imagine That - Nov 10th
What a great time we had in today's lesson dancing and singing in the rain. We shared our home made rain shakers and played them while we sang our rain song. All the while without really realising it we have been learning about staccato (short detached sounds), and we have begun to use a basic form of musical notation. We are also continuing to learn and devlop our understanding of pulse a crucial foundation skill for our musical development, but also of great benefit to our coordination skills and general learning.
The children's singing is really flourishing too. I noticed particularly this week how well we are singing, pitching the notes acurately and joining in much more.
Next week we continue our rain dancing and singing. The chidlren have been asked to make rain hats at home. you can construct your hats however you like and the home book will give you lots of ideas.
If you are after a quick hat idea have a look at these 60 second hats.
http://www.makingfriends.com/d_60sechats.htm
The children's singing is really flourishing too. I noticed particularly this week how well we are singing, pitching the notes acurately and joining in much more.
Next week we continue our rain dancing and singing. The chidlren have been asked to make rain hats at home. you can construct your hats however you like and the home book will give you lots of ideas.
If you are after a quick hat idea have a look at these 60 second hats.
http://www.makingfriends.com/d_60sechats.htm
Friday, 7 November 2008
Milk and Cookies - Home Activity
This week at home why not make some play dough. Home made play dough is incredibly easy to make and your toddler can even help with the mixing. Allow them to choose a favourite colour and perhaps add glitter to make it extra special.
Remind your child of the rhyme which we are reading in class as you roll out the dough. Find some cookie cutters and cut shapes.
These shapes can be baked in a cool oven if you wish, and if you remember to make a small hole in the top of each one (before you bake) you will find yourself with a set of unique and rather lovely christmas tree decorations.
Play Dough Recipe
2 cups of Plain Flour
1 cup of table salt
1 cup of water
OPTIONAL
OPTIONAL
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil (makes it a little easier to knead)
1 tablespoon of wallpaper paste (gives the mixture more elasticity)
1 tablespoon of lemon juice (makes the finished product harder)
DRYING
Drying can either be done naturally in the open air, or in an oven, no hotter than 100C (200F Gas Mark 1/4). The average time for natural drying is 30-48 hours, or 3-4 hours in an oven. Both sides must be dried out. When your model is dry, turn off the oven and leave it inside to cool down.
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
Quote by A A Milne
"Very young children have an artless beauty, an innocent grace, an unstudied abandon of movement."
I can picture now how my daughters express themselves around the home and how all the babies and children in my Village and Our Time classes do too. It links entirely with this quote.
However, I can also see Phoebe in one episode (couldn't tell you which series) from the sitcom 'Friends' when she abandons an adult style of running in favour of running like a child with all limbs flailing around and not a straight line in sight! Had me in fits of giggles again. I love how these quotes evoke such emotions... bizarre as the link maybe.
I can picture now how my daughters express themselves around the home and how all the babies and children in my Village and Our Time classes do too. It links entirely with this quote.
However, I can also see Phoebe in one episode (couldn't tell you which series) from the sitcom 'Friends' when she abandons an adult style of running in favour of running like a child with all limbs flailing around and not a straight line in sight! Had me in fits of giggles again. I love how these quotes evoke such emotions... bizarre as the link maybe.
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
Young Child - Week 6
This weeks home work is all about rests. A rest can otherwise be described as a musical pause or silence. Measured silence in music is very important. We learn to mark a silence my saying "sh".
At home explore drawing rests together and remember to say zig-za
g-zig.
Practise reading and clapping with the beat and rest cards given out in class last week. Try playing them with the rhythm sticks too.
In case you missed the session here are some patterns for you to try at home:
You could even try drawing your own patterns if you want something a little more difficult.
At home explore drawing rests together and remember to say zig-za
g-zig.Practise reading and clapping with the beat and rest cards given out in class last week. Try playing them with the rhythm sticks too.
In case you missed the session here are some patterns for you to try at home:
You could even try drawing your own patterns if you want something a little more difficult.
Sunday, 2 November 2008
Imagine That - Home Activity 5
This week our home work is to make a shaker instrument. We have been exploring rain sounds in class and we have been using shaker instruments to make rainy sounding music.
Just in case you are short of ideas here are some links which might help
Be sure to bring your shaker instrument to class next week.
Thoughts...
Finding space and solitude outside the franticness of life is often so difficult. How crowded our lives have become in this modern life. We fill our days with meanigful tasks, work and play and before long we find that once again we have neglected ourselves.
Taking time for ourselves is so very important, whatever that means for you. I am learning how important it is for me to step back from the buzz and find that space.
We often worry about what others think of us and when we have children this is heightend as we worry about what others might think about our parenting, our values and our standards.
In our classes we strive to create a non-conformist environment. You will notice that it is OK for one child to wander and another to sit and rock. You will soon learn that there is no one correct way to play those rhythm sticks but a whole array of different ideas. You will realise that we do not seek to control but rather to bend and move to accomodate all the beautiful differences that walk in through our doors.
Whether you are struggling with the constraints that life brings or full of new enthusisum for it, there is a part for you to play and we value your participation for what it brigns to the mix.
Taking time for ourselves is so very important, whatever that means for you. I am learning how important it is for me to step back from the buzz and find that space.
We often worry about what others think of us and when we have children this is heightend as we worry about what others might think about our parenting, our values and our standards.
In our classes we strive to create a non-conformist environment. You will notice that it is OK for one child to wander and another to sit and rock. You will soon learn that there is no one correct way to play those rhythm sticks but a whole array of different ideas. You will realise that we do not seek to control but rather to bend and move to accomodate all the beautiful differences that walk in through our doors.
Whether you are struggling with the constraints that life brings or full of new enthusisum for it, there is a part for you to play and we value your participation for what it brigns to the mix.
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