September 10th, 2020

Symbols and raindrops

​"I want 'presents' to be my symbol because I like presents.
​Santa is going to give me presents. I just know."
​(Hugh)

Today was all about symbols! During our morning meeting we first practiced everyone's name as we sang our welcome song together. Afterwards we started a conversation about symbols. Ines showed everyone the symbol organizer that we have standing on our message center table.

Ines: "What is the symbol organizer for? What could go inside?"​
Hugh: "Bottles! Bottles for messages."

Sam: "My symbol is the deer prints because my favorite animal are deer. So whenever I make something at school I'm going to add my deer prints so that everyone knows that it's from me."
Hugh: "I want to be a blue bear."

Daniel: "Where is mine?" (while pulling out different drawers to see what's inside)

After our morning meeting we got together in the studio to try out different stampers and stamp pads. Everyone had a different approach to trying them out; layering (Wilder), organizing the stampers (Lucas), creating a story with them (Hugh), making marks with hands and fingers (Cape and Lucas), or using the same ink pad while trying out different stampers (Lily, Finlay, Michael). This time was also a great opportunity to practice sharing, patience and communicating our needs and what we would like to have. Most children tried out stampers and mark making and Hugh, Lucas, and Finlay each developed a connection with a particular stamper and chose it to be their symbol. Congratulations! In the upcoming days we will continue to explore stamping and its use and meaning for us. We are excited for everyone to choose their symbol and to start making meaningful connections with it soon.

Hugh used mainly the present and fish stampers during his time in the studio.

Hugh: "One present for each fish. The fish is trying to wrap it out. Did you see a purple fish in the water? A birthday fish thingy." (turning to Cape, while pointing to the purple fish mark he made)

​Hugh: "I want presents to be my symbol because I like presents. Santa is going to give me presents. I just know."

After trying out the ink pads with his full hand and making handprints, Lucas chose the mushroom stamper as his symbol. In the beginning also used the stamper with a hand on it a lot but then focused on the mushroom stamper.

Lucas: "This one." (pointing to the mark he had just made with the mushroom stamper)
Ines: "Do you like it?"
Lucas: "Yes. The mushroom."
Ines: "Where can we put it to save it for you?"

Lucas then took the mushroom stamper and walked over to the symbol organizer looking for his name. 

Finlay used a wide variety of stampers but kept going back to one that seemed to interest him a lot.

Finlay: "This is a turtle. This is a monkey. This is a palm tree. And what is this? It look like a buffalo." (pointing at the otter stamp)
Finlay: "I like that one." (pointing to the otter stamp again)
Ines: "What is it?"
Finlay: "I don't know."
Ines: "It's an otter."
Finlay: "I want to make it to show to mom."

Lily: "I think I got dirt in my hair."
Sam: "Sometimes when we play outside we can get dirt on us."
Lily: "That is okay."

Especially Wilder and Hugh were looking forward to going outside this morning. And a little bit of rain will never stop the Brown Room. Despite the rain, everyone enjoyed being outside. Some so much, that they did not want to go back inside. We want to take this opportunity to remind everyone to please bring your child in appropriate clothing for the day. We are planning on going outside in most weather conditions.  And we are looking forward to all the wonderful discoveries, investigations and play that will take place in our outside classroom.