Fall is here (end of weather report).  Our garden will soon be transformed - no more tomatoes, sunflowers, squash.  We will especially miss the chickadees and house sparrows  that munch on the sunflower seeds.  But we will continue to enjoy watching the goldfinchess who come to the feeder outside the kitchen window.   Broccoli and fava beans will be planted soon.  The carrots and potatoes will be up in a month or so.  We have lots of benas and forever-faithful-kale.

We also have several fall songs that you may have heard.  Here are the lyrics so you can join along with your child.

Fall is Here
Fall is here said the bumble bee.
How do you know said the old oak tree?
I just saw all the leaves fall down,
Dancing with the wind all over the ground.

TheLeaves are Falling Down
The leaves are falling down
The leaves are falling down
They tickle your nose
And dance on your toes
The leaves are falling down

Grey Squirrel
Grey squirrel, grey squirrel
Swish your bushy tail  (children turn around and swish their bushy tails)
Grey squirrel, grey squirrel
Swish your bushy tail
Grey squirrel, grey squirrel
Swish your bushy tail
Grey squirrel, grey squirrel
Fall is here.

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In case you don't get to visit us, we are learning about trees, leaves and birds, etc.  I think the children like the birds the best. They have the most amazing ability to identify bird calls.  In just a few weeks, many of the children can names many of the bird calls -without even seeing the bird.  Now they are beginning to duplicate the sound of the bird call!  

If you do get to visit, perhaps you noticed the original oil painting, by Peggy Sebera, a local artist.  I "loaned" it to the school because it is "Serenity", a road of lovely eucalyptus trees.  One day when the children were in circle, Peggy delivered the painting and spoke to the children about it.  I never know how much information seeps into their little brains, but I offer as much as I can.

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Some of our favorite books are the following:

 The Eagle and the Wren by Jane Goodall
 Condor's Egg by Jonathan London
 Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson
 The Busy Tree by Jennifer Ward
 Compost Stew by Mary McKenna Siddals
 My Favorite Tree by Diane Iverson




Alex and Hailey in the tower.  There is a song that accompanies this "situation".

Oh Queen Hailey and King Alex of the tower
The tower is so hight
They nearly reache the sky,
And Hailey and Alex
Like to climb higher.
(Then I grab their toes through the opening. - boop, boop)


Alex seems surprised that he wrote the number 9, but I knew he could do it.


The children often ask for ballet music.  This is one of their "performances".


This is a demonstration of the children learning bird calls.


Elizabeth is making words with magnetic letters, that she chose from the small book.


Hailey is tracing the number 4.


Aldrin is enroute (somewhere) but had to stop for a Jango fix.


Ella, on her second or third day, is serving a plate of bananas at breakfast.




Grayson is tracing the number 2.  I am demonstrating the correct "pincer grip" on the crayon.  (I was unable to get this photo larger ????)


Lee Ann and Parisa are admiring the lovely cookies that Mom made for Lee Ann's birthday.


Marielle is collecting napkins after breakfast.  They are never too young to start working!


This is our mint garden surrounded by a lovely circle of stones that the children painted.


Where did Amelia and Ryan learn to dance like this ?


Ryan and Zachary are having a lesson on identifying shells.


Ryan and Zachary are exploring the solar system.


Vivian and the pup are reading up on trees.


Aidric is studying the motion of the beads.


The children are filling the bird feeder for the goldfinches.


Demi is learning to pour beans.


Emmet is engrossed in making play dough spaghetti.

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A word (or more) on Halloween..........please do NOT bring your child to school in a halloween costume.

On Halloween Day, I have arranged for the children (when accompanied by their parent) to visit Springfield Retirement Home, on the corner of Ely and Washington, to trick or treat with the residents.  I believe the residents may enjoy this as much or more than the children.
If you would like to articipate, we will meet at Springfield Home around 3:45PM. I will send email reminders.