tea for two

I had the honor this morning of joining Elise and her class for a Mom's tea. She was so excited about it and has been practicing her songs for weeks! They worked really hard and made all of the decorations for the room and the table. There were cute little pumpkins made from brown bags that they had painted and stuffed, adorable place mats with the sweet "my Mom is marvelous" song printed on them, paper gourds on the walls with their pictures, and beautiful leaf coasters for our tea cups! In addition, each Mom got a corsage that looked like a large fall mum, with a picture of their child in the middle. Priceless!!

As we came in there was some free time where they were able to show us around their classroom...to see all of the different centers and projects they have been working on. Then we participated in circle time with them, where they taught us their morning prayer, we talked about the calendar, the weather, and the various jobs that they rotate through during the week. We said the pledge, marched and sang "Grand Ole Flag", and saw how they start their day every morning. Then the class sang a few songs they had been practicing just for us....

How cute are these kids!! When looking at her in the line I can tell how much Elise has grown in the last year. When I went to her Mom's tea last year, she was the smallest one in the class- now she is right about average!

Here she is showing me her "car". The teachers have cleverly written each child's name on a car and the car "parks" at a new job every day. Since there are 11 kids in the class and only 7 jobs, a few people's cars go into the parking garage at the end of the rotation. What a neat way to teach patience!! It is funny how E always knows exactly when her car is coming out of the garage-she is always even MORE excited on her way to school that day!

*apparently I had a smudge on my lens and didn't realize it...sorry for all of the fuzzy pics*

They have been talking a lot about families in school this fall. The have a book with all of their baby pictures in it and one with all of their family pics. In addition, they made this graph on the door where they practiced charting the different members of the family.

Here is Elise in the housekeeping center. She loves this area..they have a little kitchen, a table and chairs, a phone, an area to dress up.....

So cute!

Elise and her friend Antonella (they have been in the same class for 2 years and love each other) demonstrated the listening center for us. They were reading and listening to a Corduroy the Bear Halloween book.

Antonella's family is bilingual and her Mom has been teaching the class Spanish once a week. Elise ADORES it. My Spanish degree has been extra helpful lately as she has been asking me quite often, "How do I say (insert whatever) in Spanish?" It is definitely something I want to continue practicing with her as I feel like picks it up easily. I went up to Antonella's Mom to thank her and tell her how much Elise is enjoying it and she said, "oh I already know that. She pays such close attention and is mesmerized!" She can count to ten (almost twenty) on her own as well as remember some basic colors, greetings, etc...

So, I think I have been enough of a bragging Mom for today, but I just don't want to forget any details about the special time we had together! Stay tuned for Dad's night next week!

Love, Nicole