Tag: cooperative

Loose Ends & Springing Ahead…

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The months of January and February were incredibly busy everywhere that I looked.  So many things were started and not finished.  Snow and illness kept many of things for coming into completion….it had myself and our families changing plans at the last minute….and rhythm was hard to find when we DID have school.

But, the sunshine and warmth returned and filled up every part of me.  It has filled our classroom again with regular activity and rhythm.  It’s a beautiful thing.

I am most productive in the Spring, as I am guessing many others are.  With the warmth and sun that we’ve had recently I have begun to finish many in-progress projects…and I’ve finished a handful as well.  Here is a sneak peek of the things to come….for our classroom.  Please bear in mind that this is a *small* peek into the things to come; as I have baskets full of things to complete! (sewing on doll heads, making doll clothing, finishing some crowns, and the like….are on my list of to-dos)

 

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These are early signs of Spring,

When flowers bloom and robins sing,

From their safe warm winter beds,

Flowers pop their little heads.

These are the early signs of Spring,

When flowers bloom and robins sing.

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These Flower Babies will be joining us tomorrow in Our Classroom.  They are completed-PHEW!  I got inspiration from http://twigandtoadstool.blogspot.com/ ….I had to create them immediately—knowing that it was the exact thing for our seasonal table.  Right now they are tucked ever so tightly into their leaf sleeping bags….and waiting ever so patiently to meet their friends tomorrow in class!

Until then,

Michelle

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Coming Events……Joyful Birth &Breastfeeding Expo; Open House for 2011/2012….

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We will have a table at this beautiful upcoming event (Saturday, March 12 from 10am-5pm at Asheville Mall) and would love you to join us!  For more info: http://www.parkridgehealth.org/node/611

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We are also VERY excited to be hosting our very first Open House for the 2011-2012 school year!  On Friday, March 18th from 10am-11am please join us for an activity and information session at our beautiful classroom space.  For those of you who do not know, we are located in East Asheville (at Groce United Methodist Church).  The beauty of the space-inside and out-will captivate you….along with the warmth of our families and teachers….so please make plans to join us! 

GWM is a community of young children and parents, seeking to create a
cooperative learning program that facilitates social, spiritual, emotional,
physical, and intellectual growth in a loving, supportive atmosphere. We nurture
a respect for self, others, and nature while providing a safe environment for
our children to stretch their imaginations and to explore their interests.

We offer a unique part-time program with experienced teachers leading the classes and parents rotating as helpers. Quality programming, natural materials, invested caregivers, affordable tuition, and exceptional classroom and outdoor play space conveniently located in East Asheville. We draw inspiration from the
Waldorf model of education, following the values of Reverence, Repetition, and Rhythm.

For this coming school year we will be offering two program options (ages 3-5 and 5-6). 
Details:
small class size, max 12 students
parents volunteer in the class as helpers 1-2x/month
tag-a-longs are welcome on classroom days

PreK (3-5 y/o) :
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays………9-12:30
Tuition: $175/month

Kindergarten (5-6 y/o):
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays……9:00-1:00
Tuition: $200/month

Application fee: $25, Annual materials fee, $50

If you have any questions about either of the above, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Warmly,

Michelle

Spring is Coming

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Spring it is coming, is coming, is coming.

Spring it is coming, with flowers and rain.

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping.

Spring, it is coming with flowers and rain.

-this is a song/movement verse that I created to usher in the first bits of Springtime

It is obvious that Spring is on her way.  The air is getting a bit warmer, the birds are chirping a bit louder…heck, I am even starting to have worms creep into my laundry room after a rain storm.  She is on her way.  Breathe her in deeply, let her surround your being…..exhale her slowly and see the life of your breath fill the space around you and others….She is here waiting on the doorstep…just as the seeds of peas, radishes, beans, and lettuce seeds that we  have started in the past two weeks are waiting.  They are all waiting for the rain, the sun, the nourishment of the soil…

In class, this has become more than obvious…the coming of Spring.  Not creeping in ever so slowly…but instead…like a spring rainstorm that comes out of nowhere.  It’s persistent, and creates a yucky mess while it lingers.  The good news though is that it dries up quickly and you are left with lots of little flecks of green…a lot of new growth, new life, new development…this rings so true when speaking of the past couple of weeks in class.  

Like a troop of busy little birds, the children in class have been no where close to stopping.  Well, except for right around snack time or lunch.  These two times have again become the favorite parts of the day by just about every child (and myself).  Recently we have made everything from pancakes to pizza to what has become Our classroom bread (that we bake every Wednesday and eat every Thursday)… the Flax Seed Whole Wheat Loaf.  The recipe follows…..

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Flax Seed Whole Wheat Bread

2 lb loaf

1 1/2c    water

3T            oil

1/4c       honey

2 2/3c   unbleached bread flour

1 1/3c    whole wheat flour

1/3c       milled flax (substituted for 1/3c dry milk…the mille flax makes the bread sooo much yummier!)

2 1/2T   flax seed (although I tend to add A LOT more of whole flax seeds—I even let the children decorate the dough with flax seeds during our bread modeling time)

1 1/4T    gluten

1 1/2t     salt

2 1/4t     one packet of yeast

Combine ingredients—with hands or mixer—cover and set in a sunny window until the dough has doubled in size…then gently turn out a few times and place in a greased loaf pan.  Bake at 325-350 degrees for as long as it takes (usually an hour and a half; but will depend tremendously on the oven you are working with) to have a brown crust.   You may also use this recipe in a bread maker!

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A lot of other great things have been moving, shifting, growing….but I will save that for another post at another time.

I hope all is well in your world….and that the beginnings of Spring are starting to creep into your life ever so slowly.

With Many Blessings of the coming Season,

Michelle