Snapshot on a Rainy Day

by Liisa Hale | Jan 10, 2018 | Pedagogy, Resources, Snapshot

Preschool teachers value “open-ended toys” like blocks and art materials because the children can use them to support whatever play they have in mind. This snapshot shows, however, that they can also often re-purpose specific equipment if the teacher will give them...

Snapshot in the Wobblies – Mittens

by Claire Bainer and Liisa Hale | Dec 23, 2017 | Banner, Snapshot

There is something new in a little basket in the Wobbly Walkers’ classroom play house area: two little pairs of baby-sized fleece mittens. This winter addition has drawn considerable interest. Once the children found the basket the teachers demonstrated how to open...

Snapshot in the Schoolroom – Guidance

by Claire Bainer and Liisa Hale | Nov 23, 2017 | Banner, Behavior, Educators, Pedagogy, Snapshot

It is 11:00 and the Schoolroom children have been playing both in the classroom and in the yard since 9:00. A gentle winding down is beginning the slow transition to story time, lunch and nap. Watching, I can feel the children’s play becoming less vigorous; the...

Snapshot in the Playroom – Learning how to move

by Claire Bainer and Liisa Hale | Aug 26, 2017 | Banner, Parents, Snapshot

Janelle is 6 months old, doing just what a baby her age should be doing—pushing up, kicking, not quite mobile yet but definitely getting the idea. Today she is lying near a low round basket with a few balls in it; as she haphazardly bumps it with one hand it rocks and...

Snapshot in the Playroom – Trusting the children to play

by Claire Bainer and Liisa Hale | Feb 1, 2017 | Banner, Parents, Snapshot

Several Playroom children are bundled up and busy managing rainwater as it flows along the cement curb between the sand area and the walkway. Some children are seated out of the rain under the roof working on puzzles; another rocks in the pod swing watching the coming...

Snapshot in the Playroom – Cleaning up

by Claire Bainer and Liisa Hale | Jan 1, 2017 | Banner, Behavior, Snapshot

When Gabe’s mother walks through the office on her way to pick up Gabe, she meets Gabe’s four-year-old friend Lilly going out the door with her mother. “Gabe is still cleaning up,” announces Lilly with a little foreboding in her voice. Sure enough, Gabe is putting the...