Early Learning Centre
A big Term 3 welcome to our early learning community. Over the holidays we had our new flooring laid – thank you to Hamilton Flooring Xtra for their quality service. We are very happy with our new flooring, and we can already see the benefits of a flooring that allows for greater flexibility in our learning environment.
Piccolo (ELC3)
It was great to welcome our Piccolo students. We have spent the day reacquainting ourselves with each other – three weeks in a long time in a small person’s life. The children have enjoyed playing with their friends in the sandpit with the trucks and shovels, painting, making dinosaur parks, making play-dough, reading books, drawing, building and so much more.
It was so cold overnight that the water in our boat iced over. Ted and Jimmy braved the cold to break up the ice.
Piccino (ELC4)
Our Piccino class has welcomed a new friend, Violet and her family to our learning community. This term we are going to launch our learning with Philip Bunting’s beautiful book The gentle genius of trees. I wonder what we can learn from the trees? It will be interesting to see where this starting point takes us over the course of the term.
Our Term 3 weeks will look a little something like this - Early Childhood Languages Program on Monday, Music on Tuesday, Art and Library on Thursday and then our Nature Exploration on Friday this term (beginning next week). Please remember to bring your puddle jumpers, jackets and gum boots back into the Early Learning Centre. It may be of some interest to know that Toyworld currently have 20% off their puddle jumper suits.
Singing Songs for Language Development
Singing songs with your child is a great way to develop their language! Songs allow them to learn new words by hearing them being used correctly by others, and singing songs lets them practice having a go!
Songs are often very repetitive, so this provides lots of opportunities for children to hear words over and over again. They are also very engaging for children as they have different rhythms, so it is a fun way to learn how to say and use new words in conversation. You can sing songs you already know such as nursery rhymes, or songs performed by groups such as The Wiggles, The Shenanigans or Dan Sultan. You can also make up silly songs with your child and sing as you do everyday tasks and activities. This will engage your child, encourage participation and give them an opportunity to hear language in a fun and interesting way.
We love making songs up while we play and learn at the Early Learning Centre.
NAIDOC Week
During the school holidays, as a Nation, we celebrated NAIDOC Week. The acronym NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. It celebrates Aboriginal people’s history, culture and achievements and is a great opportunity to learn about their rich culture. It is a time of celebration and connection between all peoples.
The 2022 theme – Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! – encourages all of us to champion institutional, structural, collaborative, and cooperative reforms, while celebrating those who have already driven and led change in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities over generations.
On Thursday 4 August we will celebrate Aboriginal Children’s Day, we haven’t decided how as yet, so if you have any suggestions or would like to participate in any way, please let me know.
Frances O'Brien
Director Early Learning Centre