tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68634702983336334182024-02-21T09:12:57.397-08:00Seedlingsrhythm, nature, art and play.Joanna Smetankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08317667385426325906noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863470298333633418.post-85875028811865659722013-05-05T15:24:00.001-07:002013-05-05T15:24:39.744-07:00The Yard is a Yard!!Yay! We have grass in the back yard! We hope to have sand for the sand box in the next few weeks. New menu is posted for the week, and I have plenty of pictures to post just as soon as I get a chance.Joanna Smetankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08317667385426325906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863470298333633418.post-42681793320246622382013-04-21T15:52:00.001-07:002013-04-21T15:52:12.942-07:00Looking forward to a yard face liftWe are excited to announce that our dusty little yard will be getting sodded the week after next! We hope to dig up the existing sod over this coming weekend, and then we will lay new sod over the next weekend. <br />
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If the weather cooperates, we will do our outdoor fabric dyeing project this week.<br />
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The updated menu is posted. Check it out!Joanna Smetankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08317667385426325906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863470298333633418.post-58266561289716208542013-04-14T07:45:00.000-07:002013-04-14T07:45:01.338-07:00Last week review and coming up...Hello Folks! This week's menu will change only slightly from last week. We will be having mostly the same dishes as last week, only we will be changing up the quiche dish. Last week's was a little too green for the kiddos, so this week it will be mushroom and swiss!<br />
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The kids and I really enjoy cooking. As seasons change we will likely be doing a bit less baking and more planting, gardening and spending time outdoors. Lately we have been making muffins using our leftover oatmeal. I got the recipe from <a href="http://soulemama.com/">soulemama's blog,</a> the kids love them, and it is a great inexpensive way to use up leftover oatmeal.<br />
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We eat ALOT of fruit around here, and lately pears sprinkled with cinnamon has been a favorite. The pears are sweet and with a touch of cinnamon it tastes like dessert! Kids and adults both chow these down.<br />
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We had a lot of fun with play dough this week! New spring time colors have been a hit, we made it together using this recipe: 1 cup flour, 1/4 c salt, 2 tsps. cream of tartar, 1 cup water, 1 TBSP oil, food coloring (to your liking). Mix it all up in a pot and heat it over the stovetop, stir continually until it forms a big, non sticky blob, remove from heat and wait until it cools a bit before using. I usually let the kids play with it while still warm, it is relaxing and feels nice! </div>
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This week we told stories about Tweedle the mouse who is busy gathering the loveliness of spring in a little bottle that she keeps in her pocket to use when winter comes. Things like blades of grass, smells, crocuses, dandelion petals and such. Her mouse friends don't understand why she is wasting her time doing these silly things, but they will see come winter....</div>
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Enjoy your Sunday friends!</div>
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Joanna Smetankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08317667385426325906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863470298333633418.post-53866160630967832532013-04-05T09:55:00.002-07:002013-04-05T09:55:35.393-07:00Weekly plannerHello friends! We have hit such a stride at Seedlings, that I feel it would be nice to write about it a bit more. I am hoping to post a Weekly Planner every Sunday to give everyone an idea of what we will be having for meals, what stories we will be telling, and what projects we will be working on. <br />
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First, Meals! At the top of the blog, you will see a link to our Meals for the Week! Click on it, and you will see what we will be serving for the week. If you have a surplus of any fruits or veggies, we can take them off your hands and feed them to your kids. We have two snacks, in addition to our breakfast and lunch. The first snack happens in the morning on our walk, and the other one after rest time in the afternoon. Usually these snacks consist of fruit and nuts, or veggie and dip. <br />
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Each week, we will continue to tell nature stories that are based on what is happening outside! We have been making these up for the most part, and telling them at meal time, or when a child is needing some extra attention. I will start to post a few of these stories that we tell each week in a blog, so that you can ask your child questions about the story, and so that you can also join in on the story telling fun. This is great for literacy skill building and a great way to connect with your child. <br />
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This week we hope to do a few spring time projects! We will be dyeing cotton play cloths with kool aid, and we will be making some spring colored play dough to freshen up our play. Kelly and I are both working on heavy dolls for the kids to play with and we have a new doll highchair and cradle as well. Along with these projects, the outdoor gardening projects are beginning in earnest! As the days grow warmer, we will be spending more and more time outside. So, be prepared for your child to be dirty and tired by pick up time! <br />
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Happy Spring!<br />
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<br />Joanna Smetankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08317667385426325906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863470298333633418.post-57747100976572375932012-11-12T04:21:00.001-08:002012-11-12T04:21:57.965-08:00MartinmasThe frigid temperatures here in Missoula are so appropriate for this festival. As I learn more about Waldorf and the festivals celebrated, like this one, I am always inspired by how meaningful the correlation between what is happening outside, and what is happening inside (us) is. Connectedness. Meaningful. <br />
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Martinmas, from the little about it that I have gathered, is celebrated on November 11th. We will be celebrating it today November 12th, as I had almost forgotten about it. This will be the first year we have officially recognized it. But, truthfully this time of year has always felt significant, a time for internal reflection, compassion, stewardship. <br />
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For a bit of background of what Martinmas is, I borrowed this from the <a href="http://www.waldorfessentials.com/">Waldorf essentials</a> site. It is a nice story, and has a really great message.<br />
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<strong>The Story of Martin and the Poor Man by Cerdiwen Anya Coit</strong><br />
<strong> </strong>Amiens Long ago, there lived a good young man named Martin. Even as a boy, he knew that one day he would be expected to serve in the military. His father was an important military officer. And, though he desired a peaceful life outside of the military, he knew that it would be his duty to follow the life of his father. So, Martin joined the military, became an officer, and was eventually assigned to garrison duty in the town of Amiens.<br />
One bitterly cold winter evening, the young Martin rode through the gates of Amiens on his fine proud horse. He was dressed in the regalia of his military unit: gleaming armor, a bright helmet, and a beautiful white cloak, lined with lambs wool. It was nearly freezing outside, but his thick cloak kept him warm. He was hardly aware of the cold.<br />
But then, as he approached the gates of the town, he saw a poor man, a beggar, dressed with clothes so ragged that he was practically bare. The man was shaking and blue with cold, but no one reached out to help him. People would pass through the gates, looking straight ahead, so their eyes would not meet with those of the poor, desperate man.<br />
Martin, seeing this, was overcome with compassion. He rode straight to the poor man and took off his white cloak. And with one stroke of his sword he tore the lovely mantle in two. He wrapped half of the cloak around the freezing man and the other half around his own shoulders.<br />
The people nearby watched in amazement. To see a fine military officer do such a lowly thing was a ridiculous sight to many, but others were touched by the goodness that Martin showed.<br />
That night, as Martin slept, he had a dream. A man appeared to him who looked so familiar, and he was wearing the half of the cloak Martin had given to the poor beggar. And then, Martin saw in the eyes of this man, and the light of the Divine which we carry within us.<br />
From that day on, Martin’s life was changed forever. He knew that he could no longer be part of the military, for his true desire was to live a life of goodness.<br />
Golden light is turning grey,<br />Mists begin to rule the day.<br />Bare the trees, their branches lift;<br />Clouds of dead leaves earthward drift.<br />Through the field the farmer goes,<br />Seeds of ripened corn he sows’<br />Trusts the earth will hold it warm,<br />Shelter it from cold and harm.<br />For he knows that warmth and light<br />Live there, hidden from our sight;<br />And beneath a sheltering wing,<br />Deep below, new life will spring!<br />Deep below, deep below, new life will spring!<br />
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This story is a little too heavy for young kids. You can lighten it up, or make up your own similar story about helping others, bringing in the light, feeling the inner light during the darker days. This feels spiritual, in whatever sense you feel it. There is no right or wrong way. It is really based in the changing of the season, reverence for darker days, taking care of those who are less fortunate than us, internal light...<br />
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So, for the festival, often times children and adults will hold lanterns and will walk through the streets, park, forest, or wherever they choose outside, with their lit lanterns and sing songs, or meditate on bringing in the light within to get us through these darker days. <br />
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At Seedlings today, we will be making lanterns for the kids to bring home. You can do with them whatever you choose. As a family, I think we will take a little walk with ours and try to think about this inner light, and helping others. This will be the first time we have recognized this time of year, in this way. If you are interested in joining us for the walk, let me know.<br />
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As you may know, at Seedlings we have been following a story of Sam the Gnome, and his adventures with his forest friends. Today we will talk about the lantern walk that Sam and his friends take in the forest. Ask your children about it when they get home today. <br />
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<br />Joanna Smetankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08317667385426325906noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863470298333633418.post-37721410964730102872012-04-15T07:13:00.000-07:002012-04-15T07:13:06.914-07:00Talking PictoriallySome food for thought here. Something that Waldorf folks talk about when working with young children is talking to them pictorially. Because young children are so imaginative, story telling and bringing what you say to life can be really effective in conveying your message/rule/thoughts to them. Fairy tales that have already been written can be great resources, using characters that come to life for children and adapting their story to fit your needs is a great way to start. But if you don't have an arsenal of fairy tales at the ready when you need them, you can also use your own imagination. If this all sounds a bit vague and confusing, I will give you an example of what I am talking about.<br />
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Yesterday, Axel and Asa were drawing with expensive rectangle beeswax crayons. The kind of crayons that we put away in a closet when not using. Axel is more interested in building with these crayons than actually drawing. Which is fine with all of us, except that he often leaves them on the floor where they are apt to get stepped on, kicked under the couch, lost, etc. <br />
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I asked Axel to please pick them up and put them away. He said <i>I'm too tired to right now, I will later. </i>I felt myself start to dig my heels in, and I said <i>Axel, you need to put them away now or they might get kicked under the couch, stepped on or lost, and those are expensive special crayons that we use when Asa is working on...... </i>I lost him after the first sentence. He refused, ran away, laughed at his cleverness. And I felt frustrated and was ready to take it to the next level by making him pick them up. How I was going to do that, I didn't know. <br />
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Then it clicked. And I said:<br />
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<i>Once upon a time there was a little turtle who had a pile of special rocks that he played with everyday. He made beautiful castles out of these rocks, and even took the time to polish each and every one. He took good care of these rocks and made sure they were put away at the end of the day after he played with them. </i><br />
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<i>One day the little turtle had played so hard all day long, and was tired and hungry. So he decided to leave the rocks on the ground outside his house, and would pick them up in the morning after he awoke. </i><br />
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<i>So the little turtle went to bed, and fell asleep quickly. The next morning he awoke and stepped outside to gather his rocks. But, when he stepped outside, his rocks were gone. For the cleaning fairies had swept them up that evening, into their big dustpans and threw them away. </i><br />
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<i>The little turtle was sad that he lost his little rocks, and wished he had put them away before bed.</i><br />
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Axel looked at me, smiled, turned around and picked up every single crayon and put them away. And, after that he and Asa got the little wooden turtle that Axel got in his Easter basket out, and started reenacting the story using cheerios as the rocks! Honestly I was a bit surprised that it worked. I have tried this before, and it hasn't worked. It takes practice to build up your storytelling skills so that you really engage the kids in what you are saying. I have launched into stories before that were completely ignored by the children. Just like any skill, you have to practice it over and over, and soon you will see the transformation! <br />
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<a href="http://www.christopherushomeschool.org/home.html">Donna Simmons</a> has a <a href="http://www.christopherushomeschool.com/Talking-Pictorially-Living-Actively-W-Your-Child-p/audio8028.htm">download-able talk</a> about how to talk to your kids pictorially, and I found it quite helpful, it costs $14. Also, a book I just got from <a href="http://www.walkingsticktoys.com/">Walking Stick Toys</a>, called <i>The Seven-Year-Old Wonder Book </i>by Isabel Wyatt is an amazing reference for storytelling. If you haven't visited Walking Stick Toys yet, I encourage you to. Erika (the owner) sells beautiful toys, craft supplies, books, clothing, etc. It is located at 829 S Higgins. <br />
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Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend! We have our garden space and will be working on it in the next coming days! I will send out information about a work party soon.Joanna Smetankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08317667385426325906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863470298333633418.post-49456604293511843252012-04-11T04:54:00.000-07:002012-04-11T04:54:42.195-07:00Gardening and May Day Gathering!Hello Seedlings friends. Spring is officially here, and we are edging ever nearer to being open! July 1st is the for sure date, though we may be able to open as early as mid June. I will keep you posted. <br />
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Also, we got the word last week, that our application for a garden spot at the <a href="http://www.gardencityharvest.org/northsidecommunitygarden.html">Northside Community garden </a>was accepted! We have a spot, and I will claim it this Saturday. We will be spending a lot of time and energy in this spot, and would love parent involvement. We will be planning a work day there soon, and all of you green thumbs would be much appreciated. More on that to come.<br />
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And, as we get nearer to spending a lot more time together as a group, we would like to host a few get togethers to get to know one another better. As I said at our meeting, the Smetanka family is finishing up with our last year on the <a href="http://www.nmcdc.org/mrhhome.html">Moon-Randolph Homestead</a> and we would like to host a May Day get together to celebrate spring and to get to know each other a little better. This will happen on Saturday, May 5th, at 1pm, and will coincide with Bike/Walk/Bus week. We will be giving tours of the homestead that day, and with any luck will have a May Pole dance as well. We could use some volunteers to help with making the ribbon for the May Pole, and invite everyone to bring a potluck dish. Let me know if you are interested in volunteering your time for this. I will send out an official e-invite soon.<br />
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Beginning in May, we will start scheduling individual home visits with those of you signed up for summer enrollment. This is not to see how you run your house, or to inspect anything, rest assured! It is strictly for getting to know your child better, and to create a connection with them. Coming to your home is a way for us to bond with your child on a personal level, hopefully making the transition to Seedlings smooth and easy. <br />
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Hope you are all enjoying your early spring, and this beautiful sunshine! See you soon!Joanna Smetankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08317667385426325906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863470298333633418.post-80794060046394886062012-03-18T16:43:00.002-07:002012-03-18T16:55:33.200-07:00Meet and Greet: Reminder!Just wanted to post a quick reminder that we are having an informational meeting Monday, March 19th (tomorrow), at the Missoula Public Library at 4pm in the small meeting room, downstairs and through the computer lab!<br />
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Hope to see you there!<br />
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xoJoanna Smetankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08317667385426325906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863470298333633418.post-85058682017638521302012-03-06T09:30:00.000-08:002012-03-06T09:30:20.971-08:00Meet and Greet!!For those of you who are interested in being a part of Seedlings, but need more information, and want to meet in person; I have scheduled a meeting at the public library for a meet and greet! Please come to the smaller meeting room, downstairs through the computer lab, at <b>4 pm on Monday, March 19th</b>. <br />
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I will have refreshments, information, and will be able to answer questions that you may have. I will also have a schedule sheet and registration packets for parents who are interested in securing a spot then and there. <b>Registration needs to happen by March 26th for summer enrollment, and by April 9th for Fall enrollment.</b><br />
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If you plan to make the meeting please RSVP by commenting to this post, or by emailing me at the address provided on the blog. If you are unable to make the meeting, let me know and we can schedule a meeting another time. <br />
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Thanks!!Joanna Smetankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08317667385426325906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863470298333633418.post-40539861629874956672012-03-01T11:08:00.000-08:002012-03-01T11:08:45.605-08:00Seedlings has a home!Seedlings is now officially going to open this summer, it is looking like July 1st to be sure, but there is still a possibility for a June opening. But, the real news is that it is for sure happening by July 1st, and is in the sweetest house on the north side!<br />
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Until then I will continue to plan, gather supplies, enroll kids, and keep our Monday/Wednesday playgroup going.<br />
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Our Mondays have turned into bread making days. We use the recipe from Cynthia Lair's, Feeding the Whole Family. The kids help slap, shape and paint the dough before putting it in the oven.<br />
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</div>Joanna Smetankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08317667385426325906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863470298333633418.post-11570015898557970512012-02-07T13:03:00.000-08:002012-02-07T13:03:09.951-08:00Moving right along...Wanted to quickly fill everyone in on the happenings of Seedlings! I haven't been posting because there isn't too much to post until March, when we will have our location secured and can start the enrollment process! I have rates figured out, and have a registration packet ready to go for parents just as soon as I get the go ahead on our space. <br />
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I also have an assistant who will be joining us at Seedlings! She is an amazing mother, women, friend and person; and is beyond qualified for this position. I will introduce her in the coming weeks, so stay tuned! <br />
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It is only the beginning of February, but I feel some seeds stirring in the ground. As these next three to four weeks unfold, I will be busy getting our registration packets and parent manuals written and ready to go. I hope to start early enrollment by mid March. <br />
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Stay tuned, and spread the word. Joanna Smetankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08317667385426325906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863470298333633418.post-89022979324602209392011-12-15T04:42:00.000-08:002011-12-15T04:42:57.574-08:00A little at a time...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRMNY2w3lMDQKwkmfVjkvbnJ3Di192866SXcJMFQzPJG1SLF2MaozyjKLAewrJs9ghLyaobo8Vk2Hd5WKpuAjFE8fL_1vRuGWNYUK-UlIR2rOtcHRbvMpB9xrqCQg03TNSV3jk1p8uZg/s1600/IMG_2620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRMNY2w3lMDQKwkmfVjkvbnJ3Di192866SXcJMFQzPJG1SLF2MaozyjKLAewrJs9ghLyaobo8Vk2Hd5WKpuAjFE8fL_1vRuGWNYUK-UlIR2rOtcHRbvMpB9xrqCQg03TNSV3jk1p8uZg/s320/IMG_2620.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We are starting to incorporate a few rituals at a time around here. Most of them revolve around mealtime. <br />
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I realized that often times, in fact most of the time, because Andy and I lead full, busy lives, we rushed through meal time. Sometimes, I didn't even sit down while eating because I was too busy getting things for the kids, cleaning dishes before dinner was even served, thinking ahead to what needed to be done next, and so on. Dinner ended up being this rushed, unsatisfying, often stressful occasion that ended up being more centered around what one of the kids was or was not eating. Doesn't that sound lame? I thought so too. <br />
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So, we made some changes. Now, we all set the table, we light a candle, we all sit down together, we say our Thankfuls (more on this later), and we eat. Slowly. We talk. I stay at the table until everyone is done, and I encourage the kids to as well. And, when we are finished, we blow out the candle, we all clear the table and do the dishes together. <br />
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This requires me to shift my mind out of <i>hurry, get the dishes done as soon as possible, find something for the kids to do while I do this. Why do I have to do this? Why can't I be playing with my kids? I'm so pissed that it all falls on me. I need some help around here. </i>Because when I am in that mind set, the rest of the evening has a hurried, stressed out vibe to it, which actually does not bode well for bedtime mood, as you can imagine. So instead. I start clearing the dishes and ask the kids to do the same. They choose which job they want, wash, rinse or dry. We made up a little song that we sing <i>Clean, Clean, Clean, Clean. Clean up all the dishes. Make them sparkle, make them shine, clean them all the time. </i>Not terribly exciting I know, but we made it up, and the kids like it. And, yes, dinner and clean up takes up a big portion of our evening, way more than it did before. But, we play while doing the dishes, the boys play in the soapy water (which has the side benefit of thoroughly washing their hands), we tell jokes, we connect. I am not resentful that I am doing everything. We are doing it together. And, they feel like they are important, helpful people in our household. It is a meaningful experience.<br />
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And, the kids are learning how to run a household. They are learning valuable skills. Little by little our society is getting more convenience driven, so that kids are not learning skills like; cooking, mending, fixing, folding, polishing, etc. All of these soulful tasks that require a person to use their hands, and to slow down a little, to care for something. These skills and tasks are important to development, I would argue even more so then any organized enrichment activity that parents pay an arm and a leg for. Family and human connection happen when we work together to keep the household running smoothly, and even the smallest of the smalls can participate. <br />
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Have a lovely Wednesday. More updates about the opening of Seedlings to come!Joanna Smetankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08317667385426325906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863470298333633418.post-74951472228097181922011-12-13T07:59:00.000-08:002011-12-13T07:59:36.244-08:00Thoughts...Hello Again. Just wanted to update you on my progress, thoughts, goals, etc. As I start to imagine this further and work out details in my mind, I'm getting really excited to put these thoughts into action. I am currently watching a few kids (2) at home, a couple of times a week. It has been really great. We have found a good rhythm, and things have gone along very peacefully. We will have another friend joining us in January as well, and I would like to extend the invitation to anyone else who may need care for their child before May. Because our little homestead is small, and does not have the modern amenities of most homes these days, I want to keep this group small, like four, max. However, because the kids I have now are not everyday, I have room in my schedule to add more. Let me know if you are interested.<br />
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On another note, I ran across this<a href="http://www.lifewaysnorthamerica.org/"> site</a> as I was browsing around some different Waldorf sites, and it really struck a chord with me. I ordered the book, Home Away from Home, and have been reading it a little at a time for the past few days. I am envisioning Seedlings as being a mixed aged group; with infants, toddlers and a few preschoolers. And, as I think about how this all is going to flow, I am realizing that setting it up as a preschool is not really the answer. Keeping the space as much like a home as possible is the most nurturing way of providing care for this type of setting. I love how this book refers to household duties as the domestic arts, and how it really emphasizes relationship based childcare.<br />
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Kids learn and thrive through imitation. As they watch the adult do dishes, fold laundry, cook, care for an infant; they internalize it, incorporate it into their play, imitate, and eventually do the tasks themselves. Of course this requires patience and a willingness on the adults part to create the kind of space where children can help with tasks. Performing the tasks with meaning, reverence, care and sense of calmness; humming a tune while folding laundry for example, actually draws a child into your space. I know because I have been doing this with the kids I have been caring for. As soon as the energy shifts, usually because they need to contract a little (focus on an activity, rather then simply exploring), I invite them to do a task with me. Here is the trick though, I don't ask with words directly. I make up a song about the task I am doing and sing it next to them, really deliberately putting things away slowly and steadily, and guess what? At least one of the kids, usually the one who is feeling direction-less, jumps in and does the task with me. This is all done with joy, warmth, and love. They totally pick up on it. It is pretty awesome. <br />
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So, if you are interested in more of this kind of care, you should check out the site. I highly recommend the book as well. <br />
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I am looking to start enrolling kids for Seedlings (for May start up) by February. If you are interested in enrolling, please contact me. I am working on hours and rates, which will be more flexible then I had originally planned, as I have realized that some folks have work schedule needs that were different then my schedule. Also, I would love to keep my rates affordable, and will hopefully be able to accept Childcare Resources Best Beginnings scholarships as well. When I have finished figuring that out, I will post hours and rates. Please feel free to contact me about any questions. I am available for meeting as well.Joanna Smetankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08317667385426325906noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6863470298333633418.post-29289019219615968382011-11-29T10:23:00.000-08:002011-11-29T12:23:08.922-08:00Getting Started...So, as I sit here totally inspired to get this Waldorf-inspired preschool/daycare off the ground, I face some details to be sure.<br />
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I need to figure out some advertising strategies that I can handle. I am working on a logo, and will be posting fliers, maybe putting an ad in the Independent. And, for sure asking all of you to spread the word.<br />
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I think we may have found the perfect space. And, if all goes well, would be able to move into it in May. So, our school would officially start then. Before then, I will be busy enrolling and meeting parents and kids. Once I get a good sized group on board, we can have a few meetings, maybe at the public library? Or somewhere else if possible. <br />
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Also, I will be looking for an assistant to help me out during the day with the kids. I'll need someone who wants to work 20-30 hours per week at $10 per hour. If you know of someone, or you yourself might need some work and would like to stay with your child, let me know.<br />
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As a sample of what our day might look like, to those of who are wondering what this "Waldorf-inspired" thing is all about. Here is a sample of what a day might look like at Seedlings.<br />
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9:00-9:30- Morning circle that includes a greeting verse like:<br />
<i>Morning has come,</i><br />
<i>Night is away.</i><br />
<i>We rise with the sun</i><br />
<i>To welcome the day. </i><br />
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Then we will sing a song or two, related to the season, or a finger play related to what we are doing that day. We will announce any news that the kids need to know, and set the mood for a peaceful, playful, productive day. And then end with a closing verse, like:<br />
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<i>I can be as small as a small, small reed or</i><br />
<i>I can be tall as a tall, tall tree.</i><br />
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<b>9:30 -10:30</b> Main Lesson Time <br />
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This is going to be different for each age group. The older kids (five-7) will devote this time to activities involving Language Arts, Social Studies, or Math, while the younger kids will be helping with food preparation for lunch, or doing an art project. The purpose of this time is to provide an activity that gives the children a time to contract, focus, and work with purpose. Of course each age group will have different abilities and attention span. We wouldn't expect a three year old to hold his focus on a project for as long as a 5 year old. <br />
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<b>10:30-11:30 </b>Creative Free Play<br />
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This will be a time for expanding. where kids can explore the outer world and move around in it! In good weather this time will be spent outside, gardening, playing, running, jumping, etc. Big body movements help a child in so many ways, not just to strengthen muscles, but to develop coordination, to help the child focus, and fuel the brain. And, like adults, children are inspired by fresh air and nature! We will also use this time to go on walks, field trips, etc.<br />
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In bad weather we will still try to get outside, but perhaps for only half of that time, in which case we will have dancing, singing, and movement activities inside.<br />
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<b>11:30-12:30 </b>Lunch and Clean up<br />
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Kids help prepare the food, set the table, and everyone eats together at a big family style table. We all share what we are thankful for, or tell a story about what we did today. And, then after slowly and deliberately eating our lunch, we ALL clean up. Duties will be assigned in advance, and everyone participates in the cleaning up of the entire home before rest time. Some kids will be doing dishes, some will be sorting silverware, some will be putting blocks away, some will be getting cots and blankets out. This will be a time for group effort!<br />
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<b>12:30- 2:00 </b>Rest<br />
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<b>2:00- 2:45 </b>Snack and Creative Free Play<br />
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Kids wake up and have a healthy snack, and then can play freely doing whatever they wish; dressing up, assisting in household tasks if they wish (sorting laundry, sweeping, mopping, dusting), or working with beeswax, felt projects, knitting, etc. This is free choice time, they can decide what it is they want to do, with direction from adult if needed :)<br />
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<b>2:45</b>-<b>3:00 </b>Closing Circle<br />
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In the closing circle will will recite a closing verse, sing some songs, reflect on our day, and give a glimpse of what to expect tomorrow.<br />
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Of course this all looks very similar to any style of preschool, it isn't cutting edge. Kids want and need rhythm, that is the key element to our days. The stories we tell, the fairy tales we read, and the work we do will be more distinctly Waldorf. And, that I will save for a different post! For now, keep the spreading the word, and please let me know if you have any leads on space!Joanna Smetankahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08317667385426325906noreply@blogger.com0