Hello Outreach Troop,

Hope everyone is healthy and happy. I know we’re all feeling anxious and past ready to get out of the house and back to our normal routine, especially as the weather starts to get warmer.  The cold weather has definitely worn out its welcome, if you ask me. Even though their young, the little ones are feeling antsy, anxious and missing their visits with grandparents, aunties, uncles and their favorite cousins.  I know we’ve all got a touch of spring fever and yearning to get back to the beautiful world as we once knew it.  

How do we deal with the little ones having spring fever? What are some fun, yet safe ways to get the kids out to let off some pinned-up energy? These ideas can be used in the classroom and passed on to parents to use at home.

1. Nature Walk – Take a walk and see if any signs of spring are there (blooming flowers, insects, frogs and tadpoles, singing birds)
2. Flower Garden – Kids LOVE to get dirty!  Let them help plant a small flower garden. Teach them how to keep a check on and care for the garden. Talk about the changes they see.
3. Obstacle Course – Set up a socially distanced obstacle course outside.
4. Back to the Basics – Some kids have never heard of games like “Red Light, Green Light” or Hopscotch. Try them out!

·        When all else fails…. pull out the jump ropes and balls for kicking and throwing around.

The CDC recommends that children of this age have daily outside time, so please make sure to have this included in your daily curriculums. For more safe but fun ideas check out these resources:

Fitness Ideas for Kids | No-Touch Games 

March Reading Themes

• Springtime
• St. Patrick’s Day and Rainbows
• Gardening
• Insects
• Farm Animals
• Kites and Wind
• Green Things 

Miss Shannon’s March Booklist

Sharing a Smile by Nicki Kramer – Sophie loves to go outside and play with friends, but here lately she has to wear a mask. Wearing a mask makes her nervous and anxious until she notice she’s not the only one that feels this way.

C is for Country by Lil Nas X – If you like the hit “Old Time Road” then you may want to pick up this New York Times bestseller ABC book by music star Lil Nas X.

Peter Easter Frog by Erin Dealey – Why should Bunny get all the glory and have all the fun when Peter can hop and can give out his own eggs?

No Buddy Like a Book by Allan Wolf – What’s a book without some imagination? This rhyming flow of words and bright illustrations will surely get young minds bursting with visual ideas and endless world discoveries.

How to Catch a Clover Thief by Elise Parsley – All Roy the wild boar is out to find who’s been stealing his precious patch of clovers. Could it be his helpful friend Jarvis the gopher?

The Spring Book by Todd Parr – Bestselling author Todd Parr captures the enjoyment of springtime with birds singing and rolling down hills, I remember this as a child!

Finding Beauty by Talitha Shipman – This enlightening colorful book for girls about beauty truly being more than skin deep. Teaching that beauty comes in many ways including acts of kindness.

A Small Kindness by Stacy McAnulty – This sweet book teaches children just how fast kindness can be spread across a small community school when children and teachers unite.

Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Pena – Milo people watches on the long subway ride with his sister. Each person he imagines in his head what they do outside of the subway including a boy with a suit and sneakers. This story really teaches Milo never judge a book by it’s cover, when he realizes the boy is getting off and going to the same place he is.

There is a Rainbow by Teresa Trinder – After the coronavirus lockdown, this book shows us hope in spite of the way we may be feeling and the distance that divides us and our loved ones.

Springtime Song Favorites

-Five Green and Speckled Frogs 

-The Ants Go Marching 

-Old MacDonald Had a Farm

Other action song and rhyme ideas:

Spring Rhymes | Spring Songs

Looking for spring craft ideas, here are some cute ones!

Link 1 | Link 2 | Link 3

Circle Time

What’s going on in your morning circle time? What is circle time and how does it benefit young children?

In being able to visit each of your classrooms, one thing you guys all have in common is “Circle Time.”

Circle time is for classroom unity and positive social engagement. For some children the social interaction when they come to school may be the only social interaction they get with other children their age. Therefore, this social interaction time is very important and greatly needed.

“Circle Time” is more than just talking about the weather and current events, children learn to take turns, share, have group discussions, learn patience, how to be respectful, transitioning skills, listening skills and overall communication with the other children in class.

This is a time for teachers to get to know each child and some of their individual habits and ways of interacting with the other children. The teacher can make it fun and interactive, making the children look forward to circle time each day, making the whole school experience an enjoyable one.

Here are some ideas I found that you guys may find useful and fun!

Welcome and Morning Songs- Here’s your first chance of the day to make each child feel important and assure them how valuable they are. This is also the way to set your classroom mood for the whole day so your welcome or morning song must be a great one.

Link 1 | Link 2

Phonics and Alphabet – Letter recognition and sounds are a vital part of early literacy. Songs are one of the easiest ways of learning this.

Link 1 | Link 2

Finger Plays – Finger plays and rhymes are a way to continue a story time without a book, yet staying with the theme. Also, a way to promote language and body skills.

Link 1 | Link 2 | Link 3

Brain Break Movement Songs – As we all know, children get bored easily, lose focus and interest. Here’s a way to get their attention and get those wiggles out!

Link 1 | Link 2 | Link 3

Here’s a couple more resources I hope will give you fresh and new ideas:

Link 1 | Link 2

I really hope these resources give you even more ideas than you already have for Circle Time. It’s such an important time of day and I’m sure your littles ones look forward to it.

Please let me know if there’s anything in my blog that you have any questions or concerns about. And as always I welcome any ideas you may have for future blog discussions. Please continue striving to thrive in the eventful world we live in. Don’t forget, you mean the world to the little ones that mean so much to you.

Thanks for lending an eye and ears,

Miss Shannon