The Carrot...and other nourishing thoughts

 I've been meaning to post about the story I told for my nursery interview, but for some reason it has been escaping me for almost 3 weeks now! I have yet to hear anything about the position either way, but I have heard that there is still talk about program logistics. I'll keep waiting... (**update at end of post)
 It was very difficult for me to chose a story for this huge day. I sifted over so many books and read through some really beautiful tales. But the one I was looking for had to be just right..and it had to mean something to me. (just as every story does!)
  I finally settled on the Chinese folktale, The Carrot. I ended up adapting a lot of the story to fit the season, age group, and several other factors. This was the very first story I told at playgarden; back when it was a brother, sister, W and I. I was nervous and didn't know how they'd react. It was a learning experience for me, and I felt like maybe things had come "full" circle as I took the last deep breath before sharing it with the children during the interview. It was helpful to think about these things.
  During my reflections about the adaptions for the story, I became stuck a few times. I recalled advice from Suzanne Down about taking a walk outside in nature to find inspiration. Surely enough, it did come to me. The whistling bird in the story was inspired by a bird that sits outside our bedroom window and sings at sunrise and sundown. Every Spring, he makes his appearance and I know that the change of seasons is surely in the air. Sometimes I love the singing, other mornings, I wish he'd quiet down a bit!!!

Early One spring morning, a robin woke in his nest high in a tree. He opened his eye and gazed upon the fresh green grass, the small white flowers growing in the field…the  warm sun in the morning sky…yes, this was surely spring! And this made the robin feel like singing…and his voice was most loud and clear in the early morning…

(whistling)

His song was heard throughout the meadow and all of the forest. The robin decided to set out for his breakfast..and found 2 juicy carrots sitting under a tree. “They must have been left by the children who were having a lovely picnic here!” He ate one up and  wondered what to do with the other…

“My belly is full from that juicy carrot…I wonder what I shall do with the other…oh! I shall give it to my friend, white wooly lamb! It is so early in the morning and surely he has not eaten his breakfast yet!”

So robin dropped the carrot in the grassy spot where the white wooly lamb loved to graze. But he was not home. A few moments later, he returned . “Why, what a fine carrot! But my belly is so full from the delicious spring cabbages I found in farmer’s garden. .  I set out to find my breakfast early after waking to the most beautiful song..(whistling )Hmmm…I will give the carrot to my friend, rabbit. It is so early in the morning and surely he has not eaten his breakfast yet!”

So white wooly lamb dropped the carrot close to rabbit’s hole in the ground.  But he was not home.  A few moments later he returned home..“Why, what a fine carrot! But my belly is so full from the delicious spring lettuce I found in farmer’s garden.  I set out to find my breakfast early after waking to the most beautiful song..(whistling)  Hmmm…I will give the carrot to my friend, squirrel. It is so early in the morning and surely he has not eaten his breakfast yet!”

So rabbit left the carrot close to squirells hole in the tree.A few moments later he emerged from the hole in the tree...“Why, what a fine carrot! But my belly is so full from the delicious nuts I found this morning. .  I set out to find my breakfast early after waking to the most beautiful song..(whistling.  Hmmm…I will give the carrot to my friend, robin. It is so early in the morning and surely he has not eaten his breakfast yet!”

So squirrell scampered up the tree to robin’s nest. He was sleeping. Robin awoke and felt so very surprised to see the carrot again. He thought it may have been a dream. He ate it up. And it tasted good.

I had a wonderful time creating the pieces for this story....the felted "tree house" took the most time and innovation. I wet felted a large piece of wool and seemed it to create a tube like figure. It looked like a big top hat at the beginning stages and I started to become unsure if my vision was going to work out as I had originally thought....after cutting a hole in the center and adding some greenery and flowers at the base, I was very pleased.

*I did find out this weekend that the nursery position has gone to another candidate; someone with extensive training and years of experience. I'm slightly disappointed, but I do think that it is perhaps for the best. I'll get another year at home with W (who turns 3 in August), which is invaluable. Home really is the best place for us at this time, after all. Our commute to the school will be a good 35 minutes each way, so I am somewhat glad to put that off for another year. I'll also be able to keep our playgarden group, which is such a joy. I so value fostering this long term relationship. Here's to another wonderful year!!!
  My "plan" is to become a nursery or kindergarten assistant in fall 2013, pending an open position. Thus W will be in the nursery at age 4 (about the right age, I think...) and I'll gain the classroom experience which I'll be needing. I'll assist until another lead teacher position opens, and apply again. My training will be complete in Summer 2014....wow!
   I did receive very positive feedback regarding my interview and sample teaching, which means a lot to me. It was a great experience and I am excited to continue on this journey that is laid out in front of me. There is so much to read, learn, experience, and take from everything I am exposed to. I'll have another full school year of observations in various Waldorf schools, the trainings, a Waldorf Early Childhood conference, and hopefully more Eurythmy intensive courses, all while continuing to grow with my wonderful group of playgarden children. What could be better? :)

  

Mashenka and the Bear

Our story this week was Mashenka and the Bear which proved to be a new favorite. The children loved it and showed renewed excitement each and every day the tale was told. The text of the story is below. I adlib much of the story; adding details which may be pertinent to daily life or current situations. (I always feel like cheering when I hear a child exclaim quietly during the story, "Just like me!!") 

The props I used were found within our home and/or borrowed from our church nursery. You don't need many details or expensive puppets to make a story come to life!

~Mashenka and the Bear~

Once upon a time there was a girl called Mashenka who lived with her mother and father in a small
house at the edge of a deep, dark forest. They were poor but happy. One day, Mashenka persuaded
her mother to allow her to go and pick blueberries with her friends in the forest.
“Stay with your friends and keep your wits about you,” her mother warned. 'There are bears in the
forest.' While picking fruit, Mashenka strayed. Suddenly, a huge black bear was standing before her.
He picked Mashenka up and started to run while all Mashenka's friends fled. They ran to Mashenka’s
parents’ house and told them she had been snatched away by a huge bear. Mashenka’s mother and
father wept, thinking they would never see her again.

The bear took Mashenka deep into the forest, finally climbing a hill to his house. He pushed open the
door and put Mashenka down by the fire. 'You can come and live with me now,” he said. “I could do
with the company. My bear cubs have all left home and I’m lonely. So don’t you think of running
away.” The bear set about getting Mashenka some food and lovely soft moss for her to sleep on.
Mashenka cried, knowing her parents would be beside themselves with worry and she missed them
terribly. Days passed, and while the bear did everything he could to make Mashenka happy,
Mashenka kept talking about her own parents and was always sad.

Finally, the bear had a good idea. He wouldn’t let Mashenka go, but suggested that he visit
Mashenka's parents, to let them know that she was alright. “I'll bake them some pies,” said
Mashenka. “Go and get me the ingredients.” After the bear had returned with the ingredients,
Mashenka made the pies and the bear had a rest. While the bear was gone, Mashenka got a
broomstick, an old curtain, a chewed up football and a large handkerchief and made a figure that
looked quite like a little girl.

 She climbed up onto the roof and left it there. When she had finished
making the pies, Mashenka put them into a basket and climbed in with them, putting a cloth over the
top to conceal herself.
The bear came back, smelled the pies, picked up the basket, swung it over his shoulder and walked
off into the forest in the direction of Mashenka’s village to let her parents know that she was fine. He
was surprised at how heavy the basket was. He walked for about an hour before sitting down to rest
on a log. “I'll have a little seat and a little pie to eat,” he sighed. From the basket, Mashenka threw
out her voice. “I see you! I see you! I see you! Don't you dare have a seat nor a little pie eat.” The
bear looked up and saw the figure on top of her house on the hill. “It's Mashenka,” he thought.
“She’s watching me!” The bear didn’t dare eat a pie but carried on his way for some time before
sitting down on a rock. “I'll have a little seat and a little pie to eat,” he sighed. From the basket,
Mashenka threw out her voice. “I see you! I see you! I see you! Don't you dare have a seat and a little
pie to eat.” Again, the bear looked up and saw the figure on top of her house. “It's Mashenka,” he
thought. “She really does have an eagle eye.”

Again the bear got up and didn't stop until he reached Mashenka's house. It was now night time and
the dogs began barking furiously when they smelled the bear. They woke everyone up and terrified
the bear who fled with the dogs yapping at his heels, leaving the basket. Mashenka was happily
reunited with her family.
A few days later the bear returned and knocked on the door. Mashenka’s family wanted her to hide
but Mashenka spoke to him from the safety of her bedroom window. “You tricked me,” said the bear
sadly. “But I forgive you. I know that you love your mother and father very much.” The bear told
Mashenka that he was lonely and was going to leave the forest. “Take this,” he said as he left, tossing
up a purse.”You have more need of this than me.” Mashenka opened the purse and found it full of
gold. Mashenka and her family bought a big house and lived happily ever after, often thinking of the
sad bear who had been such a help to them in the end.

I hope you'll enjoy weaving this tale for your loved ones!

More scenes from our week and a few thoughts...

A long morning outside and some warm milk to follow

The Lenten Garden is starting to slowly come alive...
Some soft green moss appeared this week...

Buds on the nature table..

Thank you everyone for your wise input on my hitting situation with W.
There are a few things I should clarify...
A commenter mentioned :
"I mean, as it is now, when he hits somebody he not only gets you all to himself, but the other kids are barred from the scene by the child gate, he gets special little jobs to do, and he even gets his picture taken!"
Good point. And it has me thinking.
I do feel that when W hits (and he did a lot of that today) that he needs to be removed from the situation and scene. Something was too much for him, something made him upset, something triggered an impulse. I remove him for his sake and also for the sake of the other children involved. Bringing him into the kitchen with me with the gate closed is a way for me to remove him without punishing...but it sometimes doesn't work in theory or practice. Sometimes I start to feel angry with him for hitting another child for seemingly no reason. Sometimes I think of how peaceful it might be without his presence. Sometimes I just want him to *stop*...to stop this behavior which has me frustrated. I watch his reaction when he hits and the other child begins to cry or gets upset. He looks surprised. He stands and stares. He looks at me to see what it is that I am going to do.
The "special jobs" are not intended to be special. They are a way for him to become occupied with something else. I don't give him a lot of attention when this is happening nor do I say many words. I try to engross myself in work, but again, this sometimes doesn't happen.

I try my hardest to be unobtrusive with the camera while photographing the children. You won't see many group photos or "smile" photographs; I try to catch them when they're not looking. I don't make a show over the camera or point it out in any way. When I took W's photograph in the kitchen that day, I don't think he even noticed, but then again...he probably did. Children pick up on everything, whether we seem to know it or not.
I  take all of your comments and recommendations to heart and I thank all of you.
In the end, I have to remind myself to truly see W and any child who is struggling with a situation for what they are....a child. Someone very new to this world and just beginning to figure it out. A child who is hitting or throwing a tantrum is doing so because they don't know how to express whatever frustration or anger it is that they're feeling. They need something from us. They are real emotions. Instead of us becoming angry and letting that anger show (through thought, word, or deed..they're all the same) we need to instead see them for what they really are. A little boy who is tired/hungry/in pain...or overstimulated...or missing his mama.
....or, as I noticed this morning....cutting 2 molars.

 

The Star Money

I am back from a story-telling hiatus to share with the children one of my most favorite fairy tales, The Star Money.

I needed to take a break from storytelling last week as I was feeling out of sorts with W's behaviors and illness. I wanted to keep with our usual storytime rhythm, but felt that I just couldn't. There was too much going on and if I don't feel like I'm "into the story" or excited and joyful about it, then I just won't do it. What's the use?

  This week I was ready to go. 

The Star Money is a beautiful and well known Grimm's tale about a young girl who gives of all she has and receives much in the end.
(find the story here)

At the end of the tale, I let yellow paper coins fall from my hand as the children tried to sit still to watch them float down to floor. It was so difficult for them to not grab at them....today was our final telling of the tale, so at the end I handed each of them several coins which had "fallen from the sky."

They were very happy!

I love the underlying message of this tale....give of your treasures, share what makes you glad...

Friday is also our weekly pizza day where we create our own pizzas to share for lunchtime. The children arrive in the morning to find all of the ingredients upon the table for them. I purposely only set out 2 bowls of sauce and cheese so the children share with each other. They figure it out on their own and I feel that a lesson is learned every week!

 

Looks like extra cheese to me!

I mix and prebake the dough the day before with the children in the afternoon after rest time

 

We strive for a somewhat silent mealtime (we focus on eating and drinking; taking small bites and chewing slowly), but pizza day always seems to be our most quiet lunch. Everyone is eating!  After we're almost through, we sometimes tell little stories for each other while we wait to put out our mealtime candle.

The children are excused one by one to wash their dishes in the kitchen. Monica and I are toying around with how this works best and I think we are making headway. It's nice to have someone thoughtful to bounce ideas of off! (Love her!)

 

washing dishes in one room while the others wait in another...

Sometimes it is hard for young children to sit so long at the table, but I think it is a good thing to practice. Visitors to our group are always impressed with how long the children sit and how they are so willing to help set the table. I feel very proud in those moments! I think back to September 2010 when I first thought of having a homecare program. It seemed like it would never happen; there were many obstacles to overcome. But here we are, and it's such a joy. I know that I will always remember these days and the children who have made them so special.

 

folding...

oiling our bowls at the close of the week together...

 

Have a lovely weekend!

Winter Story and a weekend away..

Our stories these past weeks have been revolving around the Winter season, courage, and steadfastness....with an age group ranging from 2.5-6.5, it's a challenge to keep all of them inwardly involved.
The youngest are best engaged with a story about familiar environments and situations...
The older children need more of a story; good triumphing evil at the conclusion...
Our Eastern Pennsylvania finally saw some snow this past week, so I created a story revolving around weather...
Enjoy our very first video capture of our "slowly the snow comes floating down" story!
As you can see, this was simple...we used pieces of white wool roving to create the slowly falling snow.
*We originally attempted to record the story as it was told to the children during our storytime. Well, that didn't quite work out and it's most likely for the best. (It would have been difficult to hear over the sound of a crying 29 month old, among other usual background noises!)
I'm sorry if the sound is too soft; it was nap time when I taped this:) I'm also a bit stuffy and hoarse from fighting the cold which has been circulating here, so excuse my voice:)

Slowly the snow comes floating down
Over the rooftops in the town
Down through the night without a sound
Turning and whirling to the ground
Gray comes the daylight dawning clear
Clouds all are gone, the sun is here
Oh, what a lovely morning blue
Shines on a world made white and new
Homer H. Harbour/Lorraine Nelson Wolf

The week is over and I am now off to a weekend of Eurythmy!

I'll be attending a weekend public intensive course in New York on all different kinds of Eurythmy, including therapeutic and tone Eurythmy. 

It will be a total of 12 hours in the car by myself this weekend as I am not ready to take an overnight trip away from my family. I'm seeing the travel time as a way to digest all of the material I'll be exposed to this weekend:)

Stay tuned for photos!

Nativity on a budget, stories and scenes...

What a joy it is to celebrate these next weeks of Advent with the children!

I feel so inspired to do so many things, but I must stop myself from overwhelming everyone involved, most importantly the children.

I have a list of ideas for the next weeks, but I'll be selecting only a few...

I'm looking ahead to St. Nicholas Day with the children. The stories of St. Nicholas will be the hallmark of our story telling all month long up until Christmas. The best resource I have found online is The St. Nicholas Center. I have gleaned all of our weekly stories from this site thus far.

This week, we hear the story of St. Nicholas and The Shining Orange. (story here)

I picked this story to address some of the run-of-the-mill sharing and using kind words to each other incidents we sometimes have during playschool. We don't directly "tell" the children to be nice to each  other. We also don't "make" them share. Addressing these things through story and setting up "vignettes" so the children can work their own way through has worked very well thus far.. (for example, if 2 children are not getting along, we may have them sit together at a beautiful smaller table of their own during lunch time. One may also take on the "job" of helping the other gather nap time supplies...)

The puppet photographed above is my first standing puppet I have created...or kind of. Truth is, it's not finished yet. I began working on it during my course at Sunbridge this past Summer, and I needed a lot of guidance. I think I still do!!

Hey, all of you haphazard hand sewers out there! I feel you!

 

I spent much of this past month shopping around for a wooden Nativity set. Many of them were too cartoon-like for my taste, and the really beautiful sets were far too expensive. I really love the Ostheimer pieces, though. The craftmanship is unsurpassed, I think.
I was pleasantly surprised when I found these pieces from Padillly. I ordered Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, the Star, and a kneeling Angel...all for about $97.00. There is also a coupon code ("jellybeans") on the site to receive $5 off an order of $50 or more. I'll add more pieces next year and as time goes on. I decided to use some of our tree blocks for a manger in lieu of spending even more money. I think it will work out well.
This week, the manger is bare, except for some stones. Next week, we'll add plants, and so on. I'm glad to introduce these details slowly and gradually. The children seem to notice them so much more rather than them *BAM* all of a sudden just being there.

Here are a few other sets which I admire for quality and price...

(this is not to say that I don't FULLY believe that handmade items are worth every penny.)

A crocheted Holy Family

Folk Art Nativity

Beautiful Wood Nativity

Most of all, my favorite needlefelted set depicted beautifully in a Christmas Card

 

We're looking forward to the days together as 2011 comes to a close...

We've learned so much together and the children have happily become so independent; recently honing our dish washing skills:)

...on a random note, if anyone knows of a website which sells a beautiful and large stoneware/enamel bowl, please send the link along in the comments section:)

It is always a pleasure to write this blog...thanks for reading:)

The Autumn Blanket

The story this week (and next week) is Autumn Blanket, adapted from Autumn: A collection of songs, poems, and stories for young children published by Wynstones Press....

Mother earth was sitting inher cozy red room under the roots of the figtree. her fingers were busy weaving in and out they were weaving an Autumn blanket for children-and Autumn blanket to keep them warm when the days grew cold.

 In and out her fingers went. In and out, an Autumn blanket to keep out the cold.

Mother Earth wove many things into her blanket: brown and green grasses, leaves of all colors, corn husks, white woolly clouds...In and out, an Autumn blanket to keep out the cold.

After many days of work the weaving was finished and Mother Earth put it down. She steeled into her chair and fell asleep.

In the night sky the stars were twinkling. They looked through the roots of the fig tree where Mother Earth was sleeping. They saw the Autumn blanket with its green and brown grasses, its golden corn husks, its white woolly clouds, and leaves of all colors--all woven together, in and out to keep out the cold.

"A warm blanket indeed," the stars agreed. "But where are the lights to guide the earth children through the winter nights? Winter will be dark. let us give them some of our light.

Mother Earth was dreaming of twinkling stars, and when she awoke she found beams of starlight woven into her Autumn blanket. 

Mother Earth smiled and rose from her chair. Now the Autumn blanket was ready. It had both warmth and light for her children to wear through the cold and through the dark. And she took the blanket and spread it out over the land....

Closing song...

Twinkle, Twinkle, little star

How I wonder what you are.

Stars in apple, seed pod, pear

Stars in berries everywhere,

So you guide me near and far,

twinkle, twinkle, little star

 

I hope you enjoy some story time magic with your loved ones this weekend!

If you have any suggestions or resources for well loved stories, please leave them in the comments section:)

 

more from our week together...

painting a rainbow silk

 

have a lovely weekend!

Michaelmas

Meditative Thoughts for Autumn
“It is true that spring is fair, and it is a fine capacity of the human soul to perceive the beauty of the spring, the growing, sprouting, burgeoning life. But to be able to perceive also when the leaves fade and take on their fall coloring, when the animals creep away — to be able to feel how in the sensible which is dying away, the gleaming, shining, soul-spiritual element arises — to be able to perceive how with the yellowing of the leaves there is a descent of the springing and sprouting life, but how the sensible becomes yellow in order that the spiritual can live in the yellowing as such — to be able to perceive how in the falling of the leaves the ascent of the spirit takes place, how the spiritual is the counter-manifestation of the fading sense-perceptible; this should as a perceptive feeling for the spirit — ensoul the human being in autumn! Then he would prepare himself in the right way precisely for Christmastide.”

Rudolf Steiner

 

Michaelmas Candle

 

Dragon bread which was great fun...we carried him around like a pet when he was baked:)

And ate him, of course, after he was tamed and tasted so sweet..

 

It was a day down at the park, before the rain came and chased us home..

 

Oh, hello!

Here I am in a few rare photos during circle and story time...

 

My nursling during story....!

 

Wishing you all bravery and clarity of mind for the upcoming season:)