First Group Meeting

In the new year playgroup begins with a few changes. For part of playgroup I am with the children alone, allowing more focus on the experience we explore and also time to gather together for a group meeting. Group meeting is a time where the children and I meet together to sing, laugh, discuss, and more. At this age group meeting is really just about coming together as a group. It will be a time I introduce materials, talk about observations, share a story or ideas and reflect previous experiences back to the children. To begin the meeting I have large cards with the first letter of each child's name. I use this just as a marker to get used to gathering together. I really don't care if they sit on them or not. During our first group meeting I gather the children to play a little game that also introduces the materials we will be using while weaving on the loom.

The wonderful and hard thing about video taping yourself in action is that you get to look closely at what worked and also where you went astray. Like I wonder why I didn't just let Caleb peek in the bag, especially after I said I thought there might be snakes in there (where did I pull that from?). I realize my mistake almost immediately and when Sebastien peeks in (the second time) and pulls out an item I just follow his lead. Mostly, I simply love the joy and laughter during meeting.

After group meeting the boys just really wanted to open the sand table so we did. The calm energy, intense focus, and pleasant interactions between the children during our time alone together was refreshing and invigorating! Four boys in that small of an area all working with the same materials could have been tricky but the boys managed the space with surprising grace.

THE FUTURE and THE PAST

Hope (7 months) Max (8 months)

Hope, Max's little sister, is now 7 months old. The same age all the now two and a half year olds were when they started Materials Playgroup. It seems like yesterday but also so long ago. Seeing her interact with the materials the children also explore brings back such amazing memories and so we continue excitedly into 2010 with new adventures awaiting us!