4 The Love Of Learning

08/24/2026

So lucky I have a partner that supports our classroom and is such a talented builder! We needed more space to store sand toys and he made us the best storage container!!

08/19/2026

E6 arrived at school with a plan this morning. He asked for aluminum and said he was going to make a tractor. His plan was to flatten the aluminum, then form it, and lastly paint it. He started by collecting cans and using a shovel to flatten them. Then, he asked for tape to connect the pieces. He found tape didn't work quite as he envisioned, so he asked for glue. The glue was also tricky and he tried a combination of glue and tape.

As children arrived throughout the morning, many joined in, supporting E6's idea. A3.10 brought over safety cones to show friends they should be careful. Then, Au3.10 asked for markers and a few friends started creating with markers on the giant cardboard which we put down on the driveway to contain the glue.

08/18/2026

When children are offered play dough and open-ended materials or loose parts, the learning is deeply meaningful and today was a prime example.

Each child had a clear tray with a lump of play dough. In the middle of the table were 2 containers with matchsticks, googly eyes, gems, popsicle sticks, wooden bobbles, wooden rollers, and a few other odds and ends.

The children explored for a full hour. The conversation was rich and the learning powerful as they discovered and shared ideas with each other. They sang, negotiated, problem-solved, counted, squished, pressed, made marks, created, and more!

When children have the space to explore materials on their own, instead of being interrupted and guided by well-meaning adults, they are becoming the learners they are meant to be. I spent the time collecting their words as much as I could, it was hard to keep up!

"Mine looks like a mountain. It's bumpy. I'm going to smooth it."
-Au3.10

"I'm going to make a mountain, then flatten it so it's like a pancake." Q4.10

"I have one eye!" E3.7

"Mine doesn't have one big eye. I'm trying to make tiny, tiny eyes." -A3.10

"Hey, I can see behind myself and in front of myself!" -N5 (google eyes on both sides)

"Do you want ice cream? Ok, I'm going to take my eyes off and I'm going to become an ice cream! -Au3.10

"Hey, I have a button eye!" E3.7

"I need 4 legs." Q4.10

"Actually I need 2 eyes." N5

"1,2,3,4,5,6 porcupine quills!" E6

"Can you let me know how many more minutes until I can have those circles?" Au 3.10 "Yes, here you go! I gave all of mine to her." E6

08/12/2026

Today was full of science and potions as children experimented with water, vinegar, baking soda and baking powder. They played, wondered and were curious for over an hour! In fact, the youngest child, E3.7 stayed the longest at the table! Here are some of their words as they were working.

"It makes ice cream powder. It makes hot air that's what it is when you add vinegar to it." L4

"There's a little bit of purple and a little bit of milk." E3.7

"It gets all the bubbles inside!" A3.10

"The more vinegar you use, the more it explodes!" E6

"I'm putting this on my tray and I am trying to sq**rt it from this green one (pipette)." L5

"Look what it made Bethy, it made purple with baking powder! Look, it makes a volcano soda! L4

"Add this to this!" A3.10

"I'm trying to get it to explode in the bottle. I think there's leftover vinegar in there." E6

08/07/2026

We have had some excitement today! The road is getting dug up and will be re-paved. Children got to witness the work first-hand! This group is fascinated by construction vehicles, so they knew the name of each and every one. There was lots of conversation and excitement all morning. N5 and E6 made the pull the horn motion with their hands and the workers were happy to oblige. They beeped, waved, and I suspect, parked in front of us when they could so the preschoolers could watch the action!

E6 noticed that there was a stinky smell from the digging and told everyone to "cover and hold your nose!" Then they remembered that they could use masks. Luckily, I had some on hand so I could support their idea!

08/06/2026

This morning was all about art. I have some talented artists and illustrators around here! This morning, some of the preschoolers were making pictures for each other which was super sweet. Great community building!

08/05/2026

The preschoolers often tell stories during mealtimes, usually individually with the occasional inspiration from a friend added. Today, during circle, 5 preschoolers told a story together, taking turns while I wrote their words down. I think we may have some budding authors in our midst!

DAISYICE PENGUINO
Once upon a time there was a penguin and they went on an adventure -E3.
Maybe they were looking for polar bears! -L5
A lion came -A3.
Then the penguin jumped into the water and swam away from the eel-E6.
And then the penguin jumped out of the water and found a mountain and rided away-L4.
And then there was a treasure box with treasure in it-E3
And then there was another penguin and it slided and slided and slided to the adventure-L5.
To the icy waters-A3.
And then both of the penguins found a polar bear and they ran away-E6
And then the penguins spot a gem-L4.
And then there was a sticker in the water-E3
Then a penguin found it because it had a booboo on its leg and it was a mermaid penguin and then it was a magic mermaid and it magically turned it into a bandaid. It took off its fins and put it on its legs-L5.
And then a leaf fish was hunting for treasure gems and diamonds and a treasure box and they couldn’t get it because it was locked and then it got an idea and brought a key and opened the treasure box-A3.
It opened and then it swam inside-E6
And then it got a treasure and floated in the water and then another penguin got it and then they all taked it home-L4.
THE END

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07/10/2026

This month, each preschooler has a day to be a V.I.P or Very Important Preschooler. On their day, children choose lunch and snacks, choose an activity and lead circle, which is newly added this year. So many preschoolers wanted to lead that I told them I would add it to their VIP days so I could keep better track of turns! This week, my 3 year olds led circle and did a fantastic job! Their friends were so respectful by being good listeners and helpers too if needed.

Today, L3.11 chose to play hockey. I had found 4 sticks, 2 balls and a puck. I didn't have a net. I asked the children what they could use instead and got some good answers, but then offered cones, which they gladly accepted as a great idea. I asked L3.11 if they wanted a ball or a puck, and they decided on a puck. Another child set up cones. I asked who wanted to be goalie. L5 chose to be the goalie first. Then, each kid took a turn trying to hit the puck in between the cones. I told the goalie, as part of their job, they could place the puck back into "play" for the next child to hit with the hockey stick. At this point, I stepped back and watched the magic happen. Children decided who would be goalie and whose turn it was to hit the puck. A3.9 kept reminding her friends to bend their knees when they were trying to hit the puck.

I was amazed over and over at the communication, turn taking, and ease of play. This is the joy I look for in teaching! They played together for over 45 minutes, navigating and taking ownership of their game! Children are so very capable, when we step back and give them a chance.

07/06/2026

Today is 4 The Love of Learning Preschool's Sweet 16! I cannot believe I have been teaching at my own school longer than anywhere else I have taught. Here are some preschoolers words on how they feel about their school.

"I'm grateful for the love that it gives us." -E5
"I'm grateful for the trees and the leaves that make shade and the flowers that grow." -L5
"I love the sticks, the toys and our bikes." -Q4
"I love about sitting at the table with my friends and telling them a lot of things and helping E clean out the woods." -N5
"Painting and building." -E3
"Just swings."-A3
"A likes swings because he likes swinging with me." L5

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07/02/2026

Children have been exploring tape this week, commenting on how they can use it to "make a sculpture." Over several days, they used tape to create art, to attach blocks and to gather leaves! They also discussed "how big" they need each piece of tape, and how to rip it. Lots of great communication, working together and helping each other!

**All of their ideas were 100% their own, I just said yes when they asked for tape! I love to observe their learning in action!



"I'm making a big leaf, it's going to be a night light leaf. It swings around so people can go to sleep and it has a light attached to it." -L5

"This is a grabber! It can grab things." -E5.11