Spring Class Room On Temple St

OK I have finally done it. I know a few of you have been after me to take pictures of my class room and here they are.



The Basket's on top of the shelf's hold all of the seasonal items for the nature table. I have one for each season and then others for seasonal puppets for story telling. This way I have them on hand. When I make something I can just pop it in the basket.

Being surrounded by window's helps to bring the outdoors in and the kids don't feel so shut in.

Even my eldest Son enjoys the fun of the room. They anticipate the change of the season as the room magically changes over night. This is where the handy seasonal baskets make my work easy. I supply the room with simple toys and a basket for my youngest. Where she finds containers with buttons, sewing cards, stamps and trinkets. I change these out every so often.

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The play table makes a great place to set up a story told with figures and puppets. I can lay it all out the night before and cover it with a silk.The anticipation of a new story or an old favorite really inspires them to finish up. And if we need a space to spread out something we are working on it usually winds up here. And makes a great table for a lunch or supper sitting cross legged on the floor.

Seasonal nature tables are the best thing about Steiner inspired teaching . I get to create something new and different with my hand work skills. And stimulate the children into the seasonal changes. It holds such reverence that the children just naturally respect this space as sacred and treat it with the same loving kindness. I have even thought of putting one in my bedroom with all my favorite things of the season.

The chalk board can be a fun place to decorate as well. I draw a seasonal border around it with the month at top. I begin the year with each child's name and grade in the top corners. I also pin up that Months Cheat sheet for circle time. You can see it here written on the heart paper. The wreath above the chalk board was grown and made by us. We planted the Marigolds in 2008 and dried them. Then made a wreath out of them with some moss.

I also decorate a Dogwood tree limb seasonally. Right now it has flower faeries and bumble bees. And I make stars, rose windows and snowflakes for the windows. In the winter I put the room together in the evening and hand snowflake from the ceiling and put white snow faeries in the Dogwood branch. Then I set King winter on his thrown with crystals and candles. And put candles all over the room. I then set the table with a white table cloth and clear Crystal dishes. And make a white finger food meal. It is absolutely beautiful and amazing. Each person (including me) Gets a white stone or crystal. OH I also play Faeries in the Woods CD.

Birds In The Class Room

You can just make out the fuzzy little heads.

We are fortunate to be surrounded by Birds. Actually quite closely! We thought we were lucky when Cardinals made there home right outside the front window but to have one in our class room was amazing.

This nest held three little Carolina Wrens and was built in a basket that held our homemade ropes.

The Mom and Dad took such great care of them and didn't seem to get too upset when we came to visit once a week.

Not long after this picture was taken we got to experience the Babbie's taking there first flight.

We also have there nest sitting on our mantle in the living room to remind us of the special happenings.

Busy Hands

I had made granny squares, my first crochet project, they were OK but not being thrilled with them I stuffed them in a bag and onto one of my shelf's in my craft room. Curious, Little Trinity, rescued them for a doll quilt. This was just the life these sad squares needed. So, we sat down to our first sewing session. It didn't take much time before the squares were out of my lap and into hers. And now she has her own sewing basket, and her dolls have another quilt.

F.D. Roosevelt State Park Georgia - Trailer Trash Tuesday

Trailer Trash Tuesday
(Where Campground Gossip reigns supreme and I share our  camping adventure or miss-adventure)

My new favorite place! I know I say this every time, but at least I find the world a beautiful place..and isn't it really. And it may be close enough for Jeff to commute for a short while...don't let him fool you it is his new favorite place too. Ask him about all the fish he caught.

 

On arrival to the campground we needed to dump our black water (poo tank for those of you non-campers) And as you can see the kids were very interested...they look like two dogs with their heads out the window. OK don't tell them I said that...but its true...don't they?

Our first night the frogs were calling us. So we headed down to the lake with flash lights in hand. Alex had a blast, he caught frog after frog after frog.

 

Trinity would have liked it better had the frog jumped in her net and she didn't have to touch the goo.

The next day after we went to Calloway Gardens for an Easter Egg Hunt. Trinity and I cooled our feet off in the spillway while Alex....

...went after the frogs that got away. Go Alex GO! While Trinity scooped up fish in her net. She figured out a way to do this without having to touch anything. And brother came to the rescue of the poor fish she couldn't get out. Trinity wouldn't move off the rock for any amount of pleading from her brother. He swore he saw the biggest frog of his life and could get it if she would just move. She looks like a little frog sitting on her rock.

The Easter Bunny visited us leaving books, dragons, horses and "T's" The kids are sporting here. Along with a little candy and a whole lot of money.

The last day was spent catching tadpoles and turtles. The kids would scoop up at least a dozen tadpoles each time. This was just grand for Miss Trinity as she could catch as much as her big brother and never got a drop on her. Then they discovered the turtles waiting in the muck for a tadpole lunch. The very slippery turtles quickly blazed a trail back to the safety of the water so I didn't get a photo.

I got a much needed rest and reflection while the kids stayed busy along the banks. Lemonade in one hand, camera in the other I took in the beauty of the place, the peace of the moments and the joy of my children. Much change lies ahead for me and my little family we will be diving into a life we have just touch upon these last few years and I don't want any moment to slip away.

But more on that later. Enjoy.