Dear families,
We hope everyone has had a fantastic weekend and spent some time outside!
We’ve come a long way since Tuesday, January 5! We have divided and conquered! The youngers (red line) and olders (blue line) have voted on Marta train colors to represent our respective side, and celebrate that each morning. Upon arrival at the school, Ms. Kate greets each friend with a warm smile and a marta ticket while each friend’s picture on it. The color of the ticket corresponds with the marta line, or classroom side, for example, if a friend receives a red ticket with their picture, that ticket then gets walked to Ms. Susie and placed in the ticket box. If the ticket is blue, then it goes to Mr. Rob, conductor of the “youngers” train! We have spent this last month building on previous knowledge of threads: ladybugs, bears, and trains. We have used these platforms to bring us together, but also help separate us by age groups and daily, small intimate groups.
This past week we focused on developing our interest and knowledge of trains! We worked with tape and paint to create our own train tracks in the classroom. Some friends spent some time in the atelier with Mr. Lewis marking train tracks with cut paper strips, paint, glue, and photographs. The blue line and red line split one afternoon to role play riding a train while dressing up and listening to train music, and Ms. Kate also shared a book with us at our Community Meeting discussing a train’s parts, speed, and different types of trains!
painting and building trains
We also spent time working on our classroom identity. Interestingly enough, this work was led solely by the children. We observed so many memorable moments where the children stood up for or consoled a friend. There were times where we spotted the children in various areas of the playground communicating in a group setting as if they were long-lost friends! The children often claimed their colored train (red or blue) while transitioning outside or to and from the classroom. We are watching friendships blossom and personalities transform, and it is a beautiful thing!
“up and down opposite work, as a team!”
Togetherness! Look at all these relationships forming so beautifully!! 
“putting out a house fire – together!”
Lastly, we’ve been spending some time talking about ladybugs and bears, as they are still very popular threads in our classroom. We discussed similarities between them, such as hibernation. We’ve talked about diets of bears: mixing and measuring “bear treats” for an afternoon snack, smashing berries to dye cotton fabric (and taste our creative compotes!), and we are anticipating making berry popsicles next week! We also talked about ladybug diets, as we looked at pictures of ladybugs eating aphids off of leaves. And sometimes at the end of the day, we feed our classroom fish, Coco, some pellets! Next week will be spent forming stronger bonds, strengthening our classroom identities, creating fish, bear, and ladybug habitats with natural materials, and having fun!
-Deliberating our classroom fish’s name!
-sneaky bear game!!
-Don’t wake the sleeping bear!!
‘Bear games, snacks, and deliveries, oh my!!”
“That truck is bringing food for the bear!!”
I hope you can all see the amazing growth we’re witnessing every day!
**Don’t forget! International week is next week: February 8-12! There is a sign up sheet on the sign in board inside the classroom that allows your to sign up for any day as long as it isn’t between the hours of 12pm-2pm (our nap time!)
We can’t wait to share some traditions, from your family to ours 🙂
Thank you,
The Two’s Team