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Dear Mulberry,

We talked about having lots of feelings when we have an idea and someone messes up our idea or even if we’re scared that they’re going to mess it up.

I feel scared when I feel angry. Sometimes when I feel scared, I run, and sometimes I stomp and growl, and sometimes I freeze or nervously laugh or want to be extra nice. These thing all just happen in the moment I’m scared, and sometimes that out of control feeling, scares me more.

Today, two people had different ideas about the big black track. Then they had different ideas about chase. Then they had different ideas about the foam blocks. And by the time they had different ideas about the foam blocks, IT WAS TOO MUCH. They needed help. One tackled and hit, and one bit. And then, they both felt much worse. I’m sorry I didn’t get there to help.

What really helps is to have someone to be with when I feel scared who listens and stays nearby until the scared/angry passes. And then the next time something similarly scary happens, I feel just safe enough to choose something else. I wonder what you would choose.

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Oak,

There was a long black track. You wanted to start from even higher. People had to get a crate to stand on to reach the starting point. Later you adjusted ths start point and threaded the end of the track through a crate handle to try to keep if from slipping.

Almost the whole class was testing the track. You had to navigate turns, make adjustments, try new paths, wait for the path to clear. So much work. So much patience.

At one point, someone worried that another was taking the wooden ball, but they were just helping by going to get the ball.

One person saw that was what was happening and explained, “Don’t worry. They’re not taking the ball. We all have our own. They were just getting it for you.”

That person was noticing other things too, thinking outloud that you would be a construction worker when you grew up because you were good at fixing things.

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Oak,

Just as I was sure you had finished exploring and making concoctions with the magic powder and colors and cream, you surprised me today.

We had some visitors, and I was talking to the grownup about our school when I felt a tug on my hand to come and look. You wanted to show me something. Our 2nd grade visitor urged me to come too.

You pointed to a jar full to the top of bubbles. There was only about a 1/4 inch of green at the bottom, the color of the beetle’s belly from morning news. The bubbles seemed to be growing as I watched, piling up ontop of each other over the top rim of the jar.

You added more liquid. It kept bubbling. You put in a funnel, and bubbles and liquid poured over the side. You added more liquid and pointed. There were bubbles rising in the funnel. I wonder how. I wonder why.

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Mulberry,

There were some new colorful blocks over in the making and creating space. They’re made out of a different material than our other blocks. I wonder if you noticed the differences between these blocks and our other blocks.

I noticed several of you discovered them. I saw you building towers. The towers grew taller and taller. I saw you create another kind of round building with the triangles. Two of you were working on creations side by side.

One got frustrated as part of their tower fell and knocked down the other’s. They explained and apologized. A third person came to build too. They wanted to help. Both of you wanted to work on your own tower. I felt like playing with the new blocks and wanted their help.

We started with round columns and went high, and they fell over. We laughed. Sometimes, the falling over is part of the fun. Sometimes when you’ve been working really hard on an idea, and it doesn’t work. The blocks fall down, and aaarrrgghhh! I just want to smash everything.

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Mulberry,

We’ve had magic powder, foam, rainbow color liquids out since school began, and you manage to use just what you need to make your concoctions. You leave enough behind for everyone to use.

You turn off the water when you are done and save water for all living things. That’s so so much — it’s all the animals, all the plants, all the people in the whole world — that we’ve learned to share water with.

We use just what we need of things, so there’s plenty for everyone. It’s tricky. I’ve been trying to figure out the tape. Tape is fun. Rainbow tape is really fun. Because you’re so good at using just what you need and making sure there’s enough space, water, sand, paint, magic powder for everyone, I thought I’d ask you about the tape.

What do you think we need to do to make sure there’s enough tape for everyone for the whole year?

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Mulberry,

You were busy turning holes I dug in the sand into volcanoes. This seemed dangerous. Lava is very hot. You suggested that it could kill. I wondered why would you want to make volcanoes. That is very very dangerous.

In the meantime, over on Rainbow Mountain, I saw a big tire rolling from the top down towards the barn. Someone had the idea to roll the big tire down towards the mulberry tree. Victoria pointed out that it might roll all the way to the safe area. Good point.

I moved away from the lava danger zone and went to make a tire barrier to protect the safe area just in case. I also constructed a block wall for extra protection. The first person to send their tire down went right through the block wall. CRASH.

Everyone worked to rebuild the block wall. The second person to send their tire down went right into the mulberry tree. The tire tipped and fell. The block wall remained standing right in the middle of the tire. How did they do that?

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Oak,

I had some magic powder in a cup. You told me to put in red, then green, then purple. I didn’t have purple. You told me to mix red and blue together.

When I dropped the colors in the magic powder, they sizzled. No matter which color. No matter how much color. You picked up some magic powder and dusted it over the colors and they all began to bubble.

I left. Everyone seemed to be working on a potion. One said they were done with their potion, but their potion wasn’t done. I wonder what happens with a half finished potion.

Another said, “No.” Their potion didn’t turn your skin into dragon scales. “That would breath out fire.” Hmm… probably scary.

Another said that their potion turned you into a cupcake. I wondered what kind of cupcake. One person said, “Green.” After more wondering about green cupcakes, they said, “Seaweed.” Then someone else agreed that they would also be turned into a green seaweed cupcake.

You said that you would turn into a cupcake with sprinkles. I wonder if you can eat children turned into cupcakes by potions in the safe area. I do like cupcakes.

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Oak,

We welcomed L today. I wonder if you remember what it was like on your very first day of Rainbow School. Everyone is new to you. Everything is new.

For some people, when everyone and everything is new, it’s exciting and maybe a little bit scary, but good scary. Some will run right into all the new. Some will sit back and watch a while. It’s a little too exciting.

And then what are the rules? Is this place even safe? Who’s in charge? There are 3 rules:
1. Keep yourself safe.
2. Keep others safe.
3. Keep our materials and our yard safe. It’s for everyone.

I bet you know lots of things about keeping safe. Grownups are around to help. Are we perfect? Nope. Sometimes we mess-up. That’s okay. We’re all learning here. It’s school.

Love,
Teacher Michelle

We’re so excited to be heading quickly into the new school year! Reach out to membership@woodlandparentnurseryschool.org if you’re ready to join us!