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From the Director's Headphones

1/16/2020

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I’m often asked what my family is reading and what music we listen to that is kid friendly. Since I’m so often asked, I thought I would put it all in one place that can be shared.

What do we listen to? Honestly, not a lot of music! Some of our most listened to are:
Caspar Babypants- If you’re of a certain age, you may remember a song called Millions of Peaches...the frontman is now a kid’s artist, and not an awful one either. His songs are catchy and fun. He has some very silly ones (Our favorites are Helicopter, Bad Blue Jay, and Run Baby Run), as well as a couple of night time music and some Beatles covers.

The Okee Dokee Brothers- We were introduced to these guys from another parent when my oldest was in the preschool here years ago, and we’ve continued to enjoy them! So much so, that we went on a road trip last fall to hear them play live and pick up their most recent album! They fall on the folk/bluegrass spectrum. Their four big albums all have wonderful back stories to them: hiking the Appalachian Trail, canoeing down the Mississippi, spending time on a ranch, and spending time in Canada in the winter. From each of these experiences they created an album of songs to match.

Super Simple Songs- They have a lot of nursery rhymes, learning songs, and catchy songs for really young kids. One of our favorites is Do You Like Broccoli?

And that’s about it music wise! (Occasionally we get sucked into JoJo Siwa or Kidz Bob, but I try to limit that for my own sanity!)

Now, we don’t just drive around in silence. We tend to listen to a lot of audio books and most of all podcasts! I’ve always listened to podcasts, but I never really thought of finding any for my kids. A friend told me about What If World, a storytelling podcast for kids, and we were hooked! Podcasts will often guest star one each other’s show, so it’s easy to find more (and more and more…) Some of our favorites are:

What If World- Mr. Eric is the host of this wonderful world of stories. Every episode he answers kids that questions that children sent in. But these aren’t your run of the mill questions, these are “what if…” questions. “What if the lion and the elephant met up for spaghetti.” was the question in a recent episode. Mr. Eric takes these questions and weaves them into a story with a crazy cast of characters that he has created.

Story Pirates- This is another story telling podcast. In this one there is a band of Pirates that sail in a magical ship and have adventures. That part is just one part of the podcast, the other part are the stories that children send in. The Story Pirates take these stories and act them out, or write a song about it. The music aspect is so popular that they’ve created a few albums of them. 

Wow in the World- Mindy and Guy Raz (yes, Guy Raz of Ted Talks and NPR) check out a science related topic every episode. This is far from a boring sit down lecture though. From getting stuck in a giant nose, to time travel, to making Guy Raz pretend to be different animals (all in the name of science, of course) Wow in the World makes science fun and interesting.

Pants on Fire- We all know the rhyme, but in this game show podcast they ask a kid to pick the expert from the liar. It’s an interesting listen and it’s fun to try to guess who the expert is and who is making stuff up as they go. Sometimes the one host can make some jokes that are meant for older kids, but everyone in my family enjoys it. (Gen-Z has a bunch of good ones, we also listen to The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian sometimes)

Noodle Loaf and Ear Snacks- These two are geared towards the youngest kids. They’re full of silly songs and jokes and are around 10-15 minutes long.

Be Calm on Ah-way Island- This is a great bedtime or quiet time one. They tell calm and meditative stories. The narrator's voices are so soothing!


Do you have a favorite I’ve missed? Please let me know in the comments!

​
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A sweet New Year

9/29/2019

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These first few weeks have flown by, and the children in the Preschool 2 class have noticed, and begun to show an interest in the cycle of the year. They’re noting that birthdays are coming up, the seasons are starting to change, and that there are holidays coming. While they have a daily meeting where they share a calendar, it was difficult for them to envision all of these changes and important dates on a ‘flat’ calendar. Along with their teachers, they have created a 3D calendar using a lazy susan and photos. This calendar has become a way for them to see what’s next, and a way for them to mark time in a meaningful way. 

How wonderful that this interest has coincided with Rosh Hashanah! Rosh Hashanah is often referred to as the birthday of the world, and the beginning of a 10 day period of reflection for Jewish people that ends on Yom Kippur, the day of repentance. 

As we prepare for the holidays, we use this opportunity to talk about the symbols of Roshahah with the children. The links will take you to some of the songs that we have been singing together:
  • The Shofar, which is a rams horn that is blown to remind Jewish people to ‘wake up’, and look inward and repent. For the children it is a chance to talk about and practice different sounds and patterns as we talk about the different sounds that are blown on the shofar. We have been able to hear the Rabbi blow the shofar for us already!
  • Wishing one another a Happy and Sweet New Year or L’shana Tovah!
  • Since food often plays a large part in Jewish holidays and traditions, we dip apples in honey and eat honey cake to celebrate having a sweet new year.
  • Round Challah, will also be a part of our snack on Fridays as well. While we do have challah every Friday, it is a long braided loaf. On Rosh Hashanah the loaf is round, reminding us that they year is a circle. 

Yom Kippur is a more somber day. Called the Day of Atonement, it is a chance for Jews to repent and ask for forgiveness from God and from others that they may have wronged. With the children, it’s an opportunity to talk about saying “I’m sorry” when they’ve done something that may have hurt another person, or made them feel angry and sad. We talk about how we can make things better in these situations beyond just saying sorry. 

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are a time that we teach the children (and to be honest, we all need a reminder about this)  that it’s okay to make mistakes and that everyone does, but we can always ask for forgiveness and make things right. 

Have a wonderful and sweet new year!

​
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Sharing our Values

1/18/2019

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Over the summer our Early Learning Center Leadership team decided that the Jewish values that we had chosen in 2011 when we started our Reggio journey, didn’t necessarily define who we are now, in the 2018-19 school year. After meeting with Rabbi Jeremy Weisblatt, we came up with eleven items, three phrases and eight Hebrew words, that we thought would best define our school.

  1. The Early Childhood Director as a visionary
  2. The Early Childhood Educator as a professional
  3. Families as engaged partners
  4. Tikkun Olam  (acts of kindness to performed to repair or perfect the world)
  5. Masa (Journey)
  6. Kehilla (Community)
  7. Simcha (Joy)
  8. Mishpachah (Family)
  9. Kavanah (Intention)
  10. Kavanah  (intention)
  11. Shema (Hear or Listen)

Over the next few weeks, we’ll share with you how we see these values playing out in our school. We also invite you to share with us examples of these that you see happening in our classrooms and with the children

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A time for Gratitude

11/30/2018

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I apologize for the gap in posting time, the past few months have been quite a journey for our community. We went from Rosh Hashana, to Simchat Torah, celebrating with one another, but missing almost a month of school. As soon as we got back into the groove, the Tree of Life shooting happened and we were turned upside down as we tried to deal with a lot of questions, emotions and feelings. And then suddenly it was November and we had a Thanksgiving program to put together and another week out of classes. Don’t blink, because by the time you finish reading this, it’s probably going to be December and the winter holidays will be upon us.

One topic that always seems to come up around this time of year is gratitude and how can we help our children be grateful and thankful. This is especially timely since many of us celebrate gift giving holidays in the winter time, and children (and adults too) can get caught up in the ‘more stuff’ mindset. How can you help your child during these times and throughout the year?

  1. Model thankfulness and appreciativeness. Make sure your child is hearing you say your thank you’s when someone gives you something. Let them know when you notice they've done something (Wow! You put away the shoes for me. I appreciate that so much, now I have a little extra time to spend with you!). These little people want to be like us!
  2. Share the things you’re thankful and grateful for. It’s not just for the Thanksgiving table! Every night at our house we ask a question that can’t be answered with a yes/no. Some questions you could ask: What’s something good that happened to you today? What are you thankful for today? What did you do nice for someone today? If they have a negative response, help them to find the positive to go along with it.
  3. Talk about others. No, not that way. Talk about the people that might not have everything that you do and how you can help them. Set aside some time for G'milut Chasidim. G'milut Chasidim is the ways that we can perform acts of loving kindness by giving your self or your time, with out expecting anything in return. I know some people that keep kits in their cars that they can give to people that they see that are homeless. Visit an elderly neighbor who hasn't been feeling well. There are many places that your children can donate their unwanted toys to. Talk about the people in their daily lives and all the things that they do for us, from their busdriver to the trashman to the police officer, and do something nice for them. 
  4. Set expectations for the ‘stuff’. I’ve known families that clean out their toys/clothes/books right before the holidays. Yes, it’s making room for more, but it’s also teaching about giving and sharing. Talk about shopping trips ahead of time and how it might just be a “look” trip. One of the bloggers that I follow fights the “I wants” by letting her child hold the item that they want and snapping a picture of them with it, creating a photographic wishlist. Often, she said, her kid forgets about it completely!

Here are some resources so that you can read more about gratitude and young children:
10 Ways to Raise a Grateful Kid
Nurturing Gratitude
8 Ways to Teach Kids Gratitude

Here are some groups and organizations that you can help out with donations:
Foster Love (I only linked their donation page, but they have a bag drive going on through December 15)
Play it Forward Pittsburgh (They are collecting donations now and through December 12. They encourage entire families, including children, to volunteer!)
North Hills Community Outreach (They have a variety of programs and volunteer opportunities)

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L'Shana Tova!

9/11/2018

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Each year the start of our preschool year coincides with the celebration of Rosh
Hashanah, the beginning of a ten day period of reflection and introspection that
ends with Yom Kippur, the solemn day of repentance. We want to share with you
some of the ways in which your children will be learning about these holidays.
During these High Holy Days, Jews reflect on the previous year and plan for the
New Year. Rosh Hashanah is referred to as the birthday of the world, and in
preschool we relate Rosh Hashanah to the fresh, new start of school and to the
children’s birthdays which cycle around each year, marking the beginning of a new
age and new experiences for them. One of the symbols of Rosh Hashanah that is
introduced is the shofar or ram’s horn. The children will listen to Rabbi Weisblatt
blow the shofar and will try to imitate the different sounds: loud and soft, long and
short. It is customary during Rosh Hashanah to wish friends and family a sweet or
good new year (“Shana Tovah”). The sweetness of the New Year is celebrated by
eating honey cake and apples dipped in honey. During Rosh Hashanah challah is
baked in a round shape with raisins on top, the round shape symbolizing the cycle
of the year. We will also be sharing these foods in our classrooms.
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is a day when Jews ask forgiveness for
wrongs committed against God and others. In preschool we talk about saying “I’m
sorry” when we have hurt someone else, made them feel angry or sad. And we
practice good ways to handle our disagreements and make others feel better. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur teach the children that everyone makes mistakes, and that we will always have the opportunity to learn to do better.

A few of the songs the children will be singing:
Dip the Apples (Clementine)
Dip the apples in the honey
Blow the shofar loud and clear
Shana Tovah, Shana Tovah
Have a happy sweet New Year.

Apples and Honey
Apples and honey for Rosh Hashanah
Apples and honey for Rosh Hashanah
For a good, good year,
For a sweet, sweet year.
Apples and honey for Rosh Hashanah.

I Like to Hear the Shofar Blast
I like to hear the shofar blast
Sometimes slow and sometimes fast!
I like to hear the shofar blast
Happy, happy, happy new year!
1. T‘ki-ah--------
2. Sh‘va-rim--------
3. T‘ru-ah ----  

Wishing you a happy and sweet new
year,

Sara, Sandy, Shelley, Jennifer,
Jeanne, Morgan, Jill, and Bonnie
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Back to School Tips

9/3/2018

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When my kids and I went for a walk yesterday we crunched through some fallen leaves. The grocery store is filled with mums and pumpkins, the air is getting cooler (or it was for a few days there), and the back to school sales are over...all signs that fall is coming. Along with fall come some very big transitions for children, namely going to school and heading off without mom and dad, some for the first time. It can be a hard time for them, and us parents too. With the first day of classes at Temple Ohav Shalom Center for Early Learning happening in a few days, I wanted to share some strategies to make your child’s (and your) transition a little easier.

  1. Talk about it. Let your child know how they’re going to ride in the car, and talk about what they might see along the way. For instance, my daughter loves looking for the Star of David on the sign in the driveway. Discuss what they might do during the day. If you can, don’t let on how nervous you are; they’re smart little cookies and will pick up on your nervousness and they they’ll likely be nervous too.
  2. Have a routine. Routines let us know what to expect. You’ll also be able to use it when talking about going to school. For example: “When we get to school, we’re going to hang your backpack up, wash your hands, and read two stories. After that, I have to go, but you’ll be able to read another story with Ms. Shelley.” This will help your children know that after that second story they will have to say goodbye for a little bit.
  3. Know that the teachers have this. We care for your kids, almost just as much as you do. We don’t want to see them sad all day long, and will do whatever it takes to try to help them, whether it’s distracting with play dough, singing silly songs, or holding them for a while. Once I cheered a very sad kid up by mentioning, randomly, that I had to go to Target. That stopped the tears, and every day for a few weeks, we had to talk about Target, as part of his morning routine. We aren’t going to let children cry for hours, and chances are, they’re going to be okay by the time you reach the entryway. Just, please, don’t peek your head back in the window to check, as that often upsets children more.
  4. Take some time for yourself! Are you using this time to get work done? Enjoy being able to do it without requests for milk and Thomas blaring in the background. Suddenly have 3 hours by yourself? Go grab a cup of coffee (not familiar with the area? Let us know, we can direct you to some good coffee shops,) get the grocery shopping done, go home and relax, go for a run...just take advantage of having some you time, something us parents don’t get too often. On Wednesday and Thursday, we will have coffee and snacks in the multipurpose room. Come down, get to know fellow parents, and if you want one of us to run up and check on your child, we will.

We’ve got this, parents! We are excited to get to know you and your children and are looking forward to a great year of learning, exploring, and having fun.

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Getting Ready for a New year!

8/13/2018

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It's hard to believe that summer is almost  over! That means it's just about time to head back to school. Hear at Temple Ohav Shalom Center for Early Learning, the teachers have been busy. Recently, they had a staff meeting to begin to get ready for the new year, talking about their ideas and hopes for their classrooms and the children they will be with. They have also been working together in each of their classrooms, rearranging furniture, organizing materials and making plans for the very first days of school. We are looking forward to seeing everyone on the first day, but before then we have a couple events planned. First is a play date on the the playground, which will give families old and new a chance to meet one another and explore our outdoor spaces. The second is a Parent and Teacher Meet and Greet, which will give parents and care givers a chance to meet and talk with their child's classroom teachers. If you are enrolled already, check your inboxes for more information on these events.

See you soon!
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Thanksgiving Celebration

12/1/2017

 
We all look forward to those special days throughout the year when parents and grandparents come into the center to create, explore, and discover together with their children.  This year we began our Thanksgiving celebration in the sanctuary where the children sang favorite songs for their families.  Later in the classrooms families enjoyed special snacks prepared by the children and shared in the children’s daily experiences of paint, collage, clay, blocks, stories, and pretending!

Fall Family Dinner

10/30/2017

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A family potluck dinner of favorite family recipes was held to celebrate Sukkot and the Thanksgiving season.  Watercolor papers prepared by the children were used by parents to trace the children’s hands and add messages of gratitude.  Handprint leaves from all the families are now hanging outside the classrooms on our tree of gratitude.
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Our Hopes and Dreams

10/19/2017

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This fall, as we began a new school year, parents were asked to share their hopes and dreams for their children by writing their wishes on a ribbon that would become part of a school-wide art project.  In the studio the children constructed beaded wires and added their own hopes and dreams to the project.  We hope that these dreams will become part of the early childhood experience at Ohav Shalom.
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Temple Ohav Shalom
Center for Early Learning
(412) 369-0900
center@templeohavshalom.org

​Temple Ohav Shalom
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(412) 369-0900
www.templeohavshalom.org

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Allison park, pa 15101
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  • About
    • Educational Philosophy
    • Our Environment
    • Core Values
    • Staff
    • Calendar >
      • Upcoming Events
    • Blog
  • Programs
    • Program Overview
    • Young Toddlers
    • Older Toddlers
    • Preschool One
    • Preschool Two
    • Afternoon Explorers
    • Summer Camp
    • Mini-Camp
  • Registration
    • 2021-2022 Registration
    • 2022-2023 Registration
    • Camp Registration
    • Mini-Camp Registration
  • Parent Information
  • WishList
  • Make a Payment
  • Request More Information