My Morning at The Child's Garden

For the past week, I have been working on editing through the Over the Rainbow Preschool School Pictures.  This was my my fourth year taking the pictures there, and each year I love going to back to work with the amazing students at the school.  One of my favorite things about this job is seeing how the kids grow up over the years.  For example, these are Ellee's pictures from a few years ago, when she was in Ms. Allison's 2's class... the first one was the one we picked, and the second one I just love.  I can't remember what it was that she was laughing at, but it makes me smile every time I see it.

This is the picture that I got for this year.  I can't believe how much she is growing up!  

I love working with Over the Rainbow Preschool.  I love the kids, love making them smile.  There is something so precious about these years.  

Maureen, a friend of mine started a new school this year called  The Child's Garden.  She asked me to come up and take her preschool's school pictures, so this morning I drove up to her school in Southold.  It was so incredibly excited to see her amazing school.  I remember talking to her this summer, about her dreams of opening up her own school, so it was really special to be able to walk in this morning and to see all that she has accomplished.  

These are the amazing 6 students that she has this year.  Her goal is to add more as the years go by, and with everything that I experienced today, I have no doubt that she will reach that goal.  

The atmosphere of the school was so warm and inviting.  Maureen has such a creatively, unique approach to education.  She uses songs, story telling and lots of interactive tools for learning.  

She incorporates nature into many aspects of her teaching.  For example, during playtime,  the students  build with these birch tree blocks.

While I was there, I could tell that each of these students was getting such full and quality education.  

Circle time consisted of many songs that all of the children sang with excited and lots of dancing too! 

Then, at snack time, the kids enjoyed hearty bowls of natural cut oatmeal, with cinnamon and raw sugar.  They helped to set the table, and I couldn't help but smile at the sweet place settings that awaited each child.  I'm personally not a huge oatmeal fan, but I was tempted to try some, and delighted to find that it was absolutely delicious!  

After snack, I the kids headed outside.  It was a beautiful day, and they were so happy to be out in the fresh air.  They collected eggs from the school's chickens and then ran off into the woods to work on a fort that they had created.  

All in all, it was an amazing morning.  The school pictures went well, and it was just so much fun to see all that Maureen is doing at The Child's Garden.  If you live near Southold, NY, or know someone who does, you should totally check out her amazing school.