Back to school!

I am just in love with Norah's new school this year. It is this cute little red school house that sits up on a hill tucked in some woods and a spacious, fun outside area around the back of the property. But the school offers so much more than just it's adorable appearance...there are so many amazing things going on inside! The school is unique in that it is the only co-op in our county. Being a co-op, parents are hugely involved in how the school is run and are required to participate in the classroom periodically as well as be involved in a committee to help keep the school running smoothly. Having taught for four years, this was immediately appealing to me when we were looking for preschools. I'm so happy to be able to be such a big part of Norah's preschool years and can't wait to witness the many fun moments that this year has to bring! The philosophy of the school is that children learn through play and the kids spend most of their morning doing just that. Instruction is heavily guided by children's interests and the teachers are primarily facilitators who will find teachable moments as the children play and interact with one another. And there's just so much fun stuff to explore, manipulate, create with - many kinds of paint, homemade playdough, scissors, dress-up clothes, blocks, books...the list is endless! It's still early so we continue to have our shy moments at drop-off, but I know that Norah is loving her new school so far...she has made us so much terrific artwork to display at home and is already singing songs around the house that she has learned at school. I look forward to sharing many school moments and photos in the coming days. For now here are some shots of Norah on her first big day in the 3's class.