TerraNichol Academy of the Arts
January 2021 Learning Journey The Reggio Emilia Way!
Our journey and wonder in learning labs this week.
They have also been exploring the Reggio Emilia loose parts table inspired by the Penguins Everywhere. The outdoor learning labs were prepared with winter sensory tables, art, exploring Peter Reynolds books, extension dot art project, math games, snowman exploration through playdough, MAKE YOUR MARK dot prints, and of course gross motor exploration fun!
Provocations this month, Intro to Opera and Local artist music, What is an inventor? International Creativity Month, and Who is Jackson Pollack and Kandinsky? All semester projects will be evident in the student portfolio collection.
In January's winter yoga flow we gained new strength and skills. We discussed our Mantra: healing winter wellness- "Take care of your body it's the only place you have to live". An introduction to knew wisdom words "Let us love winter for it is the spring of genius" and practicing our winter focus breath a power breath technique. We read the yoga story of Jenny's Winter Walk. The student book pick for the month in the yoga workshop is "I am Peace" by Peter Reynolds.
In Music Appreciation, we exploring the Opera and the very famous Opera singer Andrea Bocelli. The students were mesmerized by his talent, voice, and that he is blind. They wanted more information on how he was able to get on stage without seeing. Andrea Bocelli has worked closely with MIT professors on developing high-tech vision.
The students learned so simple facts about Andrea Bocelli and have fallen deeply in love with his music. Student favorite pick is the song with Ed Sheeran "Perfect" and "Time to say goodbye.'
Wishing everyone an awesome month! Spread the love this month.
Ciao~Terra Tominelli-Founder
Hello Beautiful February! Love is in the Air...
February brings some new exciting, and inspiring learning labs. As our projects will be influenced by love, respect, and friendship students will be creating Friendship pins and necklaces, making friendship letters and postcards for friends at school, and exploring with hearts in loose parts experiences focusing on math, literacy, fine motor, and sensory development skills.
FEBRUARY STORY JOURNEYS
As we have begun setting up learning labs and introducing new literature for February students are already beginning to express some interests. We encourage families to see if any of the story journey books are available at the library or maybe even order one of them from Amazon. Many of this month's books would make a great little gift to give in the month of LOVE!
Featured February Story Journeys
-The Shape of My Heart
-In My Heart
-Love You When
-What Do You Love About You
Art Appreciation will lead us to the fabulous worlds of classical ballet, modern dance as students will be introduced to the fabulous artist Edgar Degas. We will explore dancing positions, dance movements, dressing up in dance costumes, and creating our very own watercolor masterpieces through the eyes of a dancer. We will also explore the world of Michelangelo. This Italian artist is known for the amazing likeness to the real life of his sculptures and paintings. He was incredibly talented, completing two major works – David and Pieta – before turning thirty! Despite being a sculptor first, his most famous work is the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. This is unlike any other work of art, and its sheer size is just one of the factors it is so. At 134 feet by 46 feet, it covers a huge area – all at nearly 44 feet above the floor! That’s the level of the grandeur of Michelangelo’s work!
Music Appreciation: Motown, Jazz, and songs about friendship will be heard throughout learning labs! We will be dancing with partners in practice for our Friendship Dance!
Let's get Jazzy with it this month! We will introduce the students to some great Jazz legends and inspire them to make their own music. This month we will focus on naming instruments, recognizing instruments by sight, and the beautiful sounds that they make. My favorite Jazz singer is Ella Fitzgerald.
Dramatic Play: Students will be involved in pretend play such as delivering packages and letters, working at the post office, creating letters and postcards to send to friends.
LOVE YOGA FLOW
Printable Love Yoga Flow
Home to school connection. Print this free Love Yoga flow card to practice at home this month with the whole family. Even with your pets!
Welcome!
Ish and Dot Projects
Painting Jackson Pollock Style!
Getting to know the world's greatest artist Jackson Pollock.
Our featured artist in the Atelier "Outdoor Art Studio".
Artists have a huge amount of influence on shaping history and culture and it’s a good idea to give students a sense of how powerful art can be. Not only does this give them a greater understanding of the past, but it can also get them excited about what they will create in their future.
Jackson Pollock’s work wasn’t created in traditional ways with the traditional painter’s tools. Instead of using a brush and an easel, Pollock placed his canvases on the floor and used sticks, dripping fluid, sand, and knives to add paint. He used flinging, dripping, pouring, and splattering techniques, using the movements of his whole body to control the flow of the paint.
Pollock stopped naming his pictures (giving them numbers instead) because he didn’t want people to look for a subject matter or a meaning in his art. Instead, he wanted to appreciate the painting for what it was.
Who is Wassily Kandinsky
- Wassily Kandinsky everything starts with a dot.
- What do we know about Wassily Kandinsky? • He was born in Moscow, Russia on December 16, 1866. He grew up in the Russian city of Odessa where he enjoyed music and learned to play the piano and the cello.
- When he was little he played the piano and the cello
- BECOMING AN ARTIST • Kandinsky went to college and then became a law teacher. However, when he was thirty he decided to change careers and become an artist.
- Abstract Expressionism • Kandinsky was one of the founding fathers of Abstract Art. • Shapes and colors alone could be art.
- Abstract Expressionism • The Abstract Art movement is called Abstract Expressionism because, although the art has no subject.
- No subject
- Colors and Shapes • Kandinsky felt that he could express feelings and music through colors and shapes in his paintings.
- MUSIC AND COLOURS • For example, he thought that yellow had the crisp sound of a brass trumpet and that certain colors placed together could harmonize like chords on a piano.
- Can we try like Kandinsky to guess the sounds of the colors? • What color the piano sounds like? • What color the violin sounds like? • What color the drum sounds like?
- The shapes he was most interested in were the circle, triangle, and square. • He thought the triangle would cause aggressive feelings, the square calm feelings, and the circle spiritual feelings.
Yoga Intentions
"Everything that starts in the universe starts with intention." Deepak Chopra
- Intend to have a healthy relationship with my body, mind and soul.
- Intend to be present in the moment.
- Trust the process of life.
- Focus on our breath.
- Remain positive
- Let go of worry.
- Thankful for the little things and maintain an attitude of gratitude.
Every Friday is Zumba Party.
Learning Lab Projects
Stamp Art-Learning the letters in our First and Last Name.
Did you know our lovely Valentino loves checking the weather?
Speaking of weather as the cooler weather may be visiting in the next couple of months please be sure that your child's sweaters, sweatshirts, jackets, and hats are all labeled with your child's name prior to wearing to school. This helps the teaching team out tremendously and ensures that your child will have his/her belongings.
Valentino loves story journey time.
Frida Kahlo "Valentino" completed!
Celebrating International Creativity Month- Let's Think Outside of The Box
International Creativity is celebrated every day at TerraNichol Academy of the Arts!
International Creativity Month is about celebrating those visionaries as well as inspiring yourself, and seeing what you can produce to celebrate your own internal creativity. So get out there and be creative!
Opera Music Appreciation.
Learning Labs and Growth Mindset Goals.
February/March Curriculum and Goals
CELEBRATING FRIENDSHIPS
Friendship Letters
Each year in February we celebrate the theme of Friendship.
We ask families to refrain from bringing in Valentine's cards and treats to school. We choose to embrace the Reggio Emilia curriculum offering students a meaningful learning experience in writing the friendship letters. Plus now it's one less thing off your plate as a parent! Thank you for your cooperation.
New Parent Volunteer Opportunities!
Thank You!
Co-Op Volunteering
We had an amazing first semester of School. Thank you to all the parent volunteers for helping the teaching team. We look forward to the success of the second semester.
There are many ways to volunteer! Reggio Emilia Home projects are a great way to involve the students at home by making or prepping new activities. See the picture below.
If you would like to make any of the projects for the learning labs email Miss Terra or comment in the Facebook Group "Miss Terra's Learning Lab".
Amazon Wish List
See wishlist. The Florida weather has taken a toll on our bikes/scooters.
We are needing bigger bikes.
Support our little inventors!
We need the following. Upcycle materials.
- Old CD's
- Old records
- tin cans
- lids
- slinkies
- bolts
- screws
- piper cleaners
- magnets
- wire
- sponges
- old mini toys
- fabric
- pipe cleaners
- old jewelry
- buttons
- corks
- pie tins
Please wash and clean all food items before donating.
Send materials all next week.
Spread the word! Share and invite family, friends and organizations.
Many parents choose TerraNichol Academy's program because of its environmentalist pedagogical approach. Ms. Terra provides an opportunity to be out in the open and connect with the ecosystem through observation and investigation. We want to increase the enchanted outdoor playscape with new eco -friendly equipment. (See Pictures)
The curriculum emphasizes the importance of experiential learning, celebrates individuality while fostering a community, and connecting the classroom with the outdoors. It follows the Reggio Emilia educational approach, marked by student-centered and self-guided learning in relationship-driven environments. We want to continue this high-quality program that has been jeopardized by the COVID-19 pandemic.
$50,000 goal, intended to cover and add new playscape equipment, new safety supplies, learning lab supplies, and enable the preschool to continue nurturing its students within a holistic, progressive learning environment, according to school Founder Terra Tominelli
Coffee Mingle
Bring your choice of Coffee or Tea and join me.
I will have some yummy to-go treats and a little friendship gift for you.
Parent Resources
TerraNichol Academy Of The Arts Innovative Progressive Reggio Emilia Private School
TerraNichol Academy of The Arts School is the kind of school parents expect, educators celebrate and children adore. Our approach to learning celebrates the great potential of young children, with the goal of nurturing self-motivated, life-long learners. The learning labs are guided by our Master Teachers as well as the Founder of TerraNichol Academy of The Arts Preschool with a low teacher-to-child ratio to allow for one-on-one engagement and thoughtful observation. Join our small community school for a backstage tour and be inspired by our thoughtful team of Early Childhood Educators here at TerraNichol Academy.
Come and Explore our Reggio Emilia program at TerraNichol Academy acclaimed for the stunning environments, their educators who create, provoke, and dazzle the student's senses, invite curiosity and discovery, and most importantly, foster strong, respectful meaningful relationships.
Come learn about the values for children in the program:
Being a home away from home
connecting children to their families
helping children to be powerful and active
being a steward of the natural world
seeing oneself as a capable learner
recognizing and being curious
We provide a school environment that is beautiful and taken care of with an attitude of care so that parents, children, and teachers want to come to school every day.
It is with an intelligent heart and courage that we continue our goals and vision to continue to proceed with the work of a child.
Email: terranicholacademy@gmail.com
Website: www.terranichol.com
Location: 701 Old Englewood Road, Englewood, FL, United States
Phone: 941-474-3000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerraNichol-Academy-of-The-Arts-School-257753271185/
Twitter: @terranichol