September 23.2025
I was working on my felt story ” The circle of life” just doing to finish touch up on the characters, when B quietly came out of the nap room. Wondering what i was doing, B walked over and looking at each piece, I started reading the gentle story to help children understand death is not an ending, but part of a beautiful circle — “The Circle of life.” I read the first half of the story was about “when the world was new, the creator made the circle of life so that every being – animals. trees, rivers, and people – would have a beginning, a purpose and a return.” The door bell rang and B’s mother was here for pick up. I look forward to returning to the story. Hopefully to read the rest the story about the ancestor, and how the elder explains those who are gone before us, are still close – in our dreams, the wind, and the northern lights. Before B left to go home, he stopped to grabbed a skeleton from the bowl of random stuff then placed it next to the characters, B smiled and waved “bye.” My heart melt “awe” B showed he was listen to the story and what he understood about the story by adding the skeleton.
You are very creative and have made beautiful resources Lora:)
September 24,2025
Before going outside Willa and B made spray chalk and colored the cement outside. Observing them painting, making noises, and paint squish between their fingers and I walked around the wondering If I can come up with something to add to their play. trying to thinking another fun idea. As fun as it looked, I remember seeing a post on Facebook “Wild books – a series of 5 books on the whole nature craft” who used the leaves as paint brushes. there was plenty of chalk left so I found a few different kinds of leaves from the garden and poured the chalk all over and left them to dry. I enjoyed watching B mix all the colors and P not impressed at the time he didn’t want to play with it.
Really appreciate how you are thinking and reflecting on how to expand and build on activities presented.
What happen? when we put the blocks close together. “Only the few tipped over and the rest stayed standing up”
We did our best making a zig zag domino effect, trying to line up in “S” shape then pushing them over
Such a simple moment with great learning potential. You are going to be an amazing teacher as you are able to understand how the ordinary moments are learning opportunities!
What’s in a seed?
October 3,2025
Today, I observed a child fully engaged in a painting activity that encouraged creativity and sensory exploration. She used her hands to mix and spread different colors across the paper, experimenting with texture and blending. I noticed how focused she was on the process, exploring the cause and effect of her movements rather than aiming for a specific outcome. This experience supported her fine motor skills, sensory development, and self-expression. It also reinforced my understanding of the importance of providing open-ended, process-based art experiences that allow children to explore freely and make their own discoveries.
Personal Reflection:
This activity reminded me how valuable it is to step back and let children take the lead in their learning. I sometimes feel the urge to guide or tidy up during messy play, but observing her joy and concentration helped me appreciate the learning that happens through exploration. In future activities, I want to focus more on creating opportunities that emphasize the process and encourage children to express themselves without limitations.
Great reflection and willingness to show how observation and understanding of child development go together.
October 06,2025
“Five little monkey’s jumping on the bed” E sure loved playing and listening to the song, then put the monkey on the bed “snoring sounds”. small scream of excitement E would act out the song with gestures or movements- practicing their coordination and gross motor skills.
“Singing together- we build connection, joy and a sense of belonging.” need to add page from ELF.
The children were having a really good day today. B moved around the room dancing with so much energy and joy, expressing himself through his whole body. E squealed with excitement during play, her laughter filling the space and showing how engaged and happy she was. Moments like these remind me of how children communicate their emotions through movement, sound, and play—and how a positive, supportive environment encourages them to express themselves freely.
Amazing photos and learning of both you and the children!
November 7,2025
P is a cautious, energetic, and caring one-year-old who is growing confidently each day in our daycare environment. He explores his world through movement, touch, and play, showing a strong interest in sensory experiences and cause-and-effect activities. P is developing his independence, practicing early communication skills through gestures, sounds, and emerging words, and forming trusting relationships with his educators and peers.
He enjoys exploring new materials, engaging in simple routines, and participating in songs and social play. P’s enthusiasm, gentle personality, and eagerness to try new things make him a delightful part of our daycare community. I love these Pictures of P, he looks so grown, content and relaxed compared to the beginning he fussed and not having it with us educators but a month later huge transformation. Whereas few months at the daycare he has crossed a few milestones- sleeping in the crib, napping for longer then a hour, building relationships and learning together.
Amazing how quickly they adapt when we met their needs. So glad you were there for his arrival and start of his childcare journey. When we provide what a child needs they are so resilient and ready to take on the world!
Final Practicum Summary
My practicum at Xwisten Daycare has been a meaningful and transformative experience that strengthened both my confidence and my understanding of early childhood education. Over these weeks, I had the opportunity to build relationships with the children, support their learning through play, and deepen my knowledge of observation, guidance, and responsive caregiving. Each day taught me something new about how children explore, communicate, and express themselves, and I learned how important patience, empathy, and flexibility are in supporting their growth.
So happy that this program turned out to be the right place for you to grow and flourish.
Working alongside my mentor, Rupinder, has been one of the most impactful parts of my practicum. Her gentle voice, calm presence, and patient approach created an environment where I felt encouraged to ask questions, try new strategies, and reflect on my practice. I appreciated how she shared her experiences, showed genuine interest in learning more about First Nations culture, and valued learning with us as students. Her guidance has inspired me to continue growing into an educator who leads with care, curiosity, and respect. This really has been a learning experience for both of you!
Some of my favorite moments included collaborative art projects, sensory exploration, building with blocks, and watching the children learn how to share, problem-solve, and express their feelings. Our Christmas tree project on my last day was especially meaningful—working with Willa, Rupinder, and the children to create something beautiful felt like a celebration of our time together.
This practicum strengthened my passion for early learning and helped me see the importance of creating safe, inclusive, culturally responsive environments for children. I leave this experience feeling more confident, grateful, and excited for the next steps in my journey as an Early Childhood Educator.
I am so happy that you have found a way to complete this program through many challenges presented along the way. It has been a gift to watch and see you blossom and grow into a competent and capable Early Childhood Educator. I look forward to seeing you in the role of teacher in the future.
May your ECE journey continue and prosper.
deb
