Dino Bees!

This week was Dinosaur Week! We got in the spirit by dressing up with dinosaur hats and tails. Our first book of the week was Ten Terrible Dinosaurs. We tested out our dino skills by marching, roaring and eating just like dinosaurs do! I'd say our Bees are some pretty convincing prehistoric critters! At Art time, we made some absolutely beautiful pictures using dinosaur stencils and koosh balls.

The second book of the week was How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food? We of course, had more fun playing with dinosaurs and coloring together during Open Choice. We discussed nice manners, and the importance of trying new foods and eating healthy. During Art, we talked even more about healthy choices as we made paper salads with salad dressing glue! I was very impressed with how well our Bees knew the names of all of the fruits and vegetables.

During snack, we continued to build on our confidence and responsibility by passing out place mats and cups all by ourselves! Tune in next week for more updates on our progress as we go on lots of Animal Adventures!

My Bubble Best,

Miss Sam

Stepping Up the Silly!

In Bubble Step, we aim to get our students school ready by cultivating an appreciation for fun and a love of learning. Sometimes when you feel nervous or anxious in the classroom, it helps to just get silly!  We sang goofy songs in circle time, banged on the drums with our toes, and this week, we became painters!

Who wouldn't love school when you get to dip a fire truck in finger paint? We also experimented with foam paint — a very soft sensory experience! I wouldn’t be Miss Becca if I didn't love paint up to my elbows!

We are certainly taking some big steps towards becoming confident, independent and joy-filled preschoolers.

My Bubble Best,

Miss Becca

Step in Play-Doh & Bee a Potato!

Playing with Play-Doh!

I try to take pictures in every Bubble Step class. Most of the time I only get a chance to capture what our students play with during Open Choice. Last week it was Play-Doh! We had such a good time modeling, rolling and cutting. I love Play-Doh because it not only works those ever developing fine motor skills, but you can also use it to encourage sharing and problem solving! Check out some of our wonderful rollers and shapers!

Fun with Mr. Potato Head

This week in Bubble Bees we're talking all about feelings. What better way to express yourself than by changing your face? Miss Sam found a Mr. Potato Head family hidden in our giant Bubble Toy closet!  We had a great time making silly faces together! Mr. Potato Head is a great tool for teaching body part recognition and building fine motor skills. Check out our silly creations!  - Miss Becca

Bubble Step in the Clouds!

Last week in Bubble Step class, we made cloud dough! This was a great way to foster independence and teamwork through measuring, mixing and getting messy together. First we took turns feeling the flour, and then measuring and pouring into a cup.

We then practiced measuring out one cup of Baby Oil and pouring it in the flour. The best part came next — using our hands to mix it all together! Of course, it isn't a Bubbles’ art project without a little sparkle, so we each took turns shaking in different colors of glitter!

The students had a blast feeling the different textures, making castles and smashing the cloud dough. This easy and cost conscious project provides hours of fun. Give it a try at home!

We found the cloud dough recipe from The Imagination Tree blog. Search their site for even more cool sensory bins and projects!

Bubble Bees talk feelings!

Today, the book of the day was When Sophie Gets Angry... Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang. This week we are reading books that talk about feelings. Bang's book was a perfect way for our students to learn about what to do when they get angry just like Sophie. Some of the student's ideas included "getting a Band-Aid!” or "talking to our friend about what happened", "sharing our toys" and "dancing and jumping up and down!"

Since Sophie climbed a tree to help herself calm down after she got angry, we made a beautiful tissue paper tree art project. Here at Bubbles Academy, we often find that doing an art project for our Moms or Dads or Uncle Steves is a great way for students to calm down and feel more confident about doing class all on their own. These Bubble Bees are not only brilliant artists, but they are also very in touch with their feelings! 

A beautiful blog post by Inner Child Fun (a great blog for crafts, games and play) inspired the tissue paper tree project.      

Meet our School Prep Camp Teachers

Bubble Academy's School Prep Camp is designed to ready your child for school with engaging activities & through a nurturing environment filled with friends and experienced teachers. Bubble Step: Separation Boot Camp will be led by Miss Becca and assisted by Miss Sam. Bubble Bees: School Camp will be led by Miss Sam and assisted by Miss Becca.


Miss Becca

Becca classifies her self as a dreamer. When she moved to Chicago in 2010, she dared to dream that she would find a rewarding career working with children. Bubbles Academy was the first place she applied!

With a degree in theatre from Western Kentucky University, Becca brought stories to life on stage and performances to schools across Kentucky as a teaching artist with Lexington Children’s Theatre. As the Program Director at Bubbles Academy, Becca leads the development and teaching of our curriculum — from art projects, to games to imagination activities and more in order to spark our students’ creativity and nurture their growth.

Becca has a trusty stead — her yellow bicycle named Carmen Banana Bike! You can trust her to make masterful cardboard boats, cartwheel on demand and always accept an invitation to play!

Miss Sam

Originally from Novi, Michigan, Sam came to Chicago to earn her bachelor of fine arts in acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University. She discovered a passion for youth theatre and has been privileged to work with the Tony Award winning Minneapolis Children’s Theatre Company, The Chicago Children’s Theatre Company, Emerald City Theatre Company and Theatre-Hikes. Sam’s most cherished theatrical experience was The Chicago Children’s Theatre Company’s installation for children with autism and their families; The Red Kite Project.

Sam comes from a long line of teachers, and she is thrilled to continue the tradition at Bubbles Academy. She enthusiastically leads both our enrichment and education series classes as a charismatic guide for first-time preschoolers, an adventurous captain for imagination students and an extraordinaire in crafty projects for Art + Music classes.

Sam’s creative spirit never shuts off. She is an avid reader, writer, performer and #1 playmate of her pet chihuahua — Chewbacca.

Bubble Bees: Building Community

Now that your children are beginning to feel independent and comfortable in the classroom, it's time for them to start making friends!  Socialization is one of the most important areas of development for your little one.  They are transitioning from parallel to cooperative play.  We encourage this transition by playing with them during open choice. Our teachers are trained to model cooperative play and encourage them to try it with one another.   As we play, we take time to introduce students to each other.  Listen during Open Choice and you'll probably hear Miss Kristi or Mr. Matt asking your little ones to tell another child their name or to give a high five.  These are the early steps of friendship and the building blocks of our classroom community! Check out some of these great community building activities from last week:

We also encourage community by asking them to share supplies at art.  Each week we make our own painting, but we all use the same paint trays.  Sharing supplies develops their negotiation skills and really lays the foundation of friendship.

Snack Time is more than just fuel to get your little ones through mid-morning.  It's a secret community meeting.  While Miss Becca or Miss Victoria reads a story, your little ones are encouraged to share their  thoughts on what's happening in the story.  We often ask our students to raise their hands if they can relate to the story.  Things like "raise your hand if you like to go to the park, too."   We not only pratice  that new skill of hand raising, but your little ones get to see visual proof of what they have in common with their classmates!

 I can't wait to see what friendships blossom this Spring!  

Bubble Step: Encouraging Independence, Knowing What Comes Next

As you begin to step out of the room in our Bubble Step class, one of the most effective ways of making your little one feel confident is helping them learn the schedule of class.  Here are some photos of the different parts of our Bubbles Step classes from last week.  Before you come into class, feel free to look at these photos with your little ones.  You can talk about what they're going to do in class.  Since the structure of the class is the same each week, they can feel confident that they know what comes next.  It also helps for them to see the familiar faces of their teachers and assistants.  

The Magic of Bubbles  
Bubbles are more than just fun: they are incredibly memorable.  We end all of our classes by blowing bubbles.  When talking about you or your caregiver coming back into the room, use bubbles as a signal.  "Mommy will be back after bubbles" is an easy concept for them to remember, and since they know the schedule of class, they know what else needs to happen before Bubbles!

Another way for your little one to gain confidence is to arrange a playdate with another student.  Why not arrange to meet at Bubbles for an Open Play Playdate any Monday-Saturday between 1-5 PM?

Inspiring Creativity: Paint Your Teacher Week!

The mission of our Bubble Step Program is to help guide you and your child through separation via three key elements:

• Fostering Community
• Encouraging Independence
• Inspiring Creativity and Play

Our new Bubble Step blog will serve as a record of your child's first-school experience. Each week, we will post about our previous week's activity and how it helped to accomplish one of these elements. Our goal is for the content to be resource of lessons for you to encourage at home too!

Last week's activity was all about inspiring CREATIVITY! In our art time, rather than painting on paper, we colored living canvases — the teachers! Below are some of the images of the Step student's creative minds and painter-happy-hands at work! For more pictures, please visit our facebook album featuring both Bubble Step and Bubble Bees classes!