Goopy Gal

Hey there,
I'm Lauren Jane, or as my "kids" call me Teacher Lauren. I call all the kids at the preschool where I work my kids. Of course, they're not mine, but we explore, grow and learn together all year, whether you're in the four walls of my classroom, or we share an outdoor classroom together, you're one of my kids. And the parents are my "moms and dads". I teach 2 year olds, I consider it my "sweet spot". I have taught the 3's and 4's. And since our preschool is a close knit group of teachers, students and parents, I know and play with the 5 year olds as well.

I've been teaching since the school year of 2004 and been teaching preschool since 2006. I struggle with the word "expert" (more on that another time) but consider myself extremely passionate, game and zealous about sensory play. I've been wanting to blog about my different experiments, recipes, experiences and explorations. Thus "Goopy Gal" was born. So, here I am.

 
 


 
I intend on this blog mainly focusing on sensory play, it's deep importance and absolute necessity in every early childhood classroom, or even at home. At some point I will share photos of the specific sensory tubs/tables that I use in my classroom, and I will also share my dream sensory table. My husband and I dabble in toy making, so one day, we will construct my ideal table. Oh, to have time to just build!

 
I work in a Jewish Preschool so, while this isn't a religious blog, I have written a curriculum that ties your sensory curriculum to the Jewish Calendar and will include that in the future.

 

I should say that at the school
where I work (and I agree with this rule completely) we try to avoid using food as a sensory toy. Or for art for that matter, not really a macaroni necklace type school.  It seems unfair in our high end setting in a somewhat wealthy neighborhood to use food as a toy. Playing with rice, spaghetti, beans etc. can appear to be mocking those who are hungry. I'm not saying that there isn't worth to colored pasta or rice, I've seen many recipes for both and there is definitely a way to learn from those materials, but we choose not to, so you will rarely, if ever see food as sensory play on here. That's not to say that I don't use flour and cornmeal to make sensory concoctions.
So that's it for now, my first ever post as Goopy Gal. Full disclosure, I'm not a writer. I'm a teacher. A teacher who writes weekly reflection pages for parents in her class, but again, not a writer. I apologize in advance for type-os spelling errors and general grammar mistakes.
 
Hope you enjoy reading and enjoy playing and getting messy!
 
xoxo
GG