Almost There: March Break and the Final Stretch

Happy Friday the 13th—I'm celebrating tonight with a much‑needed date night with my husband, which feels like the perfect way to wrap up a long week.

Next week is March Break, and it also happens to be my final week before heading off to work placement. It feels surreal to say that out loud. I have 260 hours standing between me and my Level 2 Early Childhood Education (ECE) certification, and for the first time, the finish line doesn’t feel far away—it feels close enough to see.

Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash

I’ve spent the last two years studying full-time online through NSCC eCampus, juggling school, family life, and everything in between. There were days when it felt endless, and days when I wondered how I’d ever get to this point. But here it is—the moment where all the late nights, discussions, assignments, and reflections start to come together.

With placement starting soon, my routine is about to shift. I’ll likely be posting once a week or even a little less until the end of May, when I officially finish placement and close out this chapter. It feels like a big transition, but also an exciting one.

March Break feels like a little breath before the big leap—a chance to reset, gather myself, and step into placement feeling ready, steady, and proud of how far I’ve come.

I’m almost there. And it feels really, really good.

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day the Inclusive Way

St. Patrick’s Day can be a fun celebration in pre‑primary, but it’s also a great opportunity to talk about culture, traditions, and the many different ways families celebrate—or don’t celebrate—certain holidays. In Nova Scotia’s diverse classrooms, these moments can open the door to curiosity, respect, and connection.

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One simple way to approach St. Patrick’s Day is by focusing on shared themes rather than just the holiday itself. Ideas like kindness, luck, friendship, nature, and springtime are universal and help every child feel included. Activities like “What makes you feel lucky?” or “Who is a friend who makes your day brighter?” invite all children to participate in a meaningful way.

Hands‑on activities also help children explore the day without centering only one cultural story. A few ideas that work well in pre‑primary:

• Rainbow colour sorting with loose parts

• Green nature hunt (finding green items outdoors or in the classroom)

• Friendship clover art where each leaf represents something kind about a friend

• Irish music and movement alongside music from other cultures represented in the classroom

• Storytime that includes Irish folktales and stories from other cultures

These activities keep things playful while gently highlighting that many cultures have their own traditions, stories, and celebrations.

Another lovely way to honor diversity is by inviting children to share something from their family traditions—not just Irish ones. It could be a favorite food, a special color, a holiday they celebrate, or a song they love. This helps St. Patrick’s Day become a day about learning from one another rather than focusing on one cultural background.

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in pre‑primary doesn’t need to be elaborate. With a few open‑ended activities and a focus on inclusion, it becomes a chance to explore culture, kindness, and the many ways families celebrate the world around them.

Seasons Through Little Eyes

Seasonal changes are such a big part of life in Nova Scotia, and pre‑primary is the perfect age for noticing all the little shifts happening around us. Children are naturally curious—they just need simple invitations to explore what they see, hear, and feel as the seasons change.

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One of the easiest ways to support this learning is through short nature walks. Even a quick loop around the schoolyard gives children so much to observe: melting snow, crunchy leaves, puddles, new buds, wind, shadows, or the way the air feels different. Asking gentle questions like “What do you notice today?” helps them build observation skills without turning it into a formal lesson.

Inside the classroom, nature trays filled with seasonal loose parts—pinecones, leaves, shells, sticks, snow, rocks, or flower petals—give children a hands‑on way to explore. They can sort, count, compare, or create with the materials, connecting what they saw outside to what they’re doing inside.

Art activities also fit beautifully with seasonal learning. A few simple ideas:

• Leaf rubbings in fall

• Snow painting or frozen‑paint popsicles in winter

• Bud and blossom drawings in spring

• Sand, shells, and watercolour collages in summer

These activities let children express what they notice in their own way.

Seasonal changes also open the door to conversations about weather, clothing, and how our bodies feel. Dressing dolls for the weather, sorting clothing pictures, or reading simple weather books helps children understand how we adapt to the world around us.

Seasonal learning doesn’t need to be complicated. With a few nature walks, some open‑ended materials, and time to notice what’s changing, children get to explore the world through their own eyes—curious, joyful, and full of wonder.

Little Artists, Big Engagement

Art time in pre‑primary is one of my favorite parts of the day. Kids are naturally creative, but keeping them engaged sometimes takes a few simple strategies that make the experience smoother and more meaningful for everyone.

Photo by Dragos Gontariu on Unsplash

One thing that always helps is offering small choices. It doesn’t have to be anything big—choosing between two colors, two tools, or two types of paper is enough to make them feel in control of their own work. When they feel ownership, they stay with the activity longer.

I’ve also noticed that open‑ended materials spark the most curiosity. Things like collage scraps, loose parts, sponges, rollers, or textured paper invite kids to explore without worrying about doing it “right.” When the pressure is off, creativity comes naturally.

Breaking the activity into simple, manageable steps also keeps kids engaged. Instead of giving a big instruction all at once, guiding them through one small part at a time helps them stay focused and not feel overwhelmed.

And honestly, being present with them makes a huge difference. Sitting nearby, noticing their choices, and asking gentle questions like “What made you pick this color?" or “Tell me about this part” keeps them talking, thinking, and creating. Engagement grows through connection.

Here are a few easy art ideas that work especially well in pre‑primary:

• Sticker Story Starters: Give each child a few stickers and invite them to build a picture or story around them.

• Painting With Unusual Tools: Cotton balls, pinecones, toy cars, sponges—anything that isn’t a paintbrush instantly boosts interest.

• Loose‑Parts Collage: Buttons, yarn, fabric scraps, and paper shapes—simple materials that let kids design freely.

• Color-Mixing Bags: Paint sealed in a zip bag for mess-free exploration. Kids love squishing and watching colours blend.

• Nature Art: Leaves, sticks, rocks, snow—anything they collect outside becomes part of the creative process.

These strategies aren’t complicated, but they make a big difference. When children feel supported, curious, and free to explore, art time becomes a space where they can truly shine.

Quiet Moments Making a Big Difference

With placement getting closer, I’ve been leaning into small, simple things that help me feel a bit more settled. Nothing big or time‑consuming, just little moments that make the days feel lighter while everything starts to pick up.

One afternoon I put on some upbeat Daft Punk on vinyl, and it completely shifted the mood in the house. The kids were into it, and even my teenager wandered out of his room for a minute, which honestly felt like a tiny victory. It turned into this fun, unexpected moment that I didn’t plan but definitely needed.

I also spent some time with my pastels. There’s something about the colors and the softness that slows my brain down in the best way. And a quiet dinner with my husband reminded me how grounding those simple, everyday moments can be when life feels full.

These little things aren’t fancy, but they’re helping. I feel a bit calmer, a bit clearer, and a lot more ready to step into placement without running on empty. It’s nice to notice how much these quiet moments really do make a difference.