Squeak, squeak! Hello! My name is Joy, and I’m the little (felt) mouse who lives just outside Ms. Lisa’s office in my very own tiny house. If you haven’t met me yet, please stop by sometime and say hello – I love visitors!
One of the wonderful things about Total Child is how the children learn to care for their community. As part of the school’s Reggio Emilia-inspired philosophy, the children discover that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
Every day, Total Child donates leftover lunch food to the Evanston Community Fridges, thanks to some amazing parent volunteers who deliver it. But guess what, humans? There’s a new community fridge just ONE BLOCK away from our school! That means that some days, the children can now walk over and deliver the food themselves! Our Junior Kindergarteners were thrilled to donate leftover ravioli this week!
The teachers explain that some families don’t always have enough food to eat, and sharing the extra food helps make sure others in our community have something to enjoy, too. The children are so excited to be part of helping their neighbors!
I think that’s pretty special. Even a little mouse like me knows that caring for others is one of the most important things we can do. And when children get to be part of making a difference themselves, they learn that they have the power to make their community a kinder place.
Squeak for sharing, Total Child friends! I’m so proud of you!
Our delightful music teacher, Ms. Shannon, recently introduced our students to rhythm sticks! They practiced using them in different ways, including tapping to a beat, shaking them fast and slow, loudly and quietly, and stopping and holding them in a rest position.
Using rhythm sticks is not only fun, but has so many benefits! Following directions helps develop gross and fine motor skills and bilateral coordination (using both sides of the body together), which support skills like tying shoes, getting dressed, playing catch, and riding a bike! Rhythm stick activities also improve counting, auditory discrimination, impulse control, executive function and pattern imitation.
If you hear the tap-tap-tap of rhythm sticks, you will know that the children are not only having fun making music, but also strengthening many other important skills!
As a Reggio-inspired school, Total Child values child-led learning and meaningful connections with our community. The construction project across the alley from our school – and our excellent bird’s-eye view of it from some of our classrooms – has sparked lots of curiosity and interest among our students. We were thrilled to welcome community experts into our school and give the children an opportunity to learn directly from the people doing the work they have been observing.
Mr. Joe and Ms. Erin introduced the children to words and ideas such as safety vests, hard hats, blueprints, and foundations. Hearing these terms explained by people who use them every day helped make the vocabulary meaningful and concrete. The children also learned that construction gear serves an important purpose and it’s much more than a costume!
The children had the opportunity to ask questions, share their observations, and learn more about the work happening right outside our windows. I have a feeling their new knowledge will soon find its way into their play, inspiring new ideas and even more elaborate construction-themed dramatic play!
We’re excited to continue watching the construction project take shape, and to welcome more community members to Total Child to share their knowledge and experiences with our curious learners.
Once upon a time, at Total Child school, there lived a little white felt mouse with a very
big heart. Her name was Joy. Joy was curious. Joy was cautious. Joy walked very, very quietly.
Tiptoe, tiptoe, tiptoe!
She lived in the hallway behind the sofa at Total Child, but wished she had a home of her own.
Every morning, Joy peeked out from behind the sofa.
Peek, peek, peek!
She saw children painting. She saw children reading. She saw children laughing and singing!
Joy wished she could join the fun. But she was a very timid mouse, and timid mice are
sometimes scared that children don’t want to be their friend.
Hide, hide, hide!
At night, when the school was quiet, Joy came out to explore before the cleaners came.
She found tiny crumbs. “The children left me food!” Joy said.
Nibble, nibble, nibble.
She found felt and colorful yarn. She wove them together into walls.
“The teachers left me materials to make a house!”
Build, build, build!
Joy found a mini pencil and a piece of paper.
“The directors left me a way to leave a note!”
Scribble, scribble, scribble.
One morning, the children found a tiny picture on their table.
It was signed by Joy the mouse.
“Maybe it was from our very own magical school mouse!” they shouted.
From that day on, the children, teachers, and directors continued to leave tiny gifts for Joy —little crumbs, colorful felt, and bits of paper. And Joy felt happy and continued to leave little notes for the children, teachers, and directors.
Joy loved her home at Total Child, where everyone was welcome and found friends. And they all lived happily ever after.
Please read my blog for updates on what I have been doing and seeing from my special home in the school. Sometimes the kids may even help me write this!!
With squeaks and hugs,
Joy the Mouse 🐭
Does your child turn 5 by December 31 or would they benefit from an extra year before kindergarten?
Joy’s Corner
Dear Humans,
Squeak, squeak! Hello! My name is Joy, and I’m the little (felt) mouse who lives just outside Ms. Lisa’s office in my very own tiny house. If you haven’t met me yet, please stop by sometime and say hello – I love visitors!
Giving Back to our Community
October 9, 2026
By Total Child
One of the wonderful things about Total Child is how the children learn to care for their community. As part of the school’s Reggio Emilia-inspired philosophy, the children discover that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
Every day, Total Child donates leftover lunch food to the Evanston Community Fridges, thanks to some amazing parent volunteers who deliver it. But guess what, humans? There’s a new community fridge just ONE BLOCK away from our school! That means that some days, the children can now walk over and deliver the food themselves! Our Junior Kindergarteners were thrilled to donate leftover ravioli this week!
The teachers explain that some families don’t always have enough food to eat, and sharing the extra food helps make sure others in our community have something to enjoy, too. The children are so excited to be part of helping their neighbors!
I think that’s pretty special. Even a little mouse like me knows that caring for others is one of the most important things we can do. And when children get to be part of making a difference themselves, they learn that they have the power to make their community a kinder place.
Squeak for sharing, Total Child friends! I’m so proud of you!
With squeaks and hugs,
Joy the Mouse🐭
We love music at Total Child!
September 29, 2026
By Bradley Allred
Our delightful music teacher, Ms. Shannon, recently introduced our students to rhythm sticks! They practiced using them in different ways, including tapping to a beat, shaking them fast and slow, loudly and quietly, and stopping and holding them in a rest position.
Using rhythm sticks is not only fun, but has so many benefits! Following directions helps develop gross and fine motor skills and bilateral coordination (using both sides of the body together), which support skills like tying shoes, getting dressed, playing catch, and riding a bike! Rhythm stick activities also improve counting, auditory discrimination, impulse control, executive function and pattern imitation.
If you hear the tap-tap-tap of rhythm sticks, you will know that the children are not only having fun making music, but also strengthening many other important skills!
With squeaks and hugs,
Joy the Mouse 🐭
Construction Workers Visit
September 18, 2026
By Total Child
As a Reggio-inspired school, Total Child values child-led learning and meaningful connections with our community. The construction project across the alley from our school – and our excellent bird’s-eye view of it from some of our classrooms – has sparked lots of curiosity and interest among our students. We were thrilled to welcome community experts into our school and give the children an opportunity to learn directly from the people doing the work they have been observing.
Mr. Joe and Ms. Erin introduced the children to words and ideas such as safety vests, hard hats, blueprints, and foundations. Hearing these terms explained by people who use them every day helped make the vocabulary meaningful and concrete. The children also learned that construction gear serves an important purpose and it’s much more than a costume!
The children had the opportunity to ask questions, share their observations, and learn more about the work happening right outside our windows. I have a feeling their new knowledge will soon find its way into their play, inspiring new ideas and even more elaborate construction-themed dramatic play!
We’re excited to continue watching the construction project take shape, and to welcome more community members to Total Child to share their knowledge and experiences with our curious learners.
With squeaks and hugs,
Joy the Mouse 🐭
Joy the Total Child (Felt) Mouse
September 2, 2026
By Total Child
Once upon a time, at Total Child school, there lived a little white felt mouse with a very
big heart. Her name was Joy. Joy was curious. Joy was cautious. Joy walked very, very quietly.
Tiptoe, tiptoe, tiptoe!
She lived in the hallway behind the sofa at Total Child, but wished she had a home of her own.
Every morning, Joy peeked out from behind the sofa.
Peek, peek, peek!
She saw children painting. She saw children reading. She saw children laughing and singing!
Joy wished she could join the fun. But she was a very timid mouse, and timid mice are
sometimes scared that children don’t want to be their friend.
Hide, hide, hide!
At night, when the school was quiet, Joy came out to explore before the cleaners came.
She found tiny crumbs. “The children left me food!” Joy said.
Nibble, nibble, nibble.
She found felt and colorful yarn. She wove them together into walls.
“The teachers left me materials to make a house!”
Build, build, build!
Joy found a mini pencil and a piece of paper.
“The directors left me a way to leave a note!”
Scribble, scribble, scribble.
One morning, the children found a tiny picture on their table.
It was signed by Joy the mouse.
“Maybe it was from our very own magical school mouse!” they shouted.
From that day on, the children, teachers, and directors continued to leave tiny gifts for Joy —little crumbs, colorful felt, and bits of paper. And Joy felt happy and continued to leave little notes for the children, teachers, and directors.
Joy loved her home at Total Child, where everyone was welcome and found friends. And they all lived happily ever after.
Please read my blog for updates on what I have been doing and seeing from my special home in the school. Sometimes the kids may even help me write this!!
With squeaks and hugs,
Joy the Mouse 🐭