Nanny 911

So, we have switched from having a daycare provider at a daycare center to the children being at home with a "Nanny" for lack of a better term.  They seem happier (the children that is) and it makes my morning less stressful, so that makes me happier.

Our Nanny doesn't live with us, she arrives in the morning while I am getting ready and gets the children breakfast.  They are usually sitting at the table happy as can be when I leave.  I get kisses from them and off I go.

At daycare there would be days I would be LUCKY to even get a wave goodbye, never mind a kiss!  There were fits and tantrums getting dressed in the morning, there were fits depending on which daycare teacher was in the classroom at drop off.

The only thing that hasn't changed, is super excited children when I walk in the door from work... "MOMMY MOMMY!! You look pretty Mommy!!" or "Up, Up!! Up Peace"  How can resist?  I scoop up "A"arron and get a nice big hug and wet kiss!  Even our Furbabies are happy.. they get the privelage of not being a crate for 9 hours a day!

Do any of you have a Nanny or in home caregiver?  What are your likes and dislikes? AND.. what do you do about taxes?

Preschool Weekly Lesson #2

Weekly Theme (Start Monday, continue with the theme all week)
This week's theme is B.
The vocabulary word are bed, bug, ball, bee, bat.


Books to read aloud that support the theme:
(You can choose one book to read all week, or a new book for each day. These are just suggestions, you may find others related to the theme in your library.)


Books to read aloud: Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey 
The Big Balloon Race by Eleanor Coerr 
The Little Ballerina by Katharine Ross 

Poems that support the theme:
"Bee" by Ellie Shumaker

How perfect it is
to hum and be silent, to hum and be silent,
doused in warm rays,
to be surrounded on every side
by petal-beauty symmetry --
gold satin, pink velvet, royal purple silk --
to journey as an honored prince
in the quiet realm of breeze-bent green;
to seek patiently amidst the love shapes --
circles and ovals and cylinders --
for tiny sips of sweetness;
to hold a minute weapon, never for crueltybut only for kindness to self;
to spread about, by just a touch,
without even trying,
grains for new life;
to be filled, tender and heavy,
and spin away toward the cozy hollow,
there to share the meadow's seed!
s, its sugar;
then to buzz and twirl, to buzz and twirl,
and by this private dance
to show a way, a path to fly
to the Sun's kingdom.

---

"My Bed is a Boat" by R. L. Stevenson 

My bed is like a little boat;
     Nurse helps me in when I embark;
She girds me in my sailor's coat
     And starts me in the dark.

At night I go on board and say
     Good-night to all my friends on shore;
I shut my eyes and sail away
     And see and hear no more.

And sometimes things to bed I take,
     As prudent sailors have to do;
Perhaps a slice of wedding-cake,
     Perhaps a toy or two.

All night across the dark we steer;
     But when the day returns at last,
Safe in my room beside the pier,
     I find my vessel fast.

Gross Motor Skills Activity: (Monday)
Using a large ball, play games to encourage your child to kick the ball, using one foot at a time. You could also throw and catch it to each other.




Fine Motor Skills Activity: (Friday)

Beads in a Paint Palette

A clear cup of multicolored faceted plastic beads was placed in the middle of the tray. The children use their thumb and forefinger to grasp each bead and place it in one of the bowls of the paint palette tray. The children sorted the beads into the tray by color. Each bowl of the tray holds about 4 beads. A muffin tin could also be used for this activity, but I prefer the paint palette tray because each bowl is smaller and the children have to be more precise about placing the bead into the bowl. The beads and paint palette trays were purchased in a craft store. (Read more: http://prekinders.com/fine-motor-skills/#ixzz1kCtNXKlj)

Shape/Color (Tuesday)
This week you will teach the shape of a circle.

• Walk through your home looking for circles.
• Cut circles out of construction paper.
• Paper towel tube art.  Use an old paper towel tube and stamp circles, discuss the shape.

This week you will teach the color of a yellow.

• Find Something Yellow Have the children find something in the room that is yellow and have each child bring it to circle time. Have each child tell the class what they have found.
• Yellow Chat Have the children name as many things they can that are yellow. Write down their list.
• Lacing Cards Cut yellow poster board into shapes and punch holes around the edges. Then let your child lace yarn or a shoestring into the cards. 
• Fingerprint Bugs A Big Hit with my Toddlers) Supply each child with a piece of white paper and a yellow non-toxic stamp pad. Show the child how to make fingerprints on the paper, using only one finger at a time. When finished, add legs and antennae with a black pen, or for older children, have them add the legs and antennae. 

Letter (Wednesday)
The letter this week is the letter B.

• Give your child a printout of the (capital) letter B to color. ~Letter Printouts~
• Teach your child to trace the shape of the letter B using his finger. You can trace in pudding, finger paint, a shallow tray (cookie sheet) filled with rice or beans, etc.
• Point out the letter B in signs, cereal boxes, etc.
• Post the letter B on your learning poster.

Number (Thursday)
The number this week is the number 2.

• Show your child 2 object to count, or eat 2 cracker, 2 cheerio, etc.
• Show your child the written symbol (numeral) for 2 and put on your learning poster.
• Add 2 sticker to your counting book.
• Show your matching index cards for the number 2 to your child.
• Draw 2 square on a piece of paper and count it with your child.
• Walk around your home counting 2 of many different objects.

Song / Nursery Rhyme / Fable (Friday)
"Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" a nursery rhyme 

Baa, Baa, black sheep, 

have you any wool?

Yes sir, yes sir -

three bags full:

One for the master,

one for the dame,

And one for the little boy

that lives down the lane.

Baa, Baa, black sheep, 

have you any wool?

Yes sir, yes sir -

three bags full.

For this Week's Lesson in PDF Format - Click Here!

A DIY Chore Chart & Giveaway!

So I am not the DIY Crafty kind.. I try, but really it isn't me.

I am in love with Pinterest, but seriously I have no clue when I am supposed to have time enough to ever actually create any of the stuff I love on there!

But the hubs and I decided we needed to figure out how to give the girls an allowance.   We are in the camp that you don't get paid for chores.  Chores are expected, they are something you do because you are in a family, you live in a home.  As adults you don't get paid for chores, you just do them because they need to be done.  So, how do we accomplish giving them allowance that they can earn and teach them about the responsibility of chores?  Well, I had a great discussion with my friend D (who has a fab Etsy Shop ~ The Super Cute Boutique) and she is in the same arena my husband and I are.  Chores are Chores and you don't get paid for them (sorry to rat you out D).  But within that discussion, D and I developed a plan!  A LOOPHOLE to the no payment for chores sentiment.

The Plan:

• The children will be required to do chores/tasks based on their age range (e.g. ages 2-3 appropriate chores).
• They can do chores/tasks that are in the age range above theirs to earn money (e.g. ages 4-5 appropriate chores).
• The chore tiles go up to about 16 years old and starts at ages 2 & 3.
• Since our girls are ages 4 & 6, they will be required to do their daily/weekly chores based on ages 2-6.
• To earn money they can do chores in the 7-9 age range (e.g. vacuuming, dusting, etc.).
• We will use the white board to track their earnings and if they want to "bank" the money rather than physically keep it their banks.

The Creation of the Chore Chart:

(modified from Not So Idle Hands plans)

Here's what you need:

• A magnetic white board (my choice 11" x 14")
• Epoxy Stickers (scrabble tile size)
• Magnets (with stickers)
• 2 sheets of 4"x 6" piece of scrapbook paper

Then, I print out the names onto the paper and put the magnets on the back or you can adhere them with just a few pieces of double stick tape.

Print out your "Chore Tiles" and collect your items (the magnets, stickers, and "Chore Tiles").

 

  

Place the magnets on the back of your cut out "Chore Tiles" (you can skip the next step if you don't want to use the epoxy stickers and just print the "Chore Tiles" on a nice thick cardstock).

 

For the magnets, I used the epoxy stickers (make sure you don't touch the sticky side, you'll get fingerprints on them) and the sticker magnets. 

 

 Then CAREFULLY place the epoxy stickers to your "Chore Tiles" ... I used the magnets to hold the "Chore Tiles" so that I could place them on the super sticky epoxy stickers.

 

And here is our FINAL PRODUCT!!

This process was quite time consuming, but I luckily had the help from "C"indy.. she happily stuck the magnets on the back of the "Chore Tiles" while I dealt with my epoxy stickers.. again CAREFULLY.  Oh, and I duplicated some of the tiles because each girl needs to be responsible for the chore (e.g. brushing their hair, brushing their teeth, taking a shower); whereas some chores really can only be accomplished by one person (e.g. feed the dogs).

And because I am the coolest blogger EVER.. I am giving you the pdf version of the "Chore Tiles"!!  Yup that is right.. for a limited time you've can win you're very own DIY CHORE CHART, from your's truly!  Just Click Here!!  After that they will be available on Etsy!  

     MMMWWWAHHH!!

Preschool Weekly Lesson #1

Weekly Theme (Start Monday, continue with the theme all week)
This week's theme is A.
The vocabulary word are ant, and, arm, apple ,ape.

Books to read aloud that support the theme:
(You can choose one book to read all week, or a new book for each day. These are just suggestions, you may find others related to the theme in your library.)
Books to read aloud:
Ten Apples up on Top! by Dr. Seuss
The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman
Alligator Shoes by Arthur Dorros
Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judi Barrett

Poems that support the theme:
A Little Red Apple
A little red apple
Hung high in a tre.
I looked up at it,
And it looked down at me.
"Come down, please," I called.
And what do you suppose?
That little red apple
Dropped right on my nose!


The Apple Tree
Way up high in the apple tree,
Four little apples hung over me.
I shook the tree as hard as I could.
Down came the apples and mmmmm!
Were they good!

Way up high in the apple tree,
Three little apples hung over me.
I shook the tree as hard as I could.
Down came the apples and mmmmm!
Were they good!

Way up high in the apple tree,
Two little apples hung over me.
I shook the tree as hard as I could.
Down came the apples and mmmmm!
Were they good!

Way up high in the apple tree,
One little apple hung over me.
I shook the tree as hard as I could.
Down came the apple and mmmmm!
Was it good! Apples
Apples, apples, one, two, three,
Apples for you,
Apples for me.
Apples for big,
Apples small,
Apple trees tiny,
Apple trees tall.
Apples sour,
Apples sweet,
Apples, apples, are nice to eat.

I Like Apples Red apples,
Big apples,
Good apples,
Yummy apples,
Any kind of apples,
I like apples!

An apple on the tree,
An apple in the basket,
An apple in a fridge,
An apple in a store,
I like apples! A squiggly little worm into my apple bit.
He chomped and chomped until the core he hit.
I asked him why he did it,
And thought it sopunds absurd,
He said, "I love apples."
Now that is what I heard.

---

Apple (to the tune of BINGO)
I know a fruit that grows on trees,
An apple is its name, oh!

(Chorus)
A. P. P. L. E.
A. P. P. L. E.
A. P. P. L. E.
An apple is its name, oh!

In summer and in early fall
It's time to pick an apple!

Chorus

It amy be sweet or may be tart,
It's red, or green, or yellow!

Chorus

A McIntosh or Granny Smith,
A Winesap or Delicious!

Chorus

Make applesauce or apple juice
Or apple pie with apples!

Chorus

---

Applesauce  (to the tune of "Yankee Doodle")
Peel an apple,
cut it up,
cook it in a pot.
When you taste it
you will find
it's applesauce you've got.
Gross Motor Skills Activity: (Monday)
Let's Pretend
Have the kids stand up tall with their arms up and say "be as tall as an apple tree". Then say "be as small as an ant". Repeat this slowly and then get faster and the kids don't even know they are touching their toes!

Have the kids pretend to be an Ape, they can walk around with their arms touching the ground and making ape noises. 

Fine Motor Skills Activity: (Friday)
Addition on an abacus - If you have an abacus this could be fun. If not you can use animal crackers or some other manipulatives and teach simple addition such as 1 + 1 = 2, 2 + 1 = 3, 3 + 1 = 4, 4 + 1 = 5, 2 + 2 = 4, 2 + 3 = 5. ( If your child is ready you could add up to 10 or more)

Shape/Color (Tuesday)
This week you will teach the shape of a square.

• Collect 3 - 5 everyday objects in the shape of a square... i.e.: blocks, pot holder, CD jewel case, etc... to share with your child and discuss.
• Walk through your home looking for squares.
• Cut squares out of playdough.
• Put a drawing of a square on your learning poster.

This week you will teach the color of a red.

• Find Something Red - Have the children find something in the room that is red and have each child bring it to circle time. Have each child tell the class what they have found.
• Red Chat - Have the children name as many things they can that are red. Write down their list.
• Kool Aid Art - Sprinkle a little dry red kool aid mix onto a piece of paper. Have your child spray water from a spray bottle onto the paper. For added adventure, you may choose to take your children out into the rain with a piece of paper that has kool-aid on it.
• Red Tracks - In a pie tin, place 3 to 5 teaspoon sized portions of different shades of red tempera paint evenly spaced about the area. Supply the children with washable toy cars that have wheels that roll. Have the children dip the wheels in the paint and roll across the paper.

Letter (Wednesday)
The letter this week is the letter A.

• Give your child a printout of the (capital) letter A to color. ~Letter Printouts~
• Teach your child to trace the shape of the letter A using his finger. You can trace in pudding, finger paint, a shallow tray (cookie sheet) filled with rice or beans, etc.
• Point out the letter A in signs, cereal boxes, etc.
• Post the letter A on your learning poster.

Number (Thursday)
The number this week is the number 1.

• Show your child 1 object to count, or eat 1 cracker, 1 cheerio, etc.
• Show your child the written symbol (numeral) for 1 and put on your learning poster.
• Add 1 sticker to your counting book.
• Show your matching index cards for the number 1 to your child.
• Draw 1 square on a piece of paper and count it with your child.
• Walk around your home counting 1 of many different objects.

Song / Nursery Rhyme / Fable (Friday)
The song this week is The Ants Go Marching. Recite often!

The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah
The ants go marching one by one,
The little one stops to suck his thumb
And they all go marching down to the ground
To get out of the rain, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The  fable this week is The Ant and the Dove. Recite often!

A Dove saw an Ant fall into a brook. The Ant struggled in vain to reach the bank, and in pity, the Dove dropped a blade of straw close beside it. Clinging to the straw like a shipwrecked sailor to a broken spar, the Ant floated safely to shore.

Soon after, the Ant saw a man getting ready to kill the Dove with a stone. But just as he cast the stone, the Ant stung him in the heel, so that the pain made him miss his aim, and the startled Dove flew to safety in a distant wood.
A kindness is never wasted.
 

For this Week's Lesson in PDF Format - Click Here!

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How to Teach your Preschooler at Home

It sounds like I know what I am talking about.. but I don't I am learning and not really teaching, because we have a childcare provider who will be doing that.

But I wanted to help her teach the children, so I ordered some workbooks and "The Busy Preschooler Book" its full of crafting/science/art projects.

And I am going to start a section on this blog, for all my readers to share, that I'll update weekly with a lesson plan and weekly theme.  And as always if you have any suggestions and/or comments PLEASE share them!!

Here's a hint to the upcoming week's Lesson: A & 1 (yup we are going to in order!).