Edu-macating Educators

Bella is in Kindergarten this year, she is younger Kindergarten (she turned 5 after the start of the school year) but she is a bright kid.  She knew her alphabet (upper and lower case), her numbers to 20 (recognizing them), could count to 100 (got stuck a bit on 50), knew some of her sight words, and how to spell her name.. intellectually she was ready for Kindergarten.  Sadly, behaviorally she still couldn't sit still through a Disney Princess movie, never mind the marathon of all day Kindergarten but we enrolled her anyway.  Our hope was that being around child a bit older would increase her maturity and her behavior.

I've never posted much about the children's behavior or any issues that we go through as a result of their past life experiences.  Mainly for their privacy and ours.  But sometimes things need to be discussed openly for both my benefit and for others to understand and learn how to better help children who come from traumatic and/or neglectful pasts.

We are presently in the process of having her evaluated for an IEP (Individualized Education Plan).  Honestly, I am scared...  I am so scared that they School District will find that she is not in need of an IEP, even though I KNOW she does need one.  She is fully capable of learning but the classroom environment sets her off.  I can't seem to pinpoint a trigger, but it does seem to be centralized around larger group activities (circle time, recess, the bus ride, e.g.).  At those times her behavior is just out of control (to put it simply) she becomes defiant (yelling and screaming at those in authority roles, running away from the teachers and other adults, and even physically hurting other students by pushing or pulling them).

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.

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"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!

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.

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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

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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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OMG.. Hoopla.. and a Wooden Swing Set?

I've recently been asked to do a product review for CSN Stores (GO ME!).  This is an online company with over 200 unique sites (can you say COOL?!?), they have merchandise from ranging from furniture, cookware, fitness equipment, baby necessities (including furniture, strollers, bedding), children's toys and even wooden swing sets.  Yes a WOODEN SWING SET can be PURCHASED of all places ONLINE!!

I am not sure what product I will be reviewing, yet, but I can tell you that it won't be a swing set (although that would be AWESOME!! maybe next time.. HINT! HINT!!  especially this amazing one to the right ------------------------>).    I am leaning towards reviewing a product in the educational category.  But am also thinking about other baby/momma/toddler necessities... I am little wishy washy. :D

But the reality is that, I really need as much help, educationally, as I can get with this girls.  As an example:  Little Miss "B"ella thinks that school buses are "Dween".. even though I repeatedly remind her they are "Lellow".. ummm err "Yellow".  On our rides to "school" (aka daycare) in the morning we pass SEVERAL "tool buses" (yes she means school busses, although remembering my rides on the bus, I would say that there are days when it probably is a "tool" bus), I will tell her a "Look a School Bus! What color is it?" she responds "Dween!!" and I say "Nope, Yellow." and then we pass another... this one is "Lellow", but after about the 5th bus and as we are pulling into school (with no buses around) I say "We saw a lot of school buses, huh? What color are school buses?" and she says (after saying "lellow" 4 times now) "DWEEN!!" at this moment I feel like Homer.Simpson.. DOH!

Any.who!  I am really excited about this whole product review thing!! Check out their website and see if there is anything you all could reccomend or would like me to review!  I have a few things in mind, but if there is something that garners enough "votes" that'd be AWESOME!!

FCC full disclosure:  As part of the product review, I was requested to write a post explaining that a product review will be forthcoming.  I will receive a free product to review. I was not given any cash compensation for sharing my opinion on the product. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely mine. If I claim or appear to be an expert on a certain topic or product or service area, I will only endorse products or services that I believe, based on my own perceived expertise, are worthy of such endorsement. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.