Handwriting without Tears

Hi!  Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with family & friends!  As you all know, I'm using Erica's Letter of the Week Curriculum but I'm introducing the letters in Handwriting Without Tears Developmental Teaching order.  This week we went out of order, because I wanted to use Carisa's 1+1+1=1 Thanksgiving Preschool Pack.  Natalie had a lot of fun with this.  She's at a stage where she doesn't want me taking pics, so i got no action shots of her with the work this week (pics are from last week).  We did get a package on Wednesday and I was delighted to see that is was my order from Handwriting Without Tears.  I didn't buy everything (they had a one click deal for each age group) but I already have many things similar to what they sell, so i limited myself to certain items.  I am surprised at how small the sponge bits were, they are about 1/2 inch square cubes.  I'm interested in seeing how well Naters works with them.

November bookshelf

Here are the books highlighted on our special shelf of her bookcase.

Her favs are The Littlest Pilgrim and Thanks for Thanksgiving!  I like my Thanksgiving Prayer!
Thanks for looking, Becky!

Letter Builders & Magnetic Alphabet Builders

Naters is 39 month old! A little info about us; Naters is my only child, I was finally blessed with a pregnancy that went to full-term when I was 42 yrs old! Since she will be an only child, I plan on enrolling her in a Montessori school next year (4 yrs old) but this year I have chosen to preschool her at home. So when choosing a purchase for homeschooling I take into account that I’m only doing this for one year and not for multiple children.

Wow! I can't believe I havent written about these yet. You can look back into september and you will see pics of our purple letter bulders (non-magnetic); and earlier this month, I finally cut out our magnetic letter builders. Like Erica, I love Lakeshore Letter Builders but I got got hung up on the cost. I found Erica's -- Confessions of a Homeschooler's Version - Magnetic Alphabet Builders and made them back in early summer. First, I made the non-magnetic ones out of 2 large purple foam sheets, super cheap! Then I bought the magnetic canvases and mounted them to regular size pink foam sheets. Total cost for both sets (magnetic & non-magnetic) was under $12.00!!  Naters favorite colors are pink & purple which is why I chose those colors. We use these so much that I don't even bother to put them away. They are always in the top drawer of her workboxes. Confessions of a Homeschooler  thank you so much for the free Alpha Builders template!!!!!

thanks for looking!  becky

2010 November Preschool crafts

NATERS IS 38 MONTHS OLD
Purchased some Fall, Autumn, Thanksgiving crafts items. The acrylic pieces (Pumpkins, leaves, & jewels) will be used for counting, graphing, & also in her sensory tub.  Foamie® kits: boy pilgrim, girl pilgrim, three different turkey kits, glitter wreath kit, glitter pumpkin kit, Foamie® leaves, Feltie® leaves, Foamie® glitter leaves, Feltie® acorns & squirrels, fall chenille sticks, two fall sticker books. I think we are off to a good start with all the craft ideas I’m getting from everyone, THANK YOU ALL!

Thanks for looking!  Becky

Thanksgiving Alphabet Disk Sheets

While we are continuing with our Letter of the Week curriculum, I'm also incorporating in some holiday crafts and lessons.  Here are two simple Thankgiving alphabet disk sheets that i made.  I followed Erica's instructions for making bottle cap letters (alphabet disks)

Thanks for looking!  becky

Thanksgiving Sensory Tub & Thanksgiving play-doh of the Month, 2010 11

Naters is 38 months old!

For her sensory tub this month, I went with a Thanksgiving theme.  the tub medium is popcorn kernels and I added in fall pom poms, different shapes & types of wooden beads, silk leaves, wooden people (Dad, Mom, Naters), two beautifully painted wooden cups from Europe, a wooden spoon, some leaf beads and three turkey beads.  Her playdoh of the month is burgundy (apple pie scent with non toxic polyflake glitter and also a copper colored playdoh (grandma's dessert scent with a different colored non-toxic polyflake glitter)  i put out some smaller cookie cutters, but i'm on the hunt for some thanksgiving cutters I can get on sale or buy with a coupon!!!

If you want ideas for sensory tubs, back in August i posted an excel spreadsheet here on the blog!
thanks for looking!  becky

Alphabet Sounds Treasure Box starter set Giveaway Winner!!!!!

This is my completed Alphabet Sounds Treasure Box (finally)  as i said in previous post the four empty drawers will be used for Birthday, Easter, Halloween and Christmas!  I want Naters involved in helping to fill those drawers!This is the improved giveaway package i'll be mailing out to the winner!!!  48 laminated & cut letter cards and over 80 images sixed for the box!!!

Jessica from October 17th was number 12.  I've emailed you to get your mailing address so i can mail you out your starter package for your own Alphabet Sounds Treasure Box!  Congratulations!!!!  Thanks so much for all your comments, they are so appreciated!!!  becky