December, the month in review, 2010

The December Christmas sensory tub this month was a HUGE hit, but the excitement over the tub also brought about BRISK play = more rice on the floor than i like.  i've been vacumming daily; but i guess it's worth it.  I am looking forward to bringing out the january tub (no rice) though!  This month we focused on Christmas, and we used both Carisa's Nativity Preschool Pack as well as Erica's Preschool Christmas Activities both were a hit and she wanted to do something each & every day, even Christmas day we were playing with Prekinder's Christmas Pattern block mats!

I'm sorry to see this month end because we have had so much fun with the different activities & crafts.  In Jan, Feb & Mar, I do want to focus on a weekly field trip, just so we can be out of the house.  We live in Ohio and we have pretty intense winters here, and i don't want us to have cabin fever from being inside all the time.  Just have to work around my work schedule......
Thanks for looking!
becky

Merry Christmas One & All

Wishing everyone a happy, safe & fun Christmas Season!
Natalie is 40 months old.
Merry Christmas!
becky

Lakeshore Learning Shopping Trip II

Naters is 40 months old!  Was able to take a run to Columbus, OH to the Lakeshore Learning store that opened there.  Purchases are:  Beginning Sounds Match-ups, hand pointer, Lowercase Alphabet Sequence Puzzle, Magnetic uppercase letters,  Magnetic write & wipe lap baord,  No-spill paint cups, Picture Words Bingo, Real working Cash Register, Rhyming Bingo, See & Solve Manipulative Kit, Tissue Paper Squares, Tub O'Letter Practice Cards, Uppercase Alphabet Sequence puzzle, Washable Tempera Paint (case of ), Wrist & Ankle Bells).  I made a large purchase from them in the summer and have been very happy with everything I purchased.  Their items can be pricey, but i did save $30.00 off the above item I purchased with two coupons.  I also scored great this past summer at a retired Kindegarten Teacher's estate sale where I got numerous Lakeshore items for a super price!
Thanks for looking!
becky

Holiday Table Setting

I saw this wonderful post from Mama Jenn about Setting the Table and i loved the idea.  I'm lazy, instead of finding, a large contrusction paper pad.   I just went and bought a pack of 50 placemats from the party store for $3.00.  Then I printed off the Nestle Place setting template that Mama Jenn used onto some holiday scrapbooking papers that i had in my stash.  I've gotten mixed reviews from my family & co-workers who think this may be a waste, but then i've also heard "my daughter is 12 and she still doesnt know how to set the table properly".  I took a drive to Lakeshore Learning this week for some holiday purchases and while i was there I was able to laminate the placemats!

fyi.  this was some older American Crafts Christmas papers that i had on hand.  I am looking forward to making some for January & February.  But for those i'm only making 4 placemats each.
Thanks for looking!
Becky

December bookshelf 2010 12

Here are the books I've place on the honor shelf in her bookcase this month..  We read from at least one of these books daily, but more often it's like 4-5 of them!

I have some more Christmas books to bring out, so i'm going to rotate some about mid-month, so that we read them all a couple of times this holiday season!
Thanks for looking!
becky

Christmas play-doh, December Playdoh of the Month, 2010 12

Naters is 39 months old.  I made her two playdoh's this month.  Natural color with 3 different red Martha Stewart fine glitters, scent is Gingerbread orange candle scent.  Green color with 3 different green Martha Stewart fine glitters, scent is Mistletoe & Ivy candle scent.  I used the same WIlton gel color (leaf green) as i did to color her rice in the December Sensory Tub from previous post.  The little Christmas cookie cutter pack I got from Hobby Lobby in their Christmas aisle package was marked 2.99 but i got it on sale for 40% off!  The size is perfect for toddler hands.  I dont hesitate with my glitter or scents, Naters has never been one to put anything but food into her mouth!

Look at those sparkles!!!
Thanks for looking!
Becky

Christmas sensory tub, December Sensory Tub Christmas 2010 12

Naters is 39 months old!
Here is her December Sensory Tub.  For those who want to know, our tub is approximately 16" L x 11" W x 6" D.  Naters who weighs 30 lbs can sit in it, which she usually does at least once a month.  She also likes to stand in it in her bare feet to feel the textures on her feet!

here's whats in it:
3 lbs red colored rice (Wilton Christmas Red)
3 lbs green colored rice (Wilton Leaf Green)
3 wooden people (Daddy, Mommy, & Naters)
Red faceted beads large round
Green faceted beads rhombus large
Christmas buttons - polka dot
Flocked button shapes
Shaped Buttons (Trees, gingerbread, stocking, heart)
Red, Green & Purple glitter pom poms
Blue & Black pom poms
Red & Green porcupine balls
Multi-colored light bulb shaped beads (larger ones)
Painted Christmas themed wooden pieces
Silver, Red & Green jingle bells

Thanks for looking!
becky

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

This week's Lessons & Book Bounty!

This week we are doing the letter Nn in Erica's Letter of the Week Curriculum.  I'm still introducing the letters in Handwriting without tears developmental teaching order.  I kinda thought since Naters knows her ABCs that she might ask why we aren't going in order but she has yet to say anything.  I also did get a chance to go to our local used book store and came home with 14 books for $5.00 and i was so happy to find A my name is Alice hardback!  what a wonderful, classic alphabet teaching book!!!  Sunday evenings I set aside 30 minutes to prepare my folders for the week and update the calendar with our shape, color, & number of the week as well as putting out the Sandpaper letters & flash cards for whatever letter we are doing for the week.  I normally do this without Naters involved, but this week I let her help me and she was thrilled to be setting things up for the coming week!  She enjoying being able to pick out the shape (square) , color (yellow) and number (Zero 0) of the week from each stash of cards.  from now on, i'm including her!!!  Dont Forget about my blog giveaway on my previous post.  comments open until October 31st!  Will draw a winner November 1st  fyi I've kept adding more to the prize--It's way more now!!!!  Thanks for looking -- becky

Alphabet Treasure Box and giveaway!

When I went with my niece (the teacher) down to Lakeshore Learning, she recommended their Alphabet Sounds Teaching Tubs as a wonderful teaching tool.  Outisde of the high cost, there was also the bulk of the item as a deterent.  Then i saw Mari-Ann's Alphabet Box at Counting Coconuts and I decided to go ahead with the box.  In putting this together the only further expense I had was to buy the box (got mine at Walmart for under $12) and I bought a $3 package of wild animals; the rest of the items I already had in the house!
I did do an internet search for five different alphabet charts, then i printed, laminated & cut them.  I also printed off Counting Coconuts alphabet charts onto blue & red cardstock to match the sandpaper letters that I made a couple months back.  I'm doing blue for consonants and red for vowels.  I'm pretty happy with how this turned out.  There are still a few ideas I have for certain drawers and the four remaining drawers in the container will be for holidays Easter, Halloween, Christmas & Birthday!

 

So the giveaway is an envelope of the extra laminated alphabet cards that i didn't use.  I have at least one card for every letter and in total you will get 48 mini laminated alphabet cards ready for your own alphabet treasure box.  Leave a comment and we will use a random generator to pick a winner on November 1st!!   Thanks for looking!  Becky

10-21-10 Updated Blog Giveaway Info! I've added more than 80 clip art images to go along with the letters for your alphabet box. I've printed them off on cardstock for you, and if you buy a box similar to mine; all the images are sized to fit in the box!!!  Leave only one comment here on the blog to be entered in the giveaway! Taking entries through October 31. I'll draw a winner on November 1st and get them in the mail to you ASAP! thanks for looking! becky



Library Building and our Halloween books

We've been building our children's library since Naters was born.  It's my favorite type of gifts that she gets.  We also have a newly opened used bookstore by us that is run by Project:  LEARN that teaches literacy to anyone, mainly adults.  I've purchased a lot of her books there and also at garage sales.  I'm putting these halloween inspired books out on the shelf in her bedroom so we can read them anytime or she can look through them when she pleases.

Thanks for looking!  becky

Amazon has captured my shopping heart

I have always liked Amazon but couldn't say I LOVE IT until recenlty.  I love seeing an item on sale and the offer of free shipping with a $25.00 order!  I mean how can you beat it?  Here is the bounty from my last order.  I got the ZOOB set for 22.98 & free shipping, i am in heaven!

very happy with everything!  thanks for looking--becky

Halloween Sensory Tub & Playdoh of the Month, 2010 10, Halloween play-doh

Here is Naters' sensory tub for October
Theme:  Halloween
Medium:  Black Beans
Additives:  multi style beads, larges iridescent sequins, orange measuring cups, wooden spoon, glitter pom poms, 2 small tarts pans,  wooden candy corn beads (i dismantled a $1 necklace from JoAnn's),  various small gourds & pumpkins, some wooden decorative pieces.  I do have to add in our wooden family pieces!

Her Playdoh of the month is orange (scented with apple pie candle scent --i can't use cinnamon because her Dad dislikes strong scents like spice or cinnamon) and purple (scented with Grandma's Desserts candle oil) i also added non-toxic polyflake glitter.

Thanks for looking!  becky

Naters' evolving classroom

So i really do like the calendar from Learning Resources and all that it came with, but it didn't cover everything I've wanted and seen in other's peoples circle time activities.  So I bought a black foam
board, printed out Carisa's Calendar Printables  , also used Confessions of a Homeschooler's LOTW emergency info sheet,  and some Letter formation charts from HWOT parents page.  I did make up my own color and shape of the week cards because i wanted them to also match up with my Shape Viewers  /Shape Finders that I have previously blogged about.  Instead of doing shape & color of the day-I'm changing it to weekly.

Thanks for looking--becky

2010 October Halloween Craft purchases

NATERS IS 37 MONTHS OLD
Halloween crafting Items purchased with Michaels 25% off entire purchase coupon
and some gift cards. Like I’ve said in previous posts; as crafting-natured as I am I’ve been slow to introduce crafts to Naters. I purposely went looking for some Halloween craft items things for her. SHE LOVES ALL THE HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS IN THE STORES. We usually have to go down the aisle with the light-up houses a couple times each visit. What are the purchases? 4 Halloween sticker books, one poofy ball bat kit, a pumpkin tissue paper mosaic, 2 pkgs Halloween erasers, ghost & spider stickers, 3 mini Perler® kits, one Halloween necklace kits, Halloween chenille sticks, some painted wooden pieces, and FOAMIE® kits (witches hat, pumpkin, ghost, skeleton, Frankenstein, large glitter pumpkin and an 8 pack photo frame kit. For the photo frames, I’m going to put in a pic of her in Halloween costume and mail them to family members—after I add a magnet to back for them.
 

pumpkin & cat 3D foamie® mosaics, Chenille bat, feltie® pumpkins to decorate, smaller erasers for sensory tub, and a little halloween totebag she can use with her sensory tub in october. Thanks for looking! becky