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