Sensory Trays

Get excited!  Come on.. My excitement is radiating all over me right now as I'm looking for excellent idea's to create a sensory tub/work table for Harmony.  I have seen so many amazing, AMAZING idea's for sensory tubs and how they apply to your child.

Ok.  So what is it?  A sensory tub is an array of learning objects (think I-Spy) thrown into a tub.  You can do this with little thought or pick a theme and go with it.  For instance, you feel that you want a fall theme, then you collect fall leaves, acorns, add in a small bucket or cup for pouring, and let your child go at it!  The point is this.  You want your child, from ages 2-5 (as long as they don't eat anything) to utilize the tools that you have provided for him/her by using their five senses. 


The best thing about sensory tubs is that you are promoting learning and development in the following areas:

• "Fine motor skills (eye-hand coordination)
• Creativity (artistic skills)
• Creativity in play (deciding how to use the materials)
• Social skills (sharing, cooperating)
• Emotional development (tension releasing, soothing, failure proof, and confidence building)
• Knowledge of science (experimentation, evaporation, gravity, physics, construction, and engineering)
• Knowledge of math (1:1 correspondence, counting, and concepts like grouping, sequencing, weight, volume, and measurement."

Preschool Education Articles. (2010). Sensory Materials. Retrieved on November 8, 2010, from http://www.preschooleducation.com/art30.shtml

Colored Rice

I finally found an idea that would be perfect for our fall themed preschool week.  We made a sensory bowl and then put it into a tray for better access!  First, we started by coloring our white rice to stand for our red and yellow fall leaves.  After, we even added pipe cleaner's that are converted into apples and oranges to use for our pinecone/tree's.  Harmony has played with this every single day since last Monday.  She has added objects to it to fit to her liking.

Enjoy!

Candice S.

The Elf on the Shelf

The Elf on the Shelf is a fun tradition that was given to our family last year as a gift.  My daughter LOVES seeing her elf.  Here's out it works.  There is a book that comes with the Elf that you read to your kids.  The elf cannot talk but can take "requests" for gifts, etc. and provides the list to Santa.  He is there in your home to watch over your child and flies to the North Pole every night to report to Santa on your behavior....so you better be nice.  Every single night the elf finds a new place to watch you from..so your child can get up early and look for him/her.

This is such a cute little Christmas Tradition that Harmony has been begging to do for the last few weeks.  She's been asking where "Pinkie Pie" is.. so I told her that we're expecting to see our elf in the  next week or so when we start decorating for Christmas.  :)

You can buy The Elf on the Shelf at any local Barnes and Noble and other book stores.  I think you can purchase the set for about $15.00-$30.00 and that includes the little Elf, it's keepsake case, and the book.

Happy Holidays!!



What are your favorite family traditions?  Or, do you plan on starting something new this year?

Candice S.

Preschool Week, 11/08/10

11-8-10PreschoolPlanner

Weekly Theme:

Giving Thanks/Thanksgiving

Weekly Letter:

"F"

We'll choose our book list today at the library.  This will be updated!!  :)

I found some really exciting crafts that I will be posting tutorials on..including adding crafts from last week.

Happy Thanksgiving!  This IS the best time of year!!

Candice S.

Preschool Books, Phonics, Tracer Paper, Supplies List...

I have found two wonderful things.  First, I have been using this website First-School that has FREE printable worksheets, themed lesson plans, games and toy printables, craft ideas, math/reading and basic skills lesson plans and worksheets, and additional learning resources.  This website is amazing for additional help for toddler, preschool, and kindergarten lesson plans and printables.
You must go check it out!

Teaching Resources:

First-School

Basic Preschool Supplies List

Themed Lesson Plans

Progressive Phonics: For FREE E-Books, Printable Books, Phonics by Age, and Worksheets

Reading A-Z for 30 Free Books

The next website is great for Thanksgiving especially if you have a curious little investigator.  It allows you to be the historian and follow a set of facts, pictures, and fun so you can learn about Thanksgiving.  If your children are computer literate and are of reading age, you can have them do this themselves.. or, like Harmony and myself, we are going to sit down together and learn about the first Thanksgiving together.  I will adapt this to fit our preschool needs, as she is young and will have a shorter attention span.  I plan to entice her by asking her to "click" on an object while I am reading and to make sure that I ask her a lot of questions.

Please, Visit and have fun!  ...  The First Thanksgiving.

Last but not least, traceable paper that you can PRINT!  Woohooo!  Now, listen.  If you are trying to reduce on paper usage or you are a recycling nut like myself, then you have probably drawn a lot of "dots" so your children can practice tracing and writing letters, numbers, names, and addresses.  ..But, I couldn't help but get excited as I walked onto a fun creative resource found on the First-School website.  You have the opportunity to put in say, line 1: Harmony and it will show up in the first traceable row so she can then use the second, third, and fourth row copying or tracing.  LOVE IT!

Create Free Tracer Pages

Have a great day!!

Candice S.

Preschool Planner 11/01/10 =)

Happy Wednesday!!

I have been a busy bee planning, cleaning, planning, teaching, trying to catch up on my own academic endeavors.. just plain ol' busy!  :)  I wanted to share a rough draft of our preschool week.  This is most of the stuff we have accomplished this week.  Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday is our normal preschool day's but with Halloween on Sunday, I was too tired trying to get paper's turned in, etc. to plan our week Sunday night.  I usually sit down Sunday Evening's and find some fun stuff for Harmony and I to do.  You can also easily incorporate developmental activities with your babies, like my 7 month old, as you are teaching your preschooler.  I do not have a play room so we utilize our living room.  I also pick a theme for the week, as this week is FALL and a letter.  I haven't figured out how to incorporate shapes (as Harmony knows all) or numbers quite yet.  There are a lot of areas that we are just trying out for now to see Harmony's learning and tolerating speed.  Four year olds are super busy so she tends to give me an allowance of 30 minutes before she starts climbing the walls.  

Enjoy and check for updates at the "Kids Corner" section of Rattles and Redheads.

Candice S.

11-1-10PreschoolPlanner Sheet1

Book Review Tuesday: Thanksgiving Book-Turk and Runt

I wanted to share an excellent Thanksgiving book with you that you are your little one's will find very entertaining.  It is considered to be a comedy called, Turk and Runt.  Turk is a large turkey who assumes, with the help of his mother and father, that he is being selected by human's to go do something great.  His idea is to become the next football player or dancer.  :)  Turk's brother, Runt, knows better and does everything he can to keep Turk safe.

Definitely a must read!  Harmony and I got this book from the library last week and have re-read it many many times.  Ms. Harmony just can't put it down!

..And I have to share this with you.  Harmony was informed a few weeks ago what a hot dog is made of, by your's truly.  (Hey, she asked now.. I wasn't going to LIE)  She has yet to consume another hot dog- for we are only purchasing the chicken dogs now.  Here's the funny part.  The entire time we are reading and re-reading this book, she keeps going "Yummmmmmm.." and "I can't wait to eat turkey for Thanksgiving, Mommy."  Can you believe this kid?  I even told her that a pig and a turkey are still animals alike.. but it didn't phase her.  Not one bit or one tear.. just, "Yummy, hmmm-yummm, Turrkkeeeyyyy."  I guess that piggies are just too cute to think about eating.

Enjoy your Tuesday and check out this book!

Candice S.

 

Happy Halloween!

Savannah (Cousin) "The Devil" and Harmony "Glittery Witch"

Our family had such an amazing and productive, October.  Mark and I decided that I would further Harmony's preschool education at home so we have been busy creating lesson plans and utilizing so many wonderful educational and developmental resources that are available out there.  Free resources are the best and they are so much MORE useful when you have mom's using them hands on, just like we are!  :)  You will be seeing a significant amount of fun preschool activities and idea's.  I think that I'll be including our weekly theme and schedule for you all, as well.  I will be placing this on Rattles and Redheads, as soon I as I update it.

Happy Belated Halloween!  -I so should have said this, yesterday.  You have to love how late of a blogger I am.  I am always one step, behind.  HA!  I wanted to share my scary halloween babies with you.  They were pretty dang adorable.

Look at these way too cute "trick or treater's".  =)

Harmony "The Glittery Witch"

Mark Jr. "The Cuddly Lion"

My kids were too stinkin' cute.  Note to self next year, "Do not dress up 7 month old in way too hot costume.. when we live in Florida and it's 80 outside.  He will not stay in it for the entire evening, period."  Ok.  Other than that!  Our day was well spent and so were we!

I hope that each of you enjoyed your Halloween this year!  Muuahhahahahahaha!  (In scary crazed Halloween voice).. lol.

Candice S.