Sweet Simplicity

The last few months have been filled with one cute project after another, one busy day leading to another. This week we took a much needed break from fantastic projects and crammed days to sweet simplicity. There was no elaborate lesson plan, no extra centers, no last minute runs to the store, just me and my kiddos enjoying each other. How’d I fill the time? I didn’t, it sorta took care of itself. On Monday, we were able to splash with the water spicket outside. On Tuesday, we sat on our steps and ate ice-cream. On Wednesday, we ventured into the deserted area of our school and practiced balancing. Today, I didn’t even read the story at circle time, I put on a cd and the narrator read it for me. What will tomorrow bring? I’m not exactly sure, but I hope it’s as sweet as the beginning of the week.

Preschool Teachers and The Dollar Store

On any given day I can travel to the dollar store and pick up some great finds for my classroom. There's also dollar isles or sections in your most popular stores. When you're a new preschool teacher it can be difficult to know just what that great find is. I consulted with some of Facebook's finest in the business and heres what they had to say.

Arts and Crafts
Ash Trays (to hold paint brushes and paint)
ABC Chart
Cotton balls
Paper plates
Berry Baskets
Bottle caps
Bubbles
Buttons
Card board
Clothespins
Craft Sticks
Fabric
Foil Paper
Glue
Glue Sticks
Googly Eyes
Lunch Bags
Macaroni
Number Chart
Sponges
Tissue paper
Toilet Paper rolls (check your state rules and regulations, Florida is NOT allowed to use toilet tissue rolls but can use paper towel rolls)
Table Cloth
Toothbrushes (to paint with)
Pipe Bleaners
Plastic Utensils
Scrap Paper
Stickers
Shaving Cream
Velcro (to put up center signs)
Yarn

Blocks
Cereal Boxes (to add some color and dimension to buildings)

Cleaning
Nail Polish Remover (for removing permanent marker, it's not so permanent any more)
Toothbrushes (to clean with)

Decorating
3M Command Strips
Velcro

Housekeeping
Egg Cartons (to store plastic eggs)
Beaded Necklaces

Math
Beans (counting, grouping, creating patterns)
Yarn (making pom-poms)

Science
Butterfly Net
Flower Pots
Play Bugs
Magnifying Glass

Sensory
Beans
Corn Meal
Easter Grass

Storage
Butter containers with lids
Egg Cartons (for small, individual paint projects)

Don't forget to check your local stores after each holiday to score some great dollar finds.

Thank you to all my contributors.

Shara Lawrence-Weiss, Ayn Colsh, Laura Thacker Major, Karen Nemeth, Emilie Leadley Gillick, Kara Chancellor, Monica Ratcliffe Munoz, Tammy Owens,

Milk Crate Cubbies

The Center I work at is a new facility. The resources are limited and the budget is tight. I do consider myself quite thrifty and pretty resourceful when I have to be. The cubbies that were purchased for my classroom simply did not fit all of my kids belongings. I decided to make my own and you can too. Here's how...

Ask your local grocery store to donate crates to your classroom for your project. Apparently, you're not allowed to wander behind the grocery store and stock up on them. I figured this out when my husband and I looked up into the security camera behind our local Publix Supermarket...hee, hee. We kindly stacked them back neatly and high tailed it outta there. Can you imagine the morning newspaper, "Preschool Teacher caught on camera stealing crates for her class!" We decided the proper thing to do was ask.

You'll need:
crates and zip wire (can be purchased at your local hardware store)
spray paint (optional)

Place the one crate on top of the other. Use the zip ties to secure them tightly. Add additional crates as needed. Here's how it looked with 6 crates.

Then I added three additional ones.

There is a safe spray paint made especially for plastic if you want to change the color. I chose red crates so I wouldn't have to paint.

Ideas you might want to consider:
*Place a picture of the child on the back side of the crate.
*Choose other colors. I did see blue, green and black crates too.

Go Ahead, Make it yourself,


Feeling pretty motivated? See here how to make your own clothes rack for your class.

The Power of Play doh

Squeeze it, push it, knead it, pound it, cut it, rub it, roll it, smell it, share it...oooh play doh. It could be store bought, homemade, scented or not; the benefits of play doh I couldn't do with out.

I can still remember what it was like playing with playdoh as a small child. I wasn't partial to the smell, and found out that it didn't taste so good either. But the smooth, creamy, squishy feel of it makes me love it again, and again.

Here are some of the benefits of play doh:
Provides visual and sensory stimulation
Promotes creativity
Entertaining
Inexpensive
Quick Clean up activity
Comes in many colors
Can be scented

When play-doh is a life saver
During transition times (while sending each child potty)
In your Sensory Table
At your Art Center
While you're cleaning
Preparing for dismissal

Extend your playdoh play with these fun ideas
add texture to your playdoh..try rice, oatmeal, or coffee grounds
add fragrance...try adding vanilla extract, lemon extract, or a package of kool-aid
add color...allow the kids to mix the colors, or add glitter
add a surprise...after making playdoh form several balls, stick your finger in the ball and add a couple of drops of food coloring, reshape the ball. When the kids begin to squeeze and knead it...SURPRISE!
add accessories...play knives, spoons, dishes, and cookie cutters

More on Play doh
http://www.hasbro.com/playdoh/en_US/

Planning for the " Week of the Young Child"

The Week of the Young Child was established in 1971 by NAEYC, the world's largest early childhood association. The week is designed as an opportunity for Educators, Programs, Parents, Organizations and Communities to promote awareness and focus on the needs of young children and the families they serve.

Early Childhood Educators are wondering what they should be doing in their classroom. Since the week is more about how to get communities, law makers and politicians involved, It’s difficult to build a lesson plan around the Week of the Young Child.

Here are a few activities you might want to consider when planning for next week.

Activities For Your Students:
Discuss with your children how important they are and tell them you'll be celebrating them all week.
Talk to them about what makes them unique. You may want to pull some ideas from
your “All about me” unit.

Have the children put handprints on butcher paper. Paint/Write the words, “Week of the Young Child” and display outside your school or Child Care Center.

Roll out red paper for your students to make a grand entrance into class.

Have a pretend dinner party, gather extra dress up clothes so everyone is dressed for the occasion. Pretend to serve each child.

Make crowns for the boys, and sashes for the girls.

Trace the body of each student on butcher paper, allow them to decorate their bodies, then display them.

Give your children a “Children are important” party at the end of the week. Invite your parents.

Collect art work from you students throughout the week, and conduct an Art Gallery on Friday displaying each child's art on a black background.

For Your Community:
Ask your students what makes them special. Give them hints to what makes them special in your eyes. Write what they say on a piece of paper along with their handprints. Mail all of your letters to your local law-makers.

Plan a parade. Invite the local news station, radio stations, and email your city representatives. Use butcher paper and poster board to make signs. Have your children help design, plan, and color/paint the signs. Give each child a poster or an instrument to play. Parade around your parking lot and wave to friends, family, and representatives.

Ideas for signs:
I matter!
I am the future!
I love learning!

Send a letter home to parents asking them to email their local city commissioner some basic facts about their child. Then thank them for supporting Early Childhood Education.

For Example: My daughter is Jada, her favorite color is red. Her teacher says she plays in the Block Center everyday. I appreciate you keeping Jada in mind when decisions are made concerning Early Childhood Education.

Sincerely,
Johanna Lee

For the Teacher:
Write to your local representatives and tell them what your job entails. Describe in detail the rewards of being an Early Childhood Educator.

Join or start a Preschool PTA

Keep up with Early Childhood News and Studies.

Support Early Childhood conferences and workshops by spreading the word and attending.

Invite your local representatives to you school, blog, or website.

In my classroom there is a plaque that was given to me years ago. It reads, “A hundred years from now...it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child."

Visit NAEYC for more information on the Week of the Young Child.

Making Tracks (Footprints)

I had fun with our unit on forest animals. We talked about animal tracks and how we could tell where the animal went by following it’s tracks. Later that morning, we make our own tracks and posted them on our wall. It was a bit tricky but worth our efforts.


Here’s what you need to make your own tracks.
You”ll need:
newspaper
poster board or butcher paper
paint
sponge
shallow container with soapy water
markers

I laid newspaper on the floor where we would be working. I placed a piece of poster board (you may use butcher paper) on the newspaper with their name already printed on top of the sheet. I sat the kids in one chair and used the sponge to dab paint on the bottom of their feet.


I then held their hand while they walked across the poster board to the shallow pan of soapy water.


There they used a sponge to clean the paint off their feet. I listened for new vocabulary words from each child. I heard the words tickles, cold, beautiful, paint, sponge, toes, slippery, wet, and newspaper.

I didn't post my list of vocabulary words but that would have been even better to display with their tracks. The follow up activity during Circle Time was the "Going On A Bear Hunt" song by Greg and Steve.

Easter Basket Bunnies

Just when I thought I couldn't take another Easter project I'd forgotten to post this one. I was sure you'd appreciate it. I ran across a photo of these cute baskets about 4 years ago. I've been creating these little masterpieces each year with great success. I've looked all over the internet for the site where I originally found this craft and I'm not positive but I think it this one http://crafts.kaboose.com/recycled-milk-jug-easter-basket.html.

I ask the kids to choose the color of the whiskers (pipe cleaners) and the color of the nose (pom, poms) and I secure them on with hot glue. Once I'm finished I usually hand it over to them and allow them to use Elmers glue to put the cotton balls on the ears, and construction paper or googly eyes where the bunnies eyes should go. This year I got fancy and added bows for the girl bunnies. A couple of days after I took the picture we began stuffing our basket with grass, then eggs from our hunt and gifts from their teacher during nap on Friday. The Easter Bunny has never passed on these baskets!

Things to consider:

• If you have a class ask parents to save milk jugs a few weeks in advance to have enough.


• Never, Ever allow the children to use the hot glue gun, it is unpredictable!


• The original post I learned this from had the entire bunny covered with cotton balls, this may be done
  over several days, but I have found my attention span just isn't that long and neither is my students.


• I've done this project using the yellow milk jugs and it's even cuter!

These hats are “eggs”ellent!

I was about to make bunny ears today. Unfortunately, I ran out of hard-stock paper. I was afraid regular construction paper would leave flimsy-floppy bunny ears. I made “eggs”ellent hats instead . Here’s what I used:

Construction Paper
Hot Glue Gun
Hot Glue
Glue Sticks
Egg Pattern
Flower Pattern (optional)
Butterfly pattern (optional)

First, make a band the size of each child’s head with construction paper.


Next, use hot glue to secure Easter grass all around the band.


Then, allow the children to decorate eggs, flowers, and butterflies.

Last, the child should use the glue stick to secure the eggs, flowers, and butterflies to the band.

Note: You could use green construction paper and omit the Easter grass.

To extend the project:

Science: Discover eggs; Compare cooked and uncooked eggs

Build your own Circle Time Stand

When I host birthday parties and special events, I usually sing songs and do some fingerplays. Most parents aren't always familiar with fingerplays so I usually write them on a white board or chalk board so they can cheat. I thought it would be nice if my cheat sheet sat right next to me. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a stand I was happy with. I visited my local teacher store to specifically find a suitable stand. One of the sales ladies suggested I create something of my own out of PVC pipe. "I dunno," I told her. She assured me it was possible and I left empty handed. It took me another two months before I decided It had to be done.

My husband and I stood in the PVC aisle of Home Depot for almost an hour putting pieces together until we finally constructed what I wanted. It took some cutting from one of their employees (who was less than happy with my determination to get it just so) before I thought it was perfect.

The PVC websites I visited suggested you get all the words and letters off before painting or they will show up. I used sandpaper, I wasn't happy with the results. I suggest trying the acetone instead. Or, painting over the letters and barcodes with Kilz. I didn't get all of the words and letters off and yes, they did show up through the paint.

Here's what it looked like before adding the paint.

See here how the barcode started to show through during the painting process.

Here what it looked like right after the paint.


Here are some of the websites I visited before beginning my project. Warning, there is some really cool creations out there!
PVCPlans.com
pvcworkshop.com

Happy Building,


Need cubbies for your classroom? Build your own. See my cubbies here.

A Side of Rice

I love to spice up my sensory table with more than just sand and water. Last week rice was on sale at Publix and I grabbed two bags for home and one bag for school. Our theme this week is Spring so I dyed the rice pastel colors. To compliment my Spring theme I may add plastic eggs to fill, pastel cups, and bunnies. Here's how you can make your own colored rice.

To make colored rice you’ll need
*1/4 cup of vinegar
*rice
*a bowl
*shallow pan or container
*food coloring
*a spoon or a glove on one hand

Pour the rice in the bowl. Add a few drops of food coloring to your 1/4 cup of vinegar, pour in your rices and stir well. I like to mix with my hand, it seems to faster and the color seems richer. You’ll probably want to use gloves so your hand isn’t blue for the rest of the day, or shaking in a ziploc bag will work too. Pour the rice in a shallow container. Sit the rice aside until dry.

Don’t forget to add measuring cups, spoons, and dishes for your kids to dig, and discover.

Go ahead and have a side a rice today.

Preschool Children and Chores

Each child in my class has a daily chore. We keep a chore chart and it tells us what our job for the day is. We rotate the names each day so every person has a chance to do every job. The chores give the children a sense of responsibility and ownership of our class. It's a fabulous sight for everyone to be working together simultaneously for the same purpose. I usually praise their efforts and tell them how wonderful the classroom looks after we've all clean up. The children take their chores seriously and will remind me if we have not changed our chart first thing in the morning. You can purchase basic chore charts or make your own customized one. I have used both with great results.

Just like at school my children at home have their own list of daily chores. My daughter had a friend visiting our house. My girls were all in the kitchen doing dishes. Their friend asked surprisingly, "You do dishes?" My daughter asked, "Don't you have chores at home?" The little girl unsure of what to say clearly watching my daughters expression sheepishly said, "No". My daughter then asked, "Then how will you ever learn how to clean your house?!"

Centers and Circle Time meet Jack Hartmann

If there is one thing I love in my classroom (besides the students of course) it's MUSIC! I love to sing and dance while creating a masterpiece, molding playdoh, and especially during circle time. Recently, my daughters school invited Jack Hartmann to perform. I sent him a message on Facebook letting him know he had a 1st grade friend in the audience. Of course to her I looked especially cool having access to Jack Hartmann on Facebook. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the performance. But, I was smart enough to sneak in afterwards to purchase a couple of CD's, get them autographed and take a picture with Mr. Hartmann. So thanks to Jack and our school "I got music in me."

The three R's? Recycle, Renew, Reuse

In these hard economic times most people are busy budgeting and cutting back. There's more talk of recycling and reusing what you already have. For most teachers this is not a new concept. It is a must. Here are some of the ways I recently use and reuse items in my classroom.

Trees aren't just for Christmas anymore. This year my class had such a fun time putting up our Christmas tree I pulled it out and we decorated it for Valentines.




Our tree was intended to have hearts with the names of all the people we love on them. Unfortunately, we never go around to it. It's hard to see in the picture but the kids and I stuck glittery hearts on the ends of the branches. Then they took a red streamer and wrapped it around the tree. Later, we added red tinsel that was for Valentines decoration and these Christmas bulbs I just happened to have from a Wal-Mart clearance shelf. I updated these by adding a red sticker to each bulb.




After our Valentines theme and Celebration was over I took our streamers down and we used them for dancing then later to fly as kites since it was windy outside.



So what neat ideas have you come up lately to use the three R's? Challenge yourself this month to update and reuse items from a previous lesson.

Keeping Straight

Since our Center is new, most of my kids are new as well. Not just new to the facility but new to being in a preschool. This can make it challenging to learn some of the basic skills more experienced pre-schoolers already know, such as standing in a line (while keeping your hands to yourself). Here’s a neat trick I learned in school to help keep it straight. First, I cut out a shape usually related to our theme. This month I chose cars since we were working on transportation. Then, I used the colors and numbers I wanted to focus on. Next, I printed a number on each car and used clear contact paper to stick them in a line on the floor in front of the sink. While I’m monitoring their hand washing, I ask what color car they’re standing on. I ask what number they’re standing on and so on. They’re so excited to be on a number or change numbers they forget to touch each other. I constantly praise them on a beautiful line and in no time we can stand in line without the help of our aids. Although, I’ll still use them to teach other concepts.

Ready, Set, Swing

A few weeks ago I was overjoyed when one of my students began to swing on his own. Honestly, I’m not the “pushing” teacher. I’d much rather play tag than to stand behind a swing and push for an hour. I’m also convinced they’ll never want to learn if I’m there pushing anyway. That goes for bike riding as well (but that’s for another post on another day).

While swinging along side my star pupil I was reminded of how his determination for swinging began. For the next few weeks I noticed a distinct pattern in which children go from tummy swinging to full on pumping on their own. Here are my fabulous finds. See if you’ve noticed this similar pattern.

Step 1: First, the child will attempt to sit in the swing. If they can sit in the swing they
quickly notice there is not motion besides sitting and either leaves or moves to
step 2.

Step 2: The child lies their tummy on the swing and attempts to swing back and forth.


Step 3: After there is little motion with tummy swinging; the child learn to run just enough
cause a constant motion and with legs bent upward will have an enjoyable
swinging experience for some time.



Step 4: Once the child has mastered tummy swinging or their legs are too long to
accommodate tummy swinging the child will move on to again getting into the
swing. They will again look for someone to push for them.


Step 5: The child in step 5 understands there is a concept to swinging and will wildly
swing his/her legs back and forward realizing this does create some kind of
motion, but still barely moving enough to be satisfied.

Step 6: This step usually takes some prompting from an adult. I usually say the words,
“legs forward”, and “back”. “Go forward” Now “go back”. This is quite funny since
they tend to get confused as to when the legs should be going forward and
backward.

Step 7: This child understands their own body movement is creating the swinging
motion. He/She has the mechanics down and is moving in a constant motion.

Step 8: The Professional Swinging Student has mastered all the above steps and is now
legs forward leaning back, and legs bent with his/her back arch to make the
swing go higher.

Note: This is not the rule for smaller preschoolers. I will bend my non-pushing rule for toddlers but by
four I only give small pushes for those attempting to swing on their own. And in
this case I’m constantly repeating...”forward and back” with lots of cheers and
praise.

Now go out and swing today!


Caring, Confronting or Compromising?

Years ago when I was fresh out of school with my fancy new Early Childhood Education I landed a great paying job in a small center. I remember being very excited about putting all my hard earned education into practice.

Here is the story I love to tell new teachers. One of my jobs at my first center was getting the kids off the daycare van. The driver was also an daycare owner who drove the van for our center as well as her own center. She would pull up and blow her horn. I'd stand outside and mark off each child that got off the van. One day she comes back to our center with two of our children. Apparently, these two fell asleep that morning and never got off the van! Although she never confronted me she made sure she told my director how upset she was with me and all the things that could have went wrong had she not found those kids. Oh my...I was mortified. I left work that day and sat shamefully in my professors office to sob and tell her all the horrible details. She listened carefully and handed me tissues between my sobs. After I was done she calmly asked where was my copy of the Department of Children and Families Rules and Regulations. I told her it was in my bag at home. She handed me another copy and told me, "This is like your bible, I want you to know it inside and out." "If you plan on keeping this job, you do not compromise!" Her instructions were for me to get on the van and check every seat and on the floor, check off each student, sign my name and have the driver to sign as well.

Oh with my new found focus I was even sharper than before! The driver of the van would be so annoyed each morning when I climbed aboard with my clip board walking to the back of the van working my way to the front. The taps of her foot, the rolls of her eyes, the long sighs, or the impatient tapping on the steering wheel NEVER bothered me as much as leaving those kids on her van.

Years later, I STILL DO NOT compromise. I recently scolded a teacher regarding safety issues and she was very upset with me since "I'm not the boss". What I did tell her was that I like to buy my own silver bracelets. I'd rather NOT get free ones because she chooses to compromise, I'd rather care enough to confront.

Food Fight!

"Eeww, I don't like that!" "Teacher, I'm full!", "But...I'm all done!" This is just a few of my favorite lunchtime conversations. Oh the list goes on and on. I have a kid in my class that eats next to nothing each day. However, I'll sit next to him with my lunch and wouldn't you know it...there's always something in my lunch that pleasing to his hungry eyes. Of course being in the field a while I have my suspicions about why he eats so little. I know the "food fight" will only lead to frustration and aggravation at what's supposed to be a pleasant time of day. So each day I sit next to him, we chat about our day, we look into each other lunch boxes, we chat about our food, he even asked for my corn on the cob today. I said no sweetly with a smile and directed him back to his own lunch. He was unhappy and he let me know it by mumbling something under his breathe.

Yes, even at lunch I am busy teaching. I am teaching my little friend that there are lots of different foods to choose from. I am teaching that eating is not a battle and food is enjoyable. I am teaching he has the right to refuse to eat but regardless of whether he chooses to eat or not our day must go on. And some day soon I'll pull enough food out of my lunchbox for the both of us. And without him even realizing what has happened, he'll have had a pleasant eating experience. He'll have tried something new. He'll have realized he lived to tell about it (good or bad) and quite possibly will take that joy home with him. Until that day, I'll sit next to him and enjoy his company and refuse to take part in a "food fight".

Using All Your Resources

So I'm right in the middle of lesson planning when I come to a road block. Either I've already done that activity or I just can't think of anything creative. I guess a writer would call it writers block. What do I do? Easy...I use all my resources. There are plenty of resource books, blogs, and websites to get my creative juices flowing. Do I have to use their ideas? Nope but just stepping out of my own world works miracles for me. Inspiration kicks in and before I know it the ideas wont stop coming and the overflow makes me feel like a three year old playing in paint. Where do you go for inspiration? Here's just a few of my favorites...

Resource Books

• Mailbox
• Creative Resources
• The Giant Encyclopedia of themes activities for children 2 to 5

Blogs

• Teacher Tom
• Little Fingers that Play
• Early Literacy Counts
• Excellence in Early Childhood Education
• Pre-K Pages Blog
• Prekinders

Websites

• Pre-K Pages
• PBS.org/Teachers/Early Childhood
• Dr. Jean
• Jan Brett
• Pre-K Pages

There are so many resources available and so many great ones that I left out. Feel free to share you favorites with us. Hopefully, we can create a dynamic database to use, share, and enjoy. And next time you have a creative block, we'll be there to inspire you through it.

Happy Resource Hunting

Parent Participation

I've been both a working Mom and a Stay-at-Home Mom. On both sides I always felt my child's education was ultimately my responsibility and their teacher was my partner. "Our" teacher not only educates my child. She is "my" teacher too. The teacher is there to see things I can't see and to educate me in the best ways to assist educating my child. I love it when the teacher sends me a note home (good or bad). I love hearing what my girl did that day. I love when the teacher asks for my help. I feel more connected with my child when I know what's going on in her classroom. I am my happiest when I've contributed to my child's education. So that is the kind of teacher I strive to be. A teacher that keeps my parents involved, connected, and feeling confident about their child being in my classroom. How can you keep your parents involved? How would you like to be included in your child's learning experiences?

Ways to partner with your parents:

• Send notes home
• Send an email
• Surprise your students/parents with a phone call
• Create weekly/monthly newsletters
• Create a website
• Invite them to your class
• Send pictures with captions on the back
• A daily/notebook or folder brought to and form school
• Create a bulletin board just for parents

Stuck in the middle?

Oh wow there are certainly sometimes I hate being stuck in the middle! Like when you're friends are arguing? Or there's gossip in the workplace. You can certainly count me out. However, there are times when the middle is the perfect place for me. I recently called a colleague to rant and rave about all the wrongs I couldn't make right. While I'm no rookie at my profession I'm certainly not as seasoned as my colleague. After our conversation I was quite relieved that there was someone who knew more than I did. Her calm disposition and the assurance in her voice let me know I still have a lot to learn. As I stepped back into my classroom, there waiting for me sat a teacher less seasoned than I...waiting patiently for any knowledge and wisdom I could offer her. I was more than happy to oblige. I had a thought, being in the middle is not so bad.