Thoughtful Thursday

More Great Quotes about Teaching

A good teacher is like a candle — it consumes itself to light the way for others. — Unknown

Teaching should be full of ideas instead of stuffed with facts. — Unknown

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. — William Arthur Ward

Praise, like gold and diamonds, owes its values only to its scarcity. — Samuel Johnson

To teach is to learn twice. — Joseph Joubert

I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework. — Lily Tomlin as Edith Ann

A very wise old teacher once said: I consider a day’s teaching wasted if we do not all have one hearty laugh. — Gilbert Highet

It is not what is poured into a student that counts but what is planted. — Linda Conway

It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge. — Albert Einstein

Workshop Wednesday

Jump Froggie Jump

(Small Group)

Materials: blue butcher paper; colored frogs (bean bag or plastic); and dice or spinner with colors

Directions: Make a game board out of blue butcher paper.  Make a square grid on the paper.  Mark one end Start and the other Finish line.  Place a set of colored frogs on the start line along with a colored dice (made from a mailing box 6 X 6).  Have children take turns rolling the dice.  As each child rolls the dice they identify that color and then find the frog that matches that color and moves the frog one square ahead.  See if they can predict which frog will win. 

Extension: Add a number dice. Children roll both the color and number. Add paper and make a chart illustrating the children's predictions.

Taken from Learning & Teaching Preschool

Transition Tuesday

This fingerplay is not only a great transition activity but it is also good for fine motor development. Separating and moving the fingers will help children see they have 10 fingers, not 2 paws. Children will need to be able to separate their fingers in order to properly grasp a pencil and other tools. Fingerplays are fun ways to build and strengthen the muscles in the fingers.

Matching

Match the fingers on your hands

One to one as up they stand.

Match your two thumbs small and fat.

Match two pointers just like that.

Match two middle fingers tall.

Match two ring ones. That’s not all

Match two fingers very small.

Match two feet with socks and shoes.

Match everything that goes by two’s.



Make & Take Monday

Homemade Felt Boards

Materials: a large picture frame with the glass removed; a piece of felt that is cut slightly bigger than your frame (black makes the felt pieces pop out).

Directions:
1. Center felt onto the back of your frame as if you were going to put a picture in the frame.
2. Pull the felt so it fits very tight. (The tighter the fit the better.)
3. Put the backing on and trim the excess felt.
4. Turn over and you have a felt board!

Idea taken from Jada Roo Can Do



Feature Friday

Bunny Books

Spring conjures up many images for me and while chocolate bunnies are my favorite type of rabbit these books about bunnies are a close second!

White Rabbit’s Color Book by Alan Baker is a classic in my mind and if you have never read it you must. It’s not a complicated story, instead it’s a brilliant book and lesson about color mixing . The cover illustration of the bunny in the paint always makes me think of dying Easter eggs which is another great opportunity to teach about color mixing. Kids love this book and adults reading it will enjoy the fun and dynamic language used to describe the vibrant colors that the bunny plunges into.

Thunder Bunny by Barbara Helen Berger is a lovely book about differences and acceptance. Thunder Bunny knew she came from the sky - even if her siblings did not - "I am the blue, and the blue is me!" Her inner strength guided her with courage and purpose. The text is melodic and the illustrations will keep the interest of a wide range of ages.

Little Bunny’s Sleepless Night by Carol Roth is a sweet story of an only child bunny who wants to share a room and go to sleep with someone else. He ventures out to a series of friend’s houses before eventually realizing that maybe sleeping alone in his own bed is what he really wants.  I like it because the bunny learns that he isn’t missing out on anything by not having someone to share a bedroom with , that he has the perfect spot for him after all.

 

Moon Rabbit by Natalie Russel is a calm, beautiful book about two rabbits who find each other and become great friends even thought they are from different places.  White Rabbit is a city rabbit and loves her urban home but is called away by the longing for company. She finds it in a park with Brown Rabbit who is wonderful and plays beautiful music. There is just one glitch White Rabbit misses the city.  It  really is a sweet tale about friends who can be friends despite physical distance. And the illustrations are the very definition of springtime. Lovely.

 

A Very Big Bunny by Marisabina Russo is a nice book about two bunnies that don’t fit in at school.  AMELIA IS A VERY BIG BUNNY. At recess, the other bunnies tell her that her feet are too long for hopscotch, they say she’s too tall to jump rope, and of course, no one will get on the seesaw with her. Amelia is a very big and lonely bunny. But when a new very small bunny named Susannah arrives in the classroom, something amazing happens. Readers will delight as they watch Amelia transform from a shy bunny into a confident friend.

Thoughtful Thursday

Great Quotes About Teaching  (Enjoy!)

I’m embarrassed every time I look a teacher in the eye, because we ask them to do so much for so little. — Phil McGraw

A teacher is never too smart to learn from his pupils. — Bill Bowerman

If teaching were easy, we wouldn’t need teachers. — Todd Whitaker

The greatest sign of success for a teacher… is to be able to say, “The children are now working as if I did not exist. — Maria Montessori

Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important. — Bill Gates

Teachers are expected to reach unattainable goals with inadequate tools. The miracle is that at times they accomplish this impossible task. — Haim G. Ginott

Often, when I am reading a good book, I stop and thank my teacher. That is, I used to, until she got an unlisted number. — Unknown

Workshop Wednesday

Rotten Egg Game

Materials: egg stickers to make the gameboards and game pieces; cardstock; plastic eggs; small easter basket. Place the stickers on cardstock strips. Place matching stickers on cardstock and cut out so they will fit in a plastic egg.

Directions: Two children may play this game.  To play, they each take a gameboard and then take turns opening one egg at a time.  If the egg contains a paper egg that matches one on their board, they place it on their gameboard and place the empty shell off to the side.  If they open the "rotten" (black) egg, they must put it back and also put one egg from their board back into the basket.  If they open an egg that doesn't match any on their board, they also return it to the basket.  Play continues until one player has matched all their eggs.



Taken from My Montessori Journey



Transition Tuesday

Stand Up

Stand up
Turn around
Clap to four
Don't sit down.

Clap once more
Take a bow
Stamp your foot
Stop right now.

Wave your hand
Bend two knees
Sit back down
And look at me!

Make & Take Monday

Extra Large Tablecloth Floor Mats

Materials:

• Felt-backed tablecloth or shower curtain liner (rectangle shape)
• Permanent Marker
• Yardstick (optional)

Directions:

1) Lay the tablecloth on the floor. Smooth out all of the wrinkles.

2) Decide how many squares you want and plan where you are going to draw your lines.

3) Trace your lines on the fold lines or use a yardstick to help keep lines straight.

4) Write the alphabet, one letter per square (in alphabetical order or mixed up).

5) If you have extra squares you could write numbers or other target skills.

6) Play!!

Variations for play:

• Beanbag Toss--toss a beanbag and say the letter name or sounds
• Look & Find--I told my son to find letters and stand on them.
• Move & Spell--Have your older tot spell three-letter words or names.
• ABC Match-Up--Match foam letters or other letter manipulative to the correct letter square
• Simon Says--"Simon says...jump on letter B two times."
• "Whack-A-Letter"--Give your tot a clean fly swatter to let them take a "whack" at letters you call out.

Variations for Tablecloth Mats:

• Numbers
• Shapes
• Sight Words
• Counting Routines (count by 2's, 5's, 10's)
• Computer Keyboard
• Anything!

Feature Friday

Power Point in the Classroom

What is Power Point? (adapted from wikipedia) Microsoft Office Power Point is a presentation program developed for computers. In PowerPoint text, graphics, movies, music, and other objects are inserted on individual pages or “slides”. You can make a Power Point presentation for any topic and customize it with text, graphics, and music to engage the audience.
Why use Power Point in the Classroom? Power Point is particularly helpful when used in the classroom as it can “hook” the learner and make learning more fun. When using PPT’s set to music you can time your slide transitions and advance the slides automatically so there is no need for you to be right next to your computer when the show plays. PPT’s also support the use of animations; you can animate objects in PPT or insert movie clips to make your presentations more fun.
How do you use PPT in the classroom? Power Points can be used on a daily basis.  You can show morning songs, such as Days of the Week, as well as many other educational songs to go with your themes or units of study. You can place Power Points in your computer area and use for listening activities, discovery activities, phonics activities, math and vocabulary activities. There are SO many ways to use them in the classroom.  Below are some great resources for Power Points. Try them in your classroom!

PPT Links
Kelly’s Kindergarten
Prekinders
Calico Cookie
Dr. Jean

Thoughtful Thursday

Should preschoolers have homework?

This is the question being asked on the latest BAM Radio Network show: “Should You Be Assigning Homework in Preschool?” by Rae Pica along with Etta Kralovec and Dr. Ann Barbour.

After a long day at school what young children in preschool need most is time relaxing and interacting with mom, dad and other family members. The preschool years are an important time for bonding with family and their time together should be respected.

If you are wanting to provide any kind of “homework”, below are some suggestions for everyday activities that parents can do at home to help their child build the skills needed for success in school.
Here are a few simple ideas…

• Promote independence by helping your preschooler develop skills such as dressing himself, washing hands, going potty, putting on coats, and feeding himself.
• Build communication skills by talking with your preschooler often and encouraging your preschooler to ask questions or express his views on topics.
• Promote an interest in literacy by reading with your preschooler- read simple books, signs in the grocery store, the back of a cereal box, street signs, and so on.
• Promote social skills by inviting friends over so your preschooler will develop their ability to share, work out conflicts, and play positively with his or her peers.
• Promote decision making skills by letting your child choose from a menu at a restaurant.
• Promote problem solving skills by letting your child figure out how to open a container or how to do other things without your help.
• Promote organizational skills by letting your child put away his own toys.

Go and take a listen to the BAM Radio Network show and see what you think!

Workshop Wednesday

Spring Craft: Personalized Kite

March is the time for kite making, and these personalized kites are cool! Cut a 9” x 12” sheet of colorful construction paper into a nine-inch square. Turn the square on a tabletop to make a diamond shape. Paint a child’s hand with white tempera paint; then have him make handprints on the paper as shown. Use a marker to print the child’s name in the center. Next, have the child remove his shoes and socks. Paint the bottoms of his bare feet with white paint; then have him step onto another different-colored sheet of construction paper. Repeat this step twice to make a total of six footprints. When the paint is dry, cut around the footprints. Tape one end of a length of ribbon or crepe paper streamer to the back of the diamond; then tape the footprint cutouts to the ribbon to resemble bows. Now go fly a kite!



Taken from Mailbox Magazine



Transition Tuesday

Use the bee and song to transition children from clean up time, to lining up to going outside.

Buzz, Buzz Bumblebees 

Taken from Learning and Teaching with Preschoolers

Buzz, buzz bumblebees,
Flying all around.
Stop stand still, do not move around.
Shh, don’t make a sound.

Buzz, buzz bumblebees

Hurry up, in the jar
Before they sting your hand.

Buzz, buzz bumblebees
Hold your jar real tight.
We will carry them outside
Then let them all take flight

Bee Finger Puppet
Create a bee puppet using a yellow dish glove, white lace, wiggle eyes and black rick rack.

Make & Take Monday

Let’s Build!

Young children seem to be almost as intrigued by building and creating as they are by demolishing and dissecting.  That’s just part of why a tools and construction theme is so great for young kids!  And while they’re having a blast, they’re also learning some great concepts.  Try this idea in your block area. Create full-scale blue prints for the children to copy and make.

Using large blocks (foam or wooden) build a creation against a wall and then outline the blocks using blue painter’s tape. You now have a full-scale blueprint!  Encourage children to follow the blueprint or create their own.  Other props in this theme might include hard hats, play tools, tool belts, clip boards and pencils, real blueprints, phones/radios, orange cones, and caution tape. 

Idea taken from Amanda Morgan 

Feature Friday

Organizing your Daily Lesson Plan Materials

This is a simple way to keep your daily lesson plans materials organized as you prepare for each week of school. Gather a nice sized basket (a lesson plan box). Make sure your lesson plan box is large enough to hold file folders and large children’s books.

1. Label a set of pocket folders with each day of the week and place them in your basket.

2. In each pocket folder, place the games, flannel board pieces, songs, or books you plan to use for each day.

Taken from Deborah J. Stewart

3. Use the pocket folders as dividers in the basket. What doesn’t fit inside the pocket folder goes in front of each pocket folder like sponges, tape, cotton balls, or other specialty items that will be needed for each day.

The goal is to have everything that is called for in the lesson plan available and organized so the teacher can focus on presenting the material rather than spending valuable teaching time searching for the material.

Thoughtful Thursday

Most of us resist making changes, taking risks. However, in Imagineering (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1980), Michael LeBoeuf encourages one to "open your mind to new alternatives." He argues...

"New ideas rarely come from thinking and doing the same old things. Make a conscious effort to introduce change into your life. I'm not suggesting radical, wholesale changes, although sometimes that can be very beneficial. Take stock of everything in your life and question its existence. Ask yourself, 'Am I doing this because it's enjoyable and stimulating or because it's safe?' Make an effort to meet people with varying viewpoints and hear them out. Take up a totally new hobby or pastime. Try visiting or living in another city or country. Replacing the familiar with the unfamiliar is a worthwhile investment in your own growth. In addition to becoming more creative, you'll develop the inner security and self-confidence that can only come from successfully meeting new ideas, people, and situations. Don't allow the security blanket of the familiar to smother your success."

Have you taken any risks lately?

Taken from Exchange Everyday

Make & Take Monday

Gel Molds and Color Mixing

Use plain Knox Gelatine and mix 3/4 cup of boiling water per package.  So if you’re doing the entire box of four, get 3 cups of water nice and boiling and then stir in the packages to dissolve. Add one at a time and stir to dissolve.  Pour the mixture into a container (muffin tins, empty Cool Whip or yogurt containers, bowls, etc.), or better yet, several containers.  It’s always helpful to have several gel molds made up so that you can replace them as they become used up in the bin.  Chill the molds in the fridge overnight.  To loosen, you may need to run around the edges with a butter knife.  (Oiling the containers or using a cooking spray beforehand also helps with an easier release.)  Place the molds, containers of colored water and pipettes or small eye droppers in a small bin. The children fill the droppers, insert them into the gel, and squeeze to release the color in a newly created crevasse.  The color mixing and overall effect is just awesome and intriguing, even for grown ups.

Workshop Wednesday

In honor of Dr. Seuss' Birthday try these activities...

The Cat in the Hat
After reading this timeless and iconic favorite, follow-up by playing your own version of UP, UP, UP with a Fish!  You can use balls or bean bags to represent “the fish” and toss with a partner, stepping backward after each catch.  Or you can simply add physical tasks, one on the other.  Stand on one foot.  Now hop!  Now reach one hand up like you’re holding a fish bowl.  Now fan yourself with the other hand.  Oh, no!  Everyone fall down!  Great for large motor skills!

The Foot Book
This is always a favorite book for children of all ages.  Extend by painting with your feet!  Use the same materials you would for finger painting, but use your toes (or entire feet) instead.  Have children sit in a chair and paint on the paper on the floor, or roll out some big sheets of paper and let them run with painted feet!  Have a wash bin and towels handy!

Green Eggs and Ham
Do I have to say it?  Make some green eggs!  Just add a little green food coloring (maybe even play around with color mixing by adding blue to the yellow eggs).  Involve the little ones and build vocabulary by using good descriptors as you work.  Emphasize the change from liquid to solid as you crack, whip, cook, and serve!  Or try using a scoop of lime sherbet surrounded by cool whip for an easy alternative. I do so love green eggs and ham!