All About Me

This weeks theme was All About Me. The kids can learn and express there favorite things about themselves. Also this months color theme is Red. I will be throwing red into our week. One way to help kids learn colors is to put it in their activities. My sensory table has all Red objects this week. I have Red Lego blocks, red toy Indian's and army men, red dyed noodles, and red craft Pom Poms. You can also dye cotton balls.

Monday

So this week we kept all our project papers to make an all about me booklet on Friday. Today we talked about our special features on our face. We talked about our eyes, nose, ears, mouth, etc. As we named them we said what we use each part for. Also we sang the Head shoulders knees and toes song. My class likes when we sing the song really slow then faster. Also we sing it low and then we sing it loud. It keeps their interest in it a little longer.

So we moved on to our project. The front cover of our book. I searched the Internet for faces that looked kinda like the child. Then printed the words All about me. As we colored we pointed to the face features and then pointed to ours.

Tuesday

Today we talked about our hands. We have our own very unique hands. We can clap our hands, we can shake our hands, and wiggle our fingers. We talked about on our fingers we have what is called fingerprints. We each have our very own.

For our project I printed the words my fingerprints are unique. No one else has them!!

Our class used paint to make our finger prints. This was tricky because this was the first time they did their finger tips. They were use to making hand prints. So they tried to sneak in and dunk their whole hand in the paint. Next time I think we will use stamp pads instead of paint. It did not show up as well with paint.

Also I sent home a page for the parents to fill out and bring back. If you have older kids you can just ask them and they might tell you. My class could not care less about my questions. I also added this to their booklet. You can find the free printout at http://2care2teach4kids.blogspot.com/2011/09/free-all-about-me-activity.html

Wednesday

Wednesday is always show and tell day at circle time. This time they were to bring a baby picture.

The kids were excited to sit in the circle with their picture. We took turns passing around their picture. Some kids laughed because they thought it was weird to see what their friends looked like as a baby. After, we put them on display so every one can see them through out the day.

So for our lessons today we talked about something inside our body that helps us move. Our bones. This week I tried looking for books at the library pertaining to our lessons. Sad to say I could not find any good ones. I did have one book stashed in my teacher book collection. I store all my good books in my filing cabinet. I order them from scholastic. This one was a Halloween book but it still served the purpose. It was called "Skeleton Meets The Mummy" by Steve Metzger

For our project what better way to make bones than using Q-tips. I cut Q-tips in half and let the kids glue them onto a body template. I found the template on a google search. The kids love this project.

Thursday

Today our class felt a little humorous. Not sure if that's a real word. We talked about something we have (well a lot of kids have) stinky dirty feet. We talked about our feet and toes. The kids loved the project I had in store for today. We took off our shoes and painted our feet. We made stinky feet foot prints. The hardest part I found was painting the bottom of their feet without getting paint all over. Due to their screams of tickle giggles.

Friday

Still trying to over come our case of tickle giggles. (Like every Friday) Today is our review and freeday. We reviewed everything we learned this week. Reread a few books then went play outside. It was hot so we did not stay out to long. Then inside to eat a popsicle.

Thanks for stoping by this week. Next week is our Letter A week.

The Kissing Hand

The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn, is a story about Chester, a little raccoon who wants to stay home with his mother rather than go to school. His mom tries to ease his fears by telling him of all the fun he will have at school, and then shares a family secret called The Kissing Hand. She then kisses Chester's, palm to reassure him of her love. When Chester feels a little scared he can put his hand to his cheek and remember his mom's kiss.

Monday

To start out our first week I introduce Chester the raccoon to the class. I read the book. Of course I kinda skim over the words, because I find it a little long for my age group. After showing the book, and still have their attention. I talk about it with the class and ask them how they feel when they come to school.

For our activity we made hand prints with a poem for their mom. The poem is sweet and to the point. I love the part about this hand print is the first of many memories they will make.

It's my first day of school,

and I'm thinking of you

I made this precious hand print,

So you'll think of me, too

On my first day of school

"The Kissing Hand" is what we read

It's about a raccoon named Chester,

Who did just as his parents said.

Like the raccoons first day at school,

I was scared and a little shy.

But because I thought of you,

I was brave and I got by.

All through the year,

I'll make more things for you.

So as I learn and grow,

You can share in the fun too!

Tuesday

Today we again talked about our feelings of school. I asked about how Chester had felt. I also was happy to find another book about a raccoon. I always write my lesson plans down for the month and head over to our library in town. That way I have all kinds of books that are on the same subject. The best part is that I did not have to pay for them.

What better way to start off a Tuesday than making our own Chester the Raccoon.

We also read Timothy goes to school by Rosemary Wells

Wednesday

Well our schedule was off. Our day care was closed due to weather by Isaac. Every Wednesday we have Show and tell. They were suppose to bring an object that would make them sad if they did not have anymore. There most favorite heart warming object.

For our project we was suppose to trace our hands on paper plates. Then color and cut out leaving bottom uncut to make a pop up kissing hand. Kids then could glue a heart or a kiss on the palm. Sorry for no picture.

Thursday

Today we reviewed Kissing hand and everything we made this week. We talked about how what we made was connected to the story and our feelings. For our project we used cookie cutters as stamps to make heart patterns. My heart cookie cutters had a small heart in the middle of the big heart. So we had extra hearts. It was just a heart loving day.

He had to stop and admire his art work for a minute. I guess he was surprised cookie cutters and paint can do that.

Friday

Freeday Friday!!! Usually every Friday is review and Freeday. I also try to let the kids make a snack based on something we learned that week. Then when made we turn out the lights and put on a quick movie and dine out. We made Heart cookies like the ones we painted. Of course not with the same painting ones. I have an extra set. Sorry for no pictures. After they ate pretty much the movie was not important to them so I turned it off and we played in centers.

I called two at a time to sit with me at a table. I thought we could try our hand at cutting with scissors. It was cute to teach and watch.

To cute. She could not yet open and close her hand to open the scissors. She gave up and used her other hand to pull it open.

Now she is getting the hang of it.

He is concentrating hard.

I think I will have some good cutters this year.

Check back next week for our all about you week/the color Red.

Our Curriculum Starts

Quick post..Monday is the day. Our Curriculum starts. We will be doing the Kissing Hand. I am not sure if I will post each day or have one big post on Fridays. My post will include pictures and lesson plan. Also I live in Louisiana. I will be watching the path of Isaac. It is a tropical storm now but will most likely become a hurricane when it enters the gulf. If it goes more west we will be in the path. So our week might or might not be off a little.

Day Two

Day two was better than day one. Outside was dry today YaY!!! The class is kinda getting the hang of things. The floor spots are not strange to them today. Also they are understanding when it is playtime, and when it is not playtime.

So today again we played with buckets of toys instead of centers. They are getting up and putting away their bucket of toy before they get a new one. YESSSS!!!! well some of them, but that's ok by Friday we should master it. If not, we will do some of next week also.

For circle time I read a book called Block City. It is about a little boy using his imagination and a bunch of blocks to build ships and castles. After we read and looked at the pictures we built towers with our blocks. I also added some farm animals and people. This lasted a good 15 minutes until they started fighting. Then I new it was time to move on.

I introduced a small lesson time with them. Which went really well. We made lamb puppets. A very small and quick project.I had bought those kids lap trays a few weeks back. They were a little expensive but money well spent. They love them and its so easy since we do not have a big table to do projects on. They even stack up with their colors in them. In the morning I can hurry and put their projects in each of their trays. When it is time I can call their name one by one and they come get their tray. I will reuse them every year.

Tomorrow will be day 3. I will see how things go again.

Still alive, but sore feet

Well today was a crazy day, but it's over. It was official move up day. Plus a few new kids started. The morning was more hectic. At least it went by fast. I did not have my camera to take pictures. Even if I did I don't think I would of had the time. We tried starting our day in centers but did not go to well. Because one of the kids that was suppose to be potty train was actually not. So between running to the bathroom and changing their clothes. You can get the picture. We picked up and sat in a circle. Then we pretended to catch animal shaped clouds in the sky. Also we pretended to have fishing poles and went fishing. For some reason the kids got mad because we had to let them go back into the water. I told them I did not want to be responsible for the shark and pink fish laying around in my classroom.


After that we got each a bucket of toys and sat on our floor spots. I think I will have the class do this until we get the whole pick up before we take out another toy rule. Then we will try centers next week.

Tomorrow we might try a small little project so we can get use to lesson time. Its hard to spring everything on them because in the other class they did not have centers or a strict schedule. They still can't seem to sit on their floor spots for more than a minute. So yes it will take some time to get everything running smoothly.

August Burnout

Its official I have the August burnout. What in the world is that? Instead of telling you I think this picture sums it up completely.

From Rearranging, Cleaning, Throwing away the old, bringing in the new, Printing, copying, pasting, messing up gotta print again, Stuff getting stuck in the laminating machine,Ms Rhonda, Ms Rhonda, One kid slapping another for no reason and taking off running, Other kid turns around with a stick running after him yelling Stop so I can hit you!!!!, Packing up kids last day stuff....

Did you get the picture? Yea, and it's not pretty. So After this weekend I work Monday and Tuesday. Then I decided to take a 3 day mini vacation. Actually 5 counting next Saturday and Sunday. Time to relax. Then back to work for the official move up of kids. Looking forward to it. I have been taking a few that I know is going to move up to my class. That way they kinda know how everything goes. Slept in late this morning and now it is almost 11:30 and I never ate breakfast. So with my tummy growling I wish every one a happy weekend.

Shopping day at dollar tree.

I been watching my little rugrats in the sensory and art center. They love the scooping and pouring. Then I realized they can do so much more. So I head out to the dollar tree on a mission. This is where I do all my teacher stuff shopping. I learned my lesson over the years. I would go shopping at those fancy teacher supply stores that brakes my teacher budget within one stop. You know what I found out? Having 11 two and three year olds things do not last. Does not matter what they cost, or where you buy them. Also the kids do not care where you bought them. As long as they can play with it, and touch it. They are fine with it. So I discovered the dollar tree where everything is a dollar. Love it!!

Back to my reason of my mission. I need more in my sensory center than just scooping and pouring. I need more ways to keep their little fingers busy. I love it when they think they are just playing, and I know they are actually learning at the same time. Also I needed to find ways to store my sensory items like buttons, noodles, and beans. So I walked down every aisle. Some times twice. I found a bunch of storage containers. Like those plastic food containers. I also found some cute ones. All will use those to store all my different noodles and dry sensory items.

Also found some that was the right size for my stone rocks.

I even found some cute ice cream scoops they can use. Just the right size for their little hands. There was shovels and rakes small enough. My favorite is the rubber tongs. Great for using their pinching and fine motor skills. I found a small plastic colander. Great for sticking pipe cleaners or spaghetti noodles in.

More floor spot ideas. Wow I never seen these in this perfect circle size. They are those gripper pads. You put them under things so they wont slip. Came 4 circles in a pack . I snatched them up in case my pillow floor spot idea falls through.

Last but not least I bought these mystery sink mats. I saw them and bought two. I know I will figure out what I can do. Besides weaving or lacing.

So I think this is all of my august shopping for now. I got the basic stuff I was looking for. I'm just waiting for my new set of kids. Soon my lessons and activities will start being posted. Thanks to the ones that view my blog. I promise it will get better once our class starts.