Two Things I Love

With Back To School time here again, I have been overrun with catalogs, magazines, and emails depicting the next best thing for Child Care Providers. Well, if money was no object I would buy and buy and buy, but since it is... here are 2 things I just absolutely love!!!



I purchased this Color Changing Touch Board from the Lake Shore Learning Store!! I love it. The kids love it. The babies love it!!! The "magic" of it turning colors (it is like a mood ring, when it warms up it changes colors) is amazing to ALL the kids. Doesn't matter the age!! I also love the fact that it brings the big kids together with the little ones. They compare the size of their hands, the different colors that appear with each hand and what happens when they leave their hand on for a long time. It is fun to use and fun to watch them use it together.

This little "boom box" from Discovery Kids is another favorite of mine. I bought it about a year ago after visiting my sister and seeing her children totally enjoying it, but I never opened it. Just so you know, I bought it at The Christmas Tree Shoppe for about $12 or $15... I didn't pay to much for it. So, last week I opened it up for Roo and I can't believe I waited so long. I remember why I loved it in the first place. It has about 15 or so songs programed into its memory and all the kids have to do is hold the green button down to get it going and then push the little arrows to switch songs. It even has a memory disc slot that I can download more songs on if I want, though we are enjoying the ones it already has. Our favorite song is a Folky type one called "Bit by Bit" by Buttered Rum & Orange Sherbet (I think that's it). We play it over and over!! I need to find the CD and buy it, I think we'd like it.

I have lots of other things I couldn't live without, but this week these happen to be my favorite. We'll see what next week holds in store :)

Our Day Today

Ok, today we had a great day... the kids seemed more calm today for some reason?? We started our day off with some good 'ol free play. I found an old book of Camp Songs and I started singing some of those silly ones. I had Syd laughing on the floor at me as I sang Rise & Shine. It was a good way to start moving to some music. I am excited about it!! (And Ms Debbie & Mr Randy... it takes some really special people to do what you do!! I loved your Kiddos Music site... I think everyone should hop on over there and pick up your CD!! I know I am!!)

Last night I set up our Valentines Center and the kids slowly began investigating it. One at a time they began walking past it and touching the stickers, pre-cut hearts, and Valentine Cards. As soon as one began creating... they all jumped in. It was a busy center.

We read some Valentine Books, played with play dough, and had out the cars and blocks. The kids found the new sand in the Sand Studio and began tracing letters in the sand. During Circle Time we came up with some Vv words and got out our Mini Chalk Boards and tried to write one. We did pretty good. I also had some Handwriting Sheets out to practice our Names. Depending on the level of the child, they can draw on the sheet, trace letters, or practice writing their names. I have tried to include Name Writing exercises during our Art Projects, Magnetic Letter play, Sand Studio, Chalk Board Writing, & just leaving out cards with their names on it and fun paper and pencils. They love it and my pre-kinders are doing really well with it. It is becoming second nature, some are even progressing to writing their last names.

I have been gradually trading out our work trays and adding more patterning work, counting, and transferring work. I am happy to get back to some of the basic Montessori Trays as Little Miss M is getting big enough to start a lot of the Practical Life work. I know the older kids will be excited to see it on the shelf again. I love watching the little ones get to where they can carry a tray, pour their own drinks, work on their pincer grasp putting toothpicks in a jar, or just putting clothes pins in a bottle... and Little Miss M is just on the cusp of all that. It is amazing.

Here are old photos of the kids from a long time ago!! My goodness... S is so small, I don't thing she was much older there than Little Miss M is now. I need to find that bottle & clothes pin activity :)

My camera came back yesterday... yeah!! Well, not totally, you see I went to take some pictures today and it said, "Memory Full." She forgot to put my memory card back in.... ARGH!!! Hopefully she brings it back today :)

Music & Movement

Music...

If you work in a 6wk - 5 yr old room, you know that Music is an important part of your day. You can learn to music, dance to music, and pretend to music. So why isn't it used in the classroom more often? I am not talking about the background music some of us play during quiet time, or party time. I mean everyday music time?? I know I don't use it as often as I should. I know I don't want to listen to the banging of the drum or tapping of the tambourine for hours on end. So, my dilemma... how to get more open-ended and hands-on music time for the children in my care???

We have a book, Mortimer, by Robert Munch. We love to take out the instruments and bang away during the chorus. We like to use some instruments when we count or sing special songs. Yet, I know I could be doing more. Like I said, I should be using music EVERYDAY!!! How did I get on this rant you ask??? Check out Ms Debbie and Mr Randy, from Once Upon A Day in Preschool, here and you will see what I mean. Page down to the video's and take a look at the absolute joy on the kids faces as they dance with Mr Randy and the anticipation as they stand in line waiting their twirly turn. It was while watching this video that I realized how little we have been doing for our music time. If we even fit it in to our morning. It seems like we could go a whole week and not have a single get up, twist-n-shout, try out the instruments kind of day.

So, all weekend I have been thinking of how to incorporate more than the singing and finger movement activities we do. (Which are just as important, don't get me wrong & we do this on a daily basis) Yet seeing the joy, the giggling and the movement that the kids have when we turn the music up loud or taking out the instrument to start dancing. The look of amazement when Miss Michelle starts acting silly, and like Mr Randy, picks the kids up and dances with them. The specialness of it... even though everyone gets a turn, you feel like your the only one in the world when your teacher gives you that little moment of time. I could see that on the faces of Ms Debbie & Mr Randy's kids in the video. It was special and that's what makes theirs a great environment.

So... I have decided that outside time would be a great time to make some music. If we bring out the instrument box a few days a week I think the kids will enjoy it and I am almost positive most of my neighbors are working :) If not, oh well. It's not like it is 7 in the morning or 11 at night. I have also started looking online for some Children CD's that I have seen some friends use, and I have revisited Deborah Stewart's blog Little Fingers That Play, and reread all her Music Posts from her blog Excellence in Early Childhood Education. With these little changes I think we can learn to appreciate and make some beautiful music (at least to our ears). That the banging and shouting will only be for short time, while we get used to being able to use music in our daily lives. That the more we learn about music and how to make it, well, it will all come together. So for now, I will keep singing, moving, and introducing instruments to our days. It should make for a happy, noisy house!! (and that can't be bad!!!)

In addition to thinking and ranting about Music & Movement... I did add some Valentine activities into the week. We will have the Valentine Making center, which is just a place to go crazy with the glue, do-dads, & hearts. Though I think almost all of the kids will know how to write and/or read "I LOVE YOU" by the end of the week. We also did some heart sorting, heart counting, and a heart craft. I wish I could show you some photos, but yes, my helper still has the camera!!! So, hopefully I will get it back this afternoon and I can post some tomorrow.

Parents... We will be having our Valentine's Day Party on Friday!!! Please have your children bring in their Valentine's any time after Wednesday!!! We will be sorting them by name, counting, matching and delivering them on Thursday and Friday :). Thanks!!!