Distinguishing Between Number, Letter, and Word

This is a literacy activity we did to see if the students could distinguish a number from a letter and a letter from a word. Surprisingly, both classes did really well with it. I mostly had the older children participate. This is super easy to prepare and great for practice with beginning reading skills. 

Post Office Trip

We took a field trip to the local post office a couple weeks ago. Here are some of the pictures. Luckily, we were able to see the distribution center instead of just the post office itself. It was really cool to see how they sort the mail and get it ready for the mail carriers. I think the kids learned a lot.

She was showing us all of the gear they have to wear in the winter to keep warm.

All the bins where the packages (presents) get sorted.

Our "tour guide" mail carrier was very friendly and so good with the kids. She made it exciting and let the kids ask questions. She was very patient as well. She really made it a great field trip for all!

As a follow-up activity, we turned our writing area into a mail center where the kids can write a letter to a friend and put it in the mailbox. There is even a place to write the friend's name and address on the cards.

This was a very informative lesson and I would recommend a field trip to your local post office to any preschool age classroom!

Chronicles of Summertime: Day 16

I am going to just talk about what we did over the weekend as Snugglepuppy was not even home today. He had a sleepover at grandma and grandpa's house (with Aunt M). I did read some nursery rhymes with Ladybug, but that's about it. The rest of the day she pretty much ate and slept.

So we had an exciting weekend in Ohio's Amish Country with grandma, grandpa, and Aunt M. We shopped all day Saturday and then swam at the hotel where we stayed. The hotel was super nice. It's the first time we stayed there and Snugglepuppy enjoyed the pool, the waterfalls to the pond and gazebo and the fire pits. And there were many more things that we didn't even get a chance to do such as a small movie theater, croquet, and cornhole. Mommy loved the hot tub the most though!

They somehow ended up in the bed together at the hotel

Sunday, we came home and Snugglepuppy got kidnapped by my parents. It was a last minute decision and I was kinda sad to see him go. It's only the second time he's stayed away from home without mommy or daddy. But he had lots of fun in their backyard in the swimming pool and sprinkler.

7 Ways to Get the Most out of Your Local Library

I realize not all public libraries are the same or have the same resources available, but you won't know what they have until you check it out. Here are some things to help you get started, some may apply to you and some may not, but these are some things ours offers.

1. Join the Summer Reading Program! Often there are prizes you can win for reading a certain number of books or number of hours. Any age can join at our library, 0-Adults. Parents can read to little ones who aren't reading yet.

2. Check the library's website or call for schedule of events. We went for storytime yesterday and ended up getting a free lunch for Snugglepuppy that we didn't even know about!

3. Go to storytime or baby laptime. They usually make it interactive and have songs and movement activities as well to keep your little ones from getting bored or antsy.

4. Download their app on your phone or tablet. I LOVE this feature at our library, you can check your account to see what books you have out, renew books, search the catalogue and reserve books. It's so convenient!

5. Sign your child up for a library card and teach them how to use the online catalogue to find books/videos. Begin to teach kids responsibility by letting them have their own card and teaching them how to take care of books. Also, some libraries have a program where you can "borrow" e-books. 

6. Let your kids play in the kids play area. Ours has a play farmer's market, a puppet show, blocks, and much more!

7. Use it as a quiet place to READ! Keep the distractions to a minimum and take time to actually read those books you or your kids love.

I'm sure there are many more things to do there. Comment if you have any to add!

Chronicles of Summertime: Day 13

Day 13:
I'm not gonna lie, we didn't do much today, so this should be a quick post. We went grocery shopping and Snugglepuppy helped out a lot by putting the items on the counter and helping me bag things. We read a little (Dr. Seuss's ABC, Oh, David, and Mouse Paint and watched Chicka Chicka Boom Boom on Youtube) and made a new lid for baby Ladybug for The Lid Game, a project we did a while back. It was a pretty lazy day overall!

Chronicles of Summertime: Day 7

Day 7: 

We didn't do much this morning as I had to visit the social security office to get a card for Squeaker. That was a total disaster. It took us over 2 hours and I missed being called the first time and had to get a new number. Neither of the children were happy campers by the end of this ordeal, so we came home. 

Snugglepuppy took a nap after lunch surprisingly. After he got up, we built a house with legos and Snugglepuppy decided to put his cars in it. Later in the evening, we went outside and used sidewalk chalk to draw on the driveway. Then I gave him a bowl of water and paintbrush to "paint" on the driveway. I also brought out the squirt bottle filled with water and the squeegee. 

We also played around with looking at the world from different points of view. When Snugglepuppy saw me doing this with Squeaker, he had to play along!

Before bed, we got in some more reading time with our library books for the Summer reading program. Squeaker seemed very interested in the books as I was reading them to Snugglepuppy as well.

Chronicles of Summertime: Day 5

Day 5:
We had a lot going on today including taking Squeaker to the doctor for her 2 month check-up, the internet installation people came, and I had a few chores to take care of, so we didn't do too much in the way of learning.

Snugglepuppy colored with crayons and then we looked at his Highlights magazine. From it, we cut out an accordian book and folded it up. He also played some of his games on the iPad.

We did make it to the park for a little while and Snugglepuppy made some new older friends. They played "lava monster" with his ball and included him in the play even though he didn't actively participate. They danced with him as well.

When daddy got home, we had our Pizza Pizza Party in the basement. These usually consist of eating pizza and watching TV, playing Wii, or just letting Snugglepuppy play down there.

Snugglepuppy has regressed a little in his potty training over the last couple of days. He has refused to sit on the potty at all, but tonight he wanted to put on the big boy underpants and he stayed in them for quite awhile until it was time to go upstairs for bed. We asked if he had to go and he said yes and at least peed in the potty. He still isn't using it to poop (he wants his diaper on for that) but at least it's something!

Chronicles of Summertime: Day 3

Day 3:
After filling up on a yummy breakfast of waffles, we decided to visit the library. There are so many things for kids to do at our branch in addition to finding books. Snugglepuppy of course went immediately to the play area. He played with the play food in the "farmers market" section they have set up interacting with some other children who were there. He also played with the blocks and few other toys. He briefly went to the computers, although he didn't stay long as the headphones weren't working and he couldn't figure out what to do.

While there, we also signed up for the Summer Reading program. This year they are having a castle theme for their opening kick-off this Saturday. Here is a list of books I picked out for Snugglepuppy (and Squeaker):

				Daddy hugs 1 2 3
				Follow those feet! (Dora)
				Go-go gorillas
				Grandma's house (Dora)
				Guess who, Minnie!
				LMNO peas
				My garden
				Night light
				Pete the cat and his four groovy buttons
				Shout! Shout it out!
				Splish, splash, splosh!
				The three little pigs Are you my mother?

We came home and I attempted to give Snugglepuppy a nap. And Squeaker was unusually hungry today, so we really didn't get much else accomplished. Snugglepuppy did play with some of the apps on the iPad and watched Team Umizoomi on TV. I attempted to make a cupcake recipe from Pinterest and failed horribly on the icing when I realized I was supposed to use freeze-dried raspberries instead of frozen raspberries. Oh well, there's always next time. 

Puzzle Piece Names

Another one of our small groups for "All About Me." We had the children spell their names with these puzzle alphabet stickers identifying each letter as they go. We had their name strips with each child's name pre-written on it for them to look at to help them find the letters.  Some of the younger children just wanted to stick random letters everywhere, so we let them do their thing. When they are more ready for this activity, we will try again.

Then we had them count how many letters in their name. As an extension of this, you can have the children graph how many letters their names have and compare whose name has more or less. 

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Tutorial Tuesday: Puzzle Sight Words

Puzzle Sight Words 

Happy Tuesday! I am so excited to be joining Cachey Mama's Classroom today. I am Jillian also known as A Mom with a Lesson Plan. One of my favorite lessons to plan is sight words. Making sight word practice fun and easy is one of the ways I keep my kids excited about learning new words.

How to Prepare

Do you have any old puzzles with missing pieces? Don't worry if all your puzzles are full sets, you can find a cheap puzzle at a garage sale, thrift store, or dollar store.

 I used a puzzle with big pieces but any size pieces would work.
  
Put the puzzle pieces together. Make sure you have enough pieces connected to match the letters in the word you are making. Then flip the puzzle over so the back of the puzzle is up.
 Write one letter of the word on each puzzle piece. That's all the prep you need. Easy right?

3 Ways to Play

I love this idea for a couple of reasons. Puzzle sight words is perfect for a quiet classroom activity or for at home practice. I also love that it can be varied to work with kids of different levels. 1. Lay out the sight word card right next to the letters needed to make the word. Mix the letters up a bit and then have your little one put the "puzzle" together to match the card.

2. Lay out the sight word cards. Mix up all the letters and have your little one create the words by finding the letters in the pile.

3. Mix up all of the pieces and ask your little to make words from the pieces available. This is a good one if you've already practiced these words quite a bit.

Besides a love for her kids (and well just kids in general) Jillian has a degree in Early Childhood Education and 10 years experience as a preschool teacher. Right now her “students” call her mom. Jillian believes that life offers an abundance of learning opportunities. She loves figuring out what they are and how they can be expanded on. Join the journey at amomwithalessonplan.com.

Thinky Linky Thursday

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