Here is some of macaroni art projects we made last week.
We glued the macaroni on the first day, then waited for it to dry. The next day, we painted our pictures.
This is great for working on fine motor skills. By using glue bottles, children have to squeeze just the right amount out at one time while controlling where the glue goes. Also, while we allowed the children to make anything they wanted, you could give a topic for them to create or they could try to write their names with it.
Also, you can experiment more with this activity by adding salt to the paint for example to give it a rough texture. Or come up with your own ideas!
So, here are some before and after pictures of my classroom.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Circle time and library area with the computer just off to the left so we can show videos at circle time.
The Childrens' Hatch Computer
Our word wall with no words added yet. I love that it takes up much less room than the one we had last year. These letters were printed from the TpT Store of Love of Teaching.
Writing Area
Sensory Table
Block Area
Dramatic Play Area
Toys and Games
Discovery Area
Art Area
A lot of the room stayed the same, but we just flip-flopped the blocks with toys and games and the circle time with dramatic play. I love the new setup because it's much easier to show the whole class a video on the internet now and the room just feels more organized. I also love our discovery table. So far, the kids have mostly been flocking to the dramatic play area, although when we get out specific table toys, they tend to like those as well. We'll see how it goes and if we need to make any changes. I also tried to de-clutter as much as possible. Sometimes I feel like that is a losing battle with 2 classes of 17 coming through there each day and 2-3 other adults sometimes using the space as well, but you will never get there if you don't start out that way.
What did you do differently in your classroom setup this year?
Here is a transition board we are using this year to transition from large group to the next activity, usually going outside. First, we will put the names of all the kids who are at school today on the hand prints. Then, we will have a child use the pointer to count how many girls and how many boys are here at school today and put the number up on the board.
Here is the birthday board we did this year. Each cupcake has a month on it and will have the childrens' names whose birthdays are in that month clipped to the ribbon hanging from it.
At my center, we are not allowed to let parents bring in cake or any food for birthdays, so we made a birthday basket where they can choose a prize on their birthday.
This year, we decided to give the children a cutout of a person. They used the multicultural paints to choose a color that closest matched themselves. Then after they dried, the children added the eyes and hair. Unfortunately we ran out of all colors of yarn except this tan color and grey. But all in all, they turned out ok.
We posted these on the front board where the parents come in, so that every child is represented. Each child can feel a sense of belonging at their school.
I made these for all my kids to give them on the first day of school. I wanted them to feel welcome at school and to know we cared about them. They are magnetic clips to hang children's artwork on the refrigerator made with clothes pins and bears cut out of foam. They have a special message written on them and a note attached in English and Spanish. I am hoping they helped put the parents' minds at ease knowing that we not only care about their children, but want them to know (in their own language) that they are special!
Today was my first day back to work. Orientation. Nothing too exciting, but I will hit on the major points. The kids stayed home with dad who is not working at this moment. He got laid off a few weeks ago and that is why I stopped writing the Chronicles of Summertime series.
This year, we will be focusing on trying to raise the children's KRA-L scores when they go to Kindergarten. The KRA-L is Ohio's Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (in Literacy). The 6 areas they test on are:
Answering who, what, when, why, and how questions
Repeating sentences
Identifying words that rhyme
Producing words that rhyme
Identifying letters
Identifying beginning sounds of words
I have been thinking of things I can do to promote these in the classroom. Lots of Dr. Suess and nursery rhymes immediately come to mind. I will be pondering on this more and probably scouring Pinterest for ideas. More on this later.
Also, I am excited about a research project on the topic of reading comprehension through The Ohio State University that I volunteered for today. It will last throughout the school year. If I am one of the teachers randomly chosen to carry out the activities, I will get all sorts of resources and be trained on doing some lessons with the kids. I will also be video taped which I am not looking forward to, but I think it will be great for the kids as well as make lesson planning easier. Hopefully it will also align with the KRA-L assessment work we will be doing.
I am looking forward to getting into the classroom and thinking of how I am going to set it up differently this year! Happy back to school all!!!!
I have been starting to work with Snugglepuppy on opposites. We got the book from the library, Exactly the Opposite by Tana Hoban. I like this one because there are no words, so you have to decide on your own what opposite the photos are supposed to represent. If you have ever read a Tana Hoban book, you know she uses natural photographs of everyday things. It is easier for children to connect when they see familiar things they recognize.
Another book that we have is the Richard Scarry board book Huckle's Opposites. It's a cute little book that tells a story and has the opposite words in bold, so it's easy to pick them out. The book is ideal for retelling by children.
I also like 2 pop-up/pull-the-tab books on opposites. The first is Popposites. It is very interactive, things to lift, pull and pop. Kids really get into it. The other is called In and Out: A Baby Bug Pop-Up Book. This one has a pop-up on every page with a box showing a bug inside or outside, on top or under. It is really exciting for the kids to see what is coming up next.
There are tons of books you can get to teach about opposites (see below for some of our favorites), but I have found the best way kids learn is to point them out in everyday play. For example, use the words "fast" and "slow" when playing with cars. Use "over" and "under" when they are building a fort or "in front" and "behind" when they are playing hide and seek. The more you use the words, the more children will pick them up and begin using them correctly themselves.
Please leave a comment and let me know your favorite opposites book!
Over the weekend, we went to some yard sales and my parents came to visit. Snugglepuppy swung on his swing, shot his new water squirter, and did his outdoor scavenger hunt using this printable. Here are some of the things we found on the scavenger hunt:
Spider Web
Helicopter Seed
Moss
Pine Cone
Natural Letter (I)
Pine Tree
And one that wasn't on the list, but Snugglepuppy thought was cool, a seed.
I got all this for $5 at yard sales and a foldable stepper for $25!
Day 31:
Today, grandma and grandpa ate breakfast with us and then went home. We had to run to Walmart for a few things and both kids were very good on the trip. Snugglepuppy played on his own while I cleaned house and Ladybug slept, then we got into some art. He painted and drew with crayons. He started getting really fussy and so had a very late nap. After that, he only had time to eat dinner before bed. That was it for today, nothing too exciting.
Day 30:
Today was a fun-filled day that started out on a playdate at a friend's house. She is 3 years old and plays well with Snugglepuppy. They played inside for awhile with the kitchen set, the keyboard, and some dolls. Snugglepuppy's friend had her older sister there and she took him upstairs to see her room. Then, after a yummy snack of chocolate chips muffins and grapes, we went outside and they played in the sand and water table as well as a small playset they have in the backyard.
We went home and got cleaned up from all the sand and I fed Ladybug. Then, we went to an aquatic center at one of our local recreation centers. They were having teacher appreciation week, so we all got in for free! Everyone splashed and had fun including Ladybug. Snugglepuppy slipped and fell a couple times. Being there alone and holding Ladybug, I had a hard time helping him up. But, everyone there was really nice and helpful. In the end, we had a really great time!
On the way home, I got Snugglepuppy a happy meal and let him play with the iPad a little when we got home. Then, when daddy got home from work, we went and got ice cream! We decided not to do pizza pizza party tonight since Snugglepuppy wanted a happy meal. It was an exhausting day for all. Time for bed!
