Building Word Families with Bread Ties

Spelling with bread ties is a fine motor literacy activity that reviewed the word families our daughter has been learning while reusing a material most people throw away! We've furthered the learning with a math game with bread ties. 

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Farm Animal Sorting

Our kids love learning about animals! We worked on early literacy skills, reading, and sorting as we identified which animals live on a farm. You can use this interactive pocket chart activity with children using our free printable. It's perfect for a preschool farm theme!

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Design a Dragon Activity for Zoey and Sassafras Dragons and Marshmallows

It's practically impossible to find a read aloud bedtime story that both our seven year old daughter and our four year old son with both agree on. I tend to disregard my opinions of the books entirely as long as they are reading but then we found the Zoey and Sassafras series! Science, magical creatures, and realistic characters with adorable illustrations? We were all rushing to brush our teeth at bedtime so we'd have time for one more chapter!

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Picture Walk Preview for Early Readers

Prior to reading, early and veteran readers alike should preview a book by taking a picture walk. What is a picture walk? Why is it important?

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Home School Word Wall

We love to create tiny nooks of home school curriculum around our home.  Here is one way we fit in a literacy resource for early reading and writing by creating our homemade word wall!

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Reading List for Teachers and Homeschoolers

This is your official reminder to take time to recharge as a teacher and/or a homeschool parent! Here is my reading list packed with my favorite books that have kept me inspired, up to date on research, and helped to fill our days with play based learning for our kids.

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Alphabet Woods Literacy Board Game

We love board games! When you can take literacy skills and pack them into a fun hands-on game for kids it makes the play even better. We tried out Alphabet Woods from SimplyFun to test how much early reading was built in to this new game.

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Playful Ways to Learn Alphabet Letters

We've already written about how we don't do letter of the week with our kids. A common question we hear often is then how do we teach the letters of the alphabet? How do our kids practice both letter identification and letter sound relationships in a playful way? We're sharing our favorite ways to play as we learn letters! 

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How to Plan and Host a Book Club Play Date for Kids

The best start to education you can give to your kids is to read to them every day! One way to encourage a love for reading is to plan a play date around book themed activities! Invite over a few friends, read a favorite story, and have a snack, game, craft, and activity to go along with the book.

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Sight Word Sorting with Shamrocks

We made our sight word sorting seasonal with shamrocks!  E is still loving her Reading Eggs subscription which has renewed her interest in sight words!  We geared up for St. Patrick's Day by making these sight word cards.

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Exploring Emotions with Mo Willems

A blog I read regularly, Toddler Approved, is hosting a virtual summer book club.  Each month will feature a different (awesome) author.  Bloggers will choose and read a book by this author and then plan a fun, educational activity based on the book.

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15 Facts about Me

My friend Heather started blogging.  We talked a few months ago about working together to write through our grief so I am thrilled to have her beside me in the blogging world as she is one of the most inspirational people I know.

I am going to participate in the blog challenge with her and I'd love it if you would, too.  I'm even looking at you, Jamie.  I'm going to do the challenge on days when I have no topic materializing.

Day 1: A recent picture and 15 interesting facts about yourself.

1. I'm obsessed with Abraham Lincoln.  I've always loved him, but several years ago we used his birthday as an celebratory excuse to go out for dinner with my in-laws.  We had such a ridiculously fun time that we made this an annual event.  Now, Lincoln is also an inspiration as a bereaved parent.   "Since Willie's death, I catch myself every day, involuntarily talking with him, as if he were with me".

2.  When I was a child, I would spend summers reading in a hammock and winters curled up on my dad's recliner with a book.  It's my favorite hobby.

3.  I love where I live.  I grew up in western Pennsylvania and I now live in south central PA but even that small move placed me in a different planting zone.  When I moved to this part of the state, I immediately fell in love with the town we reside in now.  Our neighborhood is perfect for us, with a great mix of people, two of whom I've gotten closer to recently.   One of which is probably reading this right now and needs to use this blog challenge to start blogging herself (Hi, Julia!).  Our back yard has a beautiful creek running through it with a walking trail along it.  

4.  I garden, but I am only really inspired to grow things we can eat.

5.  My husband took my daughter out for the day today.  Being home alone right now seems ridiculously indulgent.

6.  My friendships have been either solidified or broken because of what we've gone through this past year.  It's a welcomed side effect of the grief.  Friends become acquaintances and acquaintances become friends.

7.  I have recently thought about making friendship bracelets for those who have really stood by me.  I want to make them with clasps so I can take mine on and off (I'll make matching ones for myself and the person I give them to) and I don't even care if the other person wears his/hers.  It's just a way for me to feel connected daily to the people in my life who have amazed me with their support.

8.  Jewelry has been a huge way for me to deal with my grief.  Wearing something that represents V allows me to silently, yet physically carry her with me and put evidence of her out there in a way that people might inquire if interested.  E knows which pieces I wear for V and touches them gently while saying, "baby Vi." She got her own "baby Vi" bracelet the other day when our fundraising wristbands arrived!  

9.  I love asian inspired cooking and sushi.  I've started trying to make more of the recipes I love here at home.  Sesame noodles have been a weekly meal lately.  

10.  My favorite blogs are Swistle, Amalah, Mamapundit, and The Spohrs are Multiplying.  Leave me a comment with your favorites.

11.  I'm trying to figure out Twitter.  I don't really like it so far.

12.  I love reality tv.  The more mindless, the better.

13.  My husband is truly my best friend.  He is hilarious, smart, resourceful, loving, kind, quirky, totally handsome, and all mine.  I don't understand how I got so fortunate when it comes to him.

14.  We are currently doing home improvements.  We recently converted 2/3 of our finished basement into a play room for E after we replaced the flooring and painted.  We got new blinds for the living room.  I started this project in the kitchen.  Can't stop!

15.  I miss my family.  I'm glad we are going to see them next weekend.

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And She Was There

I was fortunate enough to attend a reception at the Mulberry Art Studios this weekend.  The gallery was showing art work and writing by grieving families who have lost a baby.  The exhibit was called Five and was put together by the Sweet Pea Project which is an amazing local nonprofit started by Stephanie Cole who is an artist, author, but most importantly a mother.  

My first baby loss Momma friend, Michelle attended with me.  We had lunch first, then drove to the studio together.  It was a gorgeous old (cold) building.  We went upstairs and viewed the art work and writings with tears in our eyes for our sweet babies.  One of the most striking parts was all the candles lining the window sills with the names of babies lost written on them.  I read every name.  

Before the poetry reading started, I told Michelle I had to find a bathroom.  We searched upstairs then decided to head back down to ask the people who checked our coats.  A woman told us the bathroom was down a long hallway and she went back with us to turn the lights on for us.  So, before I went into the bathroom, as I was walking down the hall with Michelle behind me, the lights in the bathroom came on.  I stopped in my tracks as I looked in.  

The wallpaper...

I turned around to Michelle behind me with a look of wonder on my face and she said, "Hi, Mommy."  Because I've always thought and said when I see or hear violets in a random setting it is my baby saying hello to me.  But this was not random.  This was V being present when I was stepping out in a daring way to honor her, to celebrate her, to intentionally mourn her.  And I think she was welcoming me, proud of me, and showing me that I should be there all at the same time.  

The whole bathrooms decor was violets.  The soap dispenser, the wall hangings.  Every detail.  I was surrounded by here in this place where I had come to specifically think about her.  I was amazed.

We went back up to the gallery for the poetry reading where I tried not to cry too loudly.  We lit candles for V and R and added them to the window sill.  We met some wonderful, inspiring mothers and talked about our babies and cried and hugged and nodded with the unique understanding that filled the room.

It was perfect.  And she was there.

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Alphabet City Sorting Center Review

As an Early Childhood Teacher turned Homeschooling Mom I love to create my own educational activities for my kids but we also love to learn with the very best literacy toys on the market. You can't beat the convenience, durability, and fun of Excellerations Alphabet City Sorting Center!

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E & Mommy Library Book Review - Part 1

We were at the library for story time last week so I chose a week's worth of books at random to check out.  Each night E picks one for us to read (along with some of our favorites from her collection at home).  Here are our thoughts on them!



The Colors of the Rainbow - Jennifer Moore-Mallinos

Comparing the differences of people to the colors of the rainbow, this Let's Talk About It book inspired conversation.  We discussed how people can look and act and dress differently (like D's "orange" hair) before we were in the awkward situation of her bringing it up in public.  Now when she inevitably does, I can remind her of this book!

My favorite part: From clothing worn, holidays celebrated, languages spoken, to skin color, I loved the examples this book gave.  Every page sparked something we could discuss, like how E's uncle is bilingual because he is from Turkey.

E's favorite part: "The haircut page!"

Still Playing School grade: B+



Everett the Incredibly Helpful Helper - Sue Ann Morrow

Everett thinks he is helping his parents, but he is really making more work wherever he goes!  Sound familiar?  This book has a super realistic story line with cute colored pencil illustrations.  (On the last page the mommy was reading a book to the preschooler while the daddy rubbed her feet and, I kid you not, we were doing the exact same thing!)

My favorite part: I liked discussing real life lessons as Everett made his messes.  "Uh, oh, do you think he should just grab things in the grocery store or ask his daddy first?"

E's favorite part: "The grocery store!"

Still Playing School grade: B



The Thingamabob - Il Sung Na

The elephant isn't quite sure what this umbrella is so he tries lots of activities and asks his friends before he figures out!  I found myself making sound effects for almost every page, which is not something I typically do while reading, but the book was that much fun!

My favorite part:  The illustrations of the different umbrellas on the inside cover.  They are from the top down perspective, so it took E a minute to figure out what they were.  We had fun choosing our favorite umbrellas!

E's favorite part: "The animals coming to him."

Still Playing School grade: A



What Do Bunnies Do All Day -

Have you ever spent a whole day on an adventure with your preschooler, only to have them tell someone later that they did, "Nothing," all day?  Little Bunny is the same way.  He ventures out for the first time without his momma, attempting to find our what his kind should be doing all day, all the while doing precisely what a bunny does all day.

My favorite part: I am partial to when he returns to Mother Bunny, of course!  The illustrations are whimsical, too.

E's favorite part: "The flowers!"

Still Playing School grade: C



Well Done - Richard Morgan

Confession:  I didn't read this one to E.  Mr. SPS did.  I just called him to ask what his favorite part was and he said, "I didn't like any of it.  It was entirely too young for E.  It was beneath her comprehension level.  I should have read it to D.  If it was our book, I would put it in the recycling." Well, then.

My favorite part:  It would be great to spark discussions about independence, probably, but not according to Mr. SPS.

E's favorite part: "He washing his hands!"

Still Playing School grade: A scathing, resounding F from Mr. SPS



Dear Bunny - A Bunny Love Story - Michaela Morgan

I...found myself really struggling to follow this story line.  The bunnies are writing love notes to each other, but do they know each other?  They are addressing each other by name...so?  Have they met?  They put the notes in a hollow log (The same hollow log, so why doesn't the second bunny get the first bunny's note when she puts her note in?), mice go to nest in the log, ripping up the notes.  When they mice realize what they've done, they feel remorseful so they put together a kidnapper-style note or found poetry or what have you for the bunnies from the two destroyed letters.  I am also bothered that the female bunny's note says that the flowers are tender and then again that they have exceptional tenderness.  Redundant, Bunny!

My favorite part: When the horribly written notes get ripped up.  KIDDING!

E's favorite part:  "The hearts!" (Spoiler Alert: The bunnies fall in love and there are hearts!)

Still Playing School grade: D



In the Trees, Honey Bees - Lori Mortensen

This book is poetry written about honey bees with elaborated facts included on each page.   I would highly recommend this for later elementary grades, not only to teach about bees (it's effective for that, even at E's age) but because it would be fun to pick a subject and write about it in the same style! 

My favorite part:  Factual poetry!

E's favorite part:  "They get flowers!"

Still Playing School grade:  A

My overall favorite book: The Thingamabob for the preschool level, but In the Trees, Honey Bees is a close runner up.

E's overall favorite book:  Everett the Incredibly Helpful Helper because "he makes the mess!"

What's your favorite children's book that you've read lately?
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Our First SPLAT Studio Visit

While our Kindermusik class was on semester break, we went to SPLAT Studio's The Art of Reading preschool class one Wednesday morning.  At first, E was a little hesitant because she saw the Kidmazium play structure downstairs and thought we were going to play there.  Okay, she was a lot hesitant, throwing a full blown tantrum.  But the teacher at SPLAT were amazing at getting her to settle down by showing her what we were going to be making and asking her what color clay she wanted!

We started by reading a book which tied in with the art lesson:



Linking art to literature?  The teacher in me was getting very excited. No Two Alike was a great pick.  The assistant teacher who read the story was fantastic at engaging the kids by asking them questions and pointing out the illustrator's style.

After the story, we compared 2D shapes to 3D shapes using real examples the children could manipulate.  By this point, I was ecstatic.  While E was handling the shapes she was saying words like, "cone, sphere, cube, and cylinder" in an age appropriate way.

Finally, the teacher tied in the 3D shapes we were discussing by showing us how we were going to use them in our sculptures.  We were each going to make a bird (parents included, yay!) and, of course, no two birds would be exactly alike.  They pointed out that while our child's bird might not look exactly the way we (or they) want it to, we were going to concentrate on the experience of creating the art.  Process not product!  Yes!

We watched the teacher model how to roll spheres and cylinders from the clay and pinch cones into beaks.  We ended the class by making clay nests and eggs for our birds.  E started blending two shades of brown clay for the nest which was beautiful.  What a fun technique!

Sadly, I have to report that one of our cats thought that our birds looked so realistic that he should try to eat them.  Here is a picture of them, beakless and a bit chewed, still protecting their nest and eggs from the scary cat!  I will have to get some clay so we can fix them.

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The Benefits of Dot Stamp Markers for Kids

My kids and I love dot stamp markers for art and crafts! They are beneficial for children, fun to use, easy to clean up, and I've included plenty of ways to use them in this post.

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Early Literacy: The Ultimate Guide to Learning to Read

How do kids learn to read? At what point and how do letter sounds, rhyming, decoding, and concepts of print all come together to support an early reader? As a teacher and now a homeschooling mom, these skills have always fascinated me so I'm thrilled to be sharing a educational series that will take a closer look at all concepts that fall under the category of early literacy!

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Exploring Letters: Why We Don't Learn a Letter of the Week

Since teaching at a public school, I have adapted the value of a whole language approach to literacy education into my teaching philosophy.  Gone are they days of "a letter a week" with good reason and research to back up this change!

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A Visit to the County Fair

We began our homeschool preschool unit on farm animals by spending the morning at the local fair.

I took E's picture with as many of the animals as possible.  She included her signature wink in some of the pictures (see above).  

I made a predictive text book with these photos.  Each page has a picture and a repetitive sentence like so:

E is with a sheep.  

E will be able to practice reading behaviors such as:
- pointing to the words in the sentence while we read them

- identifying her name and the letters in it (her full name will be used in the actual book)

- using the pictures to help her read the last word in the sentence, which will be the only word that changes from page to page

As she gets older, we can start to identify and highlight the sight words.

I will also use other predictable text books for our theme on farms, but I think this will be a favorite because the winking star of the pictures will be reading the book!  

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