Bunny Headband

With Easter right around the corner- I am excited to share the cute crafts and activities that Funshine Express has included in their monthly curriculum kit.

I love the varied crafts- they are adorable. I also love as I read the monthly curriculum guide they suggest simple prompts to get these little ones talking and connecting to the theme and topic for the day. When we were making these headbands, I remember Funshine Express suggesting to have them touch the fluffy tail we were adding to our headband. (it was really soft and furry). Having a real bunny would have been the best activity- but second best was touching this fluffy tail and talk about bunnies and their fur.

 

These headbands were a big hit!

 

Last week was Spring Break in our area- and as luck would have it- I sprained my back!

The full week I was out of commission!

I texted my parents last Friday- warning that we might not have preschool THIS week while I recovered. If I had to do a lot of prep and leg work- we would not have had preschool today.

But I woke up.

Felt like I could handle the few hours.

 

Just another day- I was so grateful to have Funshine Express monthly curriculum.

Happy New Year!

Our first day back to preschool! How fun! Today we talked about the New Year. The kids were excited to make their headbands. (Funshine Express provided curling ribbon to attach to these.)

They turned out so cute- I missed the opportunity to take a picture of all of them- things got a little wild, and it slipped my mind. They thought the curling ribbon looked like fire works.

It feels good to be back.
Today we had to review some of the preschool rules again.
Did I mention-- it got a little wild?

They were just excited, which makes me happy.
I am looking forward to this month- The Funshine themes this month are Penguins and How things work. I am postponing the "how things work" until next month. This month I am using the Penguin ideas and going to create my own activities relating to the theme snow/snowmen.

I love how helpful the monthly curriculum kits are from Funshine Express. Instead of having to come up with amazing ideas all the time- I can just pop in my ideas as I go. Or if I am feeling uninspired- just use their curriculum as is.

Christmas Par-tay!

It just wouldn't be a preschool party- without an amazing Christmas craft (provided by Funshine Express in their monthly curriculum box.)

Some Christmas stories. (This made me laugh- I was cleaning up our craft/paint/newspaper- and the kids went to the books. This story is one of those Hallmark books: when you open the pages- my mother-in-laws voice starts reading the story.) They started their story time without me!

 

I love this story book idea- where you can record someone reading it.

This was a Christmas gift from a few years ago. A great thoughtful gift!

(And as you can see- it doesn't even have to be YOUR grandma reading it-

 for you to enjoy the story! lol)

 

 

One of the moms provided the snack today- and I thought this was really clever- food items to build edible snowmen!

 

 

Pretzels sticks, marshmallows and raisins.

Music Theme: Jingle Bells, Letter J this week.

Funshine Express provided the jingle bells- for our craft today.

So simple- but so fun!

 I read Santa's Book of Names.

 
 
 This is a really cute book. There are parts in the story that refer to the sound of Santa's jiggle bells.

The kids had so much fun - supplying the sound effects to our story time today!

 

 

Now, I thought I would show you one of my display boards I set up each preschool day.

 

Here I display the numbers, letters, colors and shapes that Funshine Express provides each month in their monthly curriculum kit. It is a simple project tri-fold board with Velcro dots.
I LOVE using these project boards! Many home-base preschool moms feel the strain of losing "family space" in their house for their "preschool room".  By using these project boards- I can use our family room with the family- during NON preschool times. Yet when it is time for preschool- I pull these boards out and wha-la! A preschool room with educational displays.

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 
 

So many cute Thanksgiving activities were included in my Funshine Express curriculum kit.
Today one of my boys said, where do you get all your stuff? (As he was cutting out his turkey feathers.) They love the crafts. Today they wanted to do another one! I said, "Isn't one enough?" NO WE WANT TO DO MORE! ( I love that Funshine supplies all the materials needed for cute and clever crafts. All I have to keep on hand are things like; paint, glue, scissors, crayons, tape, and a stapler. All the embellishments are supplied!)

But we couldn't.
It was time to move onto our stations.


We had a few kids out sick today.
It is the beginning of that season... (ugh).

We read this book today in our story time.

Thinking to Thank

I love November
for lots of reasons...
to mention a few...
My birthday, fall leaves, cooler weather, and Thanksgiving!

We've had this Thanksgiving picture book for years... I love the sweet illustrations and the story of the first Thanksgiving.


I try to sit the boys down and read this every year.


This is just a cute turkey count down book.



I don't have this one... yet. :0)
I have The Night before Christmas, and Halloween... I think I need to add this to the collection.
My kids enjoy the variations to the traditional Christmas version.

If you are a mom- who wishes she was more creative-- treat yourself to a year subscription to


They always have amazingly fun ideas each month.
With a wide range -- ( some simple ideas... to more complex.)
Something for everyone.

One April Fools some simple ideas were:
remove the drawers from the dressers and replace in a different order. (simple)
put a drop of food coloring inside each cup... then when you pour milk it will turn each cup a different color milk! (magically simple)

My kids thought I was amazing--- my husband thought I was looney,

I changed his drawers then jumped back in bed pretending to still be asleep. He got out of the shower.. and was stumped for a few seconds.. until I started giggling.

This is a GREAT GIFT IDEA
Especially if you are a sleep deprived mama.
(My sister gave me a subscription when I had just two small kids.. and felt like a zombie-- but still wanted to create fun memories. But it is hard to think of cute/fun activities -- when all you can think about is crawling back in bed.)

They also have a website- www.familyfun.go.com but I still prefer the magazine.
But check them out for some Thanksgiving crafts.

Halloween Ideas

Hey Round UP-
Okay
Halloween is around the corner- and I have to share a book I just picked up.



(Not that you would want the movie too-- but I always get a little giddy when there is a video that goes along with the book. You can read HERE- why I love movies so much to help reluctant readers connect to books.)

It's a classic who-done-it, that takes place around Halloween!
I picked it up because of the rave reviews on Amazon- and I love a good mystery!

If you like the game Clue- this story is full of characters -all heirs and suspects in the mysterious murder of the rich Mr. Westing. For the one who solves the mystery- a $20 million reward!

I am currently reading it- so I can't give you a full review.. but
I am thinking I'll start reading it aloud to my boys at night.
It is so good-

I found an adorable site HERE created by students that really picks apart this book and all the characters.


Now if you have younger kids and are looking for a Halloween Story time idea.
(Here is a past post- for this age group- click HERE)

and here are some additional Halloween Story book favorites in our bookcase.



and lastly this is not necessarily a BOY book recommendation- but one of my favorite all time series when I was little is Something Queer... by Elizabeth Levy. Your library might still have these books.

The Illustrations were done by Mordicai Gerstein who was a cartoonist-- and every picture he gives little pop out windows with close ups and such.. they really added interest and dimension to the story, for this reluctant reader growing up.




It's an older series-- of mysteries-- for beginning readers transitioning to independent readers.