Great Minds think Alike!

Over at Mel's Kitchen Café- she has some great ideas for Christmas gifts.
Click HERE to see her full list.

Here are two ideas I LOVED. (She has many great ideas-- some I have already, some I have already mentioned!)

A snowball maker- for epic snow fights! These are less than $5 and would be a great stocking stuffer for my boys. (I don't think we need 4- but two for each team at least!)


Another idea I really liked from Mel- was her felt playhouse.
My kids are a bit old for this- but for my preschool group- this would be so fun!

Blog Spotlight: Nerdy Science

"Met" Jessica today. (When I say "met" I mean, stumbled upon her blog. Obsessed over her posts for a few hours and now feel like we are soul sisters... lol) Isn't it funny how that can happen?

 This adorable blogger at Nerdybaby.blogspot.com . She has simple every day science experiments for preschoolers! (click HERE to be directed to those.)
Even though I get a mailed preschool curriculum (from Funshineexpress.com) every month- that has science ideas built in the curriculum.. I am still find myself looking for ideas on the internet. I just love how everyone shares their creativity.

She is a mechanical engineer, mother and blogger! Busy Mama! I was so happy to find her site. She is so passionate about science and points out-- that "science" is all around us! It is easy to talk about in our every day-to-day life.

Blog Spotlight: Frugal Fun 4 Boys

I have a strong (unconscious) pull to other mothers of 4 boys.  I feel a great sense of kinship when I stumble upon another blog with "4boys" in their name.

Today's craft was inspired by FrugalFun4boys.blogspot.com.
I was just browsing the web and stumbled upon her Thanksgiving Craft idea.
You can click HERE to see her project.

Sarah a cute, homeschooling mom of four boys and shares great ideas. I love her preschool ideas.



She hosts a Lego Fun Friday- that I want to check out. (My sons love legos too!)

I LOVED her Math station using Legos- you can click HERE to see that!

I am going to add that into my preschool rotation this week. I know my preschool little ones will enjoy this activity. (For my math station- I used number cards that Funshine Express provided.)

It was fun "meeting" Sarah- you should check her out!

Do's and Don'ts to READ-ALOUD

As I was browsing around the blog-sphere, I came across a really great article about the "Do's and Don'ts to Reading Aloud", written by www.teachpreschool.org

I always am trying to improve my own reading skill and style- I thought this article was very helpful!
To read the whole article- click HERE.

She shares a long list of tips, but the ones I would like to personally improve upon:

#1 Before you begin to read, always say the name of the book and introduce the author and illustrator, no matter how many times you have read the book.  (I think I usually just say the title, and maybe the author if it is an unfamiliar story. I like the idea of "properly" introducing each book.)

#2 Chart your reading experiences by creating a chart for the wall and adding caterpillars, worms, trains, and other pictures to represent each book so the children can see how many books have been read together. ( I really like this idea- not just for preschool, but for my own reluctant readers. What a sense of accomplishment will they feel, when they see how many books they read in one year? (if we keep track of it.) I think sometimes my sons get overwhelmed by large tasks- (don't we all?) But this is a simple way to PROVE... just little- by-little you can accomplish and do great things!

#3 Add a third dimension to the book whenever possible. For example, have a bowl of blueberries ready to be eaten during or after the reading of Robert McCloskey’s Blueberries for Sal or a harmonica and lemon available before reading McCloskey’s Lentil.
I am always trying to help kids connect to books- I think that is great idea. Why wait until AFTER you read the book to do an activity... but have it be while you are reading the story.. that will be fun to try.

She shares a handful of things NOT TO DO during read-alouds also.
This was the one tip- I really liked:

Don’t keep reading a book once it is obvious it was a poor choice. Admit the mistake and choose another. Make sure, however, that you give the book a fair chance to get rolling. There are some books that just start off slow and get better but you can avoid this all together by pre-reading the book yourself before reading it to your children.

Have you ever started reading a book- thinking it would be great- and thinking half way through it, What an awful story? I have. Usually it was just a poor choice for the age I am reading to. Maybe too many words/per page. I preview books before I read them aloud- but I think it is important to keep a pulse on the audience. When that happens in the past- I just read a few sentences or summarize the story line and still finish the book- focusing on the pictures. But if the kids are really unengaged... why continue? It is something to think about.

Teach Preschool .org has alot of great information and tips. I was so glad I stumbled upon her site.
If you have a blog- with amazing ideas- I would love to spotlight YOU too. Just contact me at bookclub4boys(at)yahoo.com.

Spell Out Loud - spotlight

I found another great blogger over at Spell Out Loud: Maureen Spell.
She has an impressive list of print-ables- if you click here.

I was thinking of using one of her Nocturnal Animal Sort activity for this month. For every letter of the alphabet she has a book and a few activities that go along with the theme.


She has some great ideas for Science activities to do with Preschoolers. (click here)
She's a home schooling mama with 11 years of experience.

Thanks Maureen for all your great ideas!

Spotlight of East Coast Mommy

I was just browsing around the blog-sphere and found a really cute site at www.eastcoastmommyblog.blogspot.com

She shares a really simple idea- to encourage beginning readers- to put the work in- and read.
It's a great idea- especially for the upcoming Halloween season.

She also shares 8 ways to encourage summer reading-(click HERE) but really they are great tips to encourage reading regardless of the season. Be sure to go and check her out!

Spot-light: Pragmatic Mom

This past summer- I took advantage of "more free time" by browsing the blog-sphere. I  found  Mia over at www.pragmaticmom.com.

She has lots of ideas about teaching and learning. One post I LOVED was 7 ideas that are fun, easy and free to getting kids to read. (Click HERE to see her full post!)

She mentioned setting up a book club (we do that)
Watching book trailers (they are like movie trailers but made especially for books.) - You know I like that idea!
My favorite- NEW idea- was having/ hosting a BOOK TASTING event. Sounds interesting right? She found the idea on pinterest from Barrow Media Center. They suggest holding it in a library- I think that would be fun and might keep the teens more "on track" as far as the goal of the social...(The Goal: is to get them to try new genre's or authors) Mia explains- " Select  books to be sampled and provide a menu sheet and pens or pencils. Each kid reads each book for 2-3 minutes and marks the menu sheet of each book with happy face, prozac face, or frowny face." Kids then spend 3-5 minutes "sampling" each book and marking their "menu".


I have one very social 13 year old- who can't wait until he is 14 so he can attend more girl/boy get-together...  (Am I ready for this? NO! My 16 year old is more interested in sports that girls right now... so I was warming up to the idea of him starting to dating.... this new development with my 13 year old has taken me a bit by surprise... lol.)
I think this might be a great "event" to host at my house! I mean, these teens NEED wholesome, fun, supervised, structured events to go to. Not just "hang-out" at the local play-ground and scare the 3 year olds off the tire swing. (Does this only happen where we live? Homecoming dates & Prom dates going to the park before the dance? Random MOB group dates- storm the play ground?)

 Or worse-- hanging out and watching TV in dark media rooms that are always in basements and tucked out of the way. (Can you tell- I am really not ready for this stage? lol. Rest assured- by husband is great at navigating teenagers. I am more of a toddler/grade school type person.)

 Anyway- I sorta, got off topic.

Go check out Mia at Pragmatic mom. She's got lots of great ideas!

Spotlight: My Public Library- Blind Date Month

I was returning my preschool books today about friendship- to pick up new preschool books about our next theme: Forests... and this was the display by the check out counter.
It reads.....
During this entire month come as you are to the library and enjoy a blind date.... with a book. Skip the awkward small talk and get right into a deep relationship with no commitments involved.

Bad choice? no need for the awkward "It's not you it's me" speech!
Simply return that undesirable suitor and take a chance with another. What more can you ask for in a blind date?

 

How clever! I was completely caught by this gimmick, hook-line-and sinker. Not coming to the library to pick a book for myself.. how could I pass up this fella?

 

 

So, not a blog spotlight- but a clever way to catch some readers! I just had to share!
My public Library - librarians are so creative!

Spot Light: Measured Mom

Meet Anna over at the Measured Mom!
I found her- by way of searching for preschool ideas.
She has a wonderful site- with LOTS and LOTS of free PRINTABLES!

I  love meeting other mom's who are as passionate about early literacy... and just literacy in general. She is a cute stay-home-mama with four small children.

She taught for eight years and earned her master's degree in education, but is taking a break now to stay home to raise those four children little ones. (Ages 6,4,3,1).

I think it is easy to loose focus sometimes in life- there are so many things competing for our time and energy. I admire women who find ways to stay focused on what is most important. You can feel her passion for teaching with each post and her love for children. I love her ideas and love her printables. They are cute and colorful and educational- to boot!

So happy I found Anna- I hope you take a moment to check out her site- at The Measured MoM.

Read and Make

Hello Friends!
I was on Pinterest- browsing the many creative ideas in the blogsphere- and came upon a really great blog I had to share!

No Time for Flash Cards.com (It is spaced all together one word.)

If you click the link above it will take you to an amazing post- where she shares 25 story books to read and then coordinating crafts to make!

Love it.
What a great resource!

As always- if you have a blog with amazing ideas too-- I would love to spot light YOU!
Just contact me at bookclub4boys(at)yahoo.com.

Blog Spotlight!

As you may know- this fall I am planning on teaching preschool. So I have been scouring the web looking for fun preschool ideas,  as well as inspiration for activities to do with my book clubs.

I found a great site and an amazingly fun mom over at Mom-to-2-posh-lil-divas!

I love her post about the ABC's of Learning to Read through Play! Click here to jump to her site.
(She expounds on each letter/tip more on her site- but here is her break-down.)

A is for Alphabet.
B is for Books
C is for Comprehension.
D is for Developmental Readiness.
E is for Encouragement.
F is for Fluency. Fluency comes with time and practice. 

G is for Games.
H is for Hands-on.

I is for Interests.  Finding the "right" book which captures your child's interest can turn them on to reading and help them on their way to being lifelong readers.

J is for Journal. 
K is for Keeping Your Cool.When things get frustrating, take a break.


L is for Letter Sounds.  
M is for Modeling.

 
N is for No Limits.

O is for Opportunity.

P is for Phonetic Awareness.
Q is for Questions.

R is for Rhyming.
S is for Sight Words.
T is for Technology.

U is for Use Funny Voices.

V is for Visits to the Library.
W is for Word Play.
X is for Mix it Up! Don't always do the same thing when it comes to reading with your child.
Y is for YouTube.
Z is for ZEST! To be honest, this is my #1 tip. Be enthusiastic about reading and it sets a wonderful example for your children and/or students to do the same. 

I hope this list inspires you as much as it does me.
When I was a young mom (and very much a reluctant reader) I knew I had to change- for the benefit of my children.

I didn't want them to struggle with reading.

Luckily I had a great mentor- my sister. (She has always been a carnivorous reader!) We use to get together on a daily basis with our small babies. She would always read to her daughter who was just crawling age... while I tended to play toys.. cars, blocks, etc.. with my crawling son.

The above list- was just second nature to my sister. I had to make a more conscience effort. (Especially the ZEST part- some books were just so boring! Especially when little ones bring you the same book to read 10 times a day- for months on end! Go Dogs Go I have memorized. Honestly! And interesting fact: That son still loves dogs at age 16!)

So, if you are like me- where the love of reading isn't your passion, I encourage you to visit Mom-to-2-posh-lil-divas... Print off her list. Put it in a place you will see daily- and try to do one or two ideas with your kids daily. (Especially this summer!)

You'll be happy you did.