http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/ Educational Toys, Games and Teacher Resources for Classroom Teachers and Parents, visit us at www.educationalwarehouse.com en Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:08:41 GMT vBulletin 60 http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/educate/misc/rss.jpg http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/ http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/66-thanksgiving-placemat-craft.html Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:49:59 GMT Kate and I made a cute Thanksgiving place mat, but you could use these directions to make one for any holiday or season!

Here are the materials we used:

1. three pieces 9" x 12" construction paper (any color)
2. self adhesive letter stickers
3. feathers
4. google eyes
5. markers
6. leaf paper punch
7. white school glue or glue stick

We began by talking about Thanksgiving and some of the symbols you see around this holiday. We decided to make red, yellow and orange leaves with a paper punch I found at the local craft store.
[IMG]
Then we decided to make a turkey out of Kate's hand print, so we traced around her hand with a magic marker. We embellished this with a few feathers and a google eye.

Then Kate decided to glue the multi-colored leaf punch outs onto the place mat.

Finally we used the adhesive letters to spell out the word Thanksgiving across the top of the placemat.
I let the whole thing dry and then used two pieces of clear contact paper cut slightly larger than the 9" x 12" paper.
I peeled the backing from the paper and carefully smoothed the plastic into place, being sure to seal the contact paper edges together around the whole place mat. (This allows for easy clean up after meals.)
We hope you enjoy making your own designs! ]]> jamie http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/66-thanksgiving-placemat-craft.html http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/65-few-good-fall-books.html Thu, 06 Nov 2008 01:17:59 GMT Kate and I have been reading some books about Fall and I wanted to share some with you. I try to keep a small basket filled with seasonal books in her playroom, so I can change up the titles we read every few weeks.

First, she loves Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson with illustrations by Tiphanie Beeke (Greenwillow Books, 2006.) Fletcher the fox (an adorable creature) is concerned for his favorite tree now that the leaves have begin to fall. He is worried that all the woodland creatures seem to be "stealing" the fallen leaves, and he can't keep watch over them for the tree. The beautiful text and stunning art give children a reason to run outside and enjoy the leaves as they hit the ground. I especially love the way the text is put on the page as if it is itself a fluttering leaf.

Hello, Harvest Moon by Ralph Fletcher with illustrations by Kate Kiesler (Clarion Books, 2003) is a wonderful book for elementary aged children. It follows the world as the harvest moon looks upon all that happens in the nighttime. Autumn evenings are magical, as most adults are aware, but children are only just becoming aware of this beautiful twilight time. Fletcher's beautiful words allow Kiesler's muted oil paintings to give spark to the autumn nights.

Time to Sleep(Henry Holt and Co., 1997) by Denise Fleming is a wonderful book to introduce the concept of hibernation to young readers. This is a cyclical tale of how bear must tell snail, who must tell skunk, who must tell turtle, who must tell woodchuck, who must tell ladybug, who then tells bear that it is time to sleep. The youngest children will want this one read again and again, as the memorable text just call out to be joined in by all. The unique colored cotton rag illustrations are vivid and adorable.

Old Bear by Kevin Henkes (one of Kate's favorite authors...she is adamant that she will be a better big sister than Lily is in the book Julius, the Baby of the World) is another hibernation story. (Greenwillow Books, 2008.) The progression of this book takes the reader from fall all the way to spring before you even read the story. By discussing the end papers with your child, you can discuss how Henkes gives clues to what the story is about without even reading! Kate loves the watercolor and ink illustrations. Old bear goes to sleep as the leaves are falling and the snow is about to begin. The book tells of his dreams and how he wakes to a fresh new world. Henkes hits a home run with his latest addition to his literary kingdom.

Hope you have a chance to run to the library or bookstore to check out some of these titles. Happy reading! ]]> jamie http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/65-few-good-fall-books.html http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/64-book-review-cat-nights.html Sun, 26 Oct 2008 01:49:12 GMT Cat Nights by Jane Manning (Greenwillow Books, 2008) is a perfect book to read during Halloween week. The story is about a young witch named Felicity (who is turning 263!) who is really excited about her birthday this year. This is the year that she will be able to grow warts, get those really curly shoes, and most importantly turn herself into a CAT!

Felicity LOVES being a kitty. In fact, she may be willing to permanently change into one. Her witch relatives (three cousins who are older and wiser) try to get her to reconsider her choices. The ending is a surprise, of course, but true to the character's heart.

Jane Manning's first attempt at both penning and illustrating a captivating story is a resounding success. The watercolors are rich and warm, a perfect compliment to the personality of her main character, Felicity.

Although not a true "Halloween" story, the book's theme of witches may compliment Halloween themes in the classroom. However, this book is much more than just a book with witches. It would be a great read for kids struggling with their own identity. Felicity's braveness may help them stay true to their own nature. ]]> jamie http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/64-book-review-cat-nights.html http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/63-crayola-factory.html Mon, 20 Oct 2008 02:11:48 GMT This weekend Kate, her grammie, grandpa and I went to the Crayola Factory at Two Rivers Landing in Easton, PA. The trip took a little over an hour for us each way. It was worth the ride, though.

For a Saturday, the place was relatively empty. I was expecting a mob scene, but I soon realized there weren't too many people visiting. (Probably due to the fact that many school groups visit during the week.) Add to that the fact that October is "BooFEST" at the factory and they had trick or treating going on as well as all sorts of craft activities, we had a barrel of fun.
Kate loved all the craft opportunities. We did some simple paper weaving, created a booklet, colored all sorts of reproducibles, made puppets, molded modeling compound, and painted with liquid wax. Even with all these things to do, Kate's favorite activity was to dance to the music in a dark room. They projected her image in Technicolor on a huge screen and she was such a ham! She twirled, jumped, and waved her way through three songs before we convinced her to see what else the factory had to offer.
We took Kate into the show room where a young man explained how the crayons and markers were made. Kate hated to stop playing to sit through the short show, but she did enjoy getting a new crayon to put a wrapper onto by hand.
Plan to spend at least 1 1/2 to 2 hours at the Crayola Factory in order to experience all the arts and crafts they have to offer. This was a great place for Kate to get creative and try out new art techniques. ]]> jamie http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/63-crayola-factory.html http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/62-book-review-queen-halloween.html Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:35:53 GMT One of the newest Halloween books out there has to be Mary Engelbreits's Queen of Halloween. (HarperCollins, 2008.) This book is perfect for young children who may be feeling anxious about the upcoming holiday of Halloween. (I know my 3 1/2 year old loves Halloween, but she is beginning to ask if ghosts and witches are real, so a bit of fear seems to be creeping into the holiday for her.)

Decked out in their finest costumes, Ann Estelle and her friend, Michael, go trick-or-treating with her father. At first, Michael seems brave and fearless, and Ann Estelle is a bit nervous with all the ghosts and goblins running about. At their last house of the night, Ann Estelle realizes even her brave friend feels a bit of fright, too. This light-hearted story will help those young ones see that Halloween can be fun, especially if you are with a trusted friend.

Mary Englebreit's signature illustrations are classically colorful and capture the excitement of Halloween through a child's eyes. The perspective of feeling small when walking up to an aging house is captured beautifully in her drawings.

I recommend this book for young children who delight in read-alouds, or for beginning readers who love to try new stories. The recommended age level of this book is 4-8 years. ]]> jamie http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/62-book-review-queen-halloween.html http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/teachinlittleones/61-trunk-treating.html Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:18:25 GMT The kids at our school love Halloween! It is for PK-2nd grades. We have a Halloween/Harvest Parade where the children come dressed in their costumes and we march outside in the playground/parking lot. The children raise money for our school through a donation called "BOO-tify our schoolyard!" The parents donate 1 penny, 5 pennies, 1 quarter, etc per lap and the children walk around the parking lot in their costumes. Here is the fun part for the kids... they walk inside a circle of cars that are parked... EAch car has its trunk towards the inner part of the circle and they are decorated for harvest and halloween. The kids pass each trunk as they walk and receive a piece of candy which they put inside their trunk or treating bag. You walk until their is no more candy left. Then we go back inside for donuts and cider and a sing-a-long! It is a great day for everyone. I hope someone else can use these ideas!
Also I will be posting more Halloween songs for your class to sing really soon!. ]]> TeachinLittleOnes http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/teachinlittleones/61-trunk-treating.html http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/teachinlittleones/60-what-does-your-child-want-halloween.html Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:03:32 GMT No matter how far in advance you choose a costume with your child, they always seem to want to be something different the day before Halloween. The get the tears, the refusal to put on the costume you searched the internet for three months to find and your child ends up trick-o-treating in his/her superhero pajamas. This year, all of our family members have chosen to create costumes throughout the year or purchase some that are fun to wear around the house during dress-up and dramatic play times. Then when Halloween comes around we will just let them choose out of the ones we already have at home. Unless your child is above the age of 6, this system seems to work the best. No matter what they wear they will most definitely be cute and most likely they will not remember to much of the night anyway! If it is a costume they are familiar with, he/she may be more apt to wear it for a longer period of time. You can also take pictures of your child in the costume prior to halloween (on a good day) and then just snap a few posed and candid shots on Halloween rather than making them smile like it is their wedding day! We have lots of adorable costumes to choose from this year: monkey, kangaroo, banana, peas in a pod, mermaid, pegasus, and a farmer. I am sure I am forgetting some but this is going to be a stress free halloween for all my neices and nephews! We share among family members and pass them around the neighborhood that way it is easier to get excited about new costumes each year! If you know your child likes Buzz Light Year check the internet all year long for a costume and buy it when it is not Christmas or Halloween time. Then save it and bring it out in September for a special debut! Your kids will be excited to choose a costume this Halloween! Trick or Treat! No matter how far in advance you choose a costume with your child, they always seem to want to be something different the day before Halloween. The get the tears, the refusal to put on the costume you searched the internet for three months to find and your child ends up trick-o-treating in his/her superhero pajamas.
This year, all of our family members have chosen to create costumes throughout the year or purchase some that are fun to wear around the house during dress-up and dramatic play times. Then when Halloween comes around we will just let them choose out of the ones we already have at home. Unless your child is above the age of 6, this system seems to work the best. No matter what they wear they will most definitely be cute and most likely they will not remember to much of the night anyway! If it is a costume they are familiar with, he/she may be more apt to wear it for a longer period of time. You can also take pictures of your child in the costume prior to halloween (on a good day) and then just snap a few posed and candid shots on Halloween rather than making them smile like it is their wedding day! We have lots of adorable costumes to choose from this year: monkey, kangaroo, banana, peas in a pod, mermaid, pegasus, and a farmer. I am sure I am forgetting some but this is going to be a stress free halloween for all my neices and nephews! We share among family members and pass them around the neighborhood that way it is easier to get excited about new costumes each year! If you know your child likes Buzz Light Year check the internet all year long for a costume and buy it when it is not Christmas or Halloween time. Then save it and bring it out in September for a special debut! Your kids will be excited to choose a costume this Halloween! Trick or Treat! ]]> TeachinLittleOnes http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/teachinlittleones/60-what-does-your-child-want-halloween.html http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/59-big-news.html Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:40:08 GMT We had some big news to tell Kate the other day. She will be a big sister in February! My husband and I struggled with how and when to tell her, but as she kept staring at my expanding belly, we decided it needed to be sooner rather than later.

I went to the store and bought a few books about bringing home a baby. The one we decided to use for the announcement was The Berenstein Bears: New Baby The story was so cute, explaining how brother bear outgrew his old bed, and then had to go help his father make a new big boy bed while the mother bear delivered the baby.

We read the story, and asked Kate what she thought. She liked the part about the bed because we have been talking about getting her a new big girl bed. After a few moments, I poked my husband and cued him to tell her what was up. He said, "Kate, Mommy and I have some special news. You are going to be a big sister. Mommy is growing a baby in her belly."

Kate sat silently, staring at the TV for a few minutes. Doug and I looked at each other, waiting for her reaction to this news. After what seemed like an eternity, I said, "Well, Kate, how do you feel about this?"

"Fine. Can I watch a show now?"

Doug and I burst out laughing. Here we thought she was really thinking about our announcement, but she was really waiting to ask us if she could watch TV. Typical Kate.

How did you tell your first (or second or third) that a new baby was on the way? ]]> jamie http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/59-big-news.html http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/58-one-step-forward-two-steps-back.html Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:12:10 GMT I feel the need to rant a little today.

Since we went on vacation last week, Kate has begun to throw tantrums and wet her pull up at night again. These two behaviors were non-existent up until then. What is going on?
I can deal with the wet pull ups at night, but the tantrums are driving me crazy.

She is being defiant for just about everything. Let me give you an example from today. We were getting ready to go out to the garden center to buy fall flowers and bulbs to plant for the spring. I told Kate to go to the bathroom and get her shoes on before we left.

"NO!'" she screamed. Cue tears and tiny foot stamping the floor.

"You have to use the potty and put your shoes on so we can go."

"I DON"T WANT TO GO TO THE POTTY AND PUT MY SHOES ON!!" Tears escalate and cue runny nose that is being wiped on the front of her shirt.

Not again. Cue eye roll when I turn my back on her."I am going to the store now. If you don't go the the bathroom and put on your shoes you'll be uncomfortable walking around the flowers."

"NO! NO! NO!" Cue fist pounding on the floor as she rolls around the kitchen.

"I am leaving now. Follow me." I am trying to think happy thoughts as I head to the door...unicorns...rainbows...obediant children without tears...

"DON"T LEAVE ME HERE!" She finally relents and goes to the bathroom and grabs her shoes as I open the garage door.

I have no idea what happened to my pleasant little child. I think I'm going to call the milk carton people. If you have seen this girl

please call 1-800-555-NOTANTRUMS ]]> jamie http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/58-one-step-forward-two-steps-back.html http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/57-first-day-pre-school.html Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:39:29 GMT Kate started school late this year because we went on a September vacation to the NJ shore. It's the best time to take advantage of reduced crowds and lower rental rates, so Kate missed the first two weeks of school. Today we got ready for her first official day.

We selected her first day of school dress mostly because it was purple (her favorite color!) On went her purple trimmed socks, her purple sneakers and her purple bows. It looked as if a grape threw up on her, but she was as pleased as punch with her ensemble. She accessories with a bracelet she made on vacation, as well as a blue bead necklace. I had no idea a three year old cared so much about her appearance on the first day of school. She was already acting like a teenager.

We drove to school and hopped out of the car. She flew up the stairs and could barely wait while I snapped a few photos of her. She ran to the door and stopped only to give me a quick hug before running into her classroom.

She spent the next three hours having a great time and learning some of her new friend's names: Abby, Amber, Scarlet, and Tara just to mention a few. She told me about the book they read (Owl Babies), and how she didn't want to leave in the middle of the story. She said her teachers were great and that she didn't like the snack of graham crackers.
Overall, it was a great first day, and I know Kate will run right into school on Wednesday.

I used to teach in a pre-school, and I remember the kids who had a hard time separating from their parents, and those who cried on the first day. I now know the relief a parent feels when their child adjusts to new settings smoothly. I saw a few criers today, but I hope those parents know that their child is having a great time while away from them in school. The tears don't usually start until they see the parent at the end of the day. ]]> jamie http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/57-first-day-pre-school.html http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/56-cape-may-zoo-trip.html Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:49:45 GMT We recently went to Avalon, NJ for a beach vacation. Kate loves the ocean and sand, but there is only so much time you can spend on the beach. We decided to take a trip over to the Cape May Zoo and were pleasantly surprised by what we found there.

The zoo is much larger than we expected, and it is home to many animals, including a lion, a tiger and a bear (oh, my!) Kate wanted to walk the whole way, but if you have a child younger than 3 you will want to bring the stroller since there is a lot of walking to be done.

The zoo operates on donations alone, so be as generous as possible when entering the parking area. The map they give you is great for little kids because it has illustrations as well as animal names. Kate took responsibility for the map right away, and told us what she wanted to see. As some of you may know, Kate has been afraid of bears since our trip to Turtle Back Zoo. She declared that we would not be visiting the bear today. Doug and I hoped she would change her mind, but we decided not to push the issue.


We went around noon, and many of the animals were getting fed. The lion was munching on some raw meat, and the tiger was pacing and growling as if he were waiting for his meal, too. We rounded the corner on our way out, and I spied the bear enclosure. My first instinct was to tell Doug to distract Kate so she wouldn't get upset. When I looked over, I noticed the black bear quietly munching on its lunch.

I decided to try to get her to look at the bear, so I asked her if she wanted to see what a bear ate for lunch. She was very interested and I explained that the bear was sitting on the ground eating. She ran over to the cage and announced, "Mommy, he likes the same food as me! I love this bear!"

We stayed a while and watched as the bear selected a peanut, cracked it open with its teeth and spit out the shell. Kate was thrilled that she wasn't afraid, and Doug and I were relieved we wouldn't have to worry about this fear the next time we went to a zoo. We really had a wonderful time at the Cape May Zoo! ]]> jamie http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/56-cape-may-zoo-trip.html http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/55-working-out.html Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:09:32 GMT My husband began a new exercise regime recently. He started using weights and doing sit-ups as well as running on the treadmill regularly. Kate took a keen interest in watching him work out. She told me the other day that she can't wait until she is old enough to go on the "treadmiddle."

I hadn't realized how much this had affected her until she was playing in the basement while I was doing laundry. It got very quiet (which is ALWAYS a sign that she is getting into something she shouldn't) so I stuck my head around the corner. I found Kate lying on the carpet with my 6 pound hand weight over her left arm. I quietly watched as she struggled to lift her arm and then realize the weight was too heavy to move. She then proceeded to try and slide her arm out from under the weight, but there wasn't enough room for her hand to fit. She laid quietly for a moment before looking around to see how she could get out of this situation without alerting me to her predicament.

It was at this moment that her eyes met mine and she began to giggle, "Mommy, I'm stuck!" I refrained from laughing as best I could and came to her rescue. As I lifted the weight off, I explained that hand weights were for adults only, and that kids didn't need to use them to work out. "Good," she replied, "because I couldn't get up!"

Kids are sponges. They soak up everything happening around them. Kate is no exception...she really is trying to be a big girl and do what she sees us do...even if it involves trapping herself on the floor! ]]> jamie http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/55-working-out.html http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/54-no-more-parallel-play.html Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:58:59 GMT I love this age! Kate has developed into such a fun kid, and she loves to make new friends. She really is beginning to play with friends instead of along side them. Here is a brief rundown of what I mean.

A few days ago we visited a local lake with friends. Kate and her three year old playmate, Michael, spent 6 1/2 hours playing together in the water and the sand. First Kate would run to the sandy beach and flop down on the sand. Michael would follow. They would have a "conversation" that went something like this:

Kate: Hi Michael!
Michael: Hi Kate.
Kate: What are you doing Michael?
Michael: Playing with sand.
Kate: Let's go down the slide in the water.
Michael: OK

And off they would go, over and over. Now you might think to yourself, what's the big deal, right? Well, those of us with kids know that this is a huge step! They are self directing their play, with little or no intervention from adults!
(Translation: I could sit on my tush for more than 30 seconds without having to get up and referee a play situation, or redirect them to a more suitable activity.) I love that they are keeping themselves occupied in such a wonderful way. I can't believe how grown up they are getting.

Now don't get me wrong, they still need to be supervised. And they still get in squabbles now and then and need to be guided to an equitable outcome. But they are truly interacting with each other. No more parallel play for these kids! ]]> jamie http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/54-no-more-parallel-play.html http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/53-making-friends.html Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:42:33 GMT Kate seems to have no difficulty making friends. Wherever we are and there are other little girls, she always runs up to them and asks if they want to play. Three year olds seem to be so welcoming to each other, so the answer is usually a resounding "YES!"

At the park yesterday Kate decided to play with two little girls, Jamie and Molly. Jamie was a cute little 3 year old who immediately invited Kate into their sliding game. Jamie's dad was standing nearby and we both got a chuckle after Kate professed her undying friendship for Jamie (after about 3 minutes) and declared her to be her "best friend."

Unfortunately, Jamie had to leave soon after and Kate was starting to get upset, when Molly ran into the playground. No sooner had Jamie left the slide, than Kate had run over to Molly and declared her to be her new "best friend." Molly was a sophisticated 4 year old who was happy to find a friend at the park. Kate was thrilled because her new friend was older and more mature...she preferred the jungle gym to the slide. Within ten minutes, Kate had gone over to Molly's mom and asked her if she could have a sleepover!

I really have to talk to Kate about this overzealous friendship making. Molly's mom got a good chuckle out of it, thank goodness. She explained that they live a few blocks away, and that they go the the park often so they could see each other again soon. I hope to tame the friend-maker, and help her become a little less clingy to her new friends. I'm sure it will help her in the long run. ]]> jamie http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/jamie/53-making-friends.html http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/teachinlittleones/52-how-much-sleep-should-my-child-get.html Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:56 GMT Here is an article from Health and Wellness about sleep and children.

"For many parents, redeveloping an early bedtime routine after a summer vacation takes work and effort. Working to establish this routine can be an adjustment for both the parent and child. A new study has found sleep to be an important factor in how children may perform at school. Lack of adequate sleep has even been found to have effects on their overall health. Making sure children get a good nights sleep with a consistent bedtime has never been more important.

As discussed in a recent study published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, how a child or teen may perform in school and beyond has been found to be directly related to the amount of sleep they obtain.

William Kohler, MD, a pediatric sleep expert, states that children who do not receive the needed sleep can go on to have a less than ideal attitude or outlook toward education or school activities. Lack of sleep can also affect them on a social level and can cause changes in mood or behavior. This lack of sleep can also cause depression and hamper their to learn while in the classroom.

It is his recommended that children receive nine to ten hours of quality sleep to ensure they are performing at their best both in and out of the classroom.

Remember to establish a calm and peaceful nighttime routine. This can help ease the transition from summer sleep habits into the more structured bedtimes needed during school. Consistency is important and routines help children establish a schedule and develop their own internal clock.

The following guidelines may help ease bedtime transition to ensure a better nights sleep.

* Remember to plan ahead by letting your child have a small snack and a drink about an hour before bedtime. This may ward off requests for a last sip of water or protests about feeling hungry later.

* Pick a bedtime and try to stick to it. Include your spouse in the bedtime routine so that in case of an emergency this will not be a big issue if one of you is not present.

* Provide a comfortable environment. Soft lighting and soft voices 30 minutes before bedtime will help reinforce that quiet time has begun and bedtime is not far away." ]]> TeachinLittleOnes http://community.educationalwarehouse.com/blogs/teachinlittleones/52-how-much-sleep-should-my-child-get.html