Me & Marie: July 2010

7.30.2010

Back in Gear

For many of us the end of July and beginning of August brings thoughts of school bags, pencils and crayons. Being a former teacher I have a huge urge to go buy school supplies and fun classroom decor. While I have no need for school supplies yet, I am gearing up for teaching my first year of preschool two days a week this school year. The thoughts bring excitement to this teachers heart! I had been working part-time as a Parent Educator for Parents as Teachers the last two years after taking time off from teaching first grade to be with my daughter. Unfortunatly, the state that I live in suffered large budget cuts and my position as a Parent Educator (a job that I really loved) was eliminated...along with many other PAT educators. But, I am very thankful to have a part-time position lined up doing exactly what I love- Early Education.

So, as I am planning I thought I would share some of my plans with all of you. Maybe my planning might spark and idea or help any of you that might be working with little ones!

Themes - by month

September: Welcome to School ~ All About Me
October: Farm ~ Fall

November: Family ~ Being Thankful

December: Gingerbread ~ Christmas

January: Winter ~ Community

February: Space ~ All About Others ~ 5 Senses ~ My Body

March: Zoo ~ Transportation

April: Pets ~ Ocean ~ Bugs

May: Spring ~ End of School

Sensory Table Ideas - by month

September: I haven't quite got this one nailed down yet. Any ideas???

October: Dry pumpkin seeds, dry corn, straw, fall leaves

November: Turkey Mix: variety of dry beans, colorful feathers and dry corn

December: red, green and white pom pons and jingle bells

January: cotton balls and various small items hide among the cotton

February: red and pink flower petals (fake), heart erasers and other small trinkets

March: green rice with gold coins hid in the rice

April: Easter grass, plastic eggs and plastic bugs

May: water and boats

**Note: I planned my sensory tables themes on the fact that I was keeping the themes the same all month long. I needed something that would last. We also have carpet in the classroom, so that was a consideration as well.

Many scoops, funnels, measuring spoons, measuring cups and bowls will be added to the sensory table to encourage pretend play and experimenting.

What are your plans for the upcoming year?

7.13.2010

Winner of Storytelling Fun Giveaway is...

AG'smoma! Congrats and thank you to everyone who entered this really fun giveaway!

7.06.2010

Storytelling Fun GIVEAWAY!

I am a huge fan of felt story boards! They are so much fun! I especially love the felt sets that go along with a book. It is a great way to enhance the story in a hands on way. Felt stories are also perfect for re-telling after the story is through!

Storytelling Fun, a online store and Etsy shop certainly puts me right in the land of felt board love! Storytelling Fun is owned and operated by Angela. She is a stay at home mom with two kiddos of her own. Check out what she had to say about her felt sets:

"All of the felt sets sold here are made by me in my "art studio" - basement. They are made with the highest quality felt, fabric and ink. I make all of my felt sets with care during nap time and late at night after the kiddos are in bed.

I take great pride in my work and know that you will be 100% satisfied with my products."

100% satisfied is exactly what I am with the felt sets we received! They arrived in the mail and I am not sure who was more excited, C or me (I truly am a teacher a heart and love anything learning related)! Angela sent C a travel felt board and two felt story sets.

I loved the quality of the travel felt board. It folds up (big plus), has handles and pockets! This is one cool felt board that is truly well made and a really great size. Not too big and certainly not too small!

We received the felt sets: "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie" and "The Three Bears". The pieces came pre-cut, but buying the sets uncut for a cheaper price is also an option. The pieces are smooth and well printed. No puffy paint or google eyes, which is a big plus because that means less to fall off or come apart. Actually, I think the felt pieces are virtually indesructable (unless they had a match with scissors, of course). I love how C can bend them, pile them up and stuff them in a bag and I don't have to small panic attack on whether she is ruining them or not!

We already had the book "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie", it is a huge favorite of mine. I loved the felt pieces that came with the set. Nothing was left out, all the pieces were there, even a straw for mouse's glass of milk! Lucky for me, Storytelling Fun has "If you give a Pig a Pancake", "If you give a Moose a Muffin", "If you take a Mouse to School" and "If you take a Mouse to the Movies"! I want to own them all!

The Three Bears felt set came with the story printed on a piece of paper. This is a nice touch for families that may not have a book on hand telling the story. It also allowed C to listen and use the felt pieces to create the story (without the aid of pictures in a book). The Three Bears set had all the pieces needed and it was easily distinguishable between items for papa, mama and baby bear. We played with this set several times together and now C is beginning to put parts of the story together herself!

Want to WIN your own felt set from Storytelling Fun?

Prize: 1 lucky winner will get The Three Bears felt set from Storytelling Fun!