I'm addicted to garage sales!

Ok I just have to admit I am totally addicted to garage sales and I love the stuff I find for next to nothing. In fact today I got so many things for FREE that I was elated!

 This puzzle shelf with 6 quality wooden puzzles was $6 - a bargain for sure - the puzzle shelf alone is $14 or more retail.

FREE - yes free - a doll toilet that actually makes a flushing sound!! LOL! All classroom doll centres need one! :) 

Then there is a pile of at least 20 plexiglass panels - for FREE! I can't wait to use them on the light table I got last weekend for $5. I simply e-mailed a plastic company and asked if they would donate them and they said YES! It was a bit of a drive to go and get them but hey it gave me and my hubby an opportunity to go out and eat!

While I was getting the plexiglass I picked up these droppers and syringes 39 cents each - a bargain since they are hard to find.

To add to this little pile of stash I got 4 tires to climb on in the playground for FREE! A wooden bookcase and a computer desk for $15 to set up my FREE computer on. Eight video tapes for $2 to view on rainy days, which will be played on the TV/VCR combo I got last year for $5. I also got a bus shaped tent for FREE that can be used outside. I have one for inside that they love, so having this one is a bonus!

Then for a few quarters here and there I got some balls, a little metal bus, some maracas and play food for our kitchen.

Sooooo for about $30 - a day of togetherness with my hubby - I have furniture to set up my computer centre and cool toys and things to keep us entertained for a few weeks! :)

Stay tuned for many more adventures in garage sale hunting!!

Music and Movement

Our day is never complete unless we are dancing and singing! We dance and sing during circle - during French class - during Music class - during lunch and when the moment inspires us!
The development of language and memory skills - co-operation and socialization - co-ordination and balance, are supported with music and movement. We are energized and motivated to continue our daily lessons, when we are able to get up and move or burst into song. We are simultaneously building so many important developmental skills, so it would be imperative to have music and movement in the classroom whenever possible. The introduction of music and movement ensures a positive classroom experience. What a great way to let loose and enhance those dramatic urges inside us. 

Today we went buggy!

They're creepy and their crawly - and no I'm not talking about my toddlers - LOL

I'm talking about all those bugs out there that are appearing in this warm June weather. Time to examine them up close and personal.

At first we explored bugs that didn't wiggle and squiggle to avoid any fears. We only wanted to encourage curiosity.

 The bug photos came from exploring the internet.

Then we made our own bug catcher from a large sized spice jar and a small sifter! Here we are cutting holes in the lid.

Adding the sifter to cover the holes so the bugs couldn't climb out!

A few of us went out into our garden (see Children's Garden post) and collected bugs - then brought them in to show our friends.

http://kreativeactivities.blogspot.com/2011/05/childrens-lands-part-one.html

http://kreativeactivities.blogspot.com/2011/05/childrens-lands-part-two.html

With four toddlers out in the garden, I couldn't take pictures and collect bugs at the same time - sorry for that.

Do you see the dragon fly in the bottom?

He later climbed to the top! :)

There is also a spider on the stick - to the right.

Trying to find the ant!

A closer look.

The bugs are a hit!

At the end of the day we released our friends back into our garden!

This class will be prepared to discover more about insects next year.

Here is a link for Montessori insect cards:

 http://www.shop.montessoriprintshop.com/Insect-Cards-CCF-27.htm

The Importance of Puzzles

Puzzles are a very important part of any Early Childhood Educational classroom. They are an essential tool to build the many aspects of development!

Memory skills & fine motor control

Patience 

Problem solving

Cognitive development

Mental stimulation

Social skills

Hand eye co-ordination

Changing the puzzles that are available in your classroom keeps the children interested in coming back to this activity again and again! However it's best not to change them until the challenge of completing each puzzle has been met. Ensure that there are puzzles available for all skill levels.

Although some puzzles have been changed - some remain the same, because they are popular and hold an important aspect to development that should be in place for repetitive use.

Combo Gift - Fathers Day and Graduation

So the Graduation gift is also our Fathers

Day gift - time and money a factor!

We call this our 'Yearbook' - it consists of a cover page created individually by the children - a foot print of each individual child (meaning the book each Dad receives will only have their own childs created cover page and  footprint) - 2 pages of photos of all the classmates and teachers - a poem and a thank you page.

The poem says:

Now I know my ABC's, colors, shapes and days

I learned some poems, sang some songs, rhymes and finger plays

I played outside on sunny days and inside when it rained

My little hands and little feet were busy every day.

My teachers were Ms. Lisa, Ms. Lubna & Ms. Nermein

I kept them on their toes

They combed my hair, tied my shoes and even wiped my nose.

But now it's time to say good-bye to all my seedling friends.

School is over, summers here, but learning never ends!

I have to say I have no idea where I got the poem from - it's been around for a few years in my files and I have used it a few times.

Emotions - We all have them!

We opened up the discussion of emotions with our toddlers by using a collection of pictures that I found on the internet. We selected a picture to show and asked the children how that person may have been feeling - and asked if they could make the same face they saw in the picture. We gave senarios of when that emotion may have been felt and examples from our classroom experiences. For instance some of us might cry when Mommy and Daddy drop us off in the morning, or we may be really happy when we see them again at pick up time. The children then started offering up their own examples. They got it - they were relating to the faces they viewed, then internalized it and expressed their own feelings about the picture and when they felt that way.
The photos were left out for the children to access independantly - they did so often, and talked about the emotions with their friends. It was interesting to see them discuss the pictures and relating with such detail.

An extension of that activity was for the children to use a hand mirror to look at themselves, and to make the faces that depicted some of the emotions we had discussed. Some found it easy to recreate an emotional expression - while others simply wanted to make faces that showed the emotion they were feeling at the time of the exercise.

We also have a set of laminated faces that can be interchanged on a figure, which can be used to open up a discussion of emotions as well.

Identifying emotions helps children to manage their feelings and to develop self control, while building a sense of self-esteem. This will result in children having the ability to handle difficult situations, easing frustrations.