Bubbles Indoors!

Bubbles indoors - why not!

It's the little things in life that bring joy!

Lack of posting and my obsession!

I have really been lazy about doing my blog lately - I am focusing on my tots and other obsessions in my life. I have been getting deep into scrap booking. Not making books or cards per say - but classroom bulletin boards and other aids. It is really fun! So I hope you all stick around because come September - and perhaps a few times this summer I will post some new stuff for you to see! I will also show off some of my scrappy work! However for now I will show you some of my garage sale finds. My first obsession! LOL

A train whistle - makes a cool train sound! 25 cents

A magical bunny puppet! $1

This sings Lonely Goat Heard - adorable!!

The kids LOVE this and dance and sing with it while and Ole Ole song plays!

Both were $1 each

Puzzle 50 cents

These are so handy! 50 cents

Good for number ID 10 cents

Tons of tape 50 cents each!

Pillows for our couch $1

Great for teaching street lights better than our last one - lights come on individually! $2

For outside 50 cents

Stamps and paint tools - 50 cents

10 cents - why not! :)

Books - $1

Fun for block area - 50 cents

Walking feet - $1

Calendar $1

Extra for our karaoke play! $2

I always grab extras! 25 cents

Thsi works with our CD player! 50 cents

50 cents - Boys love this!

50 cents - fishing pole!

I already have one of these turtles but I couldn't leave this one behind. $1

Loads of crafty stuff - $2

We are really enjoying our bouncy castle I got a few weeks ago!

I also got an adorable child sized chair and ottoman which I will post a picture of once I have it set up! It was only $10!

I have missed posting a lot of stuff - but you know the great finds I get! LOL I might have to end this one day because my house and classroom are just about to burst!! But hey - the tots are always entertained and I have tons of equipment to teach with! There is no way we could have what we do if I had to pay retail! the school certainly couldn't spend that much either!

FOR DADS

This is a little something we are putting together for Dads on Fathers day.

This poem will be in a card and go with this gift:

A Dad is A Dad is respected because he gives his children leadership. A Dad is appreciated because he gives his children care. A Dad is valued because he gives his children time. A Dad is loved because he gives his children the one thing they treasure most - himself.

So this gift will be something that child and Father can do together.

Create a Dice with activities kids and Dads can do together.

Print it out on coloured card stock.

Cut it out

Score the folds

If you don't have a scoring board just do it by running the edge of the scissors along a ruler - laying on the paper.

All scored!

Start folding into the dice shape.

 I tape from inside to make it look nice.

Ta Da!

Roll and play with Dad!

Bulletin boards - in a frame & on a door!

I love to make bulletin boards and classroom signs!

I am waiting for a couple of kids to come back to school to finish this - we need 2 more hand prints then this will be framed and hung in the front hall of the school!

This is hung on my classsroom door to remind parents that the hose is about to come out!! LOL

Yup It's Saturday - more garage sales!

I only grabbed a few things for school this week - because I have been getting scrapbook stuff - for me! :) However I will definitely be using most of it for bulletin boards and school projects with the tots. Well here is the stash!

Paint chip books - FREE

The boys love garbage trucks! $1

$1 for both

$3 - Love these

FREE

These are fun - bean bag toss!

For letter practise!

I also got a duplo block table!

Skill sharing - transference and play!

Some of the proudest moments I have on the job, are when I see the students in my class transferring, or sharing the skills they have developed from academic lessons. Those academic activities have become play!

In the next 4 pictures one child becomes the teacher and the other the student.

One child is showing the the other our colour mittens, which I use to teach colours. 

This became a dramatic play moment.

They showed remarkable accuracy in the teaching of the colours,

and the correct response to the colours presented.

They remained at this activity until they had completed all the colours,

about 15 or so.

They respected the roles they had chosen and appeared

content with the result of their time together. 

Independently 'playing' also showed the same skill transference.

An activity that had once been taught, now became an activity which seemed like play.

When we think of children playing we think of toys, running, jumping and frolicking about - not always so. Children play in many different ways. All play is a moment to learn and to develop skills. Jean Piaget once said,“Play is the work of childhood.” So whether a child chooses to do something academic or chooses to climb a tree - they are learning and developing skills for life.

I am please that the children in my classroom feel that the activities I have presented, are worthy of 'play'!