A is for Apple Part 2

Today we started working on our A page for our Alphabet book (this will be an ongoing activity throughout the year) For each letter studied we will do a 10X10 art project representing each letter. Today Kaitlyn used an apple and some paints to make apple prints on her paper. We reviewed the different parts of the apple and she reviewed her colors by naming the red, green and yellow paint as we went along. When we were all done we practiced her cutting skills by adding fringe ( small tiny cuts along the edge) to the red letter A I cut out previously.

Our second project was designed to help Kaitlyn with following steps in a process and multiple directions as well as work on her fine motor skills. I cut a small paper plate in half and used a piece of white construction paper to make a center for the apple Kaitlyn tore red construction paper into small pieces and then used her glue stick to glue them onto her plate. When she was done I connected the two plates by attaching them to the white construction paper (core) and then she used green torn construction paper to make her leaf. We once again talked about the parts of an apple. Naming them and pointing them out. At the end I drew 4 seeds we counted them and then she traced over them trying to keep her crayon marks inside my lines, it was a little harder than it looked :)

We reviewed our counting skills by playing a little apple tree game. I found all supplies for this at my local Hobby Lobby ( love that place) I would give Kaitlyn a number and she would count out that many apples and place them on her trees. We would compare trees and I would ask which one has more, less etc. She loved playing the game and of course asked if she could keep the trees for her dollhouse when we were done...love her :)

Here is our finished unit, she did a lot of projects that were hands on and fun. She loved getting messy with the paint and using all of the art supplies. But the part she enjoyed the most was the books she wanted to read each of them every night before going to bed, she loves to read her books :)

For the next two days we will have shorter sessions of "school" so w will focus on practicing her writing skills by using her blackboard and crayons to write the letter A, we will also play "learning games" Various puzzles that reinforce, alphabet, spatial relationships, shapes and colors. Most of which I picked up in the dollar section at Target...a teacher's favorite place!

Getting our classroom ready

The night before the first day of school is always quite exciting. No matter how many years went by in my career I would still be up all night with excitement the night before school started. Wondering what each of my twenty little ones would be like, excited to meet them and eager to start a new year. I would spend hours planning and prepping my room getting it set up just right....those days are long gone and the reality of me staying home is starting to really sink in. I do have to say planning and prepping my classroom this year was a whole lot easier. However the excitement is still the same, I am excited to see Kaitlyn's face when she walks in and sees the dining room all set up for her first day of school. We will start our first real week with our school schedule, I am eager and excited to see how things go. This week we will be learning about apples, we will focus on:

So join us for some " Lessons on the little stuff" as we begin our preschool homeschooling adventure!

New Beginnings

The feeling a teacher gets when they see school supplies neatly lined up on the shelves come July gives them a spontaneous Joy. Many wish they could postpone that Joy in order to enjoy just a few more days of summer vacation. But as a teacher its hard to deny, you love what you do, that's why you teach. It's not for the money, not for the fame you do it because you have a passion, a passion to inspire, therefore you teach.

The night before the first day is always exciting. I never can sleep, fearful of sleeping too long and not making it on time. You hate to be late that first day for two reasons...

1. All of the good  breakfast treats and seats in the back go fast.

2. You don't want to miss catching up on the Good Summer Gossip

For those two reasons I am usually on time that very first day!

I always have my clothes laid out and my new calendar and fancy Purple Pen ready in my schoolbag ( My ole Ruediger Girls can testify to my love of purple pens and frilly school supplies). Ah the night before the first day is was my favorite.

For the first time in ten years there is no outfit laid neatly at the foot of the bed, no brand new calendar or purple pen, no alarm set.....because for the first time in ten years I won't be joining my friends on that very first day back after summer vacation. 

Tonight comes with many mixed emotions because so much of who I am is wrapped up in my profession and my job as a teacher. But for the next 365 days I have been blessed with an opportunity to become a stay at home mommy/teacher to my own two amazing children Kaitlyn (3years) and Callen (5Months) Other than teaching I can't imagine another job as rewarding as being a mom. So while my friends are busy ironing their clothes and filling up their new school bags I have put my alarm in the closet and have snuggled up on the couch for a family movie night with my little loveys. Eager to start my new beginning tomorrow and filled with excitement at the amazing opportunities that lie ahead.

So for the next 365 days along with my role as a mommy to my beautiful children and a wife to my amazing husband I am also going to take on the role of teaching my daughter and preparing her for VPK next Fall. Using my experience and knowledge of Early Childhood education we are going to be learning a few "lessons on the little stuff" we will tackle the typical 3 year old skills like letter recognition, fine motor skills, numbers, counting etc. through fun hands on activities. Each week I will feature one or two of the activities we do at home on the blog, I will include some tips, pictures and hopefully some funny life lessons along the way. Join me as I embark on this new chapter of my life as I give a few lessons and learn a few lessons on the little stuff!