Blazing Thanks To Firefighther Chuck

Our class recently went on a field trip to tour our local fire station. The tour was led by the jovial and kind Firefighter Chuck whose easygoing attitude and sweet nature break through that tough as nails macho firefighter persona. 

To thank Firefighter Chuck, our class created a book filled with some smoking drawings about what their favorite part of the firehouse visit was. We even included a picture of the children standing on the bumper of a fire engine hamming it up for the camera. 

After over a month of dragging our feet, we trudged to the fire station in sweltering heat to deliver our homemade picture book to Firefighter Chuck. To our surprise, Firefighter Chuck let the children "ride" (sit inside) on the fire truck and fire engines again! 

The children were excited as ever to experience the life of a firefighter again! As we left the fire station, Firefighter Chuck sweetly rang the fire truck bell as a firefighter tootaloo.

Four alarm thanks, Firefighter Chuck! 

I Dig It!: "Dig Into Reading Daycare Storytimes" are Solid as a Rock!

Wiggly worms squirmed into our recent daycare library visit! Librarian Laura gave a soil-d performance for my little bookworms, who got wiggly with it during a worm-de-ful 5 Little Wiggles rhyme.

The brainy Miss Laura gave the children metallic-hued pipe cleaners (worms) as props in order to act out the rhyme. Some skills that were sharpened during this rhyme included listening, fine motor and pre-subtraction skills.  

And of course, my kids really "dug" all the stories to boot! 

The Write Stuff: Confessions of a Wannabe Writer

After I've ventured through the preschool jungle, I like to take a break and venture to a nice, relaxing class I've begun taking taught by a published author and former English teacher. This class teaches author wannabes (yes, that's me), about different writing styles such as humorous fiction, short stories and essays.

A few days after the class, I picked up my pen and wrote about the fabulous fate of the preschool teacher and my adventures in the field of early childhood education so far. I so look forward to reading this to my classmates later this week!

My dream is to one day write a picture book for preschoolers and I hope this class will help me more quickly reach my goal. As Eleanor Roosevelt once beautifully stated:

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams".

It's Getting a Little Seed-y: Garden-Themed (Fruits and Vegetables) Lesson Plans for Preschoolers

Holy bean sprouts! Our newest summer camp unit focuses on growing fabulous fruit and vivacious veggies. The following lesson plans are sure to really grow on your budding preschoolers!

*All clipart found in these plans was from the free clipart website clker.com*

Fruit and Veggie Shadow Match 

Subjects: Math: Matching Shapes of fruit and vegetable silhouette shadows to the fruit and vegetables they represent.


To Do: Teacher places a fruit or vegetable shape on the flannelboard and holds up two "shadow shapes' for the children to choose from. After they have matched  the correct "shadow shape" to the corresponding fruit or veggie shape on the flannelboard, the teacher will place the "shadow shape" next to the fruit or vegetable. 

Read before Activity: Apples, Cherries, and Red Raspberries by Brian P. Cleary and Apples, Apples Everywhere by Robin Koontz 

Healthy Fruit and Veggies and Not So Healthy Foods They Make 

Subjects: Science: (Nutrition): Understanding that fruits and vegetables in their raw form and differently cooked forms are the most nutritious choices for children and that some foods containing these veggies/fruits are not as healthy a choice for their growing bodies.  
Math: Charting Healthy and Not so healthy vegetable choices. 

To Do: Teacher holds up two cards (the uncooked vegetable/fruit and a cooked version which is not as healthy) and asks the children which one of the food choices is healthier for them. After they have made the correct choice, the teacher places them into categories on her chart (which had been previously placed onto a flannelboard) into two categories (Healthy Fruits and Veggies and Not So Healthy Foods They Make). 

Read before Activity: Soup Day by Melissa Iwai 

Bush, Ground, Vine or Tree? Fruit and Vegetable Guessing Game 

Subjects: Math: Having children use logical thinking and previous knowledge they have gained through previous lesson to figure out which vegetable or fruit grows on the ground, vine, bush or tree. 
Science (Botany): Visualizing the physical charteristics of fruits and vegetables through a language and logic based lesson. 
Language Arts: Using botanical language. 

How-to: Teacher holds up a card and asks the children to guess whether the fruit or vegetable grows on a vine or tree (give children only two categories to choose from to make the lesson more developmentally appropriate for preschoolers.) After they have given their answer, the teacher turns over the card so the children can see if they guessed correctly. Continue the game until all cards have been completed or the children's attention span wanes. 

Read before Activity: Oliver's Fruit Salad by Vivian French 

Hey Daddy-o!: Celebrating Dad with Donuts!

Powdery fingers and cups of joe reined supreme at the daycare today! Dads and their little tykes were able to chow down on some extra sweet donuts, perfect pancakes and piping hot coffee as they giggled and chatted in their very own Father's Day celebration!

The children then gave their dads some snappy and extra snazzy tie notepads to be used to jot down that oh-so-important to-do list for their daddies on the go! The chic neck wear was decorated by these little artistes in training using crayons and lots of imagination.

With that said, remember to celebrate your good old dad this Sunday with a card, a hug and a peck on the cheek!

Pie in Your Eye: Pie Preschool Lesson Plan

Ooey, gooey, creamy and oh so sweet, pie is such a delectable bite to eat! Treat yourself to a light and fluffy lesson plan that will leave your students pleading for a second slice of pie-themed activities.

Perfect Pies Color Recognition and Identification File Folder Game (Source of game: Preschoolprintables.com)

Subject: Math: Identifying and recognizing colors and Matching

To Do: Place the Perfect Pies file folder game in the middle of the circle and hand out the pies with the color words printed on them to the students. Each student takes a turn naming (identifying) their pie color) and place on the correct pie on the file folder.

Read before the activity: Pie in the Sky by Lois Ehlert

Photo Source: Barnesandnoble.com

Extension Activities: Read Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray or sing the following songs I wrote to coincide with this scrumptious pie-themed lesson.

Source of Photo: Barnesandnoble.com

Pie Songs

"I Wish I Were an Apple Pie"
Tune: "If You're Happy and You Know It"

Oh I wish I were an apple pie
Oh I wish I were an apple pie
I'd be so sugary and sweet
and such a delight to eat
Oh I wish I were an apple pie.

"I Want to Eat Pie Today"
Tune: "Mary Had a Little Lamb"

I want to eat pie today,
pie today, pie today,
I want to eat pie today,
So let's bake it up right away!

Pie
Tune: "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"

Pie, pie, pie
so gooey and soft,
whipped cream on or whipped cream off
fruit pie, cream pie
any will do
they taste yummy the whole year through
pie, pie, pie
such a tasty treat
for my tummy any day of the week!


So there you have it, easy as pie!

(Note: If you would like to use this blog post or these songs on your blog, please give my blog a written credit and provide a link to it within your post).  Thank you! 

Preschool Pretty: Beauty Products to add a little Glam to Your Day!

 Okay, so you're up to your eyeballs in finger paint, your hair seems to be a little extra sparkly from that glitter-rageous art project, and your nails have the remnants of a down-and-dirty playdoh creativity session (so what's a girl to do....)

Why not shower yourself with a blast of beauty by trying out these tried and true beauty basics that add a little extra glam to your everyday preschool pretty aura?

Eyes

Make-up meltdown? No way! Try Urban Decay's Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Sin in order to skip that scary, smeared make-up mayhem that leaves us looking more crazed clown then pre-k diva perfect!  Apply to your eyelids alone for a bronze sheen or pump up your make-up staying power by applying before your eye make-up.

I got my eyes on you! For a simple and polished look, try Physicians Formula Baked Collection Wet/Dry Eye Shadow in Baked Butter. The neutral colors allow you to enhance your beauty without looking overly made-up. For a vivid and eye-popping look, try Loreal Colour Riche eyeshadow in 526 Hollywood Icon. I've rocked this look at the daycare, and the kids were freaking out over the awesome and bold pretty princess colors.

Physician's Formula Baked Collection Baked Butter 

Loreal Colour Riche Hollywood Icon 

Luscious lashes here I come by way of Maybelline's Great Lash Mascara. Pick up a wacky, tacky shocking pink and lime green tube of this make-up artist favorite. My favorite is their waterproof  Very Black formula which gives my lashes that glossy and sassy look.

 Lips

Give me some lip service! Try Cover Girl's lipstick 220 in Hypnotic for a cool and casual shimmery brown shade or pump up your pout for summer with Maybelline's 875 Wild Rose lipstick. This mega-watt pink shade will let your lips do the talking.

Cover Girl's Hypnotic 

Maybelline's Wild Rose Lipstick 

Go ahead, work it baby! You're ready for your circletime close-up!

Substitutions Only: Make a Sub-vival Kit for Your Sub (Tricks and Tips for Helping Out Your Substitute Teacher)

Being a sub is a tough job. Looking into the faces of new children and entering a different classroom can be pretty intimidating to even the most seasoned professional, but with a few simple steps preschool teachers can make a sub's job a piece of cake. Below you will find a few pointers that will make your sub's job as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Create a Sub-vival Kit for your Sub by including the following items (Always ask your school administrator/director before giving out the following information):

1 plastic book report cover and copies of the following:

• A welcome letter (because even subs need a little teacherly love) 
• Detailed daily lesson plans (Check out freeology.com for a great substitute form and other swoon worthy forms) Make sure to include circletime songs and other mandatory procedures.
• Daily schedule 
• Classroom seating chart/cot arrangement chart 
• List of the student's names with pictures for easy reference (Always ask your school administrator/director before using children's pictures or names) 
• Classroom procedures, pick-up and emergency procedures (fire and tornado procedures) 

Place all of the items inside the plastic book report cover for easy access. 

Presto change-o! You just made your sub a superstar! Rock on.