Listening Ears Are On!: Storytimes for Preschoolers!

Turn on your listening ears friends, it's time for story time! Story time is not only a wonderful way to interest young children in reading, but provides social and group interaction with teachers, parents, their students and children!

Check out the benefits of story time below! 

• Greater attention spans. Story times help children gain a better attention span and focus due to having to listen intently on the stories and activities 
• Interaction with children of similar ages or adult role models. This in turn increases, a child's self esteem and social skills. 
• Desire to read to gain more information about the world around them. 
• Recognition of print awareness. In other words, print has meaning. One way you can show this during a story time is by pointing to each word as your read the story. 
• Reading bolsters creativity. You never know, a story time participant may become interested in illustration, writing, or even engineering just by reading a book that sparked the learning bug along with a touch of wonder! 
• And much more! 

So aren't you ready to put together your very own story time! It doesn't have to be a long or drawn out process or even take place at one time. Reading is a joy that can be done at any time of the day! Whether it be at nap time when your child is snuggling down for a good night's rest or a busy afternoon where your preschool students are ready for a boisterous and fun time! 

Be sure to remember to alter you story times based on the time of day when you create your story times. Classic bedtime songs such as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and the absence of action rhymes would be appropriate for nap time story times, and lots of action would be perfect for a rainy afternoon when you can not take your children/students outside to play. 

Story time How-To 

1. Choose books that contain stories that interest your age group, not just you. There have been many times that I have been jazzed to read a book that I thought would be a crowd-pleaser that turned out to be a ho-hum, unlikable read. Young children love bright, colorful illustrations, silly premises and simple, straight-forward text. Make sure that the stories do not include many adult-oriented puns that children may not understand or small indistinct pictures. 
2. Choose a topic. While story times do not need to be topical, I find that these story times, tend to flow more easily. When you select a topic such as dinosaurs, you can easily locate songs, dances, and flannel boards by easily performing a web search. Story time Favorite Topics include dogs, dinosaurs, food, and seasonal  favorites such as Halloween (pumpkins, costumes, candy) Christmas (Santa, reindeer). 
3. Try to choose several songs, dances, flannel boards, action rhymes, or fingerplays. Some wonderful sites to find these include: Preschool Education, Childcare Lounge (Click on a theme) and Everything Preschool
4. Remember, to add movement to your story times. Scarf dancing to music and movement activities such as"If You're Happy and You Know It" are a great way to add physical activity to a child's daily schedule. 
5. Base your story time length on your children's attention spans. A half-hour story time may be appropriate for preschoolers, while a 10-15 minute story time may be appropriate for toddlers. When you start to see your audience become antsy, it is time to stop and move on to another activity. 
6. Enjoy yourself! Remember, the children are not judging you if you sing off-key or stumble over a few words. They just enjoy spending time with you, listening to a story and most of all having fun! 
7. Provide a simple craft for your students or children. From coloring a picture to a simple pasting craft children can learn a plethora of skills including eye-hand coordination, proper crayon grip, how to use a glue stick and more. 

So grab and book, sit down with your child/students and read! 

A Woman of the World: Creating a Paper Mache Globe

Since a recently deflated blow-up globe situation occured during an overly rambunctious play time session, I have wanted to buy another globe. Instead of spending the buckaroos, I decided to create one using an old map, a balloon, newspaper strips, an old map, paper mache paste and good old-fashioned paint. Below you will find a link to the paper mache recipe on DLTK.com and directions to make this stunning sphere.

Things Needed to Make Globe 

Newspaper Strips
Paper Mache Paste from DLTK.com (Link: How to Make Paper Mache Paste)
Blown-up Balloon
Electric Fan
Small Pin
Blue Paint
Old Map
Watered-down Glue

How to Make

1. Blow up a balloon.
2. Make paper mache paste from DLTK.com
3. Cut or rip strips of newspaper and gently dip strips in the paper mache paste. Make sure there is only a small amount of paste on the strips. Otherwise, your newspaper strips may rip and tear. 
4. Place strips on balloon and smooth down any bumps from paste with your palms and fingers. 
5. Continue this process until the entire balloon is covered in newspaper strips
6. After you are finished, place the balloon in front of a fan and turn every few hours to make sure it dries evenly. 
7. After the paper mache covering has dried, pop the balloon with a small pin. 
8. You will be left with the paper mache shell which you will paint blue. 
9. After your paint has dried, use a watered - down glue mixture to place the continents you previously cut out from an old map on the balloon. Put a thin layer of watered-down glue on top of the continents to seal your globe. 
10. Let the globe dry and show it to your students. 

Make a Statement!: Create a What a Statement! Mouse Pad That Celebrates Your State Pride!

Show off your state pride by creating a state mouse pad. It's sure to make quite a statement about your state of mind!  If you would like your preschooler to create this mouse pad, make sure all the items are cut beforehand or have your child use children's safety scissors to cut items out. Laminators should be used by adults only. 

To Make What a Statement! State Mouse Pad 

1. Select two color-coordinated scrapbook papers in different patterns. Cut 1st paper into a large square shape as desired by the surface area available for your mouse pad. Put other paper to the side. 
2. Choose two pieces of colorful cardstock. Cut one a little smaller than the largest square you just cut for the bottom of your mouse pad and glue on top of bottom scrapbook paper. Place your other piece of cardstock to the side. 
3. Find a large metallic piece of cardstock and cut slightly smaller than the piece of cardstock you had glued to the bottom piece of scrapbook paper. Glue the metallic piece of cardstock on top. 
4. Cut the other piece of cardstock you placed to the side in a slightly smaller square than the metallic cardstock you had glued on. Glue the cardstock on top o the metallic piece of cardstock. 
5. Use the other piece of color-coordinated scrapbook paper to create a top focal point. Cut the paper into a small square and turn on its side to create a diamond shape. Glue on top of metallic cardstock. 
6. Find a map of your state. The one I found was on the Rand-McNally site and cut around the state’s shape to give it dimension with scissors. 
7. Use antiquing medium to give your state a burnished, aged old-world look. 
8. Go on the Internet and find some of your states symbols. I found mine by using clipart from clker.com 
9. You can use stamp pads to create colorful embellishments on the state symbols you select, such as the peony (which is Indiana’s state flower) on the right-hand side of the mousepad. 
10. Find out your state’s nickname. Indiana is the Hoosier State and those that reside in Indiana are nicknamed Hoosiers. I used stickers to spell out the word Hoosier and the state name. Other ideas for possible titles include using your state’s admission to the union, a quote made by a famous person who was born in the state or pictures of places you love in the state. 
11. Laminate mousepad for durability. 
12. Place a non-skid pad on the back of the mouse pad. 

Preschool Pep Talk: Want the truth? Speak to a Preschooler

If you truly want to know the truth about something be sure to ask a preschooler. Preschoolers are known for their somewhat biting, less than complimentary, and ulterior-motive free viewpoint of the world. Their innocence and lack of  experience gives them an unskewed and natural look at life. 

Favorite Comments From Preschoolers 

Your name is not Miss Hatcher, your name is Miss “Beautiful” Hatcher. (Perfection, I tell you, perfection). 

I wish I were you. 

You have goofy sunglasses. I like them, but they are goofy. 

I like you, but I love my mom. (This is how it should be. Moms definitely rock.) 

This Little Pilgrim is Really Taking Shape: Pilgrim Boy Shape Identification Flannelboard

Get your little pilgrims interested in identifying (naming) their shapes with this Pilgrim Boy Shape Identification Puzzle that is totally Mayflower-worthy!

Subject: Math- Identifying shapes that make up the Pilgrim boy and piecing together a "flannelboard puzzle".

To Do: Create the flannelboard by cutting out the following shapes:

• 1 diamond (shirt) 
• 2 white triangles (collar)
• 2 small circles (ears)
•  1 medium saucer-shaped circle (face) (Hint: Use a saucer to create the template)
• 1 star for (mouth)
• 2 ovals (eyes)
• 1 heart (nose)
• hair
• 1 long rectangle (brim of hat)
• 1 medium square (hat)
• 1 thin rectangle (ribbon on hat)
• 1 small square (buckle of hat)

Laminate the flannelboard pieces. Place hook and loop on the flannelboard pieces. 

To Do: Take a photo of the flannelboard and print out to show the children before they complete this learning activity. For easier completion of flannelboard, leave on the more difficult sections to place on board, such as the diamond shirt and triangles collar, but remember to still have the children identify (name) these shapes. Example: What shape is the pilgrim's shirt? After they have correctly answered this, pass out the rest of shapes to the students in your circletime. Have the children name the shapes and look at the picture you had previously taken of the flannelboard (in order to piece together the pilgrim flannelboard "puzzle".)  Continue until all students have named their shapes and placed them on the flannelboard. 

Who ever said pilgrims were plain? Plain cute is more like it! 

Burning Up: Firefighter Chuck Speaks About Burn Safety

Firefighter Chuck gave a blazing lesson on the physical differences between hot and cold items during a Hot or Not Item Identification and Recognition Game. This game introduced students to the hot-ly debated topic of burn safety and prevention.

 During his smokin' talk he spoke of ways to help prevent burns; such as staying away from and not touching items like ovens and stoves. If a burn has occurred, he stated that you should  "cool" it by placing the area under cold, running water and waiting a little while before you place a band-aid and ointment on it.

Thanks for the "Hot" tips firefighter Chuck!

Hey Everybody!: Preschool/Daycare Open House

Today my daycare had an open house where prospective students and their parents browsed the facility and classrooms while socializing with teachers and directors.

The overall feeling of the day was very positive, as families shuffled down the hallways carrying brochures and pushing strollers filled with eager young children whose minds were ready to absorb the knowledge presented to them.

I answered many a question and felt the parents understood my genuine love for early childhood education and those in my care. I discussed important educational-based topics such as curriculum to crucial childcare topics ranging from nap time to lunchtime.

Now we'll wait and see how many bright, new shining stars will be roaming the school after coming to this special event!

“Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by reason of their innocence and of the greater possibilities of their future.” - Maria Montessori 

My Fourth of July Went Off With a Bang! Check Out a cute Firecracker/Fireworks 4th of July Guessing Game

As I gazed at the brilliant fireworks yesterday, I remembered the firecracker lesson plan I developed for my students.

I will be presenting it during tomorrows circletime and I am sure it will be an explosive hit!

Why not try this circletime activity with your students too? I promise it will really "spark" their imagination, memory and logical thinking skills.

To add a little extra sparkle and honor America's birthday, I have added some views of the flaming fireworks I witnessed last night.

Have a Happy and Healthy Fourth of July!

The teacher has the children guess what square the firecracker is under and lifts each up to reveal
 either a firework or the firecracker 

The squares were created using fireworks fabric 

The fireworks were cut from foam 

The firecracker is from a Cricut cartridge 

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 

Solider Solidarity: Ways for Young Children to Celebrate Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a time to reflect on the greatest sacrifice a soldier can give for his country: his life. While this may be a difficult and sticky topic for preschoolers to comprehend, parents and educators can rectify this issue by developing interesting and appropriate ways to give a concrete meaning to this situation. Focus on military life instead of death and forms of patriotism. Options are included in the following list I have designed to help young children demonstrate knowledge on this extremely patriotic and somber holiday.

• Take out simple non-fiction books relating to the branches of the armed forces and stories about children whose mothers and fathers are members of the military. 
• Teach children popular, classic American songs such as "This Land is Your Land". 
• Have your child color a flag coloring page that you have found on the Internet and laminate it using a laminator or contact paper.  Glue on a Popsicle stick and stick it in the ground in your front yard to honor our fallen heroes.
• Write a thank you letter to a soldier. 
• Call and set up a visit to a local VA hospital in order to bring a little bit of sunshine to an ailing soldier's day.
• Create a care package for a soldier that includes necessities such as toothpaste, tissues, socks etc. Search the Internet for sites who send these care packages to soldiers and find out their main necessities and needs. 
• Wear red, white and blue to commemorate the importance of American pride for our soldiers here and overseas. 

Have a Happy and healthy Memorial Day!