Hip, Hip Horray! It's Mother's Day!: Magnificent Mom Website Worth Checking Out for Anyone Who Teaches Preschool: Preschoolmom.com

I hit the motherload when I discovered preschoolmom.com (click here or on sidebar preschoolmom.com image) from my own mom this Mother's Day. This site is manically chock full of free printable file folder games, bookmarks, minibooks sequencing, early literacy, ABC activities and themed units which I would give 5 hugs and 5 kisses (a perfect ten) on this motherly holiday and everyday. Be sure to check out this lovingly arranged and sweetly designed site to add a mother's touch and a taste of home to any upcoming unit or preschool lesson plan.

Also check out their sister site:http://www.thecraftyclassroom.com/ too! On this site, homeschooling families will learn nifty ways to create spot-on lessons for their littlest charges.

Lastly and most importantly, Happy Mother's Day to all you massively magnificent moms!

Tea with Mommy: Our Annual Mother's Day Tea

Our room was decked out today for our annual Mother's Day Tea. The tablecloths were draped over a makeshift buffet table and the children's table, flowers dotted the tables and juicy strawberries, savory whipped cream and iced green tea were given to our ladies of honor.

The children dined on tasty graham crackers and yummy apple juice as they proudly browsed their very own me books which they had created throughout the year with their moms.

Another keepsake designed to add to reminiscing down the road, was a hand print plate inscribed with Happy Mother's Day, the date, and their name.

I loved the spirit and energy that surrounded me after I finished serving the children their fare. As I gazed from the back of the room, I noticed the refreshing simplicity that a basic snack with mommy could bring.

 The true essence of the bond between mother and child, or in some cases grandma, could reveal. Those giggles, cuddles, squeals of delight, and smiles were truly intoxicating and effervescent. If I could have bottled the true meaning of childhood and saved it for centuries to come, I would have chosen this very moment in time.

All in all, the event went extremely smoothly. The children were giddy all day before their big gala with mommy. One little girl could not contain her glee with her repeated questioning: When is the Mother's Day Tea going to be?

Let's Lunch: A Beautiful Candlelit Teacher's Appreciation Day Luncheon

On this ravishing spring day in the middle of May, I celebrated my first Teacher's Appreciation Day luncheon with my fellow daycare colleagues.

I was set to enjoy the everyday sandwich and soup affair of a traditional teacher's thank you lunch, but to my udder surprise was met with a scrumptious spread of lemon chicken, grilled vegetables, delectable dinner rolls, sparkling lemonade and light, buttery and creamy cookies for dessert.

After we settled down to dine at our tea candle-lit table, we sipped our bubbly lemonade from crystal cut glassware, sliced our food with silver-plated silverware and ate off of delicate and sophisticated dishware of a quiet elegance.

As if the day could be any more perfect, we were met with heartfelt and moving gifts from members of our PEG group: a lovingly hand-stiched apron monogrammed with our initials and a sprialbound school cookbook which compiled recipes from our students and their families!

My Initial Apron 

T is for Teacher: My First National Teacher Appreciation Week!

My First National Teacher Appreciation Week bouquet from my students 

This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week and while to the seasoned educator it seems unextraordinary or even mundane, to me (as a first year teacher) it is truly exceptional.

When I walked in the classroom this morning excepting the everyday morning routine, I was met with the most glorious surprise: a vase with a few random blooms that included lilies, button mums and a striking orange tulip. It was so lovely! As the day progressed, the vase grew to include several other tulips and even a stunning red and cream-colored rose.

One of my students even ran up to me excitedly proclaiming that she had given me a gift: a pretty purple petunia and a touching card describing me as "a great teacher.

I was so overjoyed to see the happiness in her eyes as I read the card to her and felt my heart swell with pride that all the college courses and the CDA exam led me to this very moment: sitting in a classroom full of preschool-age children that truly cared and being called their teacher.

When I arrived home, I sat looking at the freshly arranged flowers in a lovely blue vase and knew that this feeling could not be bottled or store bought, but meant the world to me: I am a preschool teacher.

For anyone out there reading this blog post, please remember to thank all your teachers this week by a hug, card (store bought or homemade) or even just a simple thank you. It means so much to us to be thought of by the students today and always.

To my students, thank you for your kindness, thoughtfulness and infectious smiles. You are the reason I pursued a career in early childhood education. You are the stars and I love being able to open your world daily to the immense and expansive possibilities of learning.

Really Royal: Items from a Recent Royalty and Fairy tale Unit

Three weeks of manners, royalty and fairy tales can drive any teacher royally bonkers, but nevertheless this prince, princess and manner-themed unit was a favorite with the students.

Fearsome dragons, handsome knights, fair princesses, civility and castles abound during centers and activities that were created to educate and entertain in a most medieval way.

Hence, my loyal subjects, below you will find some circle time activities fit for a king (or a queen) for that matter.

Royal Manners File Folder Game (This Game was inspired from a Monster Manners File Folder Game I saw on Filefolderfun.com and included prince and princess cards from http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/

Read: Kitty Princess and the Newspaper Dress by Emma Carlow

Royal Manners File Foler Game 

Red Poison Apple= Bad Manners and the Magic Wand= Good Manners 

Roll a Princess Dice Game (Pattern from Confessionsofahomeschooler.blogspot.com)

Read: Good Night Princess Pruney Toes by Lisa McCourt

Roll a Princess 

Fancy Frogs and Crowns Feel and Touch Sensory Patterns Activity (Idea was inspired by the following book and an idea from a Mailbox Magazine Preschool Edition Yearbook)

Read: Kiss the Frog by Tony Bonning

Fancy Frogs and Crowns Feel and Touch Sensory Patterns Activity

I'm ready for my close up darling!

Start Spreading the News: Tips on Writing Top-Notch Newsletters

I love writing newsletters. I find it relaxing and a wonderful way to communicate with my parents and share my knowledge of early childhood education in an informal written account of my very busy and educational unit.

Just remember you don't need to be a wordsmith in order to provide your parents with insight into their child's weekly activities and centers.

The tips below should be a sufficient and impromptu guide into sparking up any newsletter.

• Use clear concise type such as Arial, Times New Roman, Times or Helvetica. These crisp clear fonts give any newsletter a professional look without frilly swirls or hard to read text. 
• Pepper your newsletter with educationally-based language and verbs such as fine motor, counted, observed, constructive play etc. 
• Make your newsletter personal by thanking parents who read to the children or children's birthdays. Believe me, this step goes a long way in making connections with parents. 
• Ask your director if you can add pictures to your newsletter. Remember a picture is worth more than a thousand words (especially to a parent who is busy working and not able to partake in the many fun activities their child enjoyed during their week). 
• Separate your activities and centers into a bullet point type format for ease of reading. 
• Title your e-mail newsletters with your homeroom name and unit so that parents will not accidentally delete it as spam. 

Blazin' Boards: May Bulletin Board: Hats Off to Mom Bulletin Board

Mama Mia! May's bulletin board was all about that very special lady: mom. This month's board featured watery-hued chapeaus and international tongues to celebrate the worldwide appeal of motherly love. Some of the languages featured included German, French, Spanish, and Polish.

Whether you call your mother, mama, mom, ma or mutter, always remember your love of this gracious and beautiful woman is never unaccounted for.

See my 2014 Mother's Day "Queen-themed bulletin board sample: http://glitterandgluesticksforever.blogspot.com/2014/05/blazin-boards-may-mothers-day-moms.html