On the Road!

Lizzie and myself before the strange brain lesions. 

I am so excited to let you know that we are taking my daughter to Mayo Clinic tomorrow, Thursday.  We will drive her there (a little challenge) and then they will admit her to the hospital.  Yay!  This is what we have been waiting for - so we can have answers.  Right now, she has no diagnosis!  It has been so crazy.  And there have been so many miracles - this is one of them!!  Insurance has approved it.  Yes!

So you may see more print materials on this blog than normal.  I have really committed myself to providing 90 percent hands-on activities as I know there is plenty of print material out there in blog world.  But given my circumstance, I may load up some of my personal created papers to share.  I love posting regularly.  So no worries, I am not changing my focus!  Just trying to make it all work.

I will keep you posted! 

CVC Sound Boxes

This is a great tool for building phonemic awareness.  You use this just like the chips and Elkonin sound boxes where each box represents one phoneme.  In this method, you have the child touch the green for the first sound, the yellow for the middle sound and the red for the ending sound.  This is a great visual to help children as they begin to sound out words, identify beginning, medial and ending sounds, the list goes on!

To use:  Print, cut out the sound box and laminate. 

CVC Sound Boxes

A Handwriting Helper

This is an idea that comes from one of my interns this year, Tracy.  She saw it in another classroom.   I could not find anything about it online so I just had to make my own poster.  When you begin teaching handwriting on the "lines" this is such a helpful visual for the children.

• Chicken letters are the smallest.  They stand between the ground (bottom line) and the fence (dotted line).

• Giraffe letters are the tallest.  They stand from the ground up to the sky.  (top line)

• Monkey letters hang down below the ground.  They always hang down like the monkey's tail!

Handwriting Helper

Handwriting Helper 2

Bring on the Learning Revolution!

Sir Ken asserts we need a revolution.  This is an outstanding discourse on the current state of affairs in American education!  I must warn you it is 17 minutes long but worth the watch.  Sir Ken brings up several key points about our cultural dispositions that must be confronted.

• One point that I feel is critical to reconsider is the idea all children should be educated and encouraged to go to college.  This idea is insanity.  Do we really want to create a cultural mindset where farming, mechanics and other non-degree jobs are "not enough"?  There must be a respect and honor for a diversity of talents and abilities in society.   
• Another key point is that our education system is modeled after the fast food industry (where everything is standardized) and is starving our souls.  Sadly, this is only getting worse despite the fact our national scores are not getting better.  Why do we think that making intelligence is like manufacturing car parts? 
• Finally, I love, love, love how he feels that what is needed is the creation of environments where learning can flourish.  Yes.  And this cannot be standardized by the very nature of flourishing. 

This is a must watch.  Lets cause a revolution. . .

Blog Giveaway! Featuring Juniper Tree Puppet Books!

Last summer I had the amazing good fortune of receiving my second Funds For Teacher's grant to attend puppet workshops with Suzanne Down.   Me oh my.  If you have not taken a workshop with Suzanne, you are missing out on pure magic.  It was an incredible experience.   Check out her web site here.   I took two workshops - one was Wee Willie Winkie - a rod puppet.  Here are some photos from the workshop:

 Needle felting his head.

 Attaching the head to a rod.

 Oh, he turned out so cute!

 The face of a satisfied workshop participant!! Me!

 I will be purchasing all three of Suzanne's books for one lucky winner and shipping them directly to you.  This is open to everyone!  I am conducting these giveaways out of a deep gratitude for my life and my family.  I believe in the power of giving.  I am deeply appreciative of my blog community.

How to enter - it is super easy!

Post a comment on this post!

This giveaway closes Thursday, June 29th, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. CST.   Open to everyone! (that includes you my international friends!!)  I will post the winner and you will have 48 hours to respond back to me by email.  After that time has passed, a new winner will be chosen.

Good Luck!

Patterns and Rhythm - Principles of Art

This is a must do project!  It is beautiful, fun and simple to set up.   I did this project at the museum with a group with children and adults.  All you need is black construction paper as the base, different colors of construction paper to cut into 1" strips, markers and glue sticks.

Step One:  Draw a pattern on each color strip.

Step Two:  Glue the strips to the black paper.  You can bend, move, curl, fold the paper!

Use a hole punch to make a pattern!

 

Swirl the strip!

Write words on the strips!

Use letter, sight words - even numbers as patterns!

This is the observation form we used to observe pattern and rhythm in art.  You could do the same thing looking at art in an art book.

Make a File Folder Puppet Theater!

One day I had an inspiration while making a "mini-office."  I realized the file folders would make a perfect puppet theater!

What you will need:  2 file folders per puppet theater, scrapbook paper, tape, glue sticks.

I used two special types of file folders.  The first is a pre-printed folder and the second is a file folder with a built in pocket (did not know they made these until recently!).  Regular file folders work beautifully as well!

Step One:  I used a 5 x 7 index card to trace a window on each file folder. I set them side by side to be sure they are lined up.

Step Two:  Cut out the two windows.

Step Three:  Tape the two file folders together.  Tape the front edges and back edges.

Step Four:  To make paper curtains I placed the scrapbook paper on top of the file folder where the window is - and drew a curtain.  I folded it so I could cut two.

Step Five:  I glued the paper curtains down.  I cut a curtain for the top and under the window as well.

What I love about the file folders with pockets is that it has place to store the paper puppets!

You can also make a pocket with the leftover piece of file folder from making the window. 

 I cut a square and taped it to the back.

It will fold up and lay down flat for easy storage!  You can make the window large or small based on how much overlap you have between the two folders.  

TIP:  Laminate for extra durability!  

Shhh - It's a Secret Message, Helper, CVC Word!

This is simply an oldie but goodie!  At a workshop I lead recently, one of the participants reminded me of all the different ways to use this!  I just had to share it with you.

What you will need:  candles, watercolors, and paper (cardstock or watercolor paper is best).  I love the little floating candles.  They are so easy to grip.

MYSTERY SPECIAL HELPER

Who is the Special Helper today?

Prepare by writing the name of the special helper on a card.  Slowly reveal the special helper by brushing paint over each letter, one by one.  Have the children guess who it is with just a few letters revealed!

MYSTERY CVC WORD

What is our word today?

Prepare the card by writing the word with a candle.  

Slowly reveal each letter, having the children sound it out.  

MYSTERY OUTING

Where are we going today?

Prepare by writing the place you will visit on a card.  

Slowly reveal where you are going with watercolor paint.

MYSTERY MESSAGES

The timeless way to use this technique!  This wonderful teacher suggested that older students could write messages to each other.  Love it!

Winner of the Loom!

Congratulations to Martianne!  Lizzie Lou picked you randomly from all the entries!  Please email me at fairydustteaching@rocketmail.com with your address!  I will put your loom in the mail first thing Monday Morning. 

Thank you everyone for entering!  Stay tuned as I have more to give away!

Sally

My First Blog Giveaway!

Woo hoo!  I am celebrating my daughter's continued improvement with my first blog giveaway!  She is slowly but surely getting better and I am so grateful for all the love and support you all have provided.

One lucky winner will receive this classroom wooden loom (30"H x 19-1/2"W x 11-3/4"D).  It is brand new!  It comes with a large wooden needle, yarn and instructions.  

I first saw this loom on the blog  Sewing School.   She shows how you can use fabric, yarn and construction paper!  Check it out!  So cool!

How to enter - it is super easy!

Post a comment on this post!

This giveaway closes Friday, June 17th, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. CST.   Open to US residents only.  I will post the winner and you will have 48 hours to respond back to me by email.  After that time has passed, a new winner  will be chosen.

Good Luck!

(FYI: I will have a blog giveaway next week that everyone can take part in - no matter where you live - as it will not require shipping a large object!)

Love These Books!

On Saturday I gave family story time tours at Philbrook Art Museum.  I found this book called "Press Here" by Herve Tullet - I thought would be a good read to a large group of children.  Oh my word!  The children were squealing with joy!   It was such a good book - parents were asking where I purchased it!   As a museum guide for children,  I am always searching for engaging books to read.   I have found some priceless books.  I thought you might enjoy knowing about these gems!

What makes this book so incredible is that it is totally interactive.   The action you take on one page "appears" to "cause" the action on the next page.  If you read it to a single child - they can do the actions the book instructs the reader to do.  I read it to a large group so I did the actions - and the children still squealed! This book is magic!

Some Favorite Professional Reads:

If you have not visited the site http://www.allianceforchildhood.org/publications  please click on the link now!  There are a host of wonderful books you can read online (for free!) or order a copy.

Check these out -  Crisis in the Kindergarten:  Why Children Need to Play in School and  The Playwork Primer

This wonderful organization is well worth checking out!

ABC Rocks

Photo is from I am Momma - Hear Me Roar

I found these ABC rocks on I Am Momma Hear Me Roar  and I loved them (click on the link to see her post! It is called Alphabet Rocks. She has good ideas if you would like to try painting a set.  I love her blog!).  I want a set but I do not have the time to handpaint them.  So once again -  the scrapbook section of Michael's to the rescue!  I found these:

Remember your 40% off coupon!

What you will need:  About 3 bags of rocks, Modge Podge, sealant like Clear Koat, and paper letters from scrapbooking section (do not get any raised letters - you want flat paper letters for best results).

I Modge Podged these on to the rocks.

• First spread a layer of Modge Podge on the bare rock. Put the letter on top of wet Modge Podge.
• Next, spread a layer of Modge Podge over the top of letter (you can use a brush or your finger).

Let them dry and seal with a sealant.  Easy peasy (and fast)!!

Thank you Cheri for the great idea of an alphabet rock set!