It's Fall

This time of the year is so great. We love to be outside and more kids begin to come outside and play on the playgrounds. We pack up all of our stuff for the morning lesson and head outside. This morning we headed to the park in hopes to find items that show us fall is here. Older A loves doing this she ran out into the open field next to the playground naming each item she found asking " Is this ok?" . Little A headed to the pavilion to look at a dove that was drinking water and J was "climbing" a tree to get acorns. Little A decided to get out the chalk and we began to draw. Older A brought over her findings and gave each of us a leaf. So little A began tracing them with her chalk. We made a fall tree with our leaves we traced.
We had to bring a little of the wonderful things we find outside this time of the year into our classroom. The kids helped me color leaves and cut them out to make a numbered fall tree. Today we just reviewed the numbers and colors. I was very proud of J today he began pointing to the correct number as I said them. I was counting down from 10 to 1. Of course with J I have to look out of the corner of my eye and watch without a word until he is done. If I interrupt or say great job he starts fumbling and seems to become very distracted. The girls were naming the colors and counting the leaves on our classroom tree.
Cheers to great weather making it a great great Monday!

Lesson Plan: Fall colors

Brookeside in home Daycare

Lesson Plan

Week: September 16, 2013                Theme: The Colors of Fall

                        Letter: C                     

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Morning Meet	Letter C- Sight and Sound	Words that say C.	__	__	Week review
Outdoor Play	Look for items that are color of fall	__	Counting ball bounce	__	Letter C treasure hunt
Free Play	Leaf color/ number match	__	Light box letter F tracing	__	Letter C worksheet
Literacy/  Language	Book: Colorful Leaves	Song: Singing in the rain.	__	Book: C is for Coco	__
Daily Activity	Collect fall colored items outside	Letter C, Fall collection collage	Leaf tracing	__	Painting with cars

 

All activities are altered based on age of each child

 

Notes to Parents: The month of October will be all about Fall. October 31 is Halloween we will be having a costume party with snacks and games.

 

Drummer Boy/ Girl- Listening Activity

Today we continued our lesson on listening. This also incorporates waiting your turn so win for all kids! Today we played a game that I call drummer boy/girl. We only have one toy drum in the classroom which I used and I gave the kids a pots and pans with kitchen utensils that we use for play. They were all excited because what kid does not like to play with mom's cookware. We sat in a circle and went clock wise all chanting drummer boy/girl, drummer boy/girl play that beat. They loved it! It was funny to see them really concentrating on their beat ( they love their time to shine!). We rotated the different drumming items so each kid could have the chance to use and hear the different "drums". By the way this was played in the morning and afternoon.
That was our activity for the day.
A sweet moment that I captured was Older A asking J to read her book she brought from home. He and little A were sitting in the chair snuggled up when she asked. He read them 5 Little Monkeys.
The love of friendship!

Listening Day 2

Sorry I have slacked on my posts but changes wether big or smalll affect all parties involved. So what better lesson plan to have than Listening. Our mini lesson added to our month of Music. Practing listening is very important but also very hard at this age. All three older kids are the only child on their home. So they get undivided attention from all adults in their home. They all struggle at school with this because there is one of me and 3 very talkative kids with creative minds. Let me say adding 1 that's unable to talk to the mix did not ease the need to be heard all the time and my undivided attention. This week we are using music to practice listening. Every morning during circle time we added a sort of you show we do after you. J loves making up different rhythms by clapping and patting. So he gives us the beat and rhythm and we copy that. He does this with out others talking and interrupting. Older A likes to sing, she is awesome with mixing popular nursery rhymes and they fit perfectly together. We listen then sing along with her. Little A likes to sing while acting it out. We listen and watch then copy her words and motions. Each child gets their time to teach and express themself through music. Of course waiting and listening to their friends is fun and exciting and they know their turn is coming up. Even when interacting one on one with a friend listening to each other speak is becoming important for them. I love this! I heard little A say to older A hold on I want to talk, then okay older A "what you say." There was no yelling.

Making and painting with water colors

The week is coming to a end. Thursday is out morning out day. We headed to McDonalds for breakfast and to play. Of course like every other time they found a new friend. It so great to see them excited every time. They ask the child tons of questions about themselves and play so well with new kids. After that we were going to head to the Buda park but I had forgotten wipes for the new A. We played outside while listening to toddlerville on Pandora, great kid songs. Lunch was funny is was the great trade. Broccoli for pickles, sandwich pieces for fish stick, and cheese for lunch meat. Sometimes I feel it is okay to let them share lunch it is so interesting seeing the bargaining skills ( lol).Nap was short for new A but I think that the other kiddos were tired from not being able to nap all week. I think 35 minutes was the longest nap. So for our Art activity we made homemade water colors and painted rainbows outside. Update First batch of paint total flop. Would not dry on paper. This recipe looks better!
Water color recipe:
3 Tbsp baking soda
3 Tbsp corn starch
3 Tbsp vinegar
1 1/2 tsp corn syrup
food coloring

From la-lashomedaycare.blogspot.com

We love to mix and create.

Singing in the park.

Today was one of those short nap days. One kids wakes up they all do. That is what change does for all involved. We did our letter N worksheet. All three kids did awesome. I am so proud of little A and Older A. They can handle the prek letter work sheets. Each child tweaks it to suit them but they understand the objective. J has done awesome too now that he has figured out how to hold his " big boy" pencil. Again I am so proud of all three kiddos! We headed to the Sunfield Community Park this afternoon for some singing in the park. Once we get started it gets loud and crazy. Add slushes to that and we rocked! Good thing we were alone, lol. Short nap, sugar, and singing makes for tired kiddos that had a good day.

Bouncy Spider Painting

Yesterday was a great day. we added a new friend to the daycare. So getting her used to our schedule was our goal for the day. Thanks to my three awesome kiddos they helped teach her the ropes. Sorry this has to be short. We headed to the park to paint which was a hit, new place to be creative. Every one enjoyed it and the bouncy spiders were fun to paint with. Our nap was short for the day due to our new friend adjusting. Sharing with new friends is our new friend is our new focus for the week.
Remember sharing is caring!

Music Week 2 Lesson Plan

Brookeside in home Daycare

Lesson Plan

Week: September 16, 2013                Theme: Nursery Rhymes

                        Letter: N                      Classical Music Month and National Piano Month

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Morning Meet	Letter N- Sight and Sound	Words that say N.	Clap your beat	__	Week review
Outdoor Play	Listen to the sound of Birds	__	Free dance	__	Hop and sing your favorite nursery rhyme
Free Play	Listen to toddler tunes	Karaoke	__	__	Nursery Rhyme CD
Literacy/  Language	Book: Itsy Bitsy Spider (Fast, slow)	Song: Polly Put the Kettle On. (Read and Listen)	Song: Humpty Dumpty ( low, quiet)	Song: Say say oh playmate	Song: Pat a cake
Daily Activity	Bouncy Spider Painting	__	Egg shell sensory play	Rainbow water painting	Shaving cream art

 

All activities are altered based on age of each child

 

Notes to Parents: Summer is coming to an end, hopefully cooler weather will follow, when it does please remember to swap out spare clothes for appropriate attire.

 

Funky Friday!

How fun as I was titling the post thinking of a name for it what came to mind was Funky. Then I was like thinking wait Friday 13 that is all the explanation that I need, good thing I'm not superstitious or anything!
So this morning the kids wanted to lay around, they all begged to watch a movie which was a no but sounded  nice. I wanted to say if I sit with you guys I will drag all day. I have to get up and go or its a no go in my brain all day. By Friday the kids are tired of each other and the normal routine. Sharing becomes very hard and so does playing together. So I let them have free play in the morning, which makes them happy. J of course dumps out all the Legos and builds things, Older A gets the puzzles, and Little A went for the babies and shopping cart ( has nothing to do with her excitement over the new baby coming)! Just kidding her mom and I were the same way:) We had our music going as they played and randomly one kid would start singing and dancing with every one joining in then they would go back to their playing. It  was funny to watch and dance along. Of course I was still singing and dancing into the next song and they all say " Your hurting my ears," so I get brought back to my adult role. J decided to get shapes and put marshmellows in them and that became the reward for cleaning up for snack which they all chose over a sticker (crazy). It was great for a review of shapes and the number of sides the different shapes have. As they ate we review different shapes of things around the house.
Finally for the morning we headed to the park to play which made for three very tired kids. Nap time!
Pictures to come soon, my phone does not want to link with blogger right now.

Painting with straws

It is Wednesday which put a pep in these kids step. Everyone was wide awake this morning and ready for the day. We had breakfast on time! They rushed through breakfast after J announced he wanted to read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom again. There is always a favorite book of the week that we read every day which is great because by the end of the week I really don't have to read it because they memorize it and read in unison. After reading Older A got out the letter flash cards. She began putting them letter side down so the picture and word side up saying lets play a game. Little A sat down and we began playing a game. I would say the sound of a letter and they would have to find the picture that started with that sound. They amazed me because this work on letter sounds is really paying off. Little A picked it right up she is the youngest but wow I love that she understood! J of course was busy building Lego men but he was listening and as I said the sound of the letter he would say two or three words that started with the sound. He was learning to just in a different way which is what I have to remember. I always find myself trying to force him to do these activities which stresses both of us but he always answers question about our day when we do a little review.
Next we did a painting activity which I always like to add their name to in large writing. We blew into straws that we had dipped into paint. They actually loved this since they like to blow into the straws when in their water cups. I kept repeating dip, remove, and blow and gave a little example. We all know that your first instinct is to suck on the straw which did not happen. No paint in tummies today.

9/10/2013 Music

Today we were minus our little A. So our time was off. Late breakfast since older A and J don't really like breakfast. Tacos it was with egg, cheese, beans, and ketchup ( their idea of yummy!). We listened to our classical music this morning for our letter M writing and recognition practice. I found (2) 50 cent alphabet workbook at Target in the dollar isle, woohoo. Great for writing practice. Older A loves writing practice, I love her enthusiasm for literacy! We read our favorite book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and watch the video with song. It's so catchy. That was our morning.
We had a great lunchthanks to Ms. Dawn. Late nap which only lasted an hour. These two are still in a good mood and now playing " rock star" in Iron Man costumes! By the way I was told no pictures today of this band, thanks J. LOL

September 9, 2013

Well hello September, Classical Music Month and National Piano Month! So this month will be all about music, which by the way is one of our favorite things. Good music leads to a good mood.
Today is definitely the Monday after a long vacation. Little A said she was tired at 9:30 a.m. Big A and J did not want to eat breakfast only morning snack. Lunch was earlier today at 11:15 everyone was hungry, ate it all, and very tired. No patting backs today! We are learning sight and sound for letter M. Art was decorating toilet paper roll for a shaker and microphone combination which the kids help me come up with because they were singing into the shaker (so creative).

Month of Music Lesson plan Week 1

Brookeside in home Daycare

Lesson Plan

Week: September 9, 2013                  Theme: Musical Instruments

                        Letter: M                     Classical Music Month and National Piano Month

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Morning Meet	Letter M- Sight and Sound	Brass Instruments	Woodwind Instruments	String Instruments	Week review and Percussion
Outdoor Play	Find items outside that use to make instrument	__	Breathe in and out.	__	Marching Band
Free Play	Letter M writing practice	Brass Instrument matching	__	Guitar play	Drum set get loud.
Literacy/  Language	Song: Ants go marching	Book: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom	Song: Singing in the rain.	Song: Wishy washer washing women	Song: Boogaloo
Daily Activity	Toilet paper roll shakers	Listen for brass instruments in classical music	Straw blow painting	Match my beat.	Make your own drum and decorate

 

All activities are altered based on age of each child

 

Notes to Parents: Happy late Birthday Ava, she is now 3!