NAEYC 2013

                REFLECTIONS FROM  NAEYC - WASHINGTON, DC, 2013

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

It is that time of the year when we wish everyone a great holiday season and reflect on the year we are about to leave as history.

If you have never attended NAEYC and you are in Early Childhood Education plan to attend in 2014 in Dallas, TX.  It is an experience you don’t want to miss so save your coins, buddy up with others to share expenses and find a happening world of people dedicated to children.  I want to share some of the friends I meet at NAEYC and also Frog Street SPLASH each year.  We share hugs, music, food, information and try to help each other to make this a better world for all children.

L to R Lisa Kay Vinson, Dr. Jean Feldman and Mary Jo
For many years this is the only time we get to visit and share information.
Dr. Jean is the QUEEN of Early Childhood and Lisa is a teacher/trainer at Austin Peay University in Clarksville, TN.  Even though we have only precious minutes it is great to catch up.  I may need to color my hair blonde?

Della Johnson from SC with famous author Denise Flemming.  Della was a brand new grandmother and buying books, books, books and loving every minute of the conference.

Check out the man in pur0ple…..our own Dr. Thomas Moore a partial product of Indiana.
L to R  Dr. Pam Schiller an expert in Early Childhood Education and is in charge of the Frog Street Pre-K Curriculum and is implementing a new Infant/Toddler curriculum.  Mary Jo, Dr. Thomas, Diane Patterson who is in charge of sales for Frog Street and Sharon Burnet one of the original designers of the everlasting Frog Street productions.

FROG STREET friends reception was a wonderful event filled with hugs, kisses, songs, and memories!

Picture taken from the balcony of a reception.

Exhibit floor -  This is just a view from one end of the hall.  The best place to get information and meet friends.  Had to have comfortable shoes and a bag on wheels.  Many authors signing books, musicians singing and playing and several booths presenting mini workshops.  I met a lady who stayed in one booth all day because she said she learned so much.

Musical talents to never be missed in our world of young children.  LtoR  Hugh Hanley, Vincent, Carole Peterson.

Jim Gill from the Midwest and such a gentleman!

Don Monopli from the Learning Station - Mr. Tony Chestnut!

Ms. Carolyn - Thomas Moore's #1 helper.

Super Fun Man with his Super Fun Show..........
.Shaking it like a Duck!  Shawn Brown

Our very own Debbie Clement.

Why am I in so many pictures.....because all these wonderful people are my FRIENDS and I am so happy to share their world and to be able to call them my friends.  Catch me with my hat, get a picture and I will call you my friend too.

The world of GINGERBREAD created by Lori Taylor a 3 year old teacher in a local preschool in my home town.  This is truly a work of art and this passion spills over into her classroom filled with wonderment.  I had to share this with you because if you do not live close to me you would never know about this dedication to the world of GINGERBREAD.

 
Enjoy the close-up views and each item is edible........only the glass bowl is not in that edible because this was a new over-the-top category that this house was entered in and of course it came in first.

And YES she made every little thing you can see - all by herself.

Join me in the celebration of the season.  I will spend the holiday with my three wonderful children and 8 grandchildren ranging from 28 to 2 years old and every minute is precious.  I hope this blog put a smile on your face and I hope our paths cross during 2014.  Give me a call and I will come to visit your area and we can sing, dance, tell stories and make puppets happen.  REMEMBER the REASON for the SEASON and stay safe!

MARY JO HUFFWWW.STORYTELLIN.COM
maryjo@storytellin.com

812-455-1558

Happy Holidays Pre-K & K Style!

Happy holidays... happy holidays... let the merry bells keep ringing... happy holidays to you!  

Probably one of my favorite holiday songs!  Can't read it without singing!

Anyways... it's Jennifer with Simply Kinder!  Excited to be back in a flash and share some great holiday resources and ideas with you that will work great in your preschool and kindergarten classrooms!  

First is my most favorite... my parent gift!  I love making these scented ornaments and they are smell for years and years!  

Here's how to make them:

1.  Mix 3/4 cup apple sauce (plus a dash more) and 1 cup cinnamon with about two tablespoons of  glue.  I would suggest buying 2 of the tall Cinnamon's and 2 of the large jars of apple sauce.  That should get a classroom of about 30 very easily. 

2.  Knead the dough.  It's important that there is NO creases or folds in the dough.  You definitely have to work it.  In the picture to the right I would probably want to get those folds at the bottom worked out otherwise he may crack.  

3.  Roll it out onto wax paper. 

4. Then stamp with a gingerbread cookie cutter.  Poke a hole with a toothpick for the string.

5.  And lastly place to dry. They will have to dry for several days.  Turn them over every half day or so.  I would also suggest prewriting your students names on the wax paper so you know whose is whose!

6.  Decorate with students' faces, hot glue works best.  Ribbon hot glued through the ornament's hole, a sequence, and anything you want to add!  Make adorable holiday gifts that will smell delicious for years!  I like to use items I have in my classroom each year and so this year it was silvery sequence and red ribbons!

We will wrap them by putting them in brown paper bags with just regular old paper towels to keep them protected.  We will write on the backs of old Christmas cards I collected from last year, staple them together and they are ready to go!  (The trick is to ask for them now so no one throws them away before they return from break... and save them for next year!  The kids also love using these cards in the writing lab!)  To read more about my Christmas Card centers that kids will love click here!  Your students will love my fun and easy center!

We have always done these fun gingerbread houses and then the big push for rigor came around and "no more fun" seems to be the philosophy.  Well... don't tell me I can't do something!  So, in this fun activity students will create a graph using addition, subtraction, or counting and then use that graph to build their house!  {Stop by to see more pictures and read what's included!}

This is my most favorite addition to the holiday time of year!  I noticed on a trip that my own son could not sing Christmas carols on a family trip to the North Pole!  Saddened my hear to realize a lot of the kids on the bus weren't singing!  So... what does a rigor teacher do?  That's right.. we are using them for fluency and close reading!  We started these last week and let me tell you... I have never seen my kids so excited to read all year!  They are especially great for the more advanced kids!  Also, interactive as the kids can select the image to glue onto their carol!  You are sure to love these!

Check out this fun bulletin board we made!  Of course the faces are my own little magic elves for privacy issues!  These we so fun to make and are going to make great keepsakes for the families!  If only you could see their actual little bright shining faces behind!  Click the image for other elf antics in kindergarten (it has a freebie so be sure to do so!)

That's the holiday fun we have had so far!  Be sure to stop by and visit!  Tell me you found me from Pre K and K Sharing!

A Picture Book Is Worth A Thousand Words

Holiday wishes from Barbara at The Corner On Character

 and gratitude to my friend, author Vivian Kirkfield,

 for accepting our invitation to guest post for us today. 

“Read me one more story, please?”

Just about every parent and early childhood education teacher has heard this plaintive cry. Young children love to listen to picture book stories and they enjoy sitting in the class story circle, cuddling close to daddy on a comfy couch or leaning back on mommy’s lap as they help to turn the dog-eared pages of a beloved book.

Why should we read picture books to young children?

 

·      We read with them for entertainment and enjoyment.

·      Their messages can help young children deal with many of the challenges they encounter.

·      Reading with young children engages them in the world between the pages

·      Children are able to relate the events in the book to their own experiences. 

·      Studies show that children who are read to at an early age are more successful in school.

The question is, however, which books should you read? Thousands of titles are available at bookstores and libraries. Which books should parents choose for their preschoolers? 

My passion for picture books began over fifty years ago as I helped my mother turn the pages of The Little House. As a kindergarten and Head Start teacher, daycare provider, mom of three and author of a book that give hundreds of book and activity recommendations, I’ve been reading and researching picture books most of my life.  Here is my list of five top classic picture books...each book addresses different components of building self-esteem.

  Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus

Mastering tasks and skills is one of the most important components of a positive self-image. Young children learn new things at an amazing rate, but each child is unique and has his or her own time line. In this story, a little lion named Leo is unable to do the things his friends can do, such as write his name and eat neatly. His father is worried and questions Leo’s mother. She reassures him that Leo will do everything in his own time. She is proved right as Leo masters all of those skills.

What a beautiful story to read to any young child, but it may be especially helpful for children who seem behind age-mates. Although it is important to be aware of the various stages of a child’s physical, intellectual and emotional development because the earlier a problem is detected, the faster help can be obtained, we need to remember that each child matures at his or her own pace and should not be compared with siblings or playmates.

     Frederick by Leo Lionni

Valuing one’s own strengths and qualities is the second component of high self-esteem. Frederick’s mouse family scurries around to collect seeds and nuts for the winter while Frederick seems to be daydreaming. He explains that he is collecting sunshine, colors and words. When winter comes and the long cold days and nights seem endless, Frederick entertains his family and lifts their spirits by reciting the poetry he composed while the other mice were collecting food.

Sometimes it is difficult to praise a child’s interests if that child does not enjoy doing what the rest of the family likes to do, but, in situations like that, it is even more essential to provide opportunities to develop that child’s gifts.

Oliver Button is a Sissy by Tomie de Paola

The third component of building a positive self-image is to feel appreciated, loved and accepted for who we are. In this story, Oliver enjoys walking in the woods, reading books and, most of all, dancing. His father tries to convince him to play baseball or football and the boys tease him at school and call him a sissy, but Oliver continues to pursue the activities he enjoys. When he performs in a talent show and his classmates watch him dance, they come to see him in a more favorable light.

How can we give our young children a sense of pride?  We can copy Oliver’s father who allowed him to take dance lessons and then went to the talent show and praised him for his dancing. By doing these things, he helped Oliver feel good about himself.

 Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak 

Learning to express one’s feelings in a constructive way is the fourth component of high self-esteem. In this story, Max chases after his pet dog with a fork and bangs nails into the wall with a hammer. When he is sent to bed without any dinner, Max dreams that he sails to the land of the wild things where he is made king.  However, he misses his family and returns home to find his still-warm dinner is waiting for him in his room.

Young children can get into mischief, sometimes because they are sad or mad or upset about something that they have trouble talking about. When you encourage your children to come to you with their problems, and you listen without judging, they will feel more comfortable expressing their emotions, whether they are positive or negative.

   Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

   

Another component of a positive self-image is the ability to acknowledge and cope with one’s fears. In this story, a little girl goes blueberry picking with her mother.  Meanwhile, a bear cub is also on a blueberry hunt with his mother. Both girl and bear cub become separated from their own mothers and inadvertently begin following the wrong mother. The mix-up is resolved and both Sal and Little Bear are reunited with the correct parent.

Kids often get anxious when they lose sight of their parents because they are afraid their parents will not return. This story reassures young children that even if this happens (or their parents leave them at daycare or nursery school), the separation will only be a temporary one.

Looking for a fun-filled, self-esteem building, budget-friendly, educational activity for your preschoolers? Pick up a picture book and read to them!

With the holidays AND a long winter ahead of us, I hope you will check out my book, Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking. It offers a story summary, an easy craft project and a simple child-friendly recipe for 100 recommended classic picture books. Think Jim Trelease’s Read Aloud Book, but with craft and cooking activities! Right now, for a limited time, it is ON SALE on Amazon for ONLY $10. 

Author bio: Vivian Kirkfield is an educator, parenting speaker and author of the award-winning book for parents and teachers of children ages 2-8, Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking. Her book has been endorsed by parents, teachers, self-esteem experts and national organizations such as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) with a portion of the book sale proceeds going to the JDRF. Vivian’s Show-Me-How Story-time Program has been implemented in local kindergartens and she recently partnered with PBS, crafting paper plate Curious George puppets with hundreds of children.  She shares her passion for using picture books and positive parental participation to build self-esteem and strengthen the parent-child connection during her presentations to mom groups and teacher organizations. In May, she traveled to the 2013 Asian Festival of Children’s Content in Singapore to speak about how picture books can be used as parenting tools to build self-esteem, develop better literacy skills and strengthen the parent-child connection. You can visit her Picture Books Help Kids Soar blog, like her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter or contact her at viviankirkfield@gmail.com.

Thank you, Vivian, for stopping by 

and sharing your expertise.

Click the book cover graphic above to see how we used Vivian's 

Show Me How! formula in the Gruener house.

For another ten titles to share with your pre-K kiddos, 

take this link to try Growing Book By Book.

Holiday Food Fun For Kids!

Hi! I'm Ayn and I am a Ga. Pre-K teacher, serving 4 and 5 year olds in an inclusive setting. I share my classroom adventures on my blog, little illuminations.

The holidays are synonymous with festive food. Kids enjoy cooking and decorating holiday snacks as much as we do! Today I'm sharing a few fun ways for kids to make some tasty treats.

One of the time honored holiday traditions is making a gingerbread house. (This is a great way to use up an leftover candy, too!) Put the house together and decorate with frosting and candy. 

If you want to try gingerbread decorating and you are not a baker, or simply have time constraints, you can pick up some pre-made gingerbread men (like Little Debbie) and decorate!

Our baking is quite limited (due to child care regs), but we still have a lot of fun with the decorating!

 

These penguins are such fun to make! We've used goldfish crackers, candy corn, Bugles corn snacks (pretty much whatever is handy) to turn Oreos into penguins.

Make polar bears out of Oreos, white frosting and a few candies.

Instant Snowman S'mores are such an easy idea and can even be easily packaged for a cute individual gift! Decorate marshmallows making a snowman face using food markers and pair with a striped fudge shortbread cookie. Microwave for a couple of seconds and instant s'more!

We took chocolate frosted cupcakes and added M&Ms, Nilla Wafers and pretzels to make yummy reindeer cupcakes.

Snowman doughnuts are as easy as they are fun! Decorate powdered sugar doughnuts with candy corn and M&Ms to make a snowman face!

These chocolate chip reindeer cookies are to die for! And they are so cute! I actually got these as a gift last year and fell in love! I think I'm making a batch later this week for those little extra "gifts" that are good to have on hand, just in case. 

The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the time spent with your child creating memories and yummy treats! I hope your holiday season is merry and bright! 


Stop by and visit me anytime at littleilluminations.blogspot.com or visit the little illuminations fanpage on facebook! And be sure to check out PreK+K Sharing EEE!